Mixing Essental vs. Non-Essential Shopping

[DaveNV]

Ok, I know this essential vs. non-essential business thing has been thoroughly talked about, and I get that somebody somewhere is deciding which businesses are considered essential. This is not about that. This is about whether it's okay to shop what I'd consider to be a non-essential department in a store that is open.

We're talking about Home Depot. I needed to replace a blown halogen light bulb from my kitchen ceiling, and I can't order it online. For some reason, they won't ship the bulb I need to my door. I tried. No idea why not. HD has them in stock, so I went there at their opening this morning. They had someone at the front door doing crowd control, even though there was no crowd. I didn't have to wait to get in. I got my bulb, and decided to buy a couple of spares, since I have multiples of this light in recessed cans in the kitchen ceiling, and they tend to blow about the same time. (This is the second one to blow within a week - there are ten can lights in the ceiling. Poor design, but I digress...) Prior to this, I'd just swing by HD and pick up one when I needed it, (at $9 a bulb, they ain't cheap.) But with the quarantine thing going on, I don't know whether I'd be able to get these bulbs in the moment. So I got a couple spares, because I know I'll be needing them sooner than later.

Here's where I need your help: I want to plant some Spring color plants in my yard, and in some pots on the deck. This is the time of year to do that. I have everything but the plants. HD's garden section was loaded with plants. Would it be wrong if I made a trip there specifically to buy plants? I'm thinking if nobody is buying them, they're going to either overgrow and die there, or HD will get rid of them and they won't be there in a month or two after the quarantine is lifted.

How do you decide between essential purchases vs. non-essential in stores like HD that are fully open? I'm torn between the moral decision of staying home, but if I need to go to the store for other things, is it wrong to swing through those non-essential departments? What's your take on this?

Dave

 

[tschwa2]

I work where they sell both essential and non essential. If you want to grab a few non essentials, its ok. What is not ok is using the store just to browse and get your steps in for the day, to meet up with friends to browse the non essentials to relieve boredom. Yes you shouldn't do those with the essentials but for some reason, the patio furniture and garden and clothing sections are much more likely to have those types of looky loos spending hours vs those in the more essential sections.

 

[TravelTime]

The state of Vermont and a county in Colorado are not allowing people to buy non essentials in stores that are open for selling essentials.

In Summit County, Essential Businesses Can't Sell You Non-Essential Stuff

Although many big box retailers remain open to sell "essential goods," shoppers looking for more than that will encounter warning signs and roped off aisles.

www.cpr.org

Some Walmart, Target, Costco locations will stop selling nonessential items

Big-box retailers in Vermont have been ordered by the state to stop selling nonessential items, including clothing and toys, to in-store customers.

www.today.com

In the UK, the government says people should only shop for essentials.

Coronavirus: Shoppers face 'essential items' confusion

The government says you should only shop for "basic necessities" - but what does that actually mean?

www.bbc.com

 

[TravelTime]

This article is about the ethics of ordering non-essentials online.

The ethics of ordering non-essential items online during the coronavirus lockdown

To buy, or not to buy, that is the question many of us are currently wrestling with

theconversation.com

 

[bnoble]

I'm torn between the moral decision of staying home, but if I need to go to the store for other things, is it wrong to swing through those non-essential departments? What's your take on this?

I think if it were me, and I had something I *needed* at the same store, I'd pick it up. If I didn't need something at *that* store, I probably wouldn't, even if I needed something from a store very nearby.

 

[Timeshare Von]

<SNIPPED> What is not ok is using the store just to browse and get your steps in for the day, to meet up with friends to browse the non essentials to relieve boredom. <SNIPPED>

Or going there just to use their bathroom, because they have an unlimited supply of TP!

 

[Luanne]

I think if it were me, and I had something I *needed* at the same store, I'd pick it up. If I didn't need something at *that* store, I probably wouldn't, even if I needed something from a store very nearby.

This is what I think I would do as well.

 

[TravelTime]

I would only pick up a non-essential item if I could do it quickly without making a special trip to a store. If the non-essential item required shopping and looking around and trying to decide what I want, I would not get it. The idea is to not spend extra time in stores unless absolutely essential for essential items. I try to follow this as much as possible, both for myself and my family as well as for other people.

 

[Eric B]

I think it really winds up being a personal decision taking into account the balance of the pros and cons of the situation. If it were a crowded day at the particular store I was in, with a line outside, the extra time I spent doing the shopping for the nonessential items would be delaying the folks waiting in line to get essential items. If it were fairly empty, taking a small amount of extra time to purchase nonessential items without a concomitant impact on other people waiting to get essential items, IMHO it would be a good thing because you're contributing to the ability of the merchant to continue paying its employees, which is kind of important now. The dichotomy between essential and nonessential doesn't seem all that sharp a line to me, particularly given the loose definitions we've been provided and the even looser interpretations people are applying. Just try to do what is right.

