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Post by gale w on Mar 30, 2020 1:24:09 GMT
In a nearby county they are requiring stores that normally sell both essential and nonessential items to put up signage saying the nonessential items cannot be purchased. The reason is because stores being able to sell both is not fair for stores that only sell nonessential items (thus having to close for now). The problem is that a lot of people will travel to neighboring counties (our counties are very small) to shop, causing more risk. Is this happening in your area?
update: the county decided to repeal this ordinance. They are now trying to enforce a 1 cart 1 person rule, which I think is necessary and doable. But frighteningly enough, this city has nightly police reports about parties, young people gathering, etc. Apparently their parents aren't listening and if the parents aren't, the kids won't either.
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Post by iteach3rdgrade on Mar 30, 2020 1:28:40 GMT
Not here. Wow!
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amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,326 
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Post by amom23 on Mar 30, 2020 1:33:49 GMT
No nothing like that happening here.
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Post by freecharlie on Mar 30, 2020 1:36:12 GMT
That seems weird. I guess does that mean Walmart can't sell air freshener, but can sell tp?
What a nightmare for the store trying to police that
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katybee
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,377
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Post by katybee on Mar 30, 2020 1:39:00 GMT
Honestly – I think it’s kind of ridiculous that people are worried about what is “fair” and “not fair”. And who exactly is going to determine what is essential and what is not essential?
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Post by idahopea on Mar 30, 2020 1:48:13 GMT
What is essential to one person may not be essential to another, but a non-essential item may make a huge difference in many households. There are lots of things I'm thinking of but one example might be a new video game bought at Walmart while on a food run to keep a child or adult occupied enough to get through the quarantine. If the parent can get their work done it may keep them from getting fired, etc. Being able to buy those items on the same trip may also prevent someone from ordering it online and having to have it delivered thus saving those resources for other essentials. I do understand the unfairness of it all though. These are unprecedented times so I don't think we can expect everything to be fair.
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Post by katlady on Mar 30, 2020 1:49:55 GMT
I haven’t seen that here. That would be so hard to police, especially with self-checkouts.
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Post by Linda on Mar 30, 2020 1:53:52 GMT
haven't seen that here either - I think it would be hard to enforce
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Post by littlemama on Mar 30, 2020 1:54:37 GMT
That seems silly. If the store is open, you should be able to buy what they sell.
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Post by gale w on Mar 30, 2020 2:13:53 GMT
Here's the letter with the list of items. The problem is that now the neighboring county, which has had no positive cases so far, is seeing a HUGE uptick in customers at the stores. Unfortunately the county where both my kids work and where we do our shopping and other business. Attachments:
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Post by pierkiss on Mar 30, 2020 2:25:38 GMT
No. Who the hell is going to enforce this? Are the stock rooms even big enough to hold normal intake stock + removed floor items?
I know that when I worked retail (at a party shop) no way would our back room have been big enough to stick half of the floor items back there plus have room to receive shipments every day.
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QueenoftheSloths
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Post by QueenoftheSloths on Mar 30, 2020 2:27:19 GMT
I know some target stores are blocking off the clothing areas because teens were using them as hangout spots.
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Post by freecharlie on Mar 30, 2020 2:27:54 GMT
Here's the letter with the list of items. The problem is that now the neighboring county, which has had no positive cases so far, is seeing a HUGE uptick in customers at the stores. Unfortunately the county where both my kids work and where we do our shopping and other business. wow |
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Post by katlady on Mar 30, 2020 2:28:46 GMT
I looked at that list and some of those things I think are “essential” to people who have to stay home for 30 more days - toys to keep the kids quiet, reading materials, and art supplies for school projects. I am not saying that craft stores and bookstores should open, but if Walmart is open then people should be allowed to buy these things there.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Mar 30, 2020 2:37:16 GMT
Wow Just like when we had the Sunday Blue Laws, the clothes were roped off as were other things that could not be sold on Sundays.
