When do you think grocery shopping will have a sense of normalcy again?

[RamblingMad]

Being at home 24/7 is tough. Trying to figure out meal plans based what I can order online is challenging.

 

[tvguy]

Friend just posted a photo of Costco this afternoon. Other than paper products and pasta, shelves are fully stocked again.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Has anyone been notified of a change to using one's reusable bag?

It's only 1 company at this point in our area but as of tomorrow Hy-Vee will no longer allow reusable bags to be used in their stores: "Because it is not always easy to know the sanitization procedures customers are taking at their homes to keep the bags clean, this is one more way the grocer is helping prevent the spread of the virus."

 

[Hikergirl]

Has anyone been notified of a change to using one's reusable bag?

It's only 1 company at this point in our area but as of tomorrow Hy-Vee will no longer allow reusable bags to be used in their stores: "Because it is not always easy to know the sanitization procedures customers are taking at their homes to keep the bags clean, this is one more way the grocer is helping prevent the spread of the virus."

If the stores around here adopt that for the time being I hope they waive the 5 cent fee they charge for paper ones now that plastic is banned.

 

[dawnball]

Has anyone been notified of a change to using one's reusable bag?

None of our local stores are doing this, but it kind of makes sense. Probably one of the less cleaned things most people have in their homes.

 

[loves to dive]

My hubby went to Kroger a few days ago just to get bread and some meat. He said it was sort of stocked, paper goods were gone and no meat to be had. He is going to try to go back again in a couple of days to try to get meat. A little humor:

A horrible thing happened tonight, (we had Corkys ribs cause it was the only meat available, not even hamburger). I drank my last beer and he only has 3 left. The horror. On the good side I have two wine racks that hold 30 bottles each that are full, my little wine fridge is full and there are about 5 bottles yet to go in the racks. My world is going to be ok. Hubby's not so much cause he doesn't drink wine.

 

[Diznygrl]

The reusable bag thing wouldn't surprise me at this point. It was just about three weeks ago when I posted somewhere on these boards that the cashier at Walmart refused to touch my reusable bags and I had to pack them myself. At that time I thought it was a huge overreaction (I still kinda do, TBH but I guess it's more understandable now).

 

[SaintsManiac]

The reusable bag thing wouldn't surprise me at this point. It was just about three weeks ago when I posted somewhere on these boards that the cashier at Walmart refused to touch my reusable bags and I had to pack them myself. At that time I thought it was a huge overreaction (I still kinda do, TBH but I guess it's more understandable now).

Ever since you posted that I left my bags in the car.

 

[Starwind]

The stores here are not not allowing their staff to pack customer's reusable bags, you have to pack your own if you want to use one. However, they have also stopped the normal $0.05 per bag fee for plastic bags.

 

[DisLiss]

Being at home 24/7 is tough. Trying to figure out meal plans based what I can order online is challenging.

I agree. We're trying to refrain from shopping as long as possible, but there are a few things that we're going to miss when we run out, and we'll run out soon. So as that list of items (that cannot be ordered online) grows, we'll eventually have to go back out to the store.

We're on our last loaf of sandwich bread and pack of tortillas. We can make both of those items, but I know my youngest won't eat the homemade ones---or at least not until a decent amount of time has gone by without them. I'll probably start with non-sandwich loaves to get him used to the idea. Things like banana bread, naan, biscuits, etc.

These are things I could technically buy online, except that right now I can't find anyone able to ship them to me. So maybe that will change in a few more days, too.

 

[DisLiss]

Someone mentioned on Facebook today that they saw someone go into a store and come out with the 2 big packs of toilet paper that are the limit, then go back in, and come back with 2 more, and then do it a 3rd time as well.

And I'm thinking that since Saturday, we've replaced exactly 2 rolls of toilet paper in my house. 2 rolls. I just don't get the toilet paper thing.

 

[1lilspark]

At least in FL not for a while by the time this tapers it will be hurricane season then thanksgiving/christmas at least when it comes to crowds

supply wise it’s just interesting to see what people buy considering it’s not like hurricane season where power outages are given....
The cleaning, paper goods, water aisle is barren.... milk, eggs, and most produce are also hot items as is ground beef ;the whole meat department really)

I joked and said yesterday was less approaching hurricane crowd and more peak weekend crowd

 

[pineapplepalms]

Things are a little different here since shelter-in-place started. Last week when I went to Trader Joe's, lots of people had massive carts, lines were long, and the employees couldn't work fast enough to stock things as they ran out (I was able to ask one of them who brought me milk from the back).

