Non essential shops opening - will you rush to buy?

A BIG NO!
I'm happily cured of my shopping habit.

Due to health issues I find standing for very long extremely difficult and if I can’t sit down get very very dizzy so the queueing system is the worse thing for me. I will have to avoid shops because of this both small and large. I wonder how many others also struggle with this and with the extended walks to shops because of parking issues now everyone is using their cars?

A very useful post Dorsetcup thank you. I too recommend Iceland, not my usual supermarket but they did come up with the goods when nobody else would!

Online shopping for me. I'm doing without any new clothes or shoes.

Apart from the odd late night supermarket shop to pick up odds and ends, can't be bothered with all the queueing, thank goodness for online shopping!!

I dont drive and my local shops are a big supermarket,a hairdressers and a pub. To get to my nearest town involves buses. At this moment in time I cant think of anything that I really need that would make me go. I used to enjoy an occasional trip into town to look for craft supplies but mainly to meet a friend or daughter in an independent cafe for lunch or coffee. That I am starting to miss. Looking at the new rules for shopping,even if they are adhered too ,shopping does not look an enjoyable experience! I know you can buy a take away coffee but then access to toilets is restricted. Maybe it's my age but I simply cannot imagine a trip by bus,looking around the shops,having a coffee and then no rest break! I think for me the biggest factor is I'm not convinced it's safe for someone high risk.
I havent been further than my drive since mid March, I'm fine with that, I have a garden and nice neighbours and good friends. I do feel for those who relied on time spent in cafes and community resources who have now lost all of that. Some local traders have managed to adapt which is good.
For me online shopping has been a life line. Grocery shopping is something I've always done. During the early lockdown it was impossible to get a slot. For those of you who are struggling google food deliveries. I have always resisted Facebook but signed up. It's a wealth of information about local suppliers. My first delivery was from a supplier that normally supplies small corner shops,limited but appreciated!
Iceland saved my bacon. I know from comments on Facebook some areas have had problems with orders,but they have been excellent. They are more limited than bigger supermarkets but they have increased their range a little and you can get most things you need.
One very useful website is shopping slot. You type in your post code and it shows you available delivery slots from Tesco, Waitrose, Asda and Iceland. You can pay a small fee to be emailed when slots available but I havent. I've managed to get three Asda deliveries. Iceland often has a few slots to. I think things are getting better as I've logged on to my Sainsburys App and there was a slot on there.
I apologise for the lengthy post but hopefully the information will help those who need and are still struggling to get shopping delivered. I remember how awful it was initially knowing that I was stuck,and I have a daughter to help if needed. Now might be a good time to contact supermarkets if you feel you should be on their priority list, I know Sainsburys initially went on date of birth from Nectar cards,which of course excluded younger vulnerable shoppers.
Finally I never cease to be amazed by what you can get online to overcome problems. Last Friday I had a call from my surgery saying my GP wanted to know my blood pressure. I was a bit flummoxed as receptionist assumed I would have a home monitor. The alternative was a trip to surgery by bus! I got a machine online for under £20 delivered next day?

Woodlane must be according to the area you live. Many other posters have and are doing the same with success, as I said at the beginning there was complete chaos for everybody, but now it should have become easier.

After spending three months buying nothing but food, I think I've proved to myself that I've more than enough clothes 'to see me out' and if there's anything else I need, I'll look online before venturing out into some shops that are so small, they make me feel nervous.

Definitely not.

I will not be rushing into any shops. I do not consider it a social event, it is something you do when you are in need of a product and you spend the shortest possible time going from A to B.
I sympathise Marmight, it took us five weeks to get a supermarket slot, we had to eat out of store cupboard and freezer. When the first grocery delivery came it had no bread, milk or eggs available. DH had to go out to a shop and we didn't even have a mask then.

I've been shopping for neighbours & friends all through anyway so not worried. I am really looking forward to proper shopping again.
Our local garden centre is very well managed & you have to take a trolley even if you are only buying something small. This is because they are using the trollies to keep distancing correct. The trollies are about 4' long so with you pushing them you are 6'away from anyone else. They also have a one way system through shop & grounds. One in-one out to get in. I was very impressed every time I have been.

Not yet but I do realise the High Street has to be supported if it is to continue.

I'll leave it a week or two and see how things are going.

Definatly not. Not yet

Try click and collect shop from Asda.
They don’t seem so booked up.
Have managed two weeks running.
You don’t even have to get out of your car.
They bring it to you.

First time I’ve done it, and very impressed.

I don't need anything, would have to travel by bus to get to other shops (which I'm not keen on doing) and so will continue to just patronise the local shops (mostly food/convenience stores) for now. Which reminds me, I must pay another visit to the local fish & chip shop, ho ho!
I imagine it may be the younger generation who is mad keen to go shopping again.

Sorry BlueSky but I disagree with your comments about food shopping - have you any idea how many people have struggled to get online slots? and if and when they did half the items were missing or substituted - in some cases for nothing like the item that was requested
I am a local voluinteer and do food shopping for 2 people, one isn't online so relies on me totally, the other, an elderly gent caring for his wife who has dementia, is but has not been able to get slots or the items he needs.

Browsing, with a good coffee (or two) was a pleasure. I live alone, so it got me out if the house, and provided a bit of social interaction. All my clubs etc are still cancelled so I may go in a couple of weeks, just for an outing really. I won’t know if it is a relatively safe experience, unless I try. If it looks like a free for all, I’ll just come home, drenched in hand sanitiser.

I don’t actually need anything apart from a couple of bras, and the little shop I go to isn’t opening yet - well, she can’t do fittings from 2m away!

Went to nearby wellknown supermarket yesterday it was chaos people everywhere impossible to stay 2 metres away people just not following the rules my first time since lockdown won't be going again any time soon.

I do a big food shop once a fortnight and I have no plans to visit the shops as we can manage with what we've got. Our only exception is hubby visited our local garden centre once as he loves gardening. We do need to buy a new tv as ours has broken and too expensive to repair. It's difficult enough spending 24 hours together without having to agree what we watch on the tv in the bedroom! So we will be heading out tomorrow as we need to check out the difference picture qualities otherwise I would have bought online. We have our masks at the ready.

Going shopping for me is a social event so unless I could go safely with a relative or friend there doesn’t seem the same incentive any more - and the cafes are closed.

The quick answer is ‘no’. Also to make matters worse there have been a few BLM protests in my local big shopping area and I would not want to get caught up in that (particularly with ‘rent-a-crowd’ being involved.

Have been visiting Marks and Spencer’s food hall once a week. It’s all very organised in there.
One in, one out. Trolleys only in use.
Assistant wipes the trolley handles before handing it over.

It seems very calm in there and I don’t feel rushed at all.
Up until now, only the downstairs open, but I suspect that might change tomorrow.

No - not going shopping for anything other than real necessities. (And then probably online, if possible.)

No!

but then, what to do? elderly, like me,, how to find people to mix...churches closed for their additional meeting places etc?

what to do?

I read that a lot of shops will close their changing rooms, so guess will have to buy and return if not suitable, which defeats the purpose of shopping in store!