Supermarkets - the Megathread

In Dunnes and local Centra over the last few days, very few masks to be seen.

EDit wrote: »

Totally agree. After about 5-10 mins in a shop I start to find my mask uncomfortable and hot. Can’t imagine what it would be like having to wear one all day/for an entire work shift.

I think they should be mandatory for customers, but it would be tough making them the same for staff

If masks are going to be mandatory the government needs to distribute them for free to the people.

People won’t buy them, we already know that so if it is to become mandatory they need to be made available for free or at least at a stupidly low price.

I saw 3 for €4 in a shop the other day. People won’t spend money on that.

And if they do become mandatory who polices it?

Never gonna happen unless people get given them for free

murphyebass wrote: »

If masks are going to be mandatory the government needs to distribute them for free to the people.

People won’t buy them, we already know that so if it is to become mandatory they need to be made available for free or at least at a stupidly low price.

I saw 3 for €4 in a shop the other day. People won’t spend money on that.

And if they do become mandatory who polices it?

Never gonna happen unless people get given them for free

Sorry but thats a bit pathetic of us as a nation if true - like people surely have some personal responsibility to buy masks.

Obviously I'd support some assistance for genuinely low income families, but the vast majority should be able to sort themselves out. Covid has been weird in ways, some costs are up but others are down so surely people can afford a mask or two.

They had tonnes of different options in Lidl just the other day, masks are now widely available.

You can buy reusable ones for about €5 and then just wash it after wearing.

Plenty of designs for masks out there but masks do come in all shapes and sizes and not one size fits all.Gone through a number of ones trying to find one suitable from elastic band round the ears and popping off to ones with velchro at the back of the neck.Machine washable is handy but how clean is your washing machine??.Maybe after use milton or dettol ??.

I have heard a few saying they are warm and uncomfortable and yes can agree.Would wearing a face shield be easier as it does protect most of the face and not bothersome to wear.

Did they not suggest earlier in the year scarves and other things could be used if of good quality

SozBbz wrote: »

Sorry but thats a bit pathetic of us as a nation if true - like people surely have some personal responsibility to buy masks.

Obviously I'd support some assistance for genuinely low income families, but the vast majority should be able to sort themselves out. Covid has been weird in ways, some costs are up but others are down so surely people can afford a mask or two.

They had tonnes of different options in Lidl just the other day, masks are now widely available.

You can buy reusable ones for about €5 and then just wash it after wearing.

Have a look around. Very few people are wearing them.

Why? Because they cost money.

Nothing to do with low income or high income.

It’s because people don’t want to spend money on something that isn’t deemed mandatory.

They should be made available for free because otherwise we’ll see people buy all the stock and sell at an inflated price.

If the government is serious about containing this disease they need to make sure that people don’t have an excuse for not wearing a mask.

SozBbz wrote: »

Sorry, but I disagree that just accepting that is good enough.

And facecoverings are mandatory now. I hope to see enforcement ramped up and people made an example of if necessary.

Masks can be made from an old cotton tshirt. Scarves or bandanas can be tied around the face.

People are just ignorant and obsinant and in some cases just contrary and they need to cop on.

I don't believe that the govt should always have to step in to make people do the right thing. The same idiots would bang on about the nanny state if they were handed masks. You can't win with some people.

€15 of a pack of masks is quite an expense for some and not everyone is arts and crafty. Are you also OK with a €2500 fine for trying to buy a litre of milk?

is_that_so wrote: »

€15 of a pack of masks is quite an expense for some and not everyone is arts and crafty. Are you also fine with a €2500 fine for trying to buy a litre of milk?

It's not exactly arts and crafts....you can make a face covering in about 20 seconds with a bandana and some hair bobbles.
I managed to follow a tutorial to make one from a t-shirt and it took about 10 minutes and I have never used a needle and thread in my life.

There are also a tonne of options to buy at a reasonable enough price reusable ones.
Even somewhere like adidas are making them now....you can get 3 reusable masks for 15 euro, 2 layers and little holder where you could even stick a filter if you want.

Btw I don't find them a joy to wear especially with glasses but hey I can see the greater good.

is_that_so wrote: »

€15 of a pack of masks is quite an expense for some and not everyone is arts and crafty. Are you also OK with a €2500 fine for trying to buy a litre of milk?

Firstly, there is no prizes for best or prettiest mask so I don't see what arts and crafts have to do with it. There are extremely simple ways to comply.

Secondly we both know that noone is going to get the maximum penalty unless they cause an absolute scene and/or are a persistent offender in which case they deserve it. But I'd be happy to see people fined, yes. The UK are doing £100 on the spot fines, that seems appropriate.

Finally, no one is getting fined for buying milk. They would be fined for disobeying public health regulations which are there to protect everyone. The rights of the majority to be kept safe trump the rights of the minority to not wear a mask in my opinion. If they feel strongly, let them order their milk for delivery.

is_that_so wrote: »

This is still an unexpected cost to some people, which has not been factored into the sudden announcement.

I've already said id be somewhat in favour to people on low incomes maybe having some provided, but to everyone else;

1. what rock have you been living under if you couldn't foresee masks being made mandatory for at least the last few weeks. this should not come as a surprise to anyone with half a brain.

2. as already stated, you can make your own mask from common household items. buying is easier, but its not the only way to comply so cost doesnt really come into it.

SozBbz wrote: »

Firstly, there is no prizes for best or prettiest mask so I don't see what arts and crafts have to do with it. There are extremely simple ways to comply.

