Grocery stores, Walmart, etc. should close up completely and only offer curbside service or delivery.

[Turbowaffles]

Or keep the doors locked and only let a few customers in at a time. Or better yet, all three of those options. That way you can make sure older people can get their essentials as well, since they probably wouldn't know how to order online or even through a phone.

But they might take a hit in profits so this will never happen.

 

[Officer Big Mac]

They have a seniors only hour before they open I believe.

 

[Curler]

Sounds like a logistical nightmare, especially when lots of people are cash-only and some don't use apps to order. It's not something for a large store to feasibly be done in a very quick time, especially when grocery trips can be huge. You would also need A LOT of workers to fulfill these orders.

 

[Quikies83]

Yup - our stores including Publix and Whole Foods are open one hour early two days a week for seniors only.

 

[deimosmasque]

Or keep the doors locked and only let a few customers in at a time. Or better yet, all three of those options. That way you can make sure older people can get their essentials as well, since they probably wouldn't know how to order online or even through a phone.

But they might take a hit in profits so this will never happen.

Click to shrink...

They would also have to fire or furlough alot of there staff too.

 

[Vagabond]

Honestly, they don't have a decent system in place for all of that. Select walmarts and grocery stores JUST started doing similar things in very limited numbers last year.

Hope this changes things

Curbside/vehicle delivery is the future and definitely allows for far more employees to be hired at these stores.

 

[SliceSabre]

I know in my area a lot of the stores have special early mornings hour(s) for seniors and immuno-compromised people.

 

[Z-Beat]

They have a seniors only hour before they open I believe.

Click to shrink...

yep. Costco does this too. Other places only allow a select amount of customers in at any given time and space the line out pretty damn far.

 

[Lobster Roll]

Pretty much every store near me has senior hours in place. I cannot imagine how it would be remotely feasible to fulfill every single grocery order if they were all curbside or delivery. That sounds like a logistical nightmare, especially with every single person inevitably having to replace an item here or there that is sold out.

 

[GK86]

My local supermarket has senior only hours in the morning.

 

[Teh_Lurv]

Or keep the doors locked and only let a few customers in at a time.

Click to shrink...

That is what my local supermarket is doing on top of senior-only hours first thing in the morning. A police officer was on duty last time I was there only allowing something like 20-30 people into the store at a time.

 

[skycamefalling]

Or keep the doors locked and only let a few customers in at a time. Or better yet, all three of those options. That way you can make sure older people can get their essentials as well, since they probably wouldn't know how to order online or even through a phone.

But they might take a hit in profits so this will never happen.

Click to shrink...

Our local Trader Joe's is only letting in 5 people at a time. We also have senior hours mandated by our city.

 

[Noodle]

How are people supposed to buy food if they're closed? What about those who unable to access online delivery services?

 

[selfnoise]

My grocery store actually shut down the pickup service because they couldn't keep up.

Meanwhile the Whole Foods delivery option remains a hilarious fiction.

You might want to check out a local smaller market. My local market is doing curbside pickup.

 

[Astronut325]

I would welcome this. I have family working at Walmart. They're really afraid and want to quit but can't because they need money. Being open for seniors for an hour in the morning is ok.

 

[electricblue]

Honestly, they don't have a decent system in place for all of that. Select walmarts and grocery stores JUST started doing similar things in very limited numbers last year.

Hope this changes things

Curbside/vehicle delivery is the future and definitely allows for far more employees to be hired at these stores.

Click to shrink...

At some point we'll get to "we can't afford not to do trunk delivery" either because cashiers refuse to work or customers refuse to come inside

 

[nihilence]

Ohio mandated special hours.

 

[metalslimer]

This would end up being a bigger panic inducing nightmare

 

[SpottieO]

It would take weeks to get your groceries. They can barely keep up right now.

 

[Kevers]

Our Dollar General gives preferential treatment to the elderly from 8am to 9am but we're not allowed to tell people they can't come in so it's really no different than usual.

 

[sredgrin]

This would hurt a lot of the people that need it most. People that tend to be cash only or without smartphones or computers, which tends to translate to either old or poor.

Most stores should absolutely be doing more though. Nobody should be coming into my store just to buy flowers and potentially exposing me and potentially many others just for that sort of shit.

 

[hobblygobbly]

i don't think that's necessary in america because here in europe even though it's also not so good right now, it isn't necessary to close grocery stores

there's no way you would meet the demand for logistics if you had to suddenly do this. you will have big delays in food delivery.

in germany atm if you go to edeka etc, only 1 person is allowed to do actual shopping (i.e. wife and husband not allowed, 1 must wait outside), and you must use a trolley to force distance also

 

[diakyu]

Grocery stores can't close. If we did online orders it would be a logistical nightmare and only a few would actually benefit.

My store does do senior hour in the morning but I'm not sure how successful it is.

 

[EvilChameleon]

The joy of going to the grocery store is being able to pick your own produce.

 

[CKDexterHaven]

Or keep the doors locked and only let a few customers in at a time. Or better yet, all three of those options. That way you can make sure older people can get their essentials as well, since they probably wouldn't know how to order online or even through a phone.

But they might take a hit in profits so this will never happen.

Click to shrink...

This happens here in Austin already .

 

[Volimar]

I called my local Aldi and disabled people aren't included in their special hours. Bummer.

 

[Einbroch]

This is a bad take. A lot of places already have special hours for those that need it.

 

[finalflame]

No, this is an overreaction and a terrible take. They need to control the amounts of people inside at a time, as many are already doing in the Bay Area, to great effect. Most stores are also offering senior/at-risk only hours before opening. This has nothing to do with profits. People need groceries.

