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I went to do some grocery shopping a few hours ago, and the experience was very eerie...
- Thread starter FernandoRocker
- Start date
I feel like telling people to wear masks that people can't find when they're just trying to feed their families is unhelpful advice. No one wants to be out in the first place. And stuff like soaping up your apples falls in line with that dogshit video we saw a week back.
I wash my hands like a madman, wash my home like a madman, stay the fuck away from everyone. Hand sanitizer after touching ANYTHING in public.
If every square inch of solid, liquid, or gas is infected, you're going to get it. I don't at all blame anyone for their efforts to keep safe, but there comes a point where we have to be human.
I wash my hands like a madman, wash my home like a madman, stay the fuck away from everyone. Hand sanitizer after touching ANYTHING in public.
If every square inch of solid, liquid, or gas is infected, you're going to get it. I don't at all blame anyone for their efforts to keep safe, but there comes a point where we have to be human.
Today teenagers running down the aisles, folks talking like there's nothing special going on right now. Amazing.
Still no TP anywhere. Price for eggs is going to go up, so it's selling out now. No rye bread, had to do with a loaf of regular wheat for tuna fish sandwiches, grilled cheese, toast, etc.
Some parking lots are really empty. Others are just quiet.
But we had to go out to get some things, last time was almost two weeks ago. Had to go to two supermarkets to cover our needs, will go out later today for bulk stuff, and then probably stay in for at least a week straight.
Still no TP anywhere. Price for eggs is going to go up, so it's selling out now. No rye bread, had to do with a loaf of regular wheat for tuna fish sandwiches, grilled cheese, toast, etc.
Some parking lots are really empty. Others are just quiet.
But we had to go out to get some things, last time was almost two weeks ago. Had to go to two supermarkets to cover our needs, will go out later today for bulk stuff, and then probably stay in for at least a week straight.
Pretty similar safety measures from supermarkets here in Ireland as in the OP. Some customers look visibly worried, others make light of the situation but everyone seems to be observing distance and generally not spending longer in store than they have to. Lots of gloves and a few masks being worn, even "creative" masks like visors that look like they're meant for forestry or something.
Supplies are good and shelves are full now thankfully, everyone seems to have gotten over the panic buying.
Supplies are good and shelves are full now thankfully, everyone seems to have gotten over the panic buying.
The workplace I work at doesn't give a FUCK. I still have to fucking handle a customer's debit card or cash and there aren't nearly enough gloves (or time/employees) for Me to be able to change them after every transaction
A customer came in saying she was at the hospital over the weekend with a fever of 106 but she's better now
Lol
She tried handing me things but I literally said I don't want to touch it
I DEFINITELY have it in my system now
Why would you change gloves after every transaction?
It actually is. You might be sick and not know it. If everyone wore a mask there would be less spread of the disease.
Oh yeah I'm sure it'll be longer, I was just repeating the official announcement. And in two weeks we'll get another "Welp, please stay home for two more weeks"
Rince and repeat
My shopping experiences have been fine because I live in a friendly city.
But walking around in the evening is overall very strange. There are individuals on the streets who are just weird. And usually drunk. People sitting in odd places. Stumbling around. Talking loudly in otherwise silent streets. I think it must be a lot of people whose lives are normally entirely their work and now they have nothing to do so they roam around listlessly.
Very uncanny vibe.
But walking around in the evening is overall very strange. There are individuals on the streets who are just weird. And usually drunk. People sitting in odd places. Stumbling around. Talking loudly in otherwise silent streets. I think it must be a lot of people whose lives are normally entirely their work and now they have nothing to do so they roam around listlessly.
Very uncanny vibe.
Jesus Christ no way
I havent been since sunday. There was a huge queue of at least 100 people. Had to show NHS ID badges to get in, trolleys wiped, hands cleaned. Inside was busy and people acting like idiots. I was so frustrated and just wanted out.
I'm dreading going tomorrow but thankfully don't need much. Just fresh vegetables, milk, fruit, eggs, bread. Got plenty of frozen/canned food and pasta/rice/noodles to last month's. Had a lot of it before all this madness started as I always tend to keep well stocked up at the best of times.
