Forum Topic

Social distancing NOT

Decided to go into M&S this afternoon as the queue was only small. Soon found out why. It was rammed inside with people practically bumping into each other. Really what's the point of forming distancing queues outside shops when it's a free for all inside.

Julie Mitchell ● 2377d11 Comments

Complain to Management, they are breaking the rules.

Janice Evans ● 2377d

JulieCompletely agree with you. I went to M&S last week and it was a nightmare with zero proactive control by staff to enforce social distancing. Same applies to Waitrose. I've not been to Sainsbury's since lockdown started but suspect it's no better.

Loraine Pemberton ● 2377d

I’m sorry but I cannot agree with your comments regarding Waitrose. They have a brilliant practise allowing a very low number of shoppers in at any one time, limited check outs available to ensure adequate space when paying, clear floor marking detailing spacing and excellent people on the door controlling entrance on a one in one out basis.

Derek Berman ● 2377d

Sainsburys is ok,plenty of room but dont expect a whole isle enough for 2 people otherwie your queue half a day to get in.And i visited B&Q today. Very orderly queue that took 20 mins. You have to have a trolley which is wiped down after use and when passed to you at door. Its to keep you from wondering off,you have to say with trolley and follow arrows on floor in directions.

Julian Pavey ● 2377d

Sainsbury’s was horrendous yesterday afternoon. No one managing how many people were in there, everyone could wander in.  Families mooching around in groups, people standing in the middle of aisles having a lovely chat. It was heaving! I don’t usually bother with a mask in supermarkets due to limited numbers allowed in but I put one on in there and I’m not going back!  The Richmond branch is so much better organised.

Sam Whittaker ● 2377d

I agree about Waitrose, Derek. Very well organised. Space is a bit tight at the back, by the bread and eggs, so that social distancing can be a bit tricky there. Otherwise absolutely no problem. My only complaint would be that one of the manageresses, who doesn't wear a mask, tends to shout instructions at staff, and I can't help but think of all the droplets she must be broadcasting.

Robert Fish ● 2377d

DerekI agree the door staff are very good, however once inside the store social distancing is not adhered to in any shape or form especially by customers, and sadly by a few Waitrose Partners.

Loraine Pemberton ● 2377d

I was in Marks on Friday, chap letting people in was great and the store was empty easy to social distance. Perhaps they had a minor lapse but from my experience they are following the rules, great job.

Jayne Thorburn ● 2377d

I had the misfortune to be in the back of a taxi just before lockdown when the sun shone through the windscreen at just the angle to highlight every globule of spittle, large and small, that sprayed out of the taxi drivers mouth as he spoke, made worse by him turning his head to face the front seat passenger. Smaller droplets hung in the air for some time. It was foul in the extreme. In my experience even at 2 metres you shouldn't speak directly at someone but just to one side. Somewhere on the internet I've seen an animation of the movements of droplets in a supermarket. Makes you want to hold your breath for entire visit.

James Petri ● 2377d

I had the misfortune to be in the back of a taxi just before lockdown when the sun shone through the windscreen at just the angle to highlight every globule of spittle, large and small, that sprayed out of the taxi drivers mouth as he spoke, made worse by him turning his head to face the front seat passenger. Smaller droplets hung in the air for some time. It was foul in the extreme. In my experience even at 2 metres you shouldn't speak directly at someone but just to one side. Somewhere on the internet I've seen an animation of the movements of droplets in a supermarket. Makes you want to hold your breath for entire visit.

James Petri ● 2377d

In my experience the adherence to social distancing has been better in Waitrose than in M&S (based on around 2-3 visits to each store). It was ok in M&S this evening, which I think might be down to there being less people in the store than on other days - I get the impression that the allowed customer density (by the staff letting you come in) may be lower in Waitrose. If you have fewer people in, then you don't find yourself being held up so much waiting for other people to get clear of where you want to go to, so you are more likely to wait. If there are too many people in, then you either wait for a really long time, or you end up breaking the social distancing guidelines to get to what you want to buy in a reasonable time. I've likened shopping these days to playing a game of pac-man.

Andrew Jones ● 2377d