 

[CDX]

A cashier I know said since she needs a paycheck and HAS to work she'd prefer if the store moved to curbside only and only employees were allowed in the store. She knows it'd be more work for her and every employee, but she feels she'd be able to better maintain proper social distancing. She's has constant anxiety from customers in her line getting too close and coughing and sneezing.

But still every single one of my local grocery stores now has an optional curbside pickup. One of the small ones that had no real online presence now basically has just has a simple online order form on it's website for curbside pickup, where you can just manually write out your grocery list and they'll try their best to get it in the store.

Every store also has early hours just for seniors.

 

[electricblue]

No, this is an overreaction and a terrible take. They need to control the amounts of people inside at a time, as many are already doing in the Bay Area, to great effect. Most stores are also offering senior/at-risk only hours before opening. This has nothing to do with profits. People need groceries.

Click to shrink...

Places in NY just end up having lines around the block because of that policy, kinda defeats the purpose

 

[Turbowaffles]

Guys, I see your points about the online ordering, but as I said in my OP we can also lock the doors and let only a certain amount of people in at a time. This would greatly reduce risk, and most stores at least in my area are NOT doing this except for the senior hours, which I am aware of.

 

[finalflame]

Guys, I see your points about the online ordering, but as I said in my OP we can also lock the doors and let only a certain amount of people in at a time. This would greatly reduce risk, and most stores at least in my area are NOT doing this except for the senior hours, which I am aware of.

Click to shrink...

Grocery stores in major cities are already doing this, so I guess it's worth checking on why it's not being done locally in your area.

Places in NY just end up having lines around the block because of that policy, kinda defeats the purpose

Click to shrink...

At least in SF people are practicing good discipline and keeping > 6ft apart, even in line, which seems fine to me.

 

[Video Games Are Dumb]

Not everyone has a car :/

 

[Dyle]

If it were logistically possible to do this, stores would already be implementing it. It's too cumbersome and labor intensive to do without effectively redesigning the entire store.

 

[Lashes.541]

How is this going to work for my town in Oregon of 23,000? We have never had curb side delivery at this wall mart lol.

 

[Diarrhea Day-Lewis]

They already do limit to 50-250 people depending on the area at least where i'm at.

 

[AegonSnake]

You are expecting everyone to have access to the internet, set up an online account for walmart, kroger, and cvs pharmacy, and access to cars. You are expecting thousands of mom and pop shop grocery stores to have curb side pick up like in rich suburbs.

let people shop. as long as they are practicing social distancing and keep moving. target wipes every trolly or basket before they give it you. they wipe each register after its been used. thats what walmart needs to do.

 

[Wag]

Sounds like a logistical nightmare, especially when lots of people are cash-only and some don't use apps to order. It's not something for a large store to feasibly be done in a very quick time, especially when grocery trips can be huge. You would also need A LOT of workers to fulfill these orders.

Click to shrink...

My local Walmart offers curbside delivery, they're completely booked up, can't get a spot.

 

[AegonSnake]

How is this going to work for my town in Oregon of 23,000? We have never had curb side delivery at this wall mart lol.

Click to shrink...

its not. people who live in rich suburbs and big cities think thats what its like everywhere.

 

[astro]

I don't think you thought this through, OP, especially the delivery part which just wouldn't handle everyone.

Besides, pretty much every store in London is doing "one in, one out" with a limited number. That's the best we can do.

 

[Violence Jack]

Costco has been letting in a certain number of people while having others wait in line. The lines are long as hell, but it allows them to manage their stock better (AKA: weed out the hoarders who try buying more than what they allow), and allows some social distancing to keep people safe.

Online grocery shopping only would be a nightmare, and not worth the hassle.

 

[Devilgunman]

Guys, I see your points about the online ordering, but as I said in my OP we can also lock the doors and let only a certain amount of people in at a time. This would greatly reduce risk, and most stores at least in my area are NOT doing this except for the senior hours, which I am aware of.

Click to shrink...

Many places are already doing just that.

 

[Lashes.541]

its not. people who live in rich suburbs and big cities think thats what its like everywhere.

Click to shrink...

That is what I'm starting to notice on resetera a lot! Lol

 

[Curler]

My local Walmart offers curbside delivery, they're completely booked up, can't get a spot.

Click to shrink...

Yeah this too. Target seems to be the same in my area, too. It's nice and convenient (when there's no pandemic going on...)

 

[Pineapple Pizza]

Curbside pickup for every customer isn't practical, stores would need a huge number of employees. Grocery stores aren't designed to function like warehouses, the layout isn't optimized for staff to process large amounts of orders like that.

 

[PersonAndStuff]

That's not feasible and would likely result in longer lines that are more dangerous than the inside of the store.

 

[Surface of Me]

its not. people who live in rich suburbs and big cities think thats what its like everywhere.

Click to shrink...

Yup, people here are losing their damn minds and offering reactionary, panick solutions without thinking the world doesn't live in their bubble.

 

[Josh5890]

Guys, I see your points about the online ordering, but as I said in my OP we can also lock the doors and let only a certain amount of people in at a time. This would greatly reduce risk, and most stores at least in my area are NOT doing this except for the senior hours, which I am aware of.

Click to shrink...

Further restricting access to groceries in a timely fashion is a good way to cause added stress. As long as you are keeping reasonable distance from other customers/employees, you should be safe.

 

[WhiteRabbitEXE]

For a Walmart or Target doing $150K - $250K a day or more that's just not even remotely feasible. It would be a logistical nightmare.

 

[Crayolan]

Making people wait on food isn't a good idea, some people don't go grocery shopping until their fridge is completely empty. If they have to wait at least 24 hours to get anything delivered that's a long time to go without food.