I'm dreading going tomorrow but thankfully don't need much. Just fresh vegetables, milk, fruit, eggs, bread. Got plenty of frozen/canned food and pasta/rice/noodles to last month's. Had a lot of it before all this madness started as I always tend to keep well stocked up at the best of times.
Yeah I think the message is that it does linger in the air because it's in vapours, but that it quite quickly falls. Still, if someone has a coughing fit in front of you in a queue then you walk straight into the space they occupied, that's probably the only context where it's really a problem.
Christ thats like something out of a movie
It's been like this for ten days in France. What struck me the most is the silence.
This is the line of thinking that helps spread the infection so rapidly. A large percent of infected are asymptomatic (up to 50%, in my country with hilariosuly low number of tests the number is 18% which more than large enough too), you can be "sick" and not know it.
You joke but my Costco run was the most pleasant time I've been at a Costco ever. Waited maybe 5 minutes outside, then go in and there's just the right number of people. People are keeping their distances. Some things were still sold out but not a big deal. Also no wait at the registers and sanitized carts. Not too shabby. In Socal
I took this photo at 21:24 on Thursday night to show to my family the lack of social distancing in my local supermarket in Sweden.
I'm originally from the UK and my Mother had been telling me about all the changes there, which is basically what everyone else here is describing. In Sweden (and in the one other supermarket I have been to) all of this is being ignored. Social distancing simply isn't a thing. Apart from the plastic shields in front of the cashiers literally everything else is business as normal.
I'm originally from the UK and my Mother had been telling me about all the changes there, which is basically what everyone else here is describing. In Sweden (and in the one other supermarket I have been to) all of this is being ignored. Social distancing simply isn't a thing. Apart from the plastic shields in front of the cashiers literally everything else is business as normal.
Right now in California, it's a lot calmer than it was last week but everyone does keep a respectable distance but it was full doomsday prepper hell for the first few days (see imgur gallery link below). If you aren't missing any important groceries, I would advise waiting a few days after the initial rush for it to settle down.
On the first day that California announced the shelter-in-place order (March 16), I happened to go inside a Walmart just to buy conditioner since I forgot it the last time I went shopping a week earlier. I don't think I even heard about the announcement yet so I expected it to be a slow Tuesday afternoon and I could quickly hop in and out.
ALL THE COW MILK, BREAD, EGGS, AND OF FUCKING COURSE THE TOILET PAPER was completely gone. Cashier lines stretched from the front of the store all the way to the back and remember, this is a Walmart. That's like a hundred carts in line. My dad had moved over the weekend so his fridge was empty and he went out to get some groceries a few hours after me and these were the pictures that he took:
https://imgur.com/a/KYjcRvT
People basically licked the shelves clean within 6 hours of the shelter-in-place, even down to the last piece of brocoli. But now a couple weeks later, you can basically get everything you need at any store you go to. Certain items like toilet paper (why ffs) do have an employee stationed at it to keep anyone from taking more than one. I think the problem in the first few days is that you have a handful of assholes who fill their cart with anything that might be in demand and then it takes a week or so before the stores get resupplied and for the panic to die down. If you or anyone in your household has a compromised immune system or something, then it might not be a bad idea to keep ordering delivery but the stores should start having regular items back in stock soon in your area, hopefully.
On the first day that California announced the shelter-in-place order (March 16), I happened to go inside a Walmart just to buy conditioner since I forgot it the last time I went shopping a week earlier. I don't think I even heard about the announcement yet so I expected it to be a slow Tuesday afternoon and I could quickly hop in and out.
ALL THE COW MILK, BREAD, EGGS, AND OF FUCKING COURSE THE TOILET PAPER was completely gone. Cashier lines stretched from the front of the store all the way to the back and remember, this is a Walmart. That's like a hundred carts in line. My dad had moved over the weekend so his fridge was empty and he went out to get some groceries a few hours after me and these were the pictures that he took:
https://imgur.com/a/KYjcRvT
People basically licked the shelves clean within 6 hours of the shelter-in-place, even down to the last piece of brocoli. But now a couple weeks later, you can basically get everything you need at any store you go to. Certain items like toilet paper (why ffs) do have an employee stationed at it to keep anyone from taking more than one. I think the problem in the first few days is that you have a handful of assholes who fill their cart with anything that might be in demand and then it takes a week or so before the stores get resupplied and for the panic to die down. If you or anyone in your household has a compromised immune system or something, then it might not be a bad idea to keep ordering delivery but the stores should start having regular items back in stock soon in your area, hopefully.