 

[Rolltydr]

Ok, I know this essential vs. non-essential business thing has been thoroughly talked about, and I get that somebody somewhere is deciding which businesses are considered essential. This is not about that. This is about whether it's okay to shop what I'd consider to be a non-essential department in a store that is open.

We're talking about Home Depot. I needed to replace a blown halogen light bulb from my kitchen ceiling, and I can't order it online. For some reason, they won't ship the bulb I need to my door. I tried. No idea why not. HD has them in stock, so I went there at their opening this morning. They had someone at the front door doing crowd control, even though there was no crowd. I didn't have to wait to get in. I got my bulb, and decided to buy a couple of spares, since I have multiples of this light in recessed cans in the kitchen ceiling, and they tend to blow about the same time. (This is the second one to blow within a week - there are ten can lights in the ceiling. Poor design, but I digress...) Prior to this, I'd just swing by HD and pick up one when I needed it, (at $9 a bulb, they ain't cheap.) But with the quarantine thing going on, I don't know whether I'd be able to get these bulbs in the moment. So I got a couple spares, because I know I'll be needing them sooner than later.

Here's where I need your help: I want to plant some Spring color plants in my yard, and in some pots on the deck. This is the time of year to do that. I have everything but the plants. HD's garden section was loaded with plants. Would it be wrong if I made a trip there specifically to buy plants? I'm thinking if nobody is buying them, they're going to either overgrow and die there, or HD will get rid of them and they won't be there in a month or two after the quarantine is lifted.

How do you decide between essential purchases vs. non-essential in stores like HD that are fully open? I'm torn between the moral decision of staying home, but if I need to go to the store for other things, is it wrong to swing through those non-essential departments? What's your take on this?

Dave

I think it’s fine as long as you can maintain the 6’ rule. You’re already there so as long as you can pick up the item(s) without interacting with anyone else, it shouldn’t be a problem. Having said that, you shouldn’t be going around picking up different items, looking at them and then putting them back. Get what you want, check out, and leave.


Harry

 

[Panina]

Ok, I know this essential vs. non-essential business thing has been thoroughly talked about, and I get that somebody somewhere is deciding which businesses are considered essential. This is not about that. This is about whether it's okay to shop what I'd consider to be a non-essential department in a store that is open.

We're talking about Home Depot. I needed to replace a blown halogen light bulb from my kitchen ceiling, and I can't order it online. For some reason, they won't ship the bulb I need to my door. I tried. No idea why not. HD has them in stock, so I went there at their opening this morning. They had someone at the front door doing crowd control, even though there was no crowd. I didn't have to wait to get in. I got my bulb, and decided to buy a couple of spares, since I have multiples of this light in recessed cans in the kitchen ceiling, and they tend to blow about the same time. (This is the second one to blow within a week - there are ten can lights in the ceiling. Poor design, but I digress...) Prior to this, I'd just swing by HD and pick up one when I needed it, (at $9 a bulb, they ain't cheap.) But with the quarantine thing going on, I don't know whether I'd be able to get these bulbs in the moment. So I got a couple spares, because I know I'll be needing them sooner than later.

Here's where I need your help: I want to plant some Spring color plants in my yard, and in some pots on the deck. This is the time of year to do that. I have everything but the plants. HD's garden section was loaded with plants. Would it be wrong if I made a trip there specifically to buy plants? I'm thinking if nobody is buying them, they're going to either overgrow and die there, or HD will get rid of them and they won't be there in a month or two after the quarantine is lifted.

How do you decide between essential purchases vs. non-essential in stores like HD that are fully open? I'm torn between the moral decision of staying home, but if I need to go to the store for other things, is it wrong to swing through those non-essential departments? What's your take on this?

Dave

I want to plant too. Online there is a nice selection from Home Depot that can be mailed directly to your home.

 

[DaveNV]

I want to plant too. Online there is a nice selection from Home Depot that can be mailed directly to your home.

I hadn't considered buying bedding plants online. (Not sure if that would help my local HD store, either.) And of course, that also means I'd have to figure out ahead of time what I want to plant so I'd know what to order. Usually it's whatever I think would look good together - one of these, one of those...

Dave

 

[Luanne]

I hadn't considered buying bedding plants online. (Not sure if that would help my local HD store, either.) And of course, that also means I'd have to figure out ahead of time what I want to plant so I'd know what to order. Usually it's whatever I think would look good together - one of these, one of those...

Dave

The husband of one of our neighbors told me today (by phone) that she is pulling out all of her flowers this year and is going to plant entirely edible plants (i.e. vegetable garden).

