My coronavirus meltdown thread

[QuietObserver]

I heard on the radio yesterday our health minister say that it is recommended NOT to wear them out even. That it gives a false sense of security and people take more risks- plus it is almost pointless if they don't take extra risks since the virus can be contracted through your eyes anyway. So in BC we have been told not to wear them. Not saying it is right or wrong but this is what our top health official is telling us.

Your health minister isn't trying to be malicious, but he's not being truthful. Health authorities are saying this because there is mask shortage.They're saying this to discourage the general public from buying masks to save them for medical professionals. If masks were plentiful, they would be mandatory.

I agree that people shouldn't be buying masks to save them for medical professionals. But masks do work. It's unfortunate that our governments are engaging in disinformation. It feels strange writing this because I'm usually the guy urging people to trust the medical establishment.

[Josh]

I heard on the radio yesterday our health minister say that it is recommended NOT to wear them out even. That it gives a false sense of security and people take more risks- plus it is almost pointless if they don't take extra risks since the virus can be contracted through your eyes anyway. So in BC we have been told not to wear them. Not saying it is right or wrong but this is what our top health official is telling us.

Your health minister isn't trying to be malicious, but he's not being truthful. Health authorities are saying this because there is mask shortage.They're saying this to discourage the general public from buying masks to save them for medical professionals. If masks were plentiful, they would be mandatory.

I agree that people shouldn't be buying masks to save them for medical professionals. But masks do work. It's unfortunate that our governments are engaging in disinformation. It feels strange writing this because I'm usually the guy urging people to trust the medical establishment.

Masks don’t work if there aren’t enough to go around.

We’d be better off if we were all wearing astronaut space suits. Is the government lying to us if they “Please do not try to wear space suits, it won’t help stop the disease”, when there aren’t enough to go around?

[steve-in-kville]

Also heard on the radio last evening... 25% of people carrying the virus don't even show symptoms. Has anyone else heard this? Sorta scary.

[steve-in-kville]

Borrowed from another thread:

Our local grocery store (locally owned, one of the few IGAs left around) now offers online orders and curb side pickup. So we did that today, out of respect for the safety of the store staff to minimise interactions.

Curbside pickup at most local stores is booked a week to ten days out. Pickup, not delivery! Hate to see what those time frames would be...

[mike]

Borrowed from another thread:

Our local grocery store (locally owned, one of the few IGAs left around) now offers online orders and curb side pickup. So we did that today, out of respect for the safety of the store staff to minimise interactions.

Curbside pickup at most local stores is booked a week to ten days out. Pickup, not delivery! Hate to see what those time frames would be...

We request a 2-hour lead time and we only offer the service Monday through Thursday. Curbside pickup is extremely labor intensive and the store can very easily be swamped. There is a real limit to how many you can do in a day. Here's why:

1. Customer calls with order. There is no catalog; they have to know what they want. We may not have everything in stock. Receptionist may have to question customer about sizes and brands and varieties.

2. Store employee pulls the order. If there's a deli order, that part has to be placed with the deli. May have to call customer with questions or to inform on out of stocks.

3. When order is completely pulled, it has to be rung up and paid for with customer credit card info. Cards may not work. Twice yesterday debit cards had insufficient balances, and resolving payment issue took at least ten minutes or more of time.

4. Completed order is placed in shopping cart and put in cooler. Frozen items must be placed separately in freezer.

5. Customer arrives and calls store to let them know they are here. Store employee collects order from cooler and/or freezer area and carts it out to customer, loads it in vehicle and returns cart to store.

All of this for a $10, $20, or $30 order. Suffice it to say that stores are generally not profiting from this service other than making a sale where they may not have otherwise.

[steve-in-kville]

Ever have a customer use more than one credit card to pay for an order?

[mike]

Ever have a customer use more than one credit card to pay for an order?

Possibly. It's hard to tell because a lot of cards run as credit are actually debit.

[Szdfan]

Borrowed from another thread:

Our local grocery store (locally owned, one of the few IGAs left around) now offers online orders and curb side pickup. So we did that today, out of respect for the safety of the store staff to minimise interactions.

Curbside pickup at most local stores is booked a week to ten days out. Pickup, not delivery! Hate to see what those time frames would be...

We request a 2-hour lead time and we only offer the service Monday through Thursday. Curbside pickup is extremely labor intensive and the store can very easily be swamped. There is a real limit to how many you can do in a day. Here's why:

1. Customer calls with order. There is no catalog; they have to know what they want. We may not have everything in stock. Receptionist may have to question customer about sizes and brands and varieties.

2. Store employee pulls the order. If there's a deli order, that part has to be placed with the deli. May have to call customer with questions or to inform on out of stocks.

3. When order is completely pulled, it has to be rung up and paid for with customer credit card info. Cards may not work. Twice yesterday debit cards had insufficient balances, and resolving payment issue took at least ten minutes or more of time.

4. Completed order is placed in shopping cart and put in cooler. Frozen items must be placed separately in freezer.

5. Customer arrives and calls store to let them know they are here. Store employee collects order from cooler and/or freezer area and carts it out to customer, loads it in vehicle and returns cart to store.

All of this for a $10, $20, or $30 order. Suffice it to say that stores are generally not profiting from this service other than making a sale where they may not have otherwise.

That sounds exhausting Mike. I hope you find rest sometime in the relatively near future.

I know this is not your situation — we’ve been using the Walmart App for curbside pick up (I know, (sigh) Walmart, but we have limited choices) and it’s made this nightmare a little easier for us. An app is a huge investment and not a realistic option right now, but Walmart requires at least a $30 order. Would putting in a minimum price relieve some pressure and make it a little more efficient for you?

[Josh]

Borrowed from another thread:

Our local grocery store (locally owned, one of the few IGAs left around) now offers online orders and curb side pickup. So we did that today, out of respect for the safety of the store staff to minimise interactions.

Curbside pickup at most local stores is booked a week to ten days out. Pickup, not delivery! Hate to see what those time frames would be...

That’s why I’m sticking with a small, independent store that’s in the same zip code I am.

My local bulk food store sort of takes online orders. We sent in our request via WhatsApp.

[justme]

meltdown?
this is making it so that folks are afraid of people.
i took my car to the garage this morning.
they wouldn't even let me inside. just put the key in the key drop off, and call them and let them know.
face to face is going to be a thing of the past.
i picked up my taxes last night. they wouldn't even let me inside. brought the forms outside to their garage. whats the difference if the business is done in a garage or in the office?
they are training us to to be afraid of each other, to not trust anyone, and it only took less than 2 weeks.