I've only had to go once to get certain supplies since the lockdown (200k city from Spain), as we were well stocked at home when it started and can't complain much of the experience. People were respectful, the store keeped a quite a low limit on how many clients would be allowed at once, and they forced anyone who entered to wear some extra gloves they had next to the door. Sure, some items couldn't be found but it wasn't anything apocalyptical or close to what friends were showing me the first few days of the lockdown, with everything empty due the initial hysteria.
As comparison, what I'm seeing right now from the window next to my PC:
All that marked people is waiting their turn to enter a meat store hidden behind the building, where they only allow a few clients at the same time. I imagine there's another person standing behind the truck. The green one may seem relatively close, but he's actually sitting in a bank while waiting so he still keeps a good distance in diagonal. There's been a similar line each day since before they open each morning until late afternoon.
As comparison, what I'm seeing right now from the window next to my PC:
All that marked people is waiting their turn to enter a meat store hidden behind the building, where they only allow a few clients at the same time. I imagine there's another person standing behind the truck. The green one may seem relatively close, but he's actually sitting in a bank while waiting so he still keeps a good distance in diagonal. There's been a similar line each day since before they open each morning until late afternoon.
NY here..
I always go to the supermarket around 6-6:30am (don't like lines and I'm up anyway). We get the paranoid shopper in the early am. Masks, gloves etc and standing outside the store before it opens. Usually 5-6 of them and they get what the need and gtfo before anyone else wakes up. Inside the supermarket, some shelves are bare pickings. Milk, egg, water, paper products etc are noticeably empty compared to the others. Haven't been there in a few weeks, so I'm not sure if there are any prep or supply changes since then.
At our store, the floor around every register is taped off telling you where to stand. They installed plexiglass in front each register so you have a shield if someone coughs at you. There's an opening at the counter level so you can hand the cashier your items, but they still have to come around it if they have to scan big items, so *shrug*. They have taped X's on the floor telling people where to stand while in line.. and they've reduced the hours we're open to the public so they have 2 hours to clean & disinfect nightly. Add to that, they have multiple a-frame signs in all the main aisles telling people to practice social distancing. On the donation front, any PPE (gloves, masks etc) that come to the store is separated and donated to local hospitals.)
Heard the local Home Depot was limiting how many people could come in the store by having an associate keep everyone outside and making sure they were 6 feet apart. I don't know what the target amount is, but they wouldn't let someone else in the building until someone else left. Same story at the local BJ's and Costco, but I haven't been to either personally.
I always go to the supermarket around 6-6:30am (don't like lines and I'm up anyway). We get the paranoid shopper in the early am. Masks, gloves etc and standing outside the store before it opens. Usually 5-6 of them and they get what the need and gtfo before anyone else wakes up. Inside the supermarket, some shelves are bare pickings. Milk, egg, water, paper products etc are noticeably empty compared to the others. Haven't been there in a few weeks, so I'm not sure if there are any prep or supply changes since then.
At our store, the floor around every register is taped off telling you where to stand. They installed plexiglass in front each register so you have a shield if someone coughs at you. There's an opening at the counter level so you can hand the cashier your items, but they still have to come around it if they have to scan big items, so *shrug*. They have taped X's on the floor telling people where to stand while in line.. and they've reduced the hours we're open to the public so they have 2 hours to clean & disinfect nightly. Add to that, they have multiple a-frame signs in all the main aisles telling people to practice social distancing. On the donation front, any PPE (gloves, masks etc) that come to the store is separated and donated to local hospitals.)
Heard the local Home Depot was limiting how many people could come in the store by having an associate keep everyone outside and making sure they were 6 feet apart. I don't know what the target amount is, but they wouldn't let someone else in the building until someone else left. Same story at the local BJ's and Costco, but I haven't been to either personally.
