Are Stores REALLY doing all they can to protect their workers or is it BS?

[Midnightly]

Went to Shoppers Drug Mart. They have 3 check out lanes at their disposable but the only cashier attended check out lane that is open is the one right next to the self check outs. Sure there is 6 feet between the actual lanes themselves but put 1 person at the cashier maned lane and 1 person at the self check out and that takes the space available between the lanes down to 4 feet. Problem is that remaining 4 foot space is the only exit out of the store for everyone else that either a) doesn't buy anything or is b) exiting after visiting the pharmacy. Now come on Shoppers Drug Mart use another flipping maned check out lane!!!!

i'm not sure if it's a problem in your area but i do know around here staffing is hard in many of the retail jobs at the moment many locations are highly understaffed trying to balance new protocols (with less staff) along with trying to watch what is going on to keep an eye on theft prevention (which might also be part of the reason).. today for example on our outing (quick run into shoppers, and then 7-11) my daughter, while waiting in the car, saw 2 shop lifters (both incidents with staff stepping in, both times the shoppers got away) i have high respect for any staff working through this

[Linda Evans]

we usually shop at No frills & just read that one worker tested positive for covid-19. they closed early to clean the store, but next day it was business as usual. im kind of afraid to go back....will probably go to FreshCo or metro.

;-(

[SassyAshley]

Not sure how it was at your No Frills, but I felt ours could be doing more and for this reason my next shop, I will be trying a different store. I normally love our No Frills, it is my go to shopping but I feel like ours has a little bit too much of what I call "small town thinking," I feel in general a lot of people feel like we are a small town, we have very few cases so people here are not taking this as serious as they should be.

we usually shop at No frills & just read that one worker tested positive for covid-19. they closed early to clean the store, but next day it was business as usual. im kind of afraid to go back....will probably go to FreshCo or metro.

;-(

[lshortt]

I feel that all grocery stores should stop taking the items out of the boxes that they come in and stock the shelves to make them look pretty. Too many people touch the products before we get them. It could be a temporary measure until this virus subsides. JMHO

[Ciel]

Not sure how adequate just having the shopping cart handles wiped down is as I'm more concerned if the entire shopping cart levels have been exposed to someone's litter or used by adjoining stores to cart public trash bags to the bin (yes, that's real).

When cashier noticed I had my own tote bag, he informed me I had to bag with it on the floor (so no placement on the belt or cash lane end) or in a cart (I did not get one as only large ones were lined up and spritzed inside the store. Cart corral is behind caution tape with staff moving carts as needed inside for cleaning and customer use. I had to hold my tote bag beside the counter while bagging purchases. Cashier did offer me a pump of hand sanitizer after I paid with my card (last hurrah and bank gets an extra service fee as I'm over my free allowanance) but I'll have to remember to nab a cart and bring my own wipes in a snack bag.

Local Shoppers seems not to be charging for plastic bags recently or it could be a YMMV situation depending on the cashier on duty. I'll avoid the store on Saturdays-not worth the hassle.

[johnb56789]

I feel that all grocery stores should stop taking the items out of the boxes that they come in and stock the shelves to make them look pretty. Too many people touch the products before we get them. It could be a temporary measure until this virus subsides. JMHO

The problem with that is that some products can not fit on the shelf in the cases that they come in and must be removed from the case to be put onto the shelf. And I know at our store right now, we aren't worrying about making it look pretty (Facing), we're just trying to get as much stock up onto the shelves for customers as we can in the time that we have with the number of staff that we have...

[My two Canadian cents]

Local Shoppers seems not to be charging for plastic bags recently or it could be a YMMV situation depending on the cashier on duty. I'll avoid the store on Saturdays-not worth the hassle.

I think the cash register system is now set up to not charge for plastic bags. From the March 19th, 2020, post on https://www.pcoptimum.ca/galen-updates regarding Shoppers Drug Mart and Loblaw owned grocery stores: "We will begin temporarily waiving the $0.05 plastic bag fee to discourage the use of reusable bags, and ask those of you who do bring them to bag your own items. It’s that less touching thing again."

[Ciel]

I think the cash register system is now set up to not charge for plastic bags. From the March 19th, 2020, post on https://www.pcoptimum.ca/galen-updates regarding Shoppers Drug Mart and Loblaw owned grocery stores: "We will begin temporarily waiving the $0.05 plastic bag fee to discourage the use of reusable bags, and ask those of you who do bring them to bag your own items. It’s that less touching thing again."

I know I was charged once by a new Shoppers cashier for the bag that I requested (after the above date) and I had to ask him to BAG my stuff when he just left everything on the small counter space next to the plexiglass shield. Had to ask for the receipt too. It's because Shoppers still offers some deals on various categories of items that I continue to shop there. Problem is stockouts and I won't know until I go to the store (and possibly lineup outside) to get something if it's still available.
Saturday's shop-a more experienced cashier bagged my stuff and put the bag on the lower shelf area for me to pick up. She was keen to move the line along!

