# My retail store only allows 6 customers at a time **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [August 14, 2020, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-retail-store-only-allows-6-customers-at-a-time/918116 "2020-08-14T19:11:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-retail-store-only-allows-6-customers-at-a-time/918116/1 "2020-08-14T19:11:41Z")
As per my state’s current covid 19 guidelines for retail stores, we limited the number of customers who can come in and shop at one time. Our clientele have been respectful/ tolerant of that policy these past couple of months. What’s going to happen when it’s 20° outside? And windy? And sleeting? And not just at our little store but also the many large chains (i.e. Trader Joe’s) that will also be facing this. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-retail-store-only-allows-6-customers-at-a-time/918116/2 "2020-08-14T19:17:13Z")
My daughter works for Trader Joe’s and they’re already dreading it–not just the endless complaints but also the increased sniffling and coughing that inevitably accompanies colder weather. I’m thinking the smartest course will be for people to get really cuddly with curbside delivery. Make your orders online, go pick them up. Another option will be small stores with very limited capacity making actualy shopping appointments. Miss your slot, go stand in line. It’s gonna be…interesting. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-retail-store-only-allows-6-customers-at-a-time/918116/3 "2020-08-14T20:42:30Z")
Wearing masks and limiting contacts may have a huge effect on those sniffles, etc. I have two grade schoolers, and we haven’t been sick since February. Unbelievable difference. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-retail-store-only-allows-6-customers-at-a-time/918116/4 "2020-08-14T21:04:14Z")
I went to a Trader Joe’s on a Tuesday at 2 PM and the line was like 30 people out the door. I didn’t stay to shop. How many people are they letting in at once? Ours is fairly small. But this was a weekday afternoon!! ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-retail-store-only-allows-6-customers-at-a-time/918116/5 "2020-08-14T21:19:34Z")
[quote=“2\_More\_Bits, post:1, topic:918116, full:true”] As per my state’s current covid 19 guidelines for retail stores, we limited the number of customers who can come in and shop at one time.[/quote] What state are you in, **2\_More\_Bits**? Around here, it doesn’t seem any retail establishment has a headcount limit beyond the pre-COVID fire code. Restaurants do have limits, and bars are closed. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-retail-store-only-allows-6-customers-at-a-time/918116/6 "2020-08-14T21:23:43Z")
Trader Joe’s really needs to get with it when it comes to online ordering/curbside pickup. Back in April their marketing person gave the excuse that it was a “massive undertaking”. Well, if they had started figuring it out back then it might be up and running by now. ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-retail-store-only-allows-6-customers-at-a-time/918116/7 "2020-08-14T21:32:41Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > What state are you in, **2\_More\_Bits**? Around here, it doesn’t seem any retail establishment has a headcount limit beyond the pre-COVID fire code. Restaurants do have limits, and bars are closed. Michigan. 4 human bodies (not including employees) per 1,000 sq. ft permitted. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-retail-store-only-allows-6-customers-at-a-time/918116/8 "2020-08-14T21:38:39Z")
Trader Joe’s are known for their terrible tiny parking lots. I don’t see curbside working well for them. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-retail-store-only-allows-6-customers-at-a-time/918116/9 "2020-08-14T21:44:16Z")
All stores around here have headcount limits, but supermarkets are big enough that I’ve never seen a lineup. It’s the liquor store that used to have them, but lately there haven’t been any, or they’ve been very short, with a wait of just a minute or two even if there is one. What appears to have happened is that in the early phase of this fiasco, a lot of employees – particularly those working checkout – chose to stay home. But they can’t afford to do that any more, and that, plus adequate PPE and the mask mandate, has made it safer and brought most of them back. Where there used to be only one checkout lane operating, and then two, now it’s pretty much business as usual with many open at a time. So I think when it starts getting colder and the weather generally more miserable towards the late fall, there will hopefully not be much in the way of lineups. I was at the liquor store yesterday and the grocery store today, and it was all pretty normal except for everyone wearing masks. The longest wait I’ve ever had during this entire pandemic was to get in to a small specialty grocery earlier this summer, and even that was less than fifteen minutes. The last couple of times there were no lineups at all. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-retail-store-only-allows-6-customers-at-a-time/918116/10 "2020-08-14T21:45:05Z")
> [@2\_More\_Bits](#): > > Michigan. 4 human bodies (not including employees) per 1,000 sq. ft permitted. How big is your store? Linked below is a PDF - SUMMARY OF STATE OF MICHIGAN EXECUTIVE ORDER 2020-161. Check out Page 19: > **Entering the Facility** > > - For stores of less than 50,000 square feet of customer floor space, must limit the number of people in the store (including employees) to 25% of the total occupancy limits established by the State Fire Marshal or a local fire marshal > > - Stores of more than 50,000 square feet must: > **[COVID19\_Workplace\_Guidelines\_for\_Retail.pdf](https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/leo/Documents/Executive/COVID19_Workplace_Guidelines_for_Retail.pdf?rev=46a098f39c9b41c0b675126edd845975)** ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-retail-store-only-allows-6-customers-at-a-time/918116/11 "2020-08-14T21:47:55Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > How big is your store? About 1,600 sq ft ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-retail-store-only-allows-6-customers-at-a-time/918116/12 "2020-08-14T21:55:11Z")
Do you know what you’re store’s pre-COVID fire limit was? In my state (Louisiana), y[our fire-code occupancy limit at 1600 sq ft would be about 53 people](http://sfm.dps.louisiana.gov/pr_info.htm), assuming a typical small retail shop. Assuming Michigan is not too different, that gets your allowed COVID-19 occupancy to 12 or 13. ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2020, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-retail-store-only-allows-6-customers-at-a-time/918116/13 "2020-08-16T15:09:48Z")
Thanks but I really don’t want to squeeze anymore bodies into our store. The “showroom” space is only about 800 sq ft and maintaining 6’ around people is hard. (Not that many of our customers make any effort to social distance while they shop) ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2020, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-retail-store-only-allows-6-customers-at-a-time/918116/14 "2020-08-16T15:18:04Z")
I’m slowing stocking the freezers (not hoarding, a good mix of prepared products and meat) and just bought a long warm coat. Combine that with home delivery where possible, and I’m good for the winter. I WILL NOT stand in line in crappy weather for anything I can order in. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2020, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-retail-store-only-allows-6-customers-at-a-time/918116/15 "2020-08-16T15:33:54Z")
Trader Joe’s would have a lot more of my business, as would our normal grocery, if they had curbside pick-up.