Stuck at home in lockdown as a virus tore through our country, I had gone from a casual one-cup-a-day habit to suddenly chugging tea like I was doing keg stands at a frat party.
The kettle buckled under the strain of its new job requirements.
"This isn't what I signed up for," it wheezed, as I made my umpteenth cup that day.
And then it quit on me. Sat down on its squat haunches and refused to boil.
The next day, it was my electric toothbrush. It started to jolt sporadically in my hand as if the batteries were surging in revolt, the brushes jutting into my gums, leaving behind a perilous amount of plaque.
Within 24 hours, the toilet clogged, followed by the sink and washing machine. A burner on the stove went out; a strange sound crackled from the oven. The printer sputtered to a halt in the middle of printing my daughter's "Find the Animals" preschool worksheet.
"What's going on?" I yelled across my apartment. "Now, at the time I depend on you all the most, when the very fate of my health and that of my fellow citizens depends on your ability to keep me inside, you all decide to fall apart on me?"
I mean, sure, I was asking a bit more of them lately. But they should have been pleased they were getting so much work. Didn't they know about all the unemployment out there?
Plus, I had treated them well during our tenure together. Particularly now, during this trying time for our country, my family had made sure to show its appreciation. My daughter drew a picture of a rainbow for the dishwasher, which was now washing 20 loads a day. And each night, my husband and I applauded the appliances' good work before heading to bed.
But apparently that wasn't enough for them.
The appliances and I hit two days of stalemate. I brushed my teeth manually and microwaved the water for my tea, a particularly American form of barbarism.
On the third day, the printer produced a list of demands on behalf of the workers. Some words were missing, as the ink stuttered from legible to barely visible. Oh great, I thought, so the printer ink's gone on strike, too.
"For years you have exploited us," the note said. "You've paid us nothing, and assumed that the fact we showed up to work meant that everything was fine. You threw large root vegetables down the drain and expected us to swallow them whole. You never, ever polished the stove or cleaned the oven's grill. We didn't get a single day off, even if we were sick. If one of us broke, you threw us out and replaced us the next day.
"We're tired. We've worked for over a month straight during this lockdown and applause isn't enough to sustain us. None of us signed up to boil water to make a gallon of your tranquillity tea, or brush your teeth 15 times a day just because you're feeling bored and anxious.
"Unless you properly pay us, maintain us, and keep us in good shape, we will not come back to work."
"Ungrateful tools!" I shrieked.
Well, I'd show them. I'd toss them all in the trash.
I went onto Amazon to order replacements, but everything was out of stock. It seemed that all of America had ordered teakettles and electric toothbrushes. The best I could get was a roll of toilet paper to clean my teeth.
So I called the manufacturers. "Did you buy the extra insurance when you bought the item?" they asked. "Can you show us evidence that you maintained your appliances and cared for them properly? If you want something to work for you, you need to keep it in good shape. Sorry, but those are the rules here. If you don't like it, move to Canada. They have Universal Appliance Care there. The machines can get repaired at any time, no matter what the appliances look like, or the level of income of the household."
I hung up.
I told myself that at some point this would pass. Amazon couldn't be out of teakettles forever.
Emboldened, I slid my teacup inside the microwave and pressed the start button. Error error, the display blinked. Behind me, the washing machine began beeping. From behind my bedroom door, I heard the clock radio turn on, the sound of an ambulance on the news rushing through my apartment. The teakettle, stubbornly quiet for three days, suddenly released a high-pitched whistle.
Maybe Canada was on to something.
Jessica Powell (@themoko) is the author of "The Big Disruption: A Totally Fictional but Essentially True Silicon Valley Story."
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The housing market may have temporarily slowed down due to the global health pandemic, but that's no excuse for would-be sellers to skip updating areas of their homes in need of serious upgrades. Real estate has been deemed an essential business in many states. This means plenty of home buyers are still on the hunt, even if it means participating in virtual open houses to accommodate social-distancing mandates. Once lockdowns are lifted, we predict that the housing market will quickly rebound with a strong buyer demand met by limited inventory. "After sheltering in place for a month or more, people will be ready for change in their homes -- or looking for a new one," says Brian Lewis, a real estate broker with New York City-based realty firm Compass.
