Can you please not use grocery stores for entertainment when you are bored?

Thank you for doing your job in such a risky time. I hope you get adequate protection as soon as possible.

I certainly won’t be going to stores without good reason. Even though I am out of some things I would otherwise stock up on, I haven’t been going shopping. The one time I went, the store was packed. Seems like the perfect way to get sick, especially now that scientists are saying the virus can live for up to 24 hours on plastic and steel surfaces.

I’m hunkering down and just waiting until I desperately need things and can’t find a way to have them delivered. Meanwhile, family members are going to hardware stores and drugstores every day. I don’t understand that. It’s like they are desperate to soak up all “entertainment” they can get before the (probable) lockdown. Our government and highly respected science centers are on the news every day, urging people to stay home. Seems like authoritarian orders are needed, pleas just won’t do anything. I’m pretty disappointed in my family.

It’s a bit ironic that amusement parks are closed, but hardware stores and garden centers are open. Where does the average senior spend his time…?

Bit surprising to me people would do this. Groceries should put up signs.

I’ll be posting this request on Facebook. I hope it helps.

Why in the world would your company be encouraging you to engage with customers right now? Sure smile, and be available to help, but engaging sounds like you are spending time talking to them and probably closer than 6 feet, as it’s hard to maintain that distance for anyone.

@Jonsblond – is your store back to full stock? I was in my local grocery over the weekend and they were wiped out of fresh veggies.

It is amazing to me that people are still shopping and socializing when it isn’t absolutely necessary. I stocked up and am laying low except for walks outside. At some point, I’ll have to order food online or go to a store but no way would I do it for fun now!

We’re not gonna assume that whole herds of people are stupid and ignorant and, actually, acting dangerous based on one person saying the reason why she did behave as she did, right?

I just got home from Safeway. I was there at 5:55AM and they open at six. About twenty people waiting outside. I got enough toilet paper to last me a few weeks. But there wasn’t much on the shelves. But everyone that was there at open got some.

Other than paper stuff and chicken everything appeared to be in stock.

And everyone there seemed to have a purpose. But yeah, I don’t doubt that some people go just hoping to see chaos.

@rebbel Excellent point!

@rebbel We’re not!

Individual people are reasonably smart. Mobs of people, collectively, are stupid and irrational.

My closest friend decided yesterday that she just had to go to the grocery store but not to entertain herself as she really needed some supplies. We had a long discussion about the dangers. She said that she had thought about it long and hard and determined that it was safer to go to the store now while we have no active cases instead of waiting several weeks when she was desperate for supplies and 90% of the people in the stores were sick with the virus and those who weren’t were feeling scared and violent. I determined that she’s a grown ass woman who knows what’s best for her so I stopped trying to change her mind.

What @janbb said

Why would anyone put themselves and others in danger because they are bored (excluding teenagers, who are rain damaged because of their changing body chemistry)?

Grocery store policies that require staff to engage customers without reason were a bad idea even before any contagion concerns.

My girlfriend was at Walgreens this morning and the people on line were very distanced from each other. People were being as careful as possible from what she said.

@elbanditoroso Our store prepared a week before all hell broke loose. They anticipated this so they stocked up. We are the only store in the city with a constant supply of toilet paper. The shelves get low with supply but there’s either a shipment on it’s way or being delivered at the moment. We are short on bread so our bakery has been baking their own and slicing it for sandwiches.

We were told that the only items we need to wait for are certain medicines and thermometers. It’s a two week wait for those.

We see the repeat customers. We have people who come in every day for a few items. I watched 3 college students roaming around in their animal onesies and no cart or basket. We are the only game in town so the bored show up.

@Jonsblond It seems to be your management needs to step up. They can’t really keep out of the store but you certainly cannot be made to engage closely with them. Presumably there is a counter you can stand behind. A sign about social distancing and a max number of people in the store at one time should be enforced. There are ways to manage this.

Edit: “me” not “be”

Engaging the guest has always been our top priority. This was already in place, I didn’t mean to confuse anyone here. We weren’t told to engage guests because of the virus. Our store is known for cleanliness and friendliness. The two have always been our top priorities.

Things are changing by the hour for us and we’ve probably lost at least ⅓ of our workforce. People voluntarily left and some are taking PTO or not coming back at all. They are afraid to handle cash and be so close to the public. Management has been filling in for those who left. We had three managers in our liquor department last night. Our liquor department lost its night shift crew. We get updates about how often to clean and that’s about it. We are all doing the best we can to make sure the public gets what they need.

@Jonsblond I think jellies are saying because of the coronavirus your store should change it’s policy about engaging customers. Distancing yourselves from customers should probably be the policy. I don’t mean be rude, but I think most customers aren’t worried so much about the friendly right now, they want their items and to be as safe as possible.

^You are correct and I agree. Some of my extroverted coworkers engage and I can see some customers pull back when they do. I keep my distance right now as best as I can while helping them.