Plexiglass

[frequentflier]

My store has been voluntarily doing curbside pickup only since 3/23. No one is allowed in the store except employees. I spoke to my friend that owns SPOT thrift shop in St Leonard today (awesome shop and they pay for spay and neuters with profits!) that has been shut down since this started. She is modifying the store to have a separate entrance and exit plus has ordered plexiglass to shield employees from customers. She ordered thin plexi from a picture framing company.

My questions are and I do understand no one may know the exact answers:
Do you think plexiglass will become mandatory or is it mandatory in open retail stores?
How do you secure plexiglass barriers? I have very high ceilings in the store. If mandatory, I would need two since I do have two cash registers. There would also have to be a big opening since we are scanning bags of food up to 44 lbs. Who is installing all of these barriers?
Are separate entrance and exits and the 6' rule still going to be in place? Minimizing the amount of people in stores?

These kinds of things weigh heavy on my mind and I would like others thoughts and possibly facts regarding this. My business cannot afford to do a lot of modification.

 

[Chris0nllyn]

My store has been voluntarily doing curbside pickup only since 3/23. No one is allowed in the store except employees. I spoke to my friend that owns SPOT thrift shop in St Leonard today (awesome shop and they pay for spay and neuters with profits!) that has been shut down since this started. She is modifying the store to have a separate entrance and exit plus has ordered plexiglass to shield employees from customers. She ordered thin plexi from a picture framing company.

My questions are and I do understand no one may know the exact answers:
Do you think plexiglass will become mandatory or is it mandatory in open retail stores?
How do you secure plexiglass barriers? I have very high ceilings in the store. If mandatory, I would need two since I do have two cash registers. There would also have to be a big opening since we are scanning bags of food up to 44 lbs. Who is installing all of these barriers?
Are separate entrance and exits and the 6' rule still going to be in place? Minimizing the amount of people in stores?

These kinds of things weigh heavy on my mind and I would like others thoughts and possibly facts regarding this. My business cannot afford to do a lot of modification.

Plexiglass is not mandatory (putting tape down, 6' apart, is) as it was not included in Hogan's most recent Order. It is not mentioned in the Health Dept.'s recommendations either.

I had to run out the other day to 7-11 and they hung thin sheets of it from the ceiling grid on small pieces of chain and zip ties (drill hole in plexiglass, zip tie through hole, chain through zip tie up to ceiling grid clip. They left a good 12" between counter and bottom of plexiglass. Not the only way to do it, but seems easy enough. You would be responsible for installing.

Do you have a mobile scanner you could use through the plexiglass?

The Health Dept. and Hogan's Order say mark the floors 6 ft apart at the counter and Health Dept. says to limit to 5 people in the store per 1,000 sq ft. Supposed to have antiseptic wipes at entrances also per both Orders.

Starting Thursday, stores will be required to properly disinfect all shopping carts or make antiseptic wipes available to customers at the entrance. People waiting in lines at deli counters, checkouts, and other spots in and outside of stores must space at least 6 feet apart. Employees must be allowed to wear face masks and have an opportunity to wash their hands each hour.
Finally, occupancy of retailers will be limited to 5 people per 1,000 square feet.

https://www.calverthealth.org/healththreats/diseases/cvirus.htm

https://governor.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Masks-and-Physical-Distancing-4.15.20.pdf

 

[frequentflier]

Plexiglass is not mandatory (putting tape down, 6' apart, is) as it was not included in Hogan's most recent Order. It is not mentioned in the Health Dept.'s recommendations either.

I had to run out the other day to 7-11 and they hung thin sheets of it from the ceiling grid on small pieces of chain and zip ties (drill hole in plexiglass, zip tie through hole, chain through zip tie up to ceiling grid clip. They left a good 12" between counter and bottom of plexiglass. Not the only way to do it, but seems easy enough. You would be responsible for installing.

Do you have a mobile scanner you could use through the plexiglass?

The Health Dept. and Hogan's Order say mark the floors 6 ft apart at the counter and Health Dept. says to limit to 5 people in the store per 1,000 sq ft. Supposed to have antiseptic wipes at entrances also per both Orders.


https://www.calverthealth.org/healththreats/diseases/cvirus.htm

https://governor.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Masks-and-Physical-Distancing-4.15.20.pdf

And where are those available? We are not open to the public but if it becomes mandatory, I imagine they will be hard to find!
The scanners are mobile but I don't know if they would work through plexiglass. I mean, we could walk out and scan purchase but that kind of defeats the purpose of having a barrier.

 

[jazz lady]

I had to run out the other day to 7-11 and they hung thin sheets of it from the ceiling grid on small pieces of chain and zip ties (drill hole in plexiglass, zip tie through hole, chain through zip tie up to ceiling grid clip. They left a good 12" between counter and bottom of plexiglass. Not the only way to do it, but seems easy enough. You would be responsible for installing.

Same with Sheetz.

And where are those available? We are not open to the public but if it becomes mandatory, I imagine they will be hard to find!