(Lyon here)
I went to our local Lidl and it was pretty calm. Felt like any normal afternoon in terms of people. Plenty of groceries, but I didn't think to see if there was toilet paper.
They did have plexiglass dividers at the registers as well as yellow tape on the ground so people could keep their distance waiting in line.
After two weeks of holding out, I went to the HEB on Parmer and Mopac yesterday at about 4PM. They had A LOT of bread, water and meat, but toilet paper was cleared out. In the store, I was literally actively avoiding people, because no one else was.
As I left, a line had formed outside. EVERYONE was close to each other, and definitely not 6 feet apart. I don't understand why people still don't understand. There were also people with all of their kids (who were definitely old enough to stay home by themselves), as if nothing has changed. You don't need your whole family going to the store with you. You're just multiplying your risk. People need to create lists of things they need, then designate one person to make runs.
As I left, a line had formed outside. EVERYONE was close to each other, and definitely not 6 feet apart. I don't understand why people still don't understand. There were also people with all of their kids (who were definitely old enough to stay home by themselves), as if nothing has changed. You don't need your whole family going to the store with you. You're just multiplying your risk. People need to create lists of things they need, then designate one person to make runs.
I'm in Harlem, NY and it's been pretty cordial and stable actually. I went on Tuesday I think (days of the week mean shit now haha) and people were generally respectful and decent, plenty of food left, TP and rubbing alcohol still sold out though. I'd say people seem to actually be more courteous and polite with the current situation, if anything.
Nothing's been as eerie to me as walking alone through a large, empty airport where some of the shops were literally barricaded with stools and tables and the PA system kept repeating an automated announcement that there was a level 4 alert. The long walk and moving walkway rides across the terminals felt like Black Mesa come to life.
The supermarket's just been annoying because a lot of people don't respect social distancing.
The supermarket's just been annoying because a lot of people don't respect social distancing.
That's just not true. Any protection from droplets is better than none. I guess you think all the doctors and nurses wearing them at work wear them for fashion.
I have been going to the less popular store here Tops and avoiding the popular Wegmans. Tops has been busier than normal, no paper products and very few cleaning products. Some isles are partly empty and all self serve items are either in bags or containers per weighed. They have cart wipes at the entrance and are limiting some products but they are allowing more than 1 person and children in. Everyone I have encountered is trying to stay a good distance away from each other and the cashiers have all been friendly and seemed happy despite what is going on. They do have signs up at the registers to stay 2 cart lengths away from the next person and tape on the floor as well. I try and use the self checkout and a stylus to avoid lines and having the cashier touch my groceries.
I am in Rochester, NY and we have 166 or so confirmed cases in my area.
I am in Rochester, NY and we have 166 or so confirmed cases in my area.
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It has been a mixed bag. Some people don't give a fuck while others shop with gloves and don't want to be in the same aisle as other persons.
Cashiers have plexiglass in front of them and there are stripes on the ground to keep customers apart. They should chase teenagers away. They don't have places to hang so they just stay in groups in front of the shops.
Cashiers have plexiglass in front of them and there are stripes on the ground to keep customers apart. They should chase teenagers away. They don't have places to hang so they just stay in groups in front of the shops.
Maybe they are immune compromised or taking care of a elderly fmaily member and do not want to take risks? If I could find gloves and a mask I would wear them too. I am immune compromised, my lungs can't even handle a cold, Covid 19 could very easily and very likely kill me. Calling people paranoid for being safe is pretty rude.
Chelsea Trader Joe’s Also Closes Temporarily After Staffers Test Positive for COVID-19
It’s now the grocery chain’s third store to close in the city after staffers tested positive for the novel coronavirus
ny.eater.com
My wife is a manager at Aldi's and other than getting employees cleaning supplies and allow them to shop prior to store opening they haven't changed anything in their operation model. They suck for employee leave as well. Our son had a fever and we fear it was covid19 but her boss said that unless he gets tested or she gets tested she has to come to work or find coverage her shift. Thankfully he just had a 24 hour bug and Best Buy allowed me to stay home with him no questions asked.
So that's what the X's on the floor represent. I just went shopping a couple days ago and they weren't there the week before. I had to ask the person behind me to give space because they were right up on me and the place wasn't even crowded.
