The car got a run today, not very far, to the big Tesco at the retail park. I had a couple of vouchers that needed using before the end of the month, and I was curious to see how social distancing was working there. I went about 1pm. The roads were quiet, the car park was not very busy so that was a good sign, there was a queue but it wasn't very long. Most people kept their distance outside and inside the store.
The system was the same as the little Tesco, follow the arrows, follow the one way markings. I had to keep reminding myself to look down. I found I was having to go down aisles which I wouldn't normally go down because there was nothing there that I wanted. Weave my way gently through them trying not to inconvenience other people who were browsing. I suppose others had the same problem with me as I was searching the shelves for exactly what I wanted. Woe betide if you forget something and have to backtrack, or go round the circuit again.
The shop was quiet for a Friday afternoon which surprised me. I did think about putting off the trip until the evening, but I had run out of Mayze's favourite food, so I decided to go for it. It was all very orderly, plenty of room, people were politely avoiding each other.
I spent more that I normally would have done, mainly because everything is more expensive than Aldi. There were some yellow stickers but I was too early for the third and last markdown. I think if I need to save money it will be a matter of going there for 7pm to get the yellow stickers, or going to Aldi at a time to suit me.
Going up and down every aisle means the temptation is there to stop and browse and pick something up which you wouldn't normally buy. Very crafty tactic to get more sales.
There was plenty of staff available making sure things ran smoothly, supervising, watching, and guiding you towards things you couldn't find. A man stood at the end of an aisle in the middle of the shop with a big lollipop sign like he was helping you to cross the road. He was pointing the way towards the checkouts. Another staff member was at the other end telling you which checkout number to go to. No picking out your favourite checkout person, the one you usually have a natter with. Plastic guards protect the staff member operating the till.
There was no crush to get to the best till with the shortest queue, none of that. You weren't allowed to go forward until there was a till person free to serve you.
I think I could get used to this, I like social distancing. It was well organised.
There's a party going on in a garden round the corner from me. Sounds like a karaoke, some awful singing. I was doing some weeding but had to come in. I shall wait till it's dark before I go out for my walk around the village.
Strange having a Bank Holiday on a Friday. I am getting lost with the days.
Toodle pip. ilona
Hi. My niece is a manager in a Tesco, she helped with the setting up of the one way system up and down the aisles so I asked her about it. It's not to make you buy more by going along aisles you don't want to but to enforce the social distancing. The rule is to follow people down the aisles, keeping your distance, and taking things from the shelves as you come to what you want. If someone is at a standstill in front of you choosing something then you wait until they move on, not overtake. So your weaving your way between people isn't how it should work and really a member of staff should have told you the correct way. I'm not going out shopping myself as I have a family member in a high risk group but it's interesting to hear what's going on out there and if the shelves are getting restocked quickly enough now. Have people stopped panic buying now? Some must have loo rolls and soap to last them a lifetime!
ReplyDeleteDidn't see any panic buying, people seemed to have a normal shop in their trolleys. It is impractical to expect people to wait behind someone who is pondering which cheese to buy. It's going to cause a ripple effect of stopping and starting which will lead to a lot of frustration. I saw people going the wrong way down aisles, oblivious to everyone because they were concentrating on finding what they want. You can't expect people to change the way they have been shopping for years, and pick up a new system in a few weeks.
DeleteI waited for people to take their items from the shelves and I was happy to wait but some were just chatting and I didn't think I should say "move on" to them and I was so fed up I called to an assistant "I can't get past" and reversed.I heard another assistant remind customers they were going the wrong way x
DeleteIt's a completely different way of Shopping, flis. I would normally engage in a bit of chit chat with other shoppers and staff, but now everyone eyes each other with suspicion. Now it's like a military operation, keep your head down and concentrate on what you are doing. I felt it was well organised but a bit over the top, treating us all like cattle, expecting us to move slowly towards the shed at milking time. A prod here a prod there, this way that way.
DeleteWe have been out in our cul de sac singing We'll meet again......All at least three or four metres apart.I It was a nice community feel in these dismal times.Stay safe.
ReplyDeleteI went to iceland today. The queue went down quite quickly. I think it helps that most people aren't browsing. They are in, out, job done.
ReplyDeleteI am not familiar with Iceland, hardly ever go in there. Thanks for your feedback.
DeleteOne of the most difficult things about this stay at home order is that I am constantly losing track of what day it is. Every day feels like Saturday! So strange.
ReplyDeletePeople pass my window when going to school or going to work. That is not happening now at the times you would expect it. My street has gone a lot quieter now.
DeleteActually quite liking the social distancing also. Always hated people you don't know pushing up behind and getting in my personal space! Your 'new' curtains look lovely. Haven't bought curtains for many years and now need some. Will have to check out the op shops whenever that becomes an option again, it will be interesting to see how they organise access in those sort of businesses. New curtains seem to cost squillions!!
