topic Re: How are your Stores at this Time? in Community Chat

How are your Stores at this Time?

CherryHugs — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 19:33:43 GMT

Went to Walmart today and they have only the first set of doors open, carts lined up along to make one path.

Kroger had 6 feet marked areas in the line, said stand here.

Hardly anyone was wearing a mask, only about 4 and more wearing gloves.

Still out of any santizer and hand wipes at both!

Re: How are your Stores at this Time?

Mombo1 — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 19:43:47 GMT

@CherryHugs Yes...ran to Walmart early yesterday...same thing . Since I only go during "senior hours", there weren't many people there and I was in and out in no time.
Our CVS has also put new precautions in place. All employees wear masks. Directional signs to keep a safe flow.
I have decided to avoid the grocery stores for now. My daughter has offered to pick up and deliver what I need. Thankful for the help.

Re: How are your Stores at this Time?

CelticCrafter — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 19:44:42 GMT

This week was as bad as 3 weeks ago.

Last week and the week before we were able to get everything we had on the list.

This week there was no meat at all, no paper products at all, very little pasta, no jarred sauce on the shelves. Didn't even go down the cleaning aisle.

It was a little later than what we normally go so maybe that's why.

Re: How are your Stores at this Time?

millieshops — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 19:46:38 GMT

@CherryHugs My neighbors tell me our stores aren't terribly crowded (I haven't been near a store for 8 days and counting now) but yes, there are still shortages. Just not as bad and most of the open stores have social distancing plans and limitations stopping selfish hoarders.

I will not totally deplete any of my critical product needs before I venture out but right now I feel safest right here at home.

Re: How are your Stores at this Time?

homedecor1 — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 19:51:45 GMT

@CherryHugs

I saw this at the WM when I went to Walgreens (same shopping area). What are the carts blocking the front door to WM for? I did see a long line of people this was around 11. Are they "limiting" people inside?

I will go to neighborhood WM tomorrow early. I try to limit my time inside stores. Last week our store was well stocked but our "stay at home" order just went into effect last night.

Thankyou I'm curious.

Re: How are your Stores at this Time?

sunshine 919 — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 19:57:27 GMT

I am in Reno, went to Walmart yesterday with a face covering. I am seeing more people doing this. Our governor has suggested it. Not too much ground beef. Still no toilet paper however Costco finally has toilet paper. one pkg per customer. (should have done this long ago) at least they are doing it now. Some stores are requesting only one family member. I think they are doing this because there would be groups of families and each one was hoarding. The stores do have the 6 ft markings on the floor and everyone seems respectful of this. Walmart was not super busy.

Re: How are your Stores at this Time?

meem120 — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 20:30:46 GMT

went to target 90% of ppl wearing masks. Then went to grocery store. No bananas, icecurg lettuce, spinach or kale.

Re: How are your Stores at this Time?

esmerelda — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 20:35:33 GMT

In the grocery store Wednesday...they got rid of the smaller carts because of social distancing. The regular ones are wider. Saw more gloves amd masks on people...and more fear in the eyes above the masks...than I saw a week ago. Sneeze guards for cashiers, plastic over the card scanner.

Re: How are your Stores at this Time?

itsmagic — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 20:35:31 GMT

I went to our local chain grocery store this morning. Half the people had masks on (as did I) and they have now installed the cough/sneeze guards. No wipes for the carts. Not a lot of people. Lots of empty or half filled shelves still but I did see toilet paper. I needed oregano and I was surprised the spices were pretty low. I got the last oregano but had to buy a large when I usually buy a small bottle. Was able to get a pack of chicken breasts. Lots of hams for Easter though. Also the store seemed so quiet because no one is talking to anyone else. Just grabbing what they need and go.

Re: How are your Stores at this Time?

BlueFinch — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 20:36:07 GMT

I went to my local HEB (a Tx grocery chain) yesterday and was able to find everything I wanted (except paper goods and disinfectants) -- and I needed a basket full.

I hadn't been to the grocery store since March 9th, so I was running on empty. It was down to, take the risk, or having to go squirrel hunting in my backyard . I could manage for a month, now. Trust me, my squirrels were not scared.

My observation was that it was moderately crowded, but people were trying to give each other space, although this was not always possible.

When there last month, before the full fledged chaos, I did not see any masks. Yesterday, half of the customers were wearing masks. Mostly, self made attempts.

I noticed staff was friendly and helpful, in spite of their risks, but customers were very self directed and almost all seemed uncomfortable. I was so glad to have some groceries, but saddened by the eyes peering over the masks that said a lot, AND, the obvious risks to all.

