Retail and COVID19 - how well is it doing?

[Skimpot flyer]

With regards to queues, much depends on time of day. My local Waitrose yesterday, about 4pm, there was no queue outside and I popped in to grab some milk and a multipack of yoghurts. Quickly scanned, paid and left the shop... to pass a queue of eight shoppers!

 

[Ianno87]

With regards to queues, much depends on time of day. My local Waitrose yesterday, about 4pm, there was no queue outside and I popped in to grab some milk and a multipack of yoghurts. Quickly scanned, paid and left the shop... to pass a queue of eight shoppers!

Had a brief queue outside Sainsbury's thid afternoon. Only about 10 people and in within about 2 minutes.

 

[py_megapixel]

Had a brief queue outside Sainsbury's thid afternoon. Only about 10 people and in within about 2 minutes.

One bizarre thing I found about Sainsbury's was that you weren't allowed to get your own trolleys; a member of staff had to give one to you.
Surely that's actually worse for social distancing than the alternative, as another member of staff has already touched the trolley?

 

[Ianno87]

One bizarre thing I found about Sainsbury's was that you weren't allowed to get your own trolleys; a member of staff had to give one to you.
Surely that's actually worse for social distancing than the alternative, as another member of staff has already touched the trolley?

We just collected our own.


Much earlier on post-lockdown, B&Q bizarrely insisted I had to use a trolley, even though I was only buying a small hose attachment!

 

[greyman42]

We just collected our own.


Much earlier on post-lockdown, B&Q bizarrely insisted I had to use a trolley, even though I was only buying a small hose attachment!

The thought is that if you have a trolley you are more likely to anti-social distance.

 

[Ianno87]

The thought is that if you have a trolley you are more likely to anti-social distance.

I suppose it does slow you down / provide physical separation. Although you're unnecessarily touching something others have touched.

 

[bramling]

The thought is that if you have a trolley you are more likely to anti-social distance.

We had a lovely one in B&Q, two of us went in together and were made to take a trolley each.

We did wonder if the real motive was to gently encourage loading up the trolleys with items we hadn’t originally intended to purchase.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

On Monday I made my first visit to a shop since face-coverings became compulsory - so approximately two months. I went to my local B & Q for a tin of woodstain- nice weather, winter approaching, jobs needs to be done before then. The vast majority of customers were wearing face-coverings of some kind - just one man with a chin-guard having a telephone conversation, and one man at the far end of an aisle who might have had no mask at all, or just a chin guard. As much as I took any notice, all the staff seemed to be wearing masks or visors.

A simple single queue at the checkouts and called forward when one of the tills was free.

A 'world shortage' of bagged cement / concrete / mortar though and not much timber either (whilst I was in there, might as well, another bit of house maintenance).

 

[AdamWW]

The thought is that if you have a trolley you are more likely to anti-social distance.

I've been to one shop (model railway) where they wanted people to take baskets because that's how they were counting how many people were in.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

A colleague and I were discussing the explosion in online shopping, as evidenced by the volumes of parcels within Royal Mail, which are akin to Christmas levels at the moment.
He had an interesting thought, about actual post-Christmas parcel volumes, as many retailers have Boxing Day sales.
He suggested some offers might be marketed by retailers as ‘only available in-store, not online’ in a (vain?) effort to increase footfall in their shops, in the hope that once inside, customers might buy other goods, too.
Personally, I think it unlikely, but I’d be interested to know the opinion of others on this strategy

 

[Baxenden Bank]

A colleague and I were discussing the explosion in online shopping, as evidenced by the volumes of parcels within Royal Mail, which are akin to Christmas levels at the moment.
He had an interesting thought, about actual post-Christmas parcel volumes, as many retailers have Boxing Day sales.
He suggested some offers might be marketed by retailers as ‘only available in-store, not online’ in a (vain?) effort to increase footfall in their shops, in the hope that once inside, customers might buy other goods, too.
Personally, I think it unlikely, but I’d be interested to know the opinion of others on this strategy

I think it's interesting.

In previous bad years, the Boxing Day sales have been preceded by pre-Christmas price slashing.

I doubt it would get me into a shop, unless the discount was spectacular and it was something I particularly wanted. If the discount was spectacular, it could end up like Black Friday with massive queues and a scrum at the door. Even less reason to take up the offer!

It will be interesting to see how retailers of various types (eg Supermarkets, fashion stores, electronics) approach christmas. Given the current speculation around lockdown, at what point will the public decide about Christmas. Whether to buy all that food, because family may or may not be coming round for Christmas dinner. Do you book your regular Christmas meal for work/friends/activity group, pay the deposit then lose it? Will people buy fewer presents if they are not meeting up, or buy more (or bigger / more expensive) presents to compensate for the rubbish year and to compensate for not seeing family / friends as much? The retailers will already have had to second guess this and place their orders with suppliers.

