Went to buy a part for an important appliance yesterday

[PCIntern]

Yes, I service my own appliances for the most part...

There is a parts store open from 9-12:30 in a large strip mall. A sign on the door read that they were open but no customers allowed in. Called the number on the door and the lady behind the counter said, “yes. What part do you need and what is the brand and model number?” She went and got it, came to the glass door and showed it to me. I nodded and she got back on the phone, took the credit card number, boxed it, opened the door and dropped it in a postal bin outside. I picked it up, waved, and got in my car.

My God, how things have changed in a month.

[ProfessorGAC]

1. Shazaam!!!

That is, in fact, quite the change. For a talker like me, it's getting difficult to just go in, get out and STFU.

[samnsara]

3. went to the grocer yesterday..there was a large plastic barrier between myself and the checker..

...he was quite eager to chat. It was very safe..

[ProfessorGAC]

6. Burble, burble.

Just kidding but I'm doing my Omar Sharif thing with the scarf wrapped around my face.
Seems not conducive to a friendly chat!
In normal times, the ponytailed dude with the scarf across his face would have led to a 911 call! LOL!

[fierywoman]

23. My scarf across my face caused my checker to say: Oh! A post apocalypse fashion statement!

[Turbineguy]

28. I told the cashier

"It's OK to go to the bank dressed like this now!"

[fierywoman]

30. TY for the LOL!

[samnsara]

2. thats seems to have made shopping easier! no muss no fuss...

[dewsgirl]

4. My DIL is 8 months pregnant, the baby store in town is doing this.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. There is a ridiculously expensive ice cream store down the road that closed its front door...

so you go up to a side window where you yell...

"Chocolate waffle cone"

"No cones. Cups only."

Now you're really stuck, because signs for the flavors of the day are missing. "Vegan mango cream."

"Not today."

So you go through the flavors you can remember and you might end up with just butter pecan.They slip your cup and your credit card out and slam the window shut.

[James48]

19. Tell me you are joking-

Ice cream?

Ice cream is not essential in ANY universe.

If you have left your home to go get ice cream, tell me who you met along the way? What did you touch? Did you hand the ice cream store person cash money? That was contaminated with virus? What if the cup you got was dusted with virus? Do you think about the store personnel who had to come in contact with someone delivering ice cream, or supplies?

Think, people. Stop buying non-essential goods. Right now. If you are “out of “ something, ask yourself- who do I jeopardize to have that? Is it life or death right now to get that, or can that wait for six months? Do I have an alternative inside the house already?


People’s lives depend on your answerable. Stay Home. Stay Safe,

Keep others alive.

[cwydro]

20. Yeah, sheesh, if a person MUST have ice cream, buy it at the grocery.

I’m surprised an ice cream shop is allowed to be open.

The ones in my town aren’t.

[TreasonousBastard]

24. A bit judgmental, wot? You may have missed the part where I have no home because...

I was living in a VA facility but got thrown out because I committed the unpardonable offense of getting pneumonia and spending a week in the hospital.

So wherever I am I am "home".

As to ice cream, when passing a place where they make it, it is occasionally an essential.

[left-of-center2012]

21. Your profile says you're in New York

And you go out to buy ice cream ?

The state has had 4,159 fatalities so far.

[TreasonousBastard]

25. I did not go out to buy ice cream, I just passed by where it was...

and stopped "in".

And even if I did, how can you make such a judgment without knowing sny more?

[left-of-center2012]

26. You stopping for ice cream was all I needed to know.

[TreasonousBastard]

27. You must be a lot of fun to be stuck in the house with.

[WhiteTara]

29. LOC

He's HOMELESS. That means he has no place to shelter. I'd eat ice cream too.

[MichMan]

31. Would you go to a ridiculously expensive ice cream shop to buy it?

[WhiteTara]

37. If it was right there, maybe.

I don't think he was "going anywhere" he just happened to be there, as I understand it.

[dalton99a]

7. Most humans have disappeared from the planet

[jayschool2013]

14. And the planet is rejoicing

https://www.greenbiz.com/article/stunning-impact-covid-19-social-distancing-air-pollution

[dalton99a]

17. +1. The air is nice and clean in China, but they can't go outside to breathe it

[Hugin]

8. I had to call one of the local eye care clinics for some supplies I was running out of...

Even though they were closed a lone caretaker staff member was on site.

I explained my situation and they took the charge, packed up what I needed, and mailed them out to me. I had them the next day.

Totally unexpected and kind.

They didn't even charge me for shipping.

I swear when things settle down I'll make it up to them.

[MineralMan]

9. At least it was open, and you were able to get your needed part.

[lark]

10. See, I don't understand why the stupid governors of FL and GA make big boxes essential.

Why can't they do what you just described, why do people have to go into the stores to get the goods? When I went to the vet for my very sick cat, they did curbside service, why not Walmart - other than political clout with repug party?

[MichMan]

32. Our governor decided to close all the vet clinics for everything except life threatening care

Yet, she allows pot shops to stay open and lottery sales to continue.

The big box home improvement stores were called essential in case someone needed to replace things like hot water heaters and other things essential for living at home. The problem is since the entire store is open and people are bored, they are wandering around shopping for such non essentials of flats of petunias, lumber and lawn mowers, and people are working on their home remodeling projects.

[Skittles]

36. WTF

it gives me peace of mind to know my vet is still there (shorter hours though) - I definitely consider vets essential business

[lark]

38. Sadly for us, this was for life threatening care of my elderly cat.

Vet said I definitely needed to bring him in and sure glad I did as he was almost dead. It was handled by curbside serve by attendants that were wearing face shields/marks & medical grade gloves and I felt safe and my kitty received great care.

The shopping part is so in effect here and that's why I think it's crazy. Drove by there and the parking lot was crowded. I won't go in.

[left-of-center2012]

35. "why not Walmart"

Walmart and some stores do 'pickup' (and some also do delivery to your home).

You order online and pay with a credit card.
Choose a day and time, drive to the store, and they bring your purchase to your car.

[unblock]

11. All my life people have treated my introversion like it's a bad thing

Suddenly everyone is trying to do all the things that come naturally to me.

Staying inside, not trying to meet with friends, not talking to strangers, etc.

Times have changed indeed!

[LiberalArkie]

15. Introverted / Apies are going to be the only ones coming through this SANE

[CTyankee]

12. Same here, with our tax documents for the accountant.

[frazzled]

13. That's how we got our wine stash

As well as birthday presents from the toy store for two little granddaughters: call or order online to pay, drive up curbside as employee leaves bagged or boxed items on pavement, pick up and drive off. Then drive to son's building and repeat process of leaving on sidewalk, waving hello, and driving off. Birthday parties will be via Skype, FaceTime, or Zoom. The new now.

[BamaRefugee]

16. Sounds like going to the liquor store in South Carolina back in the 60s. And they couldn't have

advertising of any kind on the building, just a big circular "target" type of sign.

[treestar]

18. A Chinese restaurant has a little table outside

with a bunch of menus - some paperweights on them so they won't fly away in the wind. You mark what you want on the menu and leave your phone number and then wait in the car and then they bring it out to you.

Some businesses ask you to please use cards and not cash.

[ihaveaquestion]

22. My husband works for an auto parts store

Which are deemed essential (gotta keep cars and trucks running)... they are still letting people in the store, but only a few at a time. Lately, he says, it seems like everyone wants to chat and people are hanging out for a bit.

[MichMan]

33. Essential to keep peoples cars running in case of emergencies

Not essential for waxes, polish and other car wash supplies.