ReplyDeleteYes, I like the social distancing, I hope it stays foremost in people's minds when they are out and about.
DeleteI think the only time I bought new curtains was when I moved from a small terraced house to a bigger semi, and my curtains didn't fit the windows. I bought new curtains for the big bay windows, they were ever so expensive I seem to remember. heavy fabric but they lasted years. Now I pick them up at charity shops, or people give them to me.
I know this sounds strange but I rather like the distancing. In Waitrose they don't mind where you go if you just keep the 6ft away and its nice and calm.
ReplyDeleteBriony
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So do I, Briony. We don't have a Waitrose, but the idea that people are capable of making their own minds up about how they keep out of the way of others, appeals to me.
DeleteThe last two times I went out I noticed all the signs and dots and xs on the floor. I don't mind them and it doesn't tempt me to stop in aisles I don't need. However it does mean more walking and physical discomfort for me. I can cope as I don't go out that often these days.
ReplyDeleteI can see that it would be a problem for those who don't have full mobility. Even back ache and joint pains can affect how long people are able to stand for. If they are to keep this one way system up, more people are going to need help with their shopping, either getting someone else to do it for them, or getting it delivered. It would help if wheelchairs were available for staff to assist the not so mobile shoppers.
DeleteYes in Canada there is very little provided by stores in the way of wheelchairs and scooters for mobility challenges shoppers. Mostly people come in their own except an American store called Walmart. I think Americans tend to provide that kind of help.
DeleteYes I've found my shopping bill has gone up too. I usually but different items from different shops where I know they are cheapest. But now that involves several lots of queuing and the store I use most, Wilkinsons, has the worst queue of all. It really bugs me having to pay more.
ReplyDeleteYes, me too, Linda. I look at my receipt and think, this has got to stop. I can't go on putting things in my trolley which I know I can get cheaper elsewhere. I only use Wilko when I am looking for special offers on cat food. Often walk in and out without buying anything because the price isn't right. I won't be going in any longer because it's not very often that they do offers.
DeleteI went to Tesco on Tuesday even though I had thought I wouldn't use big shops for a while.I needed a lot as I hadn't been for 1 month,less 2 days.They were letting far less customers in now and I preferred it.There were a couple of close encounters by people that seemed unaware of the virus though.I was hot with my mask on but hoped it may help.The staff there too were very helpful.Yesterday I sat with a neighbour in another ladies front garden as it's quite large and we were able to sit at a distance for a chat x
ReplyDeleteOur Tesco is just the same all very well laid out with 2m tape on the floor to keep us distancing just right and lots of staff to help you negotiate the one way system. Unfortunately lots of aisles aren't directly opposite the aisles in front so there is a lot of diagonal walking to keep the one way system operating. I did find myself buying a four can pack of cider whilst I queued for the checkout in the alcohol aisle ... that is very crafty of them, they could have just as easily put the queue for checkouts in the pet food aisle.
ReplyDeleteThe queue for the tills at the little Tesco was through the booze aisle. I didn't get my bottle of beer because someone distracted me with a sarcastic comment.
DeleteThe queue for the tills at the big Tesco was through the freezer aisle. When you look for something there you have to read the signs, directing you to the right freezer. I wanted frozen fruit but couldn't go and get it until I had everything else and was ready to check out.
I normally put things in my trolley as I remember them, no matter where in the store they are. Can't do that now.
Would it not help writing a list to help remember what you need?
DeleteYes, it would. If I remember to take the list with me.
DeleteIt was nice to get a reply to my comment thank you. I've mentioned some of these comments to my niece, she says there's a great deal of effort and hard work involved in trying to keep customers and staff safe and still being able to provide for their needs. Everyday they deal with irate customers who don't want to accept that the system isn't what it used to be and might not be perfect. The problem is with those customer's who don't seem to realise or accept the crisis that is affecting all of us in some way. If anyone's shopping isn't how it used to be that's for a reason, thankfully there are lovely customers who thank them for what they're doing and accept that some small disruption in their lives is a small price to pay to keep safe.
ReplyDeleteIf people have to adhere to a one way system, have to queue more than usual and sometimes not be able to get certain things they wanted then they should really be thankful that the supermarket is trying it's hardest. My niece didn't choose to put herself at risk of Covid when she followed her career, she does so because she cares for humanity. When a customer berates her for some reason she feels like she could cry, she's tired and life isn't normal for her or her family either. She runs the risk everyday of taking the virus home to her young children. What is a bit of disruption to our shopping lives in the face of this?
Yes, I think it must be quite difficult to organise. It will be alright in the end when we all get used to it.
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