I noticed, doing my online grocery order today, a tin of Christmas biscuits being suggested to me. Have the annually shrinking tins of Roses chocolates been placed at the supermarket entrance yet?

 

[david1212]

...
Do you book your regular Christmas meal for work/friends/activity group, pay the deposit then lose it?
...
Will people buy fewer presents if they are not meeting up, or buy more (or bigger / more expensive) presents to compensate for the rubbish year and to compensate for not seeing family / friends as much?
'''''

I noticed, doing my online grocery order today, a tin of Christmas biscuits being suggested to me. Have the annually shrinking tins of Roses chocolates been placed at the supermarket entrance yet?

Even if allowed in some restrictive Covid secure form like 30 guests at a wedding now I think there will be far fewer pre-Christmas work/friends/activity group bookings this year - both the venues and suppliers are going to be hit hard. Maybe if the current rules stay some small groups but how many can be accommodated if say one table or set of tables are put together for three couples each needing 2m spacing then spacing to the next group of six?

Based on earlier in the year when e.g. grandparents could not visit grandchildren so were posting a package each week there could well be more spent on gifts to make up by those who can afford to. I predict the biggest ever proportion of internet vs instore sales too.

Yes tubs of chocolates have been out for a couple of weeks now, as to size/weight I can't comment. Tesco also have section with various items including mince pies too !!!

 

[DelayRepay]

Yes tubs of chocolates have been out for a couple of weeks now, as to size/weight I can't comment. Tesco also have section with various items including mince pies too !!!

I bought my Christmas cards at the weekend. I was in the garden centre getting some spring bulbs, and they've got their Christmas display out (to be fair, they normally put it out after the August bank holiday, so this isn't unusual). I wouldn't normally think about Christmas at this time of year, but the items were available and it seemed sensible to buy them so it's one less thing I need to buy over the next few months.

Not directly related but I also stocked up on materials for a few DIY projects I'd like to do over the winter. I would not normally buy things so far in advance but I remember the difficulties getting hold of a paint brush to finish my decorating last time around!

I'm not panic buying but I am using every opportunity to plan ahead to minimise the need to go shopping over the coming months, and also to make sure that if I am required to isolate for 14 days or if there are further restrictions, I have enough supplies in (including things to keep me occupied, as well as food. There is only so much Netflix one person can watch!).

 

[david1212]

...

Not directly related but I also stocked up on materials for a few DIY projects I'd like to do over the winter. I would not normally buy things so far in advance but I remember the difficulties getting hold of a paint brush to finish my decorating last time around!

I'm not panic buying but I am using every opportunity to plan ahead to minimise the need to go shopping over the coming months, and also to make sure that if I am required to isolate for 14 days or if there are further restrictions, I have enough supplies in (including things to keep me occupied, as well as food. There is only so much Netflix one person can watch!).

Back from before Covid-19 was heard of I normally have enough food for 14 days in the house except milk, bread, fruit and similar. As soon as quarantine was announced I replenished earlier but equally did not stockpile enough pasta, loo rolls etc for 3+ months. Hence the initial bare shelves were not a great problem. Rather come late April and into May when for some items any available stock was still flying off the shelves was when I did run out of a couple of items and get very low on a few others.

At the same point in time what lay ahead was unknown but equally impossible to do some household and garden jobs without being able to readily buy paint, fence preservative, garden items etc. I certainly didn't consider queueing for ages only to find at best a limited choice and at worst to walk out with nothing.

Last Saturday for the first time since face coverings required I went into Poundland with a list of items. Wednesday I have a semi-emergency dental appointment. If no queue I will go into the nearby Wilko after.

I have started to think about Christmas gifts with the aim to buy next month be that ' high street ' or online.

 

[jamesst]

I think it's interesting.

In previous bad years, the Boxing Day sales have been preceded by pre-Christmas price slashing.

I doubt it would get me into a shop, unless the discount was spectacular and it was something I particularly wanted. If the discount was spectacular, it could end up like Black Friday with massive queues and a scrum at the door. Even less reason to take up the offer!

It will be interesting to see how retailers of various types (eg Supermarkets, fashion stores, electronics) approach christmas. Given the current speculation around lockdown, at what point will the public decide about Christmas. Whether to buy all that food, because family may or may not be coming round for Christmas dinner. Do you book your regular Christmas meal for work/friends/activity group, pay the deposit then lose it? Will people buy fewer presents if they are not meeting up, or buy more (or bigger / more expensive) presents to compensate for the rubbish year and to compensate for not seeing family / friends as much? The retailers will already have had to second guess this and place their orders with suppliers.

