Washington says stay at home until May 1 ,2020

[easyrider]

Another month of nothing but essential work. I went to Lowes today for a hot water tank replacement and I feel sorry for the workers. Standing six feet away from a Lowes guy I have known forever I was told that the people that are laid off will be making more than him with no corona virus exposure. I asked if he thinks he has been exposed and he thinks so because of all the people that are taking their entire family to Lowes because they are open.

I'm glad they are open and I hope they stay safe and get some kind of bonus for being out there.

Bill

 

[TravelTime]

California is on stay at home until May 3rd. I am pretty sure it will be extended longer. I feel sorry for the Lowes worker. It sounds like many people are better off getting laid off - more money and less risk of getting Covid-19 if they stay home. I am surprised the government is allowing Home Depot and Lowes to stay open. I do not see them as essential services but what do I know? It seems like people are going there to find some home improvement projects to deal with the boredom of staying home.

 

[Luanne]

California is on stay at home until May 3rd. I am pretty sure it will be extended longer. I feel sorry for the Lowes worker. It sounds like many people are better off getting laid off - more money and less risk of getting Covid-19 if they stay home. I am surprised the government is allowing Home Depot and Lowes to stay open. I do not see them as essential services but what do I know? It seems like people are going there to find some home improvement projects to deal with the boredom of staying home.

Home Depot and Lowe's also carry cleaning supplies, masks and gloves. Besides home improvement projects they also carry home repair supplies.

 

[geekette]

California is on stay at home until May 3rd. I am pretty sure it will be extended longer. I feel sorry for the Lowes worker. It sounds like many people are better off getting laid off - more money and less risk of getting Covid-19 if they stay home. I am surprised the government is allowing Home Depot and Lowes to stay open. I do not see them as essential services but what do I know? It seems like people are going there to find some home improvement projects to deal with the boredom of staying home.

Well, if you can't hire a plumber, you gotta do it yourself (I have a toilet I need to fix). If my water heater blows, I gotta do it myself. If I can't make money, I gotta grow my own food. I'll want to replace burned out light bulbs. I'll need water softener salt. I can't fix my broken oven, but I could get a new one.

Much more than "improvement" involved. Even for apartment dwellers that can call the landlord for problems, landlord or property mgmt has to get the stuff somewhere.

Essential in my book. Along with car part stores and service bays. gotta keep the car running, working or not. Not going to Uber to the hospital.

What is weird to me is that we have counties telling stores, like Target, to stop selling "non-essential items". What are they supposed to do? Store all the greeting cards, fingernail polish and toys? To me, a store is open or it's closed. Halfway is ridiculous.

I was a bit appalled that stores were ordered to stop selling crafty things, books, puzzles, games. Guess home school kids can forget "art class", and we definitely shouldn't encourage reading (?!?!?)

That's just mean. People at home should just amuse themselves counting their toes over and over? We're not jailed, this is a public health matter!

I think the problem is that people took "non-essential" too far in their trips out, and kept taking trips out. I don't think there would be a problem if you picked up a deck of cards, magazines and a yoga mat while at Target, but people going to Target for those items seemed to have triggered this.

Weird times we're living in. If things get tough, I'll just re-read the years of Nat Geographic I have....

 

[TravelTime]

Home Depot and Lowe's also carry cleaning supplies, masks and gloves. Besides home improvement projects they also carry home repair supplies.

Yes I know but it still does not seem essential enough to risk lives. Cleaning supplies, masks and gloves (assuming they are in stock) are a very small percentage of their inventory. I can see the grocery stores and pharmacies staying open but that is about it. We need to think about saving lives - not about home repair. I suspect Home Depot and Lowes lobbied the government for profits over people. It still shocks me that people are willing to risk their lives to get home repair stuff. Repairs can wait. Perhaps they should only be open for genuine life and death home repairs (which are few) but not open to the general public.

 

[TravelTime]

Well, if you can't hire a plumber, you gotta do it yourself (I have a toilet I need to fix). If my water heater blows, I gotta do it myself. If I can't make money, I gotta grow my own food. I'll want to replace burned out light bulbs. I'll need water softener salt. I can't fix my broken oven, but I could get a new one.

Much more than "improvement" involved. Even for apartment dwellers that can call the landlord for problems, landlord or property mgmt has to get the stuff somewhere.