Secondly we both know that noone is going to get the maximum penalty unless they cause an absolute scene and/or are a persistent offender in which case they deserve it. But I'd be happy to see people fined, yes. The UK are doing £100 on the spot fines, that seems appropriate.

Finally, no one is getting fined for buying milk. They would be fined for disobeying public health regulations which are there to protect everyone. The rights of the majority to be kept safe trump the rights of the minority to not wear a mask in my opinion. If they feel strongly, let them order their milk for delivery.

They planned to just extend the travel regulations, which would be a whopping utterly disproportionate fine. Unlike you, I'm all for personal responsibility and people making the right choices. We've all learnt things during this, about ourselves and others. Some of it has not been pleasant.

Princess Calla wrote: »

Maybe now with compulsory mask wearing, people may actually start shopping on their own rather than a family day out.

Yes starting to creep back in 4 or 5 people going around in a group to shop with their kids running around the place like stray dogs.

Princess Calla wrote: »

Maybe now with compulsory mask wearing, people may actually start shopping on their own rather than a family day out.

Random one item shops may also stop.

It will work out expensive if you need 2 or 3 masks each shopping trip, a couple of times a week.

People are back shopping in pairs again, kids back, etc and I can’t see it changing.
They are also back just buying one item.

A lot of those who wear masks are just reusing the same one until it snaps or becomes to dirty.

I’m at work now. No customers are wearing them. Only a few extra people are wearing them out on about really.

Princess Calla wrote: »

No it's not terribly expensive.

However if you have a family group of 4 (saw a group like this on Monday, so it is happening) you will have an initial purchase price of €10, for that shopping trip alone.

Now, by rights, those masks need to be washed and dried, before next wearing, so unless you are putting on a wash each night, you will need another tenners worth of masks for tmw, etc.

For me that would be alot of hassle, four masks would get me 4 weeks of shopping.

Well, for a start, the whole family of 4 don't need to come shopping.

You can wash the masks separately. I put mine in a basin with a small bit of detergent and pour kettle over them and then rinse them. Takes only a few minutes. I hang them either out on the line or in the hot press depending on the weather. They've never not been dry for the next day.

odyssey06 wrote: »

Are we sure the mandatory mask wearing in supermarkets applies to under 12s? In the UK it does not.

Pretty sure its 13 and under here are exempt - thats what they said for public transport.

SozBbz wrote: »

Well, for a start, the whole family of 4 don't need to come shopping.

You can wash the masks separately. I put mine in a basin with a small bit of detergent and pour kettle over them and then rinse them. Takes only a few minutes. I hang them either out on the line or in the hot press depending on the line depending on the weather. They've never not been dry for the next day.

Yeah, that was the point I was trying to make.

Maybe masks will make people think twice about group shopping especially if their argument is "they are too expensive, I'm not crafty enough to make one" etc.

I use a disposable one as I only need one a week. If I was back in work on public transport I'd spend a Saturday with a needle and thread and make a batch of masks.

I appreciate you can hand wash them each night but I'm incredibly lazy and couldn't be arsed

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

I have a neighbour quite good with a sewing machine. Made masks for all the neighbours. Admittedly not many of us. Got three each. Honestly I can't see this hassle you are seeing. People are used to shopping again, the mandatory (it isn't just yet) wearing of masks will make little difference tbh to their habits.

Well I couldn't be arsed having an extra load of washing or hand washing items everyday....that to me is hassle.

One weekly shop, one mask.

is_that_so wrote: »

Apart from not having one I'd have no inclination to make one and I can only think of one person who would even consider that. If your carefully managed budget is €30 a week, €6 is a lot of extra expenditure. Just because it's a paltry sum for most of us doesn't make that untrue.

What relevance is your inclination? If you can't afford to buy something that is necessary and can be easily homemade, then lack of inclination is a poor excuse.

I happen to know there are charities helping people who genuinely are financially very tight. I've seen masks sold on the basis that for everyone sold, another is donated to a person in direct provision or homeless.

I think this money issue is a smokescreen. The vast majority can absolutely afford a one off expenditure of €5-10. Far more people just couldnt be arsed, don't want to, are too selfish/stupid to understand the importance.

murphyebass wrote: »

Since when is it mandatory to wear a mask when shopping in the supermarket?

I know it’s mandatory on public transport but supermarkets?

Advised yes but mandatory?

Supposedly immediately but no word on regulations and fines just yet. TBH the language on it from government varies a whole lot. The aim is to bump the compliance. Probably best to get one if you don't already.

murphyebass wrote: »

Since when is it mandatory to wear a mask when shopping in the supermarket?

I know it’s mandatory on public transport but supermarkets?

Advised yes but mandatory?

From Monday apparently. Not just supermarkets, all enclosed retail spaces

is_that_so wrote: »

I'd say there will be quite lot of one mask people. No argument from me on the government, they've not been good. As the last government did, they should really be able to come up with roadmap for the next 5 phases. It's looking like let's wait to see what NPHET say in 3 weeks, is their only plan.

But even the one mask bit is a bit dicey. Ie is it being washed etc..

And yeah the government are a joke and again not just this one. It’s criminal how little planning is going on. It’s all very reactionary.

I watched the Taoiseach speech there about this and it’s all over the place. Is it mandatory is it not? Who’s enforcing it? Is it in law yet? Etc.. just all very wishy washy.

Just from what I see people are really reusing disposable masks all the time. They put them on because they have to and pop them in the car door for next time.