I noticed, doing my online grocery order today, a tin of Christmas biscuits being suggested to me. Have the annually shrinking tins of Roses chocolates been placed at the supermarket entrance yet?

Im more of a celebrations guy! Even the size of those boxes is appalling this year!

 

[DB]

Im more of a celebrations guy! Even the size of those boxes is appalling this year!

But remember, it's all for your health and nothing to do with increased profit...

 

[Ianno87]

Was in Cambridge today. Nothing like usual weekend footfall of previous weeks.

My theory is the lack of being able to "hang around" in warm shops or cafés is not very appealing in the chilly weather today.

 

[Huntergreed]

Was in Cambridge today. Nothing like usual weekend footfall of previous weeks.

My theory is the lack of being able to "hang around" in warm shops or cafés is not very appealing in the chilly weather today.

This is going to become a very significant problem indeed as we go into winter.

 

[bramling]

Was in Cambridge today. Nothing like usual weekend footfall of previous weeks.

My theory is the lack of being able to "hang around" in warm shops or cafés is not very appealing in the chilly weather today.

It was dead here in west Wales too. There’s only two cars in my hotel car park tonight. I think people are scared again.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

This is going to become a very significant problem indeed as we go into winter.

I warned months ago, even before face coverings were mandatory, that people may be tolerant of having to queue outside shops when the weather is mild or warm, but it’ll be a lot different if we’re approaching winter with the same restrictions.
Even if there isn’t a queue outside, if it’s raining hard, shoppers will struggle to keep a face mask dry when going between shops or from car to shop (unless visiting a shopping mall).
We noticed when out today (in a place where the old high street experience is still in vogue) that a large percentage of people tended to just keep them on, rather than a constant fiddle with off/on/off and all the risks that entails

 

[bramling]

I warned months ago, even before face coverings were mandatory, that people may be tolerant of having to queue outside shops when the weather is mild or warm, but it’ll be a lot different if we’re approaching winter with the same restrictions.
Even if there isn’t a queue outside, if it’s raining hard, shoppers will struggle to keep a face mask dry when going between shops or from car to shop (unless visiting a shopping mall).
We noticed when out today (in a place where the old high street experience is still in vogue) that a large percentage of people tended to just keep them on, rather than a constant fiddle with off/on/off and all the risks that entails

I wouldn’t even go as far as to say things like queuing have been that well tolerated even until now.

Reality is bickering and tension, and remember the scenes when key workers were being jeered at for having priority access. As you say, add in cold, wind and rain and what patience there’s been will disappear very quickly.

 

[birchesgreen]

Pretty busy at The Fort in Birmingham with long queues outside the likes of Primark and Wilco (bit like being in Moscow during the Soviet era to be honest), the warm weather helped of course.

I am also noticing more people keeping their masks on between shops, people are getting used to them.

 

[Ianno87]

I am also noticing more people keeping their masks on between shops, people are getting used to them.

Definitely a higher proportion of folks with reusable coverings, which are much comfier than disposible ones.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Even if there isn’t a queue outside, if it’s raining hard, shoppers will struggle to keep a face mask dry when going between shops or from car to shop (unless visiting a shopping mall).

Don't they have pockets or a handbag? Or even a sandwich bag to put it in?

This Forum really does come up with some utterly ridiculous objections at times.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

Don't they have pockets or a handbag? Or even a sandwich bag to put it in?

This Forum really does come up with some utterly ridiculous objections at times.

Given many shops will not let you in until you have a mask ON, it’s not inconceivable that people will mishandle a mask taken out of a pocket or bag in their haste to apply it before it becomes soaked.

 

[birchesgreen]

Unless you are in a monsoon then i doubt it will be much of a problem.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Don't they have pockets or a handbag? Or even a sandwich bag to put it in?

Well, you're not supposed to put them in your pockets (or handbags) full stop - although I am guilty of it because it's most convenient.

If you took a sample of 1,000 people on your local high street and asked how many were carrying sandwich bags I'm fairly certain you could count the number positive responses on two hands.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Have the annually shrinking tins of Roses chocolates been placed at the supermarket entrance yet?

Think the Roses tubs (made of plastic these days rather than tins) are down to 613g of contents (including wrappings) this year, representing a 40% reduction in recent years. That's shrinkflation for you!

 

[birchesgreen]

Well, you're not supposed to put them in your pockets (or handbags) full stop - although I am guilty of it because it's most convenient.

Oh is that a law too now with a 100,000 pound fine? Its hard to keep track these days.

 

[Jamiescott1]

I got asked by a security guard today in aldi to wear a mask. I told him I was when I entered the store but as I saw 2 staff wearing theirs on their chin I followed them and took it off.

Apart from groceries I no longer shop on the high street, but today I went through town on a jog and it seemed about usual for how I'd expect a Sunday morning.