Cashiers behind plexiglass windows, changed opening times, sophisticated exchange systems – to protect customers and employees and prevent hamster purchases, supermarkets are now taking unusual measures.
Distance markings on the floor, “spit protection” at the cash registers, cashless payment as well as disinfectants and gloves for employees: supermarkets and discounters want to limit the spread of the coronavirus with a variety of measures and at the same time protect their cashiers from infection. However, extended opening times, such as those made possible by the new regulations in Bavaria to equalize the number of visitors, are hardly an issue, as a survey among supermarket and discounter chains showed – also to protect employees.
In many branches of Aldi, Lidl, Netto, Rewe and Penny, plexiglass panes are currently being installed at the cash registers, the respective spokesmen said. This so-called spit protection is intended to protect cashiers from droplet infection with the Sars-CoV-2 virus.
“As one of many preventive measures, additional disinfectants and disposable gloves are provided at short notice to protect our employees,” said a spokesman for Aldi Nord. These are also measures that the other companies have also taken. Customers everywhere are also recommended to pay without cash if possible, but with a card – so that there is little direct contact between people. However, no company surveyed indicated that customer flows were restricted by access restrictions.
To protect customers, the chains have floor markings stuck in the checkout area of many branches, at the Netto-Marken-Discount branches, according to a spokeswoman, for example, at a distance of two meters. Similar notices are posted in Aldi and Lidl branches. The net spokeswoman also referred to self-service checkouts in more than 100 net branches. A spokeswoman for Aldi Süd said: “We also ask our customers to pay attention to the important hygiene and clearance rules.” It is about the so-called cough and sneeze label: in the crook of the arm instead of in the hand or even completely unprotected across the room.
“War on toilet paper”
In order to equalize the rush in supermarkets, Bavaria has extended the possible shop opening hours – also on Sundays and public holidays. But none of the companies surveyed makes use of this. “Our employees need rest periods to gather strength, to relax, to spend time with their partners and families,” said the spokeswoman for Aldi Süd.
In addition, so-called hamster purchases are a problem for the stores – for example, toilet paper. The retailer Michael Glück in Rengsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, takes a particularly unusual approach: he demands a surcharge from the second pack of toilet paper to deter hamster buyers, as he said. If a delivery reaches the store, it will be sold out within five to ten minutes. That also leads to arguments. “There is a war over toilet paper. Customers are getting each other out of the shopping cart.”
But other products are also stashed away. The beverage industry appeals to its customers not to store drinks in bulk in cellars and chambers despite the fear of the corona virus. Sufficient empties must come back into the cycle of the reusable system, says Julian Schwarzat from the Federal Association of German Wholesale Beverages (GFGH). The situation is particularly tense with mineral water, although the system is not about to collapse.
Empties in exchange for toilet paper
When shopping, consumers should return the empties used for reusable bottles – as well as crates – “as soon as possible via retailers”, large associations such as the German beverage retail trade, the Federal Association of German beverage wholesalers (GFGH) and the German association now demand Mineral wells in a joint statement.
However, there are still sufficient supplies, the industry representatives assured. A resourceful beverage retailer from Stuttgart, meanwhile, combines the concern for empties with the run for the product of the hour: “Customers who bring empties back to us get a roll of toilet paper as a reward,” says Hans-Peter Kastner. He ordered a whole load of the coveted goods online in times of crisis.
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