It's been a mixed bag with social distancing here in stores. I try to avoid people as much as possible by letting them pass, but some people just stroll right up the center of the aisle. We REALLY need to start doing online orders for curb pickup or delivery, because shopping has been incredibly stressful.
It's been a mixed bag with social distancing here in stores. I try to avoid people as much as possible by letting them pass, but some people just stroll right up the center of the aisle. We REALLY need to start doing online orders for curb pickup or delivery, because shopping has been incredibly stressful.
Standing in line on the parking lot, 3 meters apart with your cart. About 20 people in line. Personnel outside letting people in one by one. Disinfecting the handles on the cart. Only 1 person per 10 square meters in the supermarkter allowed. You can only be inside for half an hour. Lines taped on the floor so you know where to stand to keep distance.
This lady, about 65, cuts the line. Just goes in front of everybody. Emloyee tells her; "Excuse me lady, you should wait in line like everyone else. Only heathcare personnel get priority in the queue." She answers "How can you tell I am not healthcare personnel? Maybe I am." I was boiling inside. Did not say anything, but I was pretty angry at that lady.
This lady, about 65, cuts the line. Just goes in front of everybody. Emloyee tells her; "Excuse me lady, you should wait in line like everyone else. Only heathcare personnel get priority in the queue." She answers "How can you tell I am not healthcare personnel? Maybe I am." I was boiling inside. Did not say anything, but I was pretty angry at that lady.
Yeah it was pretty surreal. Our Lidl in Berlin only allows a limited amount of people per store now, everyone is required to take a shopping cart (which are disinfected every 5 minutes) so you automatically keep some distance to the next person in front of you. Floor is marked so you queue up with the 1.5 metres of required distance. Each register has a plastic wall put up around it so you can't cough directly at any employee. Cash has to be put down first. They all wear gloves and face masks and have hand sanitizer next to them all the time.
Toilet paper and pasta are still sold out a week later. Definetly the weirdest shopping experience of my lifetime. At least the employees were still trying to be friendly as usual and we made some jokes. Still you could feel the atmosphere was tense all around with many people having their face covered in some way
Toilet paper and pasta are still sold out a week later. Definetly the weirdest shopping experience of my lifetime. At least the employees were still trying to be friendly as usual and we made some jokes. Still you could feel the atmosphere was tense all around with many people having their face covered in some way
I was at Costco yesterday. There were not a lot of people there. I have never seen so many package of bottled water. It was everywhere. The entire place was very strange. I was one of the few people not wearing a mask. I don't know where everyone is getting them from?
Was at Wegmans last Saturday and the place was stocked. Never seen food piled high like that, and they had aisles full of their own brand toilet paper and kitchen towels. It was about as busy as a regular weekday. Everything was pretty much normal, the bagging guy was wiping down the belt and the terminal between each customer and there was a line on the floor to wait behind.
Went to Aldi on Monday and it was pretty much business as usual, no tp, but they had tons of tissues. Only expensive cuts of meat or frozen meat available, but Wegmans had it all.
Went to Aldi on Monday and it was pretty much business as usual, no tp, but they had tons of tissues. Only expensive cuts of meat or frozen meat available, but Wegmans had it all.
And that's around a couple of blocks away from the Whole Foods I work at. Welp...Chelsea Trader Joe’s Also Closes Temporarily After Staffers Test Positive for COVID-19
It’s now the grocery chain’s third store to close in the city after staffers tested positive for the novel coronavirus
OP
OP
To HEBs credit though, they're maybe the only grocery store in the US that saw this coming. Their response has been incredible.
Inside the Story of How H-E-B Planned for the Pandemic
The grocer started communicating with its Chinese counterparts in January and was running tabletop simulations a few weeks later. (But nothing prepared it for the rush on toilet paper.)www.texasmonthly.com
I really like HEB.
Even though they are a foreign company here, they seem to have the same mentality and business practices as in the USA. Also, their HEB brand of items it's very good and with very reasonable prices. I try to buy HEB branded items whenever I can.
It depends on where you are, I suppose. Here in California a lot of us bought some when the wildfires were dumping ash all over the state a while back.