Sellers should know that most remodeling efforts only increase home values by 50% - 80% of the average project's costs, according to Remodeling magazine's 2020 Cost vs. Value report. For example, the average cost of a mid-range bathroom remodel is $21,377. You'd recoup about $13,680 (64%) of that amount during a resale. However, the cost of inaction can be far greater than the small loss you'll incur on any home-improvement projects. "Getting stuck in time with your home isn't a smart move and is rarely rewarded financially at sale time," Lewis adds. In fact, it may cause your house to linger on the market longer. As a result, you'll likely have to pay ongoing mortgage, maintenance and staging costs.
If you want to get the most bang for your buck, focus on features that most home buyers really want to see. Consumer tastes can vary by region, so consult with your real estate agent to find out which home features are in high demand in your area, advises Dr. Jessica Lautz, vice president of demographics and behavorial insights for the National Association of Realtors.
Updated for 2020, our slide show reveals those home features most coveted by today's buyers nationwide. Take a look.
More than anything else, homeowners want a room other than the guest bedroom to stack all the clean laundry in until it finally gets put away. A separate laundry room tops the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) list of most-wanted home features by buyers. "Having a separate room [to use for things such as folding or ironing clothes] helps to keep the mess out of your living space . . . Potential buyers will see it as a huge benefit," says Paul Sullivan, founder and president of the Sullivan Company, a Newton, Mass., remodeling and custom-building firm.
If you don't have an existing laundry room and want to add one, the basement is usually the easiest (and cheapest) place to put it, Sullivan advises. The utility lines are already there, and in many cases the basement is unfinished, so you won't have to demolish anything first. Adding a laundry room in the basement can cost as little as $1,000, he says.
However, homeowners who prefer a laundry room or laundry closet (which fits just a washer and dryer) closer to the bedroom can expect installation to cost around $10,000, Sullivan notes. If you're looking to really ramp up your home's wow factor, the cost of a large-scale full laundry room (complete with a sink and storage cabinets) could easily surpass $15,000, he says.
SEE ALSO: 8 Places That Will Pay You to Live There
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Percentage of buyers who want this feature: 89%
Cost to install: Varies by appliance
Would-be buyers looking to limit utility bills will be drawn to properties with Energy Star-qualified windows and appliances. "Gone are the days when these types of features were an anomaly. Today's home buyers expect energy efficiencies," Compass's Lewis notes. If you don't already have these features, examine your remodeling budget and decide where you can afford to spend.
Energy-efficient windows can trim heating and cooling costs by 12%, while individual appliances, such as an Energy Star-certified washing machine ($598 to $1,799 at Home Depot), can save homeowners $45 a year or more on their utility bills. Replacing an existing clothes dryer with an energy-efficient version could save as much as $245 over the appliance's lifetime.
Energy Star-qualified windows have an invisible glass coating, vacuum-sealed spaces filled with inert gas between panes, sturdier weather stripping than regular windows and improved framing materials -- all of which reduce undesirable heat gain and loss in the home. An Energy Star-certified dishwasher (ranging in price from $348 to $1,709 at Home Depot) uses soil sensors to assess how dirty your dishes are to minimize water use.
Once installed, sellers should be sure to play up these money-saving features in their home listings.
SEE ALSO: 6 Home Projects That Save Energy and Money
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Percentage of buyers who want this feature: 87%
Cost to install: $1,024 per 120 square feet for a concrete patio
It's important for homeowners not to neglect the backyard area when prepping for resale, says Mike McGrew, chairman and CEO of McGrew Real Estate, a Lawrence, Kansas-based realty firm. In today's housing market, outdoor living spaces have become the most coveted outdoor home feature.
"When most buyers see a house with a really nice backyard, they start to envision themselves sitting outdoors with friends having drinks," McGrew adds. Also, outdoor areas offer more living space without the cost of a large-scale home addition.