Essential in my book. Along with car part stores and service bays. gotta keep the car running, working or not. Not going to Uber to the hospital.

What is weird to me is that we have counties telling stores, like Target, to stop selling "non-essential items". What are they supposed to do? Store all the greeting cards, fingernail polish and toys? To me, a store is open or it's closed. Halfway is ridiculous.

I was a bit appalled that stores were ordered to stop selling crafty things, books, puzzles, games. Guess home school kids can forget "art class", and we definitely shouldn't encourage reading (?!?!?)

That's just mean. People at home should just amuse themselves counting their toes over and over? We're not jailed, this is a public health matter!

I think the problem is that people took "non-essential" too far in their trips out, and kept taking trips out. I don't think there would be a problem if you picked up a deck of cards, magazines and a yoga mat while at Target, but people going to Target for those items seemed to have triggered this.

Weird times we're living in. If things get tough, I'll just re-read the years of Nat Geographic I have....

On other threads, you are critical of profits over people. Now you are saying entertainment and fixing broken things is essential. I am feeling we need to protect more lives. If we are going to shut down business and go through all this pain, let’s be consistent. Why should Home Depot employees be risking their lives for mostly non-essential services?

 

[Luanne]

Yes I know but it still does not seem essential enough to risk lives. Cleaning supplies, masks and gloves (assuming they are in stock) are a very small percentage of their inventory. I can see the grocery stores and pharmacies staying open but that is about it. We need to think about saving lives - not about home repair. I suspect Home Depot and Lowes lobbied the government for profits over people. It still shocks me that people are willing to risk their lives to get home repair stuff. Repairs can wait. Perhaps they should only be open for genuine life and death home repairs (which are few) but not open to the general public.

True. They could have gone to a delivery only like other businesses. I want to know why Hobby Lobby is still open and why they think they are essential.

 

[TravelTime]

True. They could have gone to a delivery only like other businesses. I want to know why Hobby Lobby is still open and why they think they are essential.

Yes, exactly. Home Depot is making a killing (pun on words) now so they can afford to offer delivery services. I can‘t believe Hobby Lobby is open. Are arts and crafts essential? I wonder if Michael’s is still open? If we are going to shut down, let’s shut down and make it work. I was not one initially in favor of a global shut down but now that I am shut down, I am all in. So it bugs me to see some non-essential services still open.

 

[Luanne]

Yes, exactly. Home Depot is making a killing (pun on words) now so they can afford to offer delivery services. I can‘t believe Hobby Lobby is open. Are arts and crafts essential? I wonder if Michael’s is still open? If we are going to shut down, let’s shut down and make it work.

I believe Michael's is closed.

 

[TravelTime]

I believe Michael's is closed.

Yes, I think so. We just googled our local Michael’s and they are closed. That is good. But why is Hobby Lobby open? How did they get around the shut down?

 

[dsmrp]

I'm in Washington and I expect to be working from home until mid or end of May.
Several in my group and me, are going in to the office to bring home our docking ports and larger monitors. One is even going to try to dismantle his ergonomic standing desk gear !

 

[Luanne]

Yes, I think so. We just googled our local Michael’s and they are closed. That is good. But why is Hobby Lobby open? How did they get around the shut down?

I can't link anything right now but you can Google "why is Hobby Lobby essential" and find why they think they are. Sounds like they did close then planned to reopen some locations. They claim they are essential because they sell some educational materials and supplies to make masks. Again, why can't they go online.

 

[DaveNV]

I can't link anything right now but you can Google "why is Hobby Lobby essential" and find why they think they are. Sounds like they did close then planned to reopen some locations. They claim they are essential because they sell some educational materials and supplies to make masks. Again, why can't they go online.

I'd heard it's because the wife of the owner claims to have had a vision from God. And since they have huge political connections, they are claiming they are an essential business. Believe as you wish, I think it's all about corporate greed. My choice is to continue my boycott of the entire company.

Dave

 

[TravelTime]

I'd heard it's because the wife of the owner claims to have had a vision from God. And since they have huge political connections, they are claiming they are an essential business. Believe as you wish, I think it's all about corporate greed. My choice is to continue my boycott of the entire company.

Dave

Your explanation sounds whacky but believable. I have heard Hobby Lobby is really a religious organization. Their political connections must be strong.

