Shopping experience in Aldi - Claudio tolomeo branch Mar Azul

I actually visited Aldi and mercadona yesterday and both had orderly queues outside and the shelves were well stocked, also I saw no panic buying, I have also got to say it was the best shopping experience I had ever had as there was no pushing or shoving and the staff were brilliant and helpful, shame they can’t do this more often as I hate shopping, please note that I was under the impression that they only let you in alone unless you were escorting a elderly person  or had one child, also at mercadona  the guardia civil were present outside! Also I would like to say is  Well done to the shop workers and thank you.

Hi Peter,

Thank you so much for your detailed and speedy reply , I am much more reassured now that it will not be a mad scramble for a few tins that might be left and my worry of having to queue for long periods of time in the proximity of lots of other people. Unfortunately this virus spreads like wildfire as you know so obviously the more order, calm and swift running of the process will help in keeping people safe and fed without fear and fighting !!

Glad to hear the police were present as I guess that will deter any antisocial behaviour in what is already a very fraut,  fragile and precarious situation. 

Thanks again for sharing, much appreciated hope to keep healthy and well.

Kind regards 

Buzz ☺

I should have said that as one person left the supermarket they let another person in, I suppose I had a 10 minute wait to get in and as the supermarket was really organised it only took me about the same time to get out, the people in the orderly queue were kept 1 meter apart by yellow/red lines that had been put down in and outside the supermarket, as said a good experience, hope it all goes well for you, remember to shop alone if possible and use a payment card as I did hear some supermarkets will not take cash, although the person in front of me used cash.

Hi again Peter, 

Thanks for this. Were the procedures for entry and queuing the same for both Aldi and Mercadona or different in any way ? Thanks for the heads up for the card but I always pay in cash so i hope that won't be a problem 😮😣😣( I know cash carries bugs but whether the virus too another unknown amoung many !!😯)

Really appreciate your feedback.

Kind regards 

Buzz 

Mercadona was better organized with 2 workers at the door inviting you in as other people left the shop and giving instructions, also the guardia civil were outside monitoring the queue, it was nice to see really, as for aldi again no real problem and shoppers seem to form their own line and all stuck to it, I think the manager was on the door and invited us in one by one as other people left the shop, I feel the initial numbers were limited in the shop first? say the first 20 people were allowed in and then it carried on from there, I did not feel stressed or anxious at any time during my visits, a lot better than normal shopping, give it a go and hope all goes well, stay safe, healthy and happy, good luck 

Your a gentleman and a star Peter and your feedback and insights have been extremely useful, and much appreciated as well as being reassuring for which I am grateful ☺  Aldi here I come and I won't be wearing my brown trousers then 😂😂😂

All the best friend, stay safe, healthy and optimistic 😆

God bless,

Buzz

Hi Peter,

Last thought if i may. Bearing in mind that self isolation is the key goal would it be reasonable to go to the supermarket say once every 7 days to replenish supplies? For those people who have no stock piles, no car and only capable of carrying 2 shopping bags is that frequency what the authorities are thinking of ?? That's my thinking about frequency for a week's supply as I have no car but am single so just shopping for 1. I would guess therefore that people with large and extended families like the Spanish would have to go more often to feed more mouths ?? 😯

Thanks for your thoughts, I know I am over thinking this but these circumstances we find ourselves in are unprecedented 😢

Kind regards, 

Buzz

The shop workers have not headed for the hills, bless ‘em. I know they need to earn a crust, and are currently working under trying conditions, but I reckon they deserve a medal at the very least.

Totally agree God bless them all because without them we would be in desperate hell not ' splendid isolation" so to speak !

And a big thankyou to this forum and its members. Together we will win this fight

Take care out there folks 

Buzz

😉