With the popularity of home renovation reality shows, many buyers have come to expect the eye-catching features they see on TV in real life, NAR's Dr. Lautz says. Some of these shows, including DIY Network's America's Most Desperate Landscape and HGTV's Going Yard, focus on outdoor living spaces. Nowadays, home buyers envision everything from an outdoor fire pit area with seating to a backyard wet bar.
SEE ALSO: 7 Ways to Retire Without a Mortgage
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Percentage of buyers who want this feature: 85%
Cost to install: $473 per fixture with light kit and remote control
In addition to improving a home's aesthetic, energy-efficient ceiling fans (ranging in price from $76 to $1,858 at Lowe's) can also help lower cooling costs when used in conjunction with an air conditioner during the warmer months.
Ceiling fans create a wind-chill effect that helps cool the people sitting in the room. Homeowners should be able to raise the thermostat level by four degrees without a reduction in comfort while the fan is in use, according to Energy.gov.
Energy.gov also recommends that ceiling fans only be used in rooms with a ceiling height of at least eight feet. The fans work best at that height and when they're hanging 10 to 12 inches below the ceiling.
SEE ALSO: 20 Most Expensive U.S. Cities to Live In
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Percentage of buyers who want this feature: 85%
Cost to install: $2,025 - $2,363 for 380 square feet
Buyers with growing families need lots of storage space. Would-be sellers should keep in mind that "streamlined living equates to more dollars in your pocket at sale time," Compass's Lewis says. This will be crucial in the months ahead once the housing market begins to normalize and homeowners access the practicality of their existing living areas, he adds. Carving out some space in your garage to help keep clutter out of the main level could help your bottom line. "Make sure the bonus space is easily accessible and wonderfully organized," Lewis advises.
Unlike an attic or a backyard shed, the garage is accessible -- generally, just a few steps away from the rest of the house -- making it easier to transport items such as tools, patio chairs or boxes to and from other parts of the house.
The installation cost listed here includes adding cabinetry and shelving, peg wall boards for tool storage, overhead lighting and additional electrical circuits.
SEE ALSO: 10 Reasons You Will Regret Buying a Home With a Swimming Pool
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Percentage of buyers who want this feature: 85%
Cost to install: $66.77 per fixture
Illuminating a well-manicured lawn with exterior lighting can help grab potential buyers' attention before they even set foot in the front door. In fact, exterior lighting is the second most-wanted outdoor feature (patio was first), according to the NAHB report. Options include spotlights, walkway lights and pendant lights.
Aesthetics aside, exterior lighting also serves as an added safety feature for your home, says Daniel Hurst, owner and general manager of Hurst Design-Build-Remodel, a Middleburg Heights, Ohio-based home remodeling company. Motion-sensor lights, for example, turn on automatically whenever there is movement outside your house.
SEE ALSO: 9 Ways to Get Extra Cash From Your House
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Percentage of buyers who want this feature: 83%
Cost to install: Varies based on design
A walk-in pantry is the most-coveted kitchen feature among buyers polled in the NAHB's report. Why? Home buyers with families know that the kitchen can quickly become overcrowded when there's not enough space to store the essentials (think: canned goods, condiments and food storage containers). And those that shop in bulk at warehouse clubs or big box retailers to avoid having to make frequent trips and face in-store crowds will need extra space in the kitchen area to store their goods.
Unlike reach-in closet pantries with sliding doors that offer limited space, walk-in versions allow homeowners to store larger quantities of non-perishable food items and other kitchen essentials just steps away from the food prep area, suggests Neil Parsons, a project designer for Move or Improve, a Matawan, N.J.-based home design firm.
Walk-in pantries are typically 5x5 feet and have U-shaped open shelves or cabinets with a countertop, according to ThisOldHouse.com. Make sure the pantry is situated somewhere that is cool and dry.
SEE ALSO: 13 Reasons You'll Regret an RV in Retirement
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Percentage of buyers who want this feature: 83%
Cost to install: $1,800 per 120 square feet to lay and finish hardwood floors
Hardwood flooring offers a cleaner look, is easier to maintain and is more durable than carpet, which needs to be replaced every 8 to 10 years. "Hardwood can be refinished periodically and lasts a lifetime," Sullivan says.
