Coronavirus in Massachusetts (Boston: schools, live, cost)

[AtkinsonDan]

Originally Posted by NewfieMama

I hate the arrows. I really do. If it takes 10,000 hours to be an "expert" at something, then I am most definitely a grocery shopping expert. I have list. It is organized--I know EXACTLY what I need from every aisle. I am efficient, I do not retrace steps. The arrows make my efficiency a nightmare. I don't need every aisle, yet now I have to go down every aisle because if I don't, I can't get to the aisle I need from dedicated direction. I'm actually in the store LONGER now. Also, my store has changed the arrows many times. So as soon as I think I know the flow of traffic, they've changed the arrows and it completely throws off my plan. I tend to go to the store when it's less crowded, so I now do that thing where I park my cart at the end of the aisle, make sure nobody is in the aisle, then sneak down the aisle to grab the one thing I need.

When I see somebody go the wrong direction without a care in the world, I secretly admire them for their ability to brazenly defy the rules without the guilt I feel.

I am somewhat fortunate in that most of what I eat is found in the produce, meat and dairy departments located around the perimeter of the store. Outside of bread, tea and paper products I rarely have to go into the aisles. The bread aisle at my store is located between the meat and dairy departments with an arrow that goes from the back of the store to front. The particular bread I buy is only a third of way down the aisle from the back. I'll go into the aisle with my cart to pick up the bread but instead of going all the way down the aisle and back up the next one, I simply keep the cart pointed in the direction of the arrow but look over my shoulder and walk backwards out of the aisle.

[NewfieMama]

Originally Posted by AtkinsonDan

The particular bread I buy is only a third of way down the aisle from the back. I'll go into the aisle with my cart to pick up the bread but instead of going all the way down the aisle and back up the next one, I simply keep the cart pointed in the direction of the arrow but look over my shoulder and walk backwards out of the aisle.

Yes! I use this tactic often if I know the item I need is in near the end of the aisle! Funny that we've all come up with our tactics now that it's been this way for months.

[massnative71]

I typically shop at night when the store is almost empty. And no I am not going to go all the way around if what I need is 10 ft. the wrong way up an aisle, if there is nobody else there.

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by massnative71

I typically shop at night when the store is almost empty. And no I am not going to go all the way around if what I need is 10 ft. the wrong way up an aisle, if there is nobody else there.

right I said I thought that was ok too

[jtolpin]

I go the right way down the aisles in the stores, 90% of the time. At some point, I end up not needing something down the aisle, and have to make a choice, go down it, or skip it. Then if I skip it, I mess things up later. Sometimes it works out. Sometimes I Just walk down it, and move along... Sometimes I get more tired (with MS) but I do anyways.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by massnative71

I typically shop at night when the store is almost empty. And no I am not going to go all the way around if what I need is 10 ft. the wrong way up an aisle, if there is nobody else there.

Yeah, me too. When my girlfriend and I have gone together over the past several months, we have just gotten into the habit of going up an down every aisle, following the arrows, in order. It's kind of annoying, but it's saved us a lot of doubling back which was a pretty frequent occurrence pre-COVID since we inevitably forget 1 or 2 (or 9 or 10) things. But yeah, I'll do exactly the same thing sometimes and I've also caught myself inadvertently going the wrong way. At this point, I generally shrug it off when I see others going the wrong way and assume it's not intentional. It happens way too often to get mad at everyone. If this was going to be a permanent thing, those little one-way gates would easily fix the problem. But as long as it's temporary, there's no sense in doing that.

If anyone's in Boston and wants to see just how chaotic arrows can look, check out Time Out Market. It's an absolute joke in front of many of the stalls.

[msRB311]

I was at Derby st in hingham yesterday and there was a long line/wait out of the door. I was baffled. No idea why anyone would wait. There are other grocery stores that dont have lines.

[porterhouse]

Covid or no, going to a grocery store on Sunday is on my avoid list.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by msRB311

I was at Derby st in hingham yesterday and there was a long line/wait out of the door. I was baffled. No idea why anyone would wait. There are other grocery stores that dont have lines.

Yeah, we've managed to not stand in line once for a grocery store. I've seen plenty, particularly at the Wegmen's in Medford, but between picking different times and going to different stores, it's easily avoidable.

[id77]

Originally Posted by lrfox

Yeah, we've managed to not stand in line once for a grocery store. I've seen plenty, particularly at the Wegmen's in Medford, but between picking different times and going to different stores, it's easily avoidable.

It's amazed me that people are still standing in lines. There's 10x the population density in Boston and none of their stores have lines, but drive out to Needham and, bam - line of people.

I'd add Trader Joe's to the list of unusual 'huh? why are you standing in line for this?!' stores.