Re: How are your Stores at this Time?

catter70 — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 20:36:35 GMT

My Walmart only has one entrance/exit opened on the 6 a.m. opening on Tues. (senior day). They had the area blocked off with orange tape so there was just about enough room to get your cart thru. When things were "normal" they always had one of the entrances/exits closed for the over night hours.

Re: How are your Stores at this Time?

bikerbabe — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 20:36:37 GMT

Overall pretty good unless you want to clean, use the bathroom 😉, or cook rice or pasta.

Re: How are your Stores at this Time?

GrailSeeker — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 20:43:27 GMT

I avoided Walmart and Aldi yesterday, instead going 12 miles down the road to the next town in our county. Town of under 3000 and a little isolated. They had everything. I got bananas and grapes, milk, butter, bread, meat. They had everything and were very well stocked except for toilet paper, handsanitizer, or disinfectants.

The cashiers wore gloves and masks. They still have hours of 6 am to 10 pm and were busy with a mostly older clientele. No kids whatsoever.

The news the night before was that a person visiting family in our county had tested positive and had returned to their own county. They are tracking any contacts. I think it threw a little fear into everybody, anyway business was brisk.

Re: How are your Stores at this Time?

Eager2Learn — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 20:52:01 GMT

I went to Target at senior hour Weds AM. The was a line waiting but it wasn't terribly long. Once the doors opened the line moved quickly. There was a station for cart wipes. I was the only one using it. The wipes were some sort of dry towel (not sure how much good that did).

There was no meat, a small selection of fruit and vegetables, some frozen meals, some small containers of milk.

No napkins, 2 boxes of tissues, several toilet paper.

A few people were wearing masks (as was I), one woman pulled her mask down to speak to the cashier (evidently she doesn't know the purpose of the mask). There were a couple people with large scarves wrapped around their head to cover their faces.

There were many younger people in the store.

The floors at checkout were marked for social distancing.

Re: How are your Stores at this Time?

proudlyfromNJ — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 20:56:42 GMT

Husband has been going mostly to Wegmans. He said it’s usually not overly crowded and they are usually pretty stocked.

Our farm markets will take an order via phone, text, email and deliver to your car. They usually have local east coast things and there are no crowds to push through.

Re: How are your Stores at this Time?

tobes — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 21:13:51 GMT

My state, connecticut, is limiting amount of people in the story to 50 as per the CT Governor

Re: How are your Stores at this Time?

september — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 21:16:53 GMT

I'm only shopping once a week, and rotate to different stores for more variety. Today, I went to senior hour at Whole Foods. I got everything I need for the next week....store not too crowded, in and out in less than 20 minutes.

only a few people were wearing masks. I think a lot of us just don't have them yet

Re: How are your Stores at this Time?

kitcat51 — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 21:24:28 GMT

The stores here are busy & the businesses that are open are hiring workers to start immediately so that's a good thing. I'm out everyday & it's odd to see the all empty parking lots & roads...I want everyday normal again.

Re: How are your Stores at this Time?

CherryHugs — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 21:46:17 GMT

Just saw these changes for Walmart:

Trying to practice social distancing? Use our pharmacy curbside pick up option to pick up medications & stay safe.

Simply give us a call when you arrive in the parking lot and we’ll walk your medication out to you. Must be zero dollar copay or paying with credit/debit card.

Walmart Makes Changes to Access to Stores Nationally

Walmart said in a blog post that they will be installing social distance markers in stores, sneeze guards, and temperature checks in stores. They will be expanding paid leave policies, make gloves and masks available.

“While many of our customers have been following the advice of the medical community regarding social distancing and safety, we have been concerned to still see some behaviors in our stores that put undue risk on our people.

We want to encourage customers to bring the fewest number of people per family necessary to shop, allow for space with other customers while shopping, and practice social distancing while waiting in lines

. We’re also seeing states and municipalities set varying policies regarding crowd control – which has created some confusion regarding shopping,” said Walmart in a blog post.

One of the biggest changes is store access, starting Saturday Walmart will regulate how many shoppers are in the store at one time. Movement in isles will be one way only, using floor markers.

“Stores will now allow no more than five customers for each 1,000 square feet at a given time, roughly 20 percent of a store’s capacity.

To manage this restriction, the associates at a store will mark a queue at a single-entry door (in most cases the Grocery entrance) and direct arriving customers there, where they will be admitted one-by-one and counted. Once a store reaches its capacity, customers will be admitted inside on a “1-out-1-in” basis.”

Re: How are your Stores at this Time?

LorelaiGilmore — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 23:11:03 GMT

I went to Costco this morning, my first time wearing a mask. More shoppers than I have seen before were wearing masks. I was able to get everything I needed. Unfortunately, people are not paying much attention to social distancing guidelines.

Also, I am not a senior, but I've driven by a few times during the senior hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and people are lined up all the way around the building at least an hour before they open. Crazy!