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used2scrap
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Post by used2scrap on Mar 30, 2020 2:39:41 GMT
What if children out grow clothes? How aren’t clothes essential? Or someone had a job interview/new job?
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Post by busy on Mar 30, 2020 2:42:42 GMT
That's a ridiculous list. People are stuck in their homes and kids don't have school and you're not allowed to buy any form of entertainment???
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Post by tracyarts on Mar 30, 2020 4:16:19 GMT
That reminds me of "Blue Laws" when I was a kid, where only grocery stores and drug stores were allowed to be open on Sundays and could only sell "essential" items on Sundays.
The aisles with forbidden merchandise were barricaded so customers couldn't even go down them.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Mar 30, 2020 4:28:58 GMT
That's a ridiculous list. People are stuck in their homes and kids don't have school and you're not allowed to buy any form of entertainment??? Not only that, but my DD’s two best friends both had birthdays within the last week and a half.  Her own birthday is coming up soon, and it’s likely that all of these restrictions will still be in place when it does come up. I can’t imagine not being able to buy my own kid a birthday gift when I’m at Target buying groceries anyway because of all this, especially since she can’t do anything with any of her friends in person. Way to make things suck even more for all these kids. |
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Post by elaine on Mar 30, 2020 4:36:51 GMT
Here's the letter with the list of items. The problem is that now the neighboring county, which has had no positive cases so far, is seeing a HUGE uptick in customers at the stores. Unfortunately the county where both my kids work and where we do our shopping and other business. I’m sorry, but this is freaking nuts. Unless the Howard Board of Commissioners is willing to provide entertainment, clothing, and other items on that list to families, they can suck eggs. In this day and age of online shopping, the whine about other stores selling items that closed stores can’t is childish. Is Howard County going to shut down internet shopping too? Because that is also “unfair.”  |
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NoWomanNoCry
Drama Llama
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Mar 30, 2020 5:12:14 GMT
This is so freaking stupid! When I do go out for essential items I don’t see the issue in me looking for a non essential item to keep me sane..a few days ago I picked up DH meds and I looked for a adult coloring book to help with my anxiety I’m having.. I don’t see how that’s so wrong.
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Post by Scrapper100 on Mar 30, 2020 5:31:23 GMT
I’m all for shutting down non essentials but to say you can’t buy all those items is nuts. While I’m not entering a store well I hope I don’t have to. If I was in one and walked by the crafts and wanted to buy something why not same with books and toys. We need something to entertain yourself. I think video games are easily purchased online but others not so much right now. A parent grabbing say a lego set or puzzle or some other toy to make this easier I’m not going to judge.
Now a local parent complained he had to go to 10 stores to find scrabble last weekend. That I will judge as really 10 stores. Being and exposing that many extra people. But already in the store and grabbing a toy or thing of paint or seeds nope. I will admit I do judge those totally redoing or painting their house and going to Home Depot and spending hours picking out new plants for their yard that I think can wait. Employees are saying how bad it is and lots are much fuller than normal by all accounts.
I really hope they don’t close down sections of any stores though that would be frustrating. I mean if we start saying parts of the store are inessential when are they going to say all junk food is also off limits. I fully admit we are eating more junk food these days as it’s so much easier to get than healthier food which is really sad and it lasts longer.
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Post by anniefb on Mar 30, 2020 5:38:34 GMT
In New Zealand we're in a 4 week nationwide lockdown and all non-essential stores have had to close - that includes online shopping.
The only services that are allowed to trade or operate are those that the government describes as providing the 'absolute necessities of life' like supermarkets, banks, GPs, pharmacies, service stations, energy companies, waste removal services and couriers (who can only deliver essential goods).
Government departments like immigration, justice, science, plus the police and military are also 'essential.'
Today, it was announced that the sale of heaters, whiteware and computers will be allowed in recognition of the need for people to safely isolate and work or study from home but ordering has to be done online or over the phone and the goods have to be delivered.
For other general online shopping, you have to be an approved essential business and be able to demonstrate you're providing an essential service.