 

[b2bailey]

I think it really winds up being a personal decision taking into account the balance of the pros and cons of the situation. If it were a crowded day at the particular store I was in, with a line outside, the extra time I spent doing the shopping for the nonessential items would be delaying the folks waiting in line to get essential items. If it were fairly empty, taking a small amount of extra time to purchase nonessential items without a concomitant impact on other people waiting to get essential items, IMHO it would be a good thing because you're contributing to the ability of the merchant to continue paying its employees, which is kind of important now. The dichotomy between essential and nonessential doesn't seem all that sharp a line to me, particularly given the loose definitions we've been provided and the even looser interpretations people are applying. Just try to do what is right.

This.
If you are already in the store, if it's not very busy, then it's a win/win for both sides of you purchase additional items. Unless they start to cordon off non-essential areas, I say go for it.

 

[PamMo]

Count me in as a fellow gardener who's anxious to do more than rake, weed, trim, and mow. The garden beds are cleaner than they've ever been! My raised beds in the courtyard should be spilling over with flowers by now.

 

[Patri]

Go buy it. This is where the mandates have been unfair. Family owned businesses (clothes and shoes) have closed in my town, yet what they sell is available in Wal-Mart or Dollar Stores. WM has not blocked off any sections. If you need underwear or printer ink or a bicycle for your kid, you need it. Not everything can or should wait 4 weeks or more. Plants are essential to sanity.

 

[clifffaith]

Armstong Gardens sent out an email "tell us what you need, we'll call you to talk, and we'll get it ready for delivery or pickup". They didn't have what Cliff wanted, and of course around here they've long since planted their bare root roses in containers and almost doubled the price. So I went to Jackson & Perkins online, found a bare root white rose and an orange, then discovered they had some specific roses with free shipping (instead of the original $17 quoted) so found the colors on that list instead. I've bought a jacket out of a catalog, and found it on sale and with free shipping when I looked it up online. I've bought books on both Amazon and eBay in the last ten days, and I have my own eBay crap set at fifteen day handling and tell buyers I will still mail items every week to ten days. We are headed to Ace hardware for a can of white spray paint, then across the street to Smart & Final. Then we'll be inside for another week.

 

[WinniWoman]

I wouldn't think twice if it were me.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

I don't see any restrictions on essential vs. non-essential at places like Home Depot, Wal-Mart, etc. I purchased some plants at a local hardware store last weekend, and plan to buy more. One of local nurseries, while closed to shopping does allow for phone orders. I have not used it yet, but apparently they allow you to order and pay for the plants over the phone, then you come to nursery for pickup. Think they ask you to remain in the car, and they will load your trunk or tuck bed with the plants.

For some categories its hard to distinguish between essential and non-essential. Our friends just got e new appliances. If your fridge or cook-top dies, replacing that is essential to me. Just upgrading not so much, but the exposure risk when shopping for both is the same.

 

[am1]

I have not bought a non essential thing in 3 weeks. I rarely do anyways and if so its usually when we are in Canada/US. But its your choice. Keep in mind it continues the cycle of more people getting infected.

 

[Beachclubmum]

How sad is it that I just got a “rx ready for pickup” text message and I’m super excited because now I get to go to Target tomorrow?

Dave, fwiw, I think you’d be fine to buy your plants if the store isn’t busy.

 

[pedro47]

Michael’s Arts and Craft stories are opening in the Tidewater VA area but only ten (10) Shoppers at a time in their store.

 

[Luanne]

Michael’s Arts and Craft stories are opening in the Tidewater VA area but only ten (10) Shoppers at a time in their store.

I wonder what category of "essential" business they think they fall under? I don't see anything in Virginia's order that talks about craft stores one way or the other.

 

[amycurl]

I wonder if it so that folks can buy supplies to make masks and other protective gear?

And I am in the "if you are already there, and can do so quickly" camp. The key is limiting time interacting with others, and limiting trips in general. I would not make a special trip to Home Depot just for plants. I may call a smaller, locally owned nursery, have a conversation about what I am looking for, and maybe have them text me some photos....and then make a short trip for curbside pick-up (or delivery.)

The key is to limit contact. I don't *need* to do take-out food. But I feel once a week, to support a locally-owned restaurant, with curbside pickup and pre-payment, and to give me a break from cooking, is a reasonable risk.

 

[Luanne]

The key is to limit contact. I don't *need* to do take-out food. But I feel once a week, to support a locally-owned restaurant, with curbside pickup and pre-payment, and to give me a break from cooking, is a reasonable risk.

Yep, that's exactly how we feel. One of my friends was telling me that she and her husband had done delivery from Chipotle twice now. I told her I would not order from a chain restaurant, those won't be the ones going out of business. We live in Sante Fe, you can get much better Mexican food at many local restaurants. She hasn't responded.