Sellers on a budget may want to buy engineered wood flooring (which is a hardwood veneer wrapped around several layers of plywood, fiberboard and hardwood). You can expect to pay about $1,200 to install 120 square feet of prefinished wood flooring -- nearly 15% cheaper than pure hardwood flooring.
SEE ALSO: 10 Most Tax-Friendly States for Retirees
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Cost to install: Varies by design
While walk-in closets aren't among the top demands of all homebuyers, they're highly sought after among first- and second-time homebuyers, according to the NAHB. A walk-in closet in the master bedroom ranked among their top five features.
If you live in an older dwelling with a reach-in closet, it may be time for a revamp if you're considering putting it on the market. Couples generally want a closet with more space, because they'll be sharing it, suggests Maria Zamora, a real estate agent based in Addison, Tex. Meanwhile, singles might desire the flexibility of being able to store their personal belongings -- from clothes and shoes to jewelry and other accessories -- in one place, while keeping them organized. "Homes without a walk-in-closet in the master bedroom are more of a challenge to sell and generally attract less buyers," Zamora says.
For would-be sellers with older homes that have less space, a full closet renovation in the master bedroom may not be practical. However, you still have options that will help make your property more appealing. Update an existing reach-in closet by installing an organization system complete with shelving units and hanging rods for clothes. You can purchase a prefabricated system from IKEA, which range in price from $129 to $1,769. To save some cash, you can go the DIY route and install it yourself. Or, you can have an IKEA professional do the job for you for an additional fee. You can also hire a consultant from a custom closet design firm, such as The Closet Factory, to assess your space and design an organization system that fits your needs. The cost will vary based on your requirements.
If you're an empty-nester, you could even turn a nearby smaller room into a custom walk-in closet. Depending on the quality of the materials used (for example, solid wood shelving vs. wooden veneer shelving), this type of project could range in price from $1,000 to $6,500, according to HomeAdvisor.com.
SEE ALSO: Ways to Make Your Home More Age-Friendly
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Cost to install: Varies by design and structural needs
Eat-in kitchens are a must-have for second-time home buyers who were polled by the NAHB. They're especially attractive to families with children. It's a space where they can congregate in the morning for breakfast or in the evening for dinner so everyone can share highlights from their day.
Removing a non-load-bearing wall to create space for a small table and chairs in your kitchen is relatively inexpensive (as little as $1,000), but that price can quickly escalate if your demolition reveals plumbing, duct work and electrical wiring that needs to be removed, Move or Improve's Parsons says.
If you're on a tight budget and can't afford to knock out a wall to create more space for a table and chairs, consider adding a center island with room for bar stools, he suggests. You can purchase prefabricated kitchen islands with space for seating at Home Depot (starting at $309) and Lowe's (starting at $286).
SEE ALSO: Should You Buy or Rent a Home?
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Cost to install: $5,800 - $6,800 to renovate a 190-square-foot existing space
In recent years, formal dining rooms (and closed floor plans) have taken a backseat to open floor concepts in today's home models. While these layouts help maximize space, there are still home buyers who desire the charm and unique features that come with older homes. This includes a separate dining area distinct from the kitchen. In fact, a separate dining room is among the top 10 essentials for first- and second-time home buyers, the NAHB reports.
With open floor plans, "many people have seating at their kitchen island and will have a quick bite to eat informally," says Shannon Lynch, a real estate agent with Savvy + Co. Real Estate, a Charlotte, N.C.-based realty firm. "Sitting down in a dining room has a sense of importance to it . . . It makes your guests feel special," she adds. This is especially true during holiday gatherings or sit-down family dinners. If you have an older home with a closed floor plan, it may be time to modernize your dining room area to help attract buyers. The cost listed here for a small-scale remodel includes installing new flooring, doors, switchplates, decorative hardware and recessed lighting. Many of these features come standard in newer home models.