 

[Brett]

I'd heard it's because the wife of the owner claims to have had a vision from God. And since they have huge political connections, they are claiming they are an essential business. Believe as you wish, I think it's all about corporate greed. My choice is to continue my boycott of the entire company.

Dave

they also claim to have 'essential' supplies for people to make coronavirus masks

 

[dioxide45]

My problem with Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and such is the government is picking certain companies over others. Okay so Hobby Lobby has to close. Why then can Target and Walmart continue to be able to sell the same product in their stores that Hobby Lobby and other craft stores sell? Shouldn't Walmart and Target have to close off those sections of their stores since that isn't essential. If people shouldn't be out shopping for it, then they shouldn't be going to Walmart for it instead. The same could be true of stores like Gap. Why can Costco and Walmart continue to sell clothes, but Gap and other mall stores have to close?

 

[pedro47]

dioxide45,
Costco, Sam Club, BJ Warehouse, Target and Walmart are opening because they have a grocery side and a pharmacy departments located inside their stores. Plus, all these stores carry cellphones, hardware products, tools, lawn and gardens, plus they all sell wine and beer .etc.,
One Stop Shopping
IMO.

 

[Brett]

My problem with Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and such is the government is picking certain companies over others. Okay so Hobby Lobby has to close. Why then can Target and Walmart continue to be able to sell the same product in their stores that Hobby Lobby and other craft stores sell? Shouldn't Walmart and Target have to close off those sections of their stores since that isn't essential. If people shouldn't be out shopping for it, then they shouldn't be going to Walmart for it instead. The same could be true of stores like Gap. Why can Costco and Walmart continue to sell clothes, but Gap and other mall stores have to close?

I'm guessing those other stores also sell medicine and groceries ...
But hey, if it's a Darwinian World just let all the stores and restaurants stay open and let the chips fall where they may

 

[dioxide45]

I'm guessing those other stores also sell medicine and groceries ...
But hey, if it's a Darwinian World just let all the stores and restaurants stay open and let the chips fall where they may

I understand why stores such as Costco and Walmart are open. What I am saying if certain departments are not essential, force them to close those departments like they are doing to other stores. It would help keep people away that are just shopping for non essential items.

 

[pedro47]

dioxide45
Got you. I heard and read your concerns and your observations of selling clothing in the larger retail chains .

Maybe this is why Costco, BJ's and Sam Clubs tire centers are closed. These tire centers are not inside the building where groceries, the pharmacy and the wine and beer are located and sold.

 

[AnnaS]

I agree, if Target sells groceries - close off other departments. This is an invite for people to go with their families/an outing. They are doing this at the grocery stores. I can understand if one is a single parent and has no one at home to leave their kids with. I have many friends (who work at grocery stores) constantly saying families (dad/mom and kids) come in to shop. One adult/parent should be shopping. (I worked in one for 28 years).

Two weeks ago my son called a pipe/or the sewer backed up. The cover/casket broke. My husband brought our snake line to him and my son made a run to Home Depot for a new cover. Things at home can break and our cars can break down too. So many essentials out there. They did recently stop construction here - private homes, businesses.

 

[DaveNV]

Costco is now only allowing two people per membership card into the warehouse. It’s all about crowd control.

As for Hobby Lobby vs. Michaels: They sell similar products. How can one be considered essential and the other not? Doesn’t Michaels also sell mask materials?

Dave

 

[pedro47]

I agree with you 100%
AnnaS, it is now very hard to call a contractor to come to your home to fixed anything.IMO..

 

[pedro47]

Costco is now only allowing two people per membership card into the warehouse. It’s all about crowd control.

As for Hobby Lobby vs. Michaels: They sell similar products. How can one be considered essential and the other not? Doesn’t Michaels also sell mask materials?

Dave

Dave

I did not know that Michael's were closed. Children needs some type of constructive projects to do until schools reopen. Art and Crafts .IMO

 

[geekette]

On other threads, you are critical of profits over people. Now you are saying entertainment and fixing broken things is essential. I am feeling we need to protect more lives. If we are going to shut down business and go through all this pain, let’s be consistent. Why should Home Depot employees be risking their lives for mostly non-essential services?

Once my roof caves in, I'm screwed.

If you don't think shelter At Home is necessary, what "shelter" would you recommend?