Lowe's sells them.

https://www.lowes.com/search?searchTerm=plexiglass

 

[PrchJrkr]

The scanners will work through the plexiglass. They've been doing it at Dash In for a few days now. Also seen at Dash In is a clip board with barcodes attached for ease of scanning. You could do this for common items too heavy for the customer to heft onto the counter.

 

[Chris0nllyn]

And where are those available? We are not open to the public but if it becomes mandatory, I imagine they will be hard to find!
The scanners are mobile but I don't know if they would work through plexiglass. I mean, we could walk out and scan purchase but that kind of defeats the purpose of having a barrier.

Great question. I have seen some pop up at Wal-Mart or CVS but it's hard to know when it's in stock. My wife's suppliers typically don't see gloves or hand santizer, but they are now, so perhaps it's worth talking to your suppliers. Just an idea.

It should, assuming you get clear plexiglass, but can't say for sure.

I personally think having gloves and mask on is sufficient to quickly scan the food.

Is it worth just continuing curbside pickup? That way you don't have to worry about modifying the store at all.

 

[kom526]

And where are those available? We are not open to the public but if it becomes mandatory, I imagine they will be hard to find!
The scanners are mobile but I don't know if they would work through plexiglass. I mean, we could walk out and scan purchase but that kind of defeats the purpose of having a barrier.

Glass shops would have plexi also.

 

[BernieP]

I can tell you that the CVS in Target had tables up to add space between the counter and the customer but those were removed.
They were supposed to be getting plexiglass partitions but they had not yest arrived. There is no mandate, some stores have had them up for a while, to private some spray protection between the clerks and customers.

 

[Scat]

And where are those available? We are not open to the public but if it becomes mandatory, I imagine they will be hard to find!
The scanners are mobile but I don't know if they would work through plexiglass. I mean, we could walk out and scan purchase but that kind of defeats the purpose of having a barrier.

The crew at D&S Glass (301) 843-6833 or Waldorf Glass (301) 843-3580 would be able to come up with a good solution for you

 

[PeoplesElbow]

If I was looking to do a cheap and easy job I would use some 1x lumber and some heavy plastic sheeting, nothing says the partition has to be rigid.

 

[kwillia]

If I was looking to do a cheap and easy job I would use some 1x lumber and some heavy plastic sheeting, nothing says the partition has to be rigid.

Rigid would make it easier to wipe down.

 

[frequentflier]

Same with Sheetz.

Lowe's sells them.

https://www.lowes.com/search?searchTerm=plexiglass

I was referring to the antibacterial wipes.

 

[frequentflier]

Great question. I have seen some pop up at Wal-Mart or CVS but it's hard to know when it's in stock. My wife's suppliers typically don't see gloves or hand santizer, but they are now, so perhaps it's worth talking to your suppliers. Just an idea.

It should, assuming you get clear plexiglass, but can't say for sure.

I personally think having gloves and mask on is sufficient to quickly scan the food.

Is it worth just continuing curbside pickup? That way you don't have to worry about modifying the store at all.

People want to come in and shop and we have a lot of items that are not selling. Mostly, people are buying food and treats but skipping the bowls, litter boxes, beds, toys etc etc plus we are losing a lot of $ by not having the dog wash open.
I can get gallons of disinfectant and gloves from one distributor but no wipes. It might be worth asking the manager at Weis where they get their tall stands with wipes.

 

[Chris0nllyn]

People want to come in and shop and we have a lot of items that are not selling. Mostly, people are buying food and treats but skipping the bowls, litter boxes, beds, toys etc etc plus we are losing a lot of $ by not having the dog wash open.
I can get gallons of disinfectant and gloves from one distributor but no wipes. It might be worth asking the manager at Weis where they get their tall stands with wipes.

Understood.

Note that there's no requirement for sanitizing wipes. If you are sure to disinfect shopping carts/baskets you are still in compliance.

All Retail Establishments shall, in good faith and to the extent possible:
i. Where any queue is expected to form, designated with signage, tape, or by other means at least six-foot spacing for persons in line;
ii. Sanitize, or provide customers with a means to sanitize, handles of carts and baskets that are available to customers;
iii. Provide staff and customers with clean restrooms stocked with soap or sanitizer, and allow staff to wash their hands at least once every 30 minutes; and
iv. Post signage at each entrance advising customers about the requirement to wear Face Coverings described in paragraph II.a.

https://governor.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Masks-and-Physical-Distancing-4.15.20.pdf

I personally think that if you/employees wear gloves and masks and sanitize the hell out of everything you are in compliance. I totally understand and respect wanting to do more though.

 

[kwillia]

People want to come in and shop and we have a lot of items that are not selling. Mostly, people are buying food and treats but skipping the bowls, litter boxes, beds, toys etc etc plus we are losing a lot of $ by not having the dog wash open.
I can get gallons of disinfectant and gloves from one distributor but no wipes. It might be worth asking the manager at Weis where they get their tall stands with wipes.

Why aren't you allowed to schedule wash appointments? You could leave 1/2 hour in between each so no overlap.

 

[frequentflier]

Why aren't you allowed to schedule wash appointments? You could leave 1/2 hour in between each so no overlap.

Even though we don't groom, it is not considered essential.
We are also not letting anyone else in the store.