Basically the government is trying to get as many businesses as possible to have their premises closed to stop the transmission of Covid-19 in the community. We are all required to stay at home except for going out to buy essential supplies, seek medical treatment or exercise close to home.
I really hope that the 4 week lockdown is going to stop this virus in its tracks.
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Post by AngieandSnoopy on Mar 30, 2020 5:59:05 GMT
I'm already sick of being the toilet paper police...
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sueg
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Post by sueg on Mar 30, 2020 6:09:46 GMT
In New Zealand we're in a 4 week nationwide lockdown and all non-essential stores have had to close - that includes online shopping. The only services that are allowed to trade or operate are those that the government describes as providing the 'absolute necessities of life' like supermarkets, banks, GPs, pharmacies, service stations, energy companies, waste removal services and couriers (who can only deliver essential goods). Government departments like immigration, justice, science, plus the police and military are also 'essential.' Today, it was announced that the sale of heaters, whiteware and computers will be allowed in recognition of the need for people to safely isolate and work or study from home but ordering has to be done online or over the phone and the goods have to be delivered. For other general online shopping, you have to be an approved essential business and be able to demonstrate you're providing an essential service. Basically the government is trying to get as many businesses as possible to have their premises closed to stop the transmission of Covid-19 in the community. We are all required to stay at home except for going out to buy essential supplies, seek medical treatment or exercise close to home. I really hope that the 4 week lockdown is going to stop this virus in its tracks. That is pretty much where we are in Germany too, except online shopping is still available. We don't have many stores that do both 'essential' (groceries, medications) and 'non-essentials' (toys, clothes), so there is no issue with that. My supermarket is in the basement of a large department store, but they have simply blocked off all escalators and elevators, so you can't go to the other departments. |
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RedSquirrelUK
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Post by RedSquirrelUK on Mar 30, 2020 9:47:16 GMT
Have they also shut down online shopping where you are? If not, can't you still buy your "non-essentials" online and have them delivered?
I think the reason they are enforcing this is to limit people leaving their homes and spreading the virus, except for essential things.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Mar 30, 2020 11:18:25 GMT
In New Zealand we're in a 4 week nationwide lockdown and all non-essential stores have had to close - that includes online shopping. Wow. But it makes sense, I suppose. That's much more of a true lockdown to combat this than the willy-nilly approach seen across the US. One of the main issues I see with banning the purchase of non-essential items is people showing up at the registers with them anyway. Some will get belligerent with the cashier over not being able to complete the purchase. And can you imagine the amount of extra work it creates to restock all those items? |
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Post by bianca42 on Mar 30, 2020 11:42:56 GMT
I looked at that list and some of those things I think are “essential” to people who have to stay home for 30 more days - toys to keep the kids quiet, reading materials, and art supplies for school projects. I am not saying that craft stores and bookstores should open, but if Walmart is open then people should be allowed to buy these things there. I purchased many of those things to keep my kinds occupied so I can actually work. |
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peppermintpatty
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Post by peppermintpatty on Mar 30, 2020 14:29:15 GMT
That is completely stupid!
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iowgirl
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Post by iowgirl on Mar 30, 2020 14:32:26 GMT
Here's the letter with the list of items. The problem is that now the neighboring county, which has had no positive cases so far, is seeing a HUGE uptick in customers at the stores. Unfortunately the county where both my kids work and where we do our shopping and other business. That list is nuts. I don't think that could hold water for long, if anyone challenged it. I agree that some of those things would be essential - the craft suppies, etc- while it sounds frivolous, right now would be at the top of the essential list. I would support limiting how many can enter a store - as in only 1 PERSON per family in the store. We do not have any shelter in place orders. But I am hearing of entire families (mom, Dad, all the kids) wandering around stores. Come on! That needs to stop. |
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Her own birthday is coming up soon, and it’s likely that all of these restrictions will still be in place when it does come up. I can’t imagine not being able to buy my own kid a birthday gift when I’m at Target buying groceries anyway because of all this, especially since she can’t do anything with any of her friends in person. Way to make things suck even more for all these kids.