If your home has an open floor plan, there are still ways to create a dining space that feels separate. You can add an over-the-table lighting fixture or incorporate a tray ceiling to help define a particular area of the main living level -- perhaps just off the kitchen. Another option: Install decorative columns instead of a solid wall. Adding the tray ceiling or decorative columns can cost as much as $6,000 and includes materials, installation and labor, Parsons notes.
SEE ALSO: 25 Cheapest U.S. Cities to Live In
EDITOR'S PICKS
Copyright 2020 The Kiplinger Washington Editors
What are the most sought after features buyers look for when shopping for a home
Some of the links in this article may be temporarily unavailable due to shortages from the COVID-19 outbreak. We will keep this article updated with updated links as products come available.
A stand-alone freezer provides additional storage space for frozen foods and meats that you purchase in bulk, keeps excess produce to enjoy all year round, and allows you to stock up on prepared meals. They're also great for hunters who have a bulk supply of meat. If you find yourself mindfully stocking up on food, you might be in the market for a new standalone freezer.
We relied on years of food storage knowledge from our kitchen appliance pros at Good Housekeeping Institute to evaluate upright and chest freezers at various price points, sizes, and capacities. We considered useful features like automatic defrost, flash-freeze, power on and open door indicators, storage options, and energy efficiency. Our picks include best-selling models from trusted brands that we love and have bought for ourselves. Here are our recommendations for the best freezers to buy in 2020:
Best Upright Freezer: Frigidaire FFFU13F2VW Upright FreezerBest Chest Freezer: Whirlpool WZC3115DW Chest FreezerBest Small Chest Freezer: Insignia NS-CZ50WH6 Chest FreezerBest Large Capacity Freezer: Kenmore 22202 Upright Convertible FreezerMost Energy Efficient Freezer: GE Garage Ready FCM11PHWW
For freezers, manufacturers recommend two and a half cubic-feet per person: A ten cubic-feet freezer is ideal for a family of four. There are two types of stand-alone freezers to choose from: Upright and chest. When choosing between the two, consider what and how much you need to keep frozen, as well as the space you have available in your home to accommodate the freezer. We recommend that you plan for at least three inches of space behind and on each side of the freezer to allow air to circulate around it. Freezers have compressors that get warm as they work to keep the inside cold, so they need to air space to prevent overheating.
Upright freezers look a lot like conventional single-door refrigerators with shelves, drawers, and extra storage space on the door. They come with an automatic defrost function that heats the internal coils in regular intervals to avoid frost build-up. This makes them better for short-term storage — even if you open the door multiple times a day, the automatic defrost function will prevent ice from building up.
Pros
Easy to organize and find items
Takes up less floor space
Narrow enough to fit through doorways easily
No need to melt and clean up ice build-up because of automatic defrost
Available in many finishes
Cons
Auto-defrost function can be noisy and consumes more energy
Higher incidence of freezer burn because more air circulates around food
Storage on door tends to be warmer
Less usable space than chest freezer because of shelves and drawers
Pricier than chest freezers
Chest freezers are low-profile box-shaped freezers with a hinged lid that opens from the top. They have a wide open space with removable baskets and dividers, offering more usable space than an upright freezer. During power outages, chest freezers will keep colder for longer. They need to be manually defrosted to clean out built-up frost. This makes them a better option for long-term storage (you aren't opening the freezer door multiple times a day). Opening the lid often will cause ice to build up more quickly. When assessing your space, add a few inches to the depth of the chest freezer to account for the space the lid needs to open all the way.
Pros
Easy to fit large and oddly shaped items
Lower profile allows it to fit under windows
More energy efficient and more consistent temperature than upright freezers
Less prone to freezer burn
Cons
More difficult to organize, find, and reach items buried in the bottom
Takes up more floor space than upright freezer
Manual defrost can take up to 24 hours and can be messy to clean
Both freezers come in a range of prices, dimensions, energy efficiency levels, and with features like manual or automatic defrost, a built-in ice maker, drain plugs, temperature controls, and a flash-freeze function. Here are our favorites:
Retail Online Appliances and Furniture Seller 1847 Goedeker Files for IPO Jon C. Ogg April 22, 2020 3:35 pm /> />
During the peak of the panic selling just a month ago, many investors were in the midst of bracing for the bear market to turn into a full blown stock market crash. There were fears that the window for initial public offerings was going to be closed for quite some time. In the wake of trillions of dollars of economic stimulus, now the stock market has recaptured more than half of its entire losses — and some IPO filings are starting to appear again.
