The coronavirus has changed our lives forever; there’s no going back after a global pandemic — a potentially deadly virus floating around, jumping from one person through another just by sneezing.
Shopping has suffered the most, and there have been lots of adjustments. Some are not that bad, though. Safety measures have kept us safe, right? Let’s look at what has changed so far; here are 10 ways the coronavirus pandemic changed the way we grocery shop.
Lots of online shopping
The most significant difference between the times before the coronavirus and now is that everyone and we mean everyone, is buying something online. Internet buying had an exorbitant boom, and it’s an obvious solution. The thing is, after the pandemic is over, many of these new online buyers will continue buying groceries online, and that’s a good thing; the future is here. Do you buy your groceries online? Comment below!
It’s not just delivery; it’s pick up
Delivery is hot, but there are many other ways of buying your groceries than receiving them to your doorstep. Supermarkets and local grocery stores now offer pick up services, and their sales through this system have doubled in the past few months. Many people prefer pickup over delivery, especially because now stealing delivery items from your doorstep is a thing, and customers are not risking it.
Bulk buying and panic sprees
One of the things you see is people buying more, much more stuff than they need. These are called panic buying sprees and are a social response to threats like a deadly virus running wild. Now, you see supermarket carts packed with booze, toilet paper, disinfectants, and much more — some of it in not even essential items.
Contactless checkout
Eliminating all contact is a priority to prevent people from spreading the virus further, and that means now even the payment systems are contactless to an extreme. There are no touch-screens, printed tickets, or people putting your groceries in bags. Zero contact is the norm, and it will continue to be this way for months to come. Will we ever miss it?
No more cooked food counters
Self-serving counters, buffets, and cooked food stations widely available at supermarkets before the COVID pandemic are no more; they’re a thing of the past. The problem with these stations is that they cause unnecessary lines.
People removed their masks to eat at the designated sitting areas, spreading the virus through the AC systems in supermarkets. These self-service stations probably won’t come back, since they weren’t as hygienic as we thought they were.
Water purifying systems running out
Many supermarket items are in short supply, mainly because neither producers nor distributors could predict the pandemic. This is especially true with water purifying systems. We can’t live more than three days without water, and if you can’t go out and buy it, and you certainly can’t order it on eBay, you must purify your own. That’s a trend no one expected.
Social distant lines
Something we all definitely enjoy is shorter lines everywhere and more distance between people. This is not only safer but more comfortable, and we even reduce the chance of being mugged. Social distant lines are the new norm, and they will continue to be so for a few years. Why would you want someone breathing down your neck?
What’s the deal with toilet paper running out
The first thing that ran out once the coronavirus became global was toilet paper, and in some cities, it’s still in short supply. This has definitely changed the way we grocery shop because no one wants to run out on toilet paper. The thing is, there would be no shortage if we bought the essential item as we used to, just a pack a week.
No more crowded supermarkets
Not only lines are shorter, and there are no self-serve stations, establishments are working at half capacity. In many states, supermarkets must restrict the number of customers in the store at all times, and that means no more crowded supermarkets, not even on Christmas day. This probably won’t last. Once the virus is in check, supermarkets will undoubtedly allow more customers in their stores.
No more smiling
Face masks have changed the way we grocery shop, and how we behave as well. The fact that people aren’t smiling to others, which is obviously pointless if everyone wears a face mask, makes us less empathic, and the little sense of community left in supermarkets is now gone. How will you act once you don’t have to use a face mask in the stores?
Will things go back to normal?
Probably not, because not all safety measures are all that bad, and the coronavirus isn’t the last global threat we’ll face in our lifetime. We’ll get some of our liberties back, that’s for sure, but this is the new normal, that’s what a global pandemic does.
On the bright side, none of us will ever be caught by surprise by a potentially deadly virus. We’ll live through it, so keep your head up!
