Tips for how to avoid queuing at supermarkets?

od244051

I went to Aldi late morning. Never the one nearest me which is the worst one. Think I was 9th one in the queue and let 3 customers at a time. As now its one adult per trolley, there was a couple that were kicking off with the guard saying they have every right to shop together. No you don't.

I would like the policy of no more than 2 adults per trolley in place when the social distancing/queuing outside supermarket ends. I have seen 7 adults and three kids around a trolley before. You do not need 10 people to go shopping. That way it will make the supermarkets feel less crowded.

MysteryMe

Late afternoon or evening are going to be the quietest time.
I went into Waitrose on Tuesday at 15:30, 3 people in front and was in within 5 minutes. Plenty of room in the store, people respecting the social distancing. Some gaps in the fresh veg but enough choice of other items to compensate. Fresh meat was available as were toilet rolls, some pasta although the expensive stuff, bread, eggs  etc.
I guess old habits of stocking up for Easter are hard to break but TBH it's pretty much the same as any day is at present. 

DD265

suki1964 said:

I think Im the only person in the UK comforted by seeing a queue

No, it's not just you! My thought process was 'ah, a queue... I'm British - I know what I'm doing with this one'!

[Deleted User]

DD265 said:

suki1964 said:

I think Im the only person in the UK comforted by seeing a queue

No, it's not just you! My thought process was 'ah, a queue... I'm British - I know what I'm doing with this one'!

Joined three queues this week and didn`t even know what they were for 


The fourth one I have to admit I kicked up a fuss about as it was for my bathroom and I live alone.

haz_haxxan

walk to the front of the queue and commit a hold-up

20aday

I work for a supermarket and some people come in at 6am because 9am/11am tend to be the times people have the same idea and subsequently queue.

simplyhannahm

If you live in London it will probably be a lot more difficult.

I live an hour outside London and I went to Sainsbury’s last Thursday morning at 8am. This was after the NHS hour happened. I didn’t have to queue at all. 

I would try going as early as possible. Also maybe try smaller stores like Tesco express or Sainsbury’s local?

od244051

If you are just needing a few bits and you know the smaller supermarkets sell them, use them. I know you may pay 20p more for a loaf of bread. Remember you are not going out for meals, trips out, holidays etc at the moment its time is money and money is time thing at the moment.

Steve_L

blueskinnedbeast said:

DD265 said:

suki1964 said:

I think Im the only person in the UK comforted by seeing a queue

No, it's not just you! My thought process was 'ah, a queue... I'm British - I know what I'm doing with this one'!

Joined three queues this week and didn`t even know what they were for 


The fourth one I have to admit I kicked up a fuss about as it was for my bathroom and I live alone.

That reminds me of a story from someone who worked and lived in Moscow in the Soviet era. He met a friend on the street and they started talking. Then he noticed a third person standing behind them.

Steve_L

Tesco came up with a brilliant idea in our local online newspaper a little while ago. It's apparently quieter just before closing time.

So, you go there an hour before closing time. But so does everyone else, who's read the article. You queue for an hour. They shut the doors before you get to them.