[SassyAshley]

Personally, I would prefer the store staff put it, and not leave it in the case as then everyone is touching this case to get what they need. Where is for example they put the cereal on the shelf I can just grab the box I need without having to touch a case, open the case, grab my one box.

Not to mention, I am going to be honest when stores have something on sale and put out a skid or even at Costco where they leave it in the case the way people leave the store is gross. It is ripped boxes and boxes all over the floor.

I do not think there is a clear answer on how to handle this, we have never faced something like this. All we can do, is do our best. Personally I am trying to shop just once a month and my store of choice is Costco as so far they have the best precautions and I can buy in bulk allowing me to buy a month's supply (usually even more, half of what I bought on my last trip will last us 3 to 6 months) at a time.

The problem with that is that some products can not fit on the shelf in the cases that they come in and must be removed from the case to be put onto the shelf. And I know at our store right now, we aren't worrying about making it look pretty (Facing), we're just trying to get as much stock up onto the shelves for customers as we can in the time that we have with the number of staff that we have...

[erinsorensen]

The local freshco I was at today all had gloves and face covers on.

I got my face masks here

https://therapiaplus.com/product/lev...ask-box-of-50/

[bhlombardy]

we usually shop at No frills & just read that one worker tested positive for covid-19. they closed early to clean the store, but next day it was business as usual. im kind of afraid to go back....will probably go to FreshCo or metro.
;-(

Yea... I see your point, Linda, however consider it like this:

Hearing about a staff member having tested positive has only made you aware. The fact the No Frills knew about it and cleaned is the best effort that they can manage. However, keep in mind that it's a public store. There's no telling who else was positive and roaming the aisles and touching stuff... and I mean someone who innocently has no idea they have it. By that I mean customers with no symptoms and not some ignoramus jackass who goes out anyway (although there are some of those out there too) -- Regardless, my point is that you really have to treat every outing to a store as if you're closer to this thing than you would necessarily like. It's everywhere. Not trying to cause any stress here, but if you act like it's always there then you just act more vigilantly.

That said, there's no reason to avoid No Frills. Freshco and Metro arent necessarily any safer just because you havent heard anything from them. Customers go through their stores too.

Just keep your practices in place... social distance... keep your hands clean and away from your face... sanitize the stuff you bring home*, etc.


*I'm over-cautious... I keep a couple of bins and Costco style bags in the trunk of my car... when I shop, stuff goes directly in the bins/bags. When I get home, I set the bin(s) and/or bag(s) on the deck and sanitize my items as I transfer them into a CLEAN bin from inside the house. The clean bin goes back in the house with the stuff, then I sanitize the trunk-box/bags before going back in the trunk.

(again, not a germophobe, but I am immune deficient, particularly to respiratory infections ... I cant risk getting this thing)

[bhlombardy]

I feel that all grocery stores should stop taking the items out of the boxes that they come in and stock the shelves to make them look pretty. Too many people touch the products before we get them. It could be a temporary measure until this virus subsides. JMHO

Personally, I would prefer the store staff put it, and not leave it in the case as then everyone is touching this case to get what they need. Where is for example they put the cereal on the shelf I can just grab the box I need without having to touch a case, open the case, grab my one box.

That is more appropriate, actually and it's exactly why they dont leave the shipping carton for each customer to touch. It's about fewer points of contact. One stock person (assume he/she is properly handling them) and shelving them is far better than every customer touching the same carton and ultimately multiple packages inside that carton.

That said (to re-itterate my previous post) you should still treat anything you bring home from the outside world as if someone who IS infected touched it. Not to be too paranoid, but regardless if it was left in the carton or was shelved as usual... someone else touched it at some point. Accept that reality and then protect yourself accordingly.

[Linda Evans]

you should still treat anything you bring home from the outside world as if someone who IS infected touched it. Not to be too paranoid, but regardless if it was left in the carton or was shelved as usual... someone else touched it at some point. Accept that reality and then protect yourself accordingly.

SO TRUE!

[Ciel]

Have Hamilton SCers tried doing some shopping at the smaller independent stores like Zarky's, Lococo's, Scolys or even Goodness Me? Interested in knowing about lineups, stock levels even if right now they are mostly impractical for me due to bus seating restrictions. Just would like to know if those who live near the stores or can drive to them have had shorter lineups and been able to find most items on their lists.

[GracieAnne]

I went to Giant Tiger and none of the cashiers were wearing gloves or masks so I asked why, and the cashier said, "I couldn't find any in any stores because we were told by the store manager we had to buy our own."

I think my jaw hit the floor. That's just so awful, I''m tempted to complain to head office about how bs that is.