I went yesterday and it was a different scene altogether, much calmer and quieter. They had us line up spaced apart from each other outside the store, and only let someone in if someone came out. Everyone got a squirt of hand sanitizer before they went in. The number of shoppers in the store was kept to a minimum so it was easy to practice social distancing. Most items were well stocked except for things like pasta, rice, onions, potatoes, and sugar. Everyone was limited to one shopping cart and up to two of each item. When leaving the store, you got another squirt of hand sanitizer. I was really glad they're taking it seriously and it made for a pleasant shopping experience without lines or crowds.

Went to Target afterwards and they didn't have anything like that implemented. Everyone was just shopping like normal, but due to shelter-in-place it wasn't very crowded so social distancing was easy and there were no lines. Still no paper goods, pasta, pasta sauce, or disinfecting wipes.

 

[godisney14]

It will get interesting when we hear more and more about store employees testing positive. There’s reports here and there slowly coming out. For example, an employee at a Costco warehouse in MI, an Amazon warehouse worker in NY, and a couple supermarkets in San Francisco region.

We are just buying packaged groceries now, and opening deliveries outside of the house then recycling the box/plastic immediately.

 

[NYCgrrl]

@skyblue17 and @NYCgrrl If you know anyone in need around the NYC area, please share this with them. World Central Kitchen is an AMAZING organization that seems to fly under the radar.

View attachment 481929

What a thoughtful list!
Going to post it on my building's forum.

 

[RamblingMad]

It will get interesting when we hear more and more about store employees testing positive. There’s reports here and there slowly coming out. For example, an employee at a Costco warehouse in MI, an Amazon warehouse worker in NY, and a couple supermarkets in San Francisco region.

We are just buying packaged groceries now, and opening deliveries outside of the house then recycling the box/plastic immediately.

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/new-coronavirus-stable-hours-surfaces
"The scientists found that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was detectable in aerosols for up to three hours, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel."

 

[kaytieeldr]

That's interesting, @RamblingMad. For days, Dr. Birxghas been saying the virus doesn't survive on cardboard.

 

[katmigordon]

I know my family will be going together, that makes 3 of us. Why? Because neither me nor my mom drives, so the wife has to do the driving. She can't do the shopping alone right now because she doesn't cook. We can't just make a list and send it with her because we have no clue what they'll have at the store when we go. This means mom & I need to be there to play a mental game of chopped for the week ahead. And why not just send the driver and my mom who does half the cooking? Because when mom came back our grocery bill would be through the roof - she has an impulse control issue. I would go alone with wife - but then mom would throw fits every day for the rest of the week.

The good news is we never stay together when we go.
Mom will go off and figure out what she wants to do for the week, I'll figure out what I want to do with what I can get - and we'll send the wife off to look for things like toilet paper, and the things she'll want to do for lunches & breakfasts for work.

I didn't read the whole thread so not sure if anyone else has talked about this, but one thing that's baffling me right now is the people who are still bringing their whole family to the grocery store. Why does it take more than one person to buy groceries? I went to the store on Monday afternoon, and saw so many couples shopping together, couples with multiple children, etc. I saw one couple with a baby - mom was pushing the baby in an umbrella stroller and coughing right into her hand

I understand if there are single parents with young kids who don't have another option, but in most cases I don't know why one family member can't do the shopping alone. I realize that if mom or dad catches the virus at the store the whole family will get it anyway, but that's not the point - we're supposed to be avoiding crowds, and people are making the stores so much more crowded than they need to be.

 

[Elle23]

I was hoping things were starting to settle down, but it was crazy at 6 am at Kroger this morning. I always go at this time when I get off of work and am usually one of the only ones in the store. There were hordes of people this morning. The line to use the self check registers (all that was open) stretched halfway across the store.

They were stocking TP and it was being snapped up as soon as it was loaded off the pallet.

There were zero bread products, but thankfully a bread stocker showed up just as I was leaving and I was able to snag a loaf.

I don’t think I will ever take “normal” for granted again!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

It may not be much but I appreciate the sentiment all the same---"Walmart is giving bonuses which will be $300 for full-time hourly workers and $150 for part-time hourly workers. Workers employed as of March 1 will qualify and receive the bonus on April 2" (so quickly enough).

Additionally: "hiring 150,000 additional employees through the end of May in its stores, clubs, distribution centers and fulfillment centers. Walmart says the positions will be temporary at first, but many will convert to permanent roles over time. expediting the hiring process for key roles like cashiers and stockers. The usual two-week application process will be reduced to just 24 hours."

In the coming weeks and months this should help out on the restocking front throughout the U.S.