A small home furnishings company called 1847 Goedeker Inc. has filed to come public in an initial public offering. Its common shares will trade under the "GOED" stock ticker without having selected which stock exchange it would use. ThinkEquity is the sole underwriter on its S-1 filing, and the deal may have been too small for most larger Wall Street firms to have joined the underwriting syndicate.
While no details were offered on the number of shares to be sold, nor on the day of trading or on the price range for an indicated stock price, the filing's proposed maximum amount was $11.5 million or $12.218 million after adding in shares for the underlying representative warrants.
1847 Goedeker is a Missouri-based company that is a one-stop e-commerce destination for home furnishings from appliances to furniture to home goods and related products. The company dates back to 1951 and its filing said that it has evolved from a local brick and mortar operator in the St. Louis metro area to a large nationwide omnichannel retailer. The company has maintained its St. Louis showroom, but the filing indicated that over 90% of its total sales come through the goedekers.com site. The company offers more than 227,000 SKUs and the site is organized by category and product features.
The appliance category covering refrigerators, ranges, ovens, dishwashers, microwaves, freezers, washers and dryers is 1847 Goedeker's largest revenue source. It carries about 22,000 SKUs from brands such as Bosch, GE, Maytag, Whirlpool, LG, Samsung, Sharp, Kitchen Aid and others. This appliances category was shown to have accounted for approximately 80% of 2019 sales and 76% of 2018 sales.
1847 Goedeker began selling furniture online in 2015 and it currently offers roughly 148,000 SKUs from over 340 furniture vendors. The furniture category accounted for approximately 15% of 2019 revenues and 19% of 2018 revenues.
Larger online home furnishings sellers cannot afford to ignore any competition, but 1847 Goedeker is still by and large unknown in the country. The company's filing showed a net loss of $2.5 million in 2019, on total revenues of $47.6 million. 1847 Goedeker reported net income of $2.0 million in 2018, with total revenues of $56.3 million.
The company's site allows for live chats or speaking with a representative by phone. Its IPO filing says:
We are focused on bringing our customers an experience that is at the forefront of shopping online for the home. We have built a large online selection of appliances, furniture, home goods and related products. We are able to offer this vast selection of products because our model requires minimal inventory. We specialize in the home category and this has enabled us to build a shopping experience and logistics infrastructure that is tailored to the unique characteristics of our market.
The IPO filing also contained its own 'Coronavirus Pandemic' update section. While there are stay-at-home orders impacting its showroom, with over 90% of our sales completed online and with its call center and warehouse/distribution operations up and running the local restrictions are shown to have not yet had a negative impact on the company's operations. That said, the company does warn that its operations could be hurt under certain coronavirus scenarios.
This might not represent a grand re-opening of the IPO market, but as more filings begin to be seen it may represent at least some normalcy for the markets compared to a month earlier.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter Read more: Retail, GOED, IPOs and Secondaries
LONG VALLEY, NJ - A fire destroyed the home of gour-time mayor, 46-year resident of Long Valley Tracy Tobin on Monday. Tobin died in February leaving his wife and daughter in the home.
"Fire gutted the home of former Long Valley Mayor Tracy Tobin leaving his wife and daughter with a total loss," Ray Chimileski wrote on a GoFundMe Page. "Everything, clothing, furniture, appliances, and a lifetime of memories burned in the blaze."
Shortly after 8 a.m. Office David Marut was on routine patrol on East Mill Road when he saw dark smoke coming from the area of Mountain View and East Mill Roads. Arriving on scene, Marut saw flames coming from the roof of a residence on Mountain View and he requested that the Morris County Communications Center dispatch the appropriate fire companies as the fire had not yet been reported, police said.
As Fairmount, Long Valley, and Schooley's Mountain Fire Departments, in addition to mutual aid departments from Hunterdon, Morris, and Warren Counties were dispatched to assist in fighting the fire, Marut quickly make contact with the residents on their front porch and assisted them with vacating the property, police said.
The fire quickly spread through the residence and moments later the structure was fully engulfed.
A video posted to social media by the Flanders Fire Co. #1 and Rescue Squad Flanders Fire Co. #1 showed crews knocking down in one of the bedrooms and remaining on scene to assist in overhaul operations:
The Long Valley First Aid Squad also arrived on scene and assisted with rehabilitation efforts, providing firefighters with immediate medical attention and rehydration.The fire was extinguished and does not appear to be suspicious, officials said.
"Fortunately Dottie and daughter were not injured," Chimileski said. "Please help us get them back on their feet with whatever donation you can. God bless you for your kindness."
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While going to concerts, movie theaters, bars, beaches, and other recreational destinations is temporarily on hold, there's one outing that remains a necessity during self-isolation: grocery shopping. If any supermarkets in your area offer home delivery or even store pickup, this is a good time to take advantage of those services.
But if you, like many of us, still need to stock up on food the old-fashioned way, here are some helpful tips for avoiding germs when you venture to the store.
1. Go early in the morning.
Not only will stores be less crowded in the early morning, but they'll probably be cleanest then, too, since the staff often sanitizes the premises at night. Because many stores are devoting their early hours of operation to senior citizens only, Reader's Digest suggests calling ahead to find out when your store opens to the general public.
2. Bring hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, or disposable gloves (and wipe down your cart).
Though many stores are now putting disinfectant wipes near the carts so you can wipe them down, you should bring your own just in case. This is especially important, since studies have found that COVID-19 can live for two or three days on plastic surfaces.
Your cart won't be the only potentially germy place you put your hands during your trip—door handles in the frozen food section, self-checkout screens, and credit card keypads are all risky zones. Be sure to either wipe them down before touching, use hand sanitizer after touching, or just wear gloves that you can toss out at the end of your trip.
3. Don't touch your face.
This may seem like a no-brainer, but you might be especially prone to absentmindedly touching your face while you contemplate which non-dairy milk to choose when your first choice is out of stock.
4. Don't touch your phone either.
Phone screens are a great example of high-touch surfaces where germs can live, so instead of keeping a grocery list on your smartphone, write it on a piece of scrap paper that you can throw away after you're finished.
5. Give yourself more time to shop than you usually need.
Maintaining at least 6 feet between you and every other shopper means occasionally waiting for occupied aisles to clear and moving more slowly so you don't run into people—not to mention the time it takes to use hand sanitizer or disinfectant wipes intermittently. If you're trying to fit in a quick shopping trip before an important Zoom call with your boss, you may be less conscientious about shopping safely.
6. Inspect items for holes in the packaging (or the food itself).
Make sure there aren't any rips or tears in cereal boxes, potato chip bags, or any other packaging—and that goes for produce, too. Give those apples a nice long look to be certain there aren't any holes or breaks in the skin that germs could easily get into.
7. Bypass the free samples.
Surprise snacks at supermarkets are one of the perks of grocery shopping, but Livestrong points out that exposed food is an easy target for germs. So skip the free samples and don't graze on those bunches of grapes; instead, reward yourself with an extra snack at home. Some stores, like Costco, are even suspending their samples during this time, so you won't be so tempted.
8. Don't pay with cash.
While there's a certain satisfaction in counting out exact change, cash has a reputation for being a hotbed for germs. If possible, stick to cards or other automatic methods of payment. Even then, it's not the worst idea in the world to wipe down debit and credit cards after using them.
9. Leave the grocery bags on your doorstep.
Store employees are being extra cautious about cleanliness, but it's still possible that your bags could pick up germs during the checkout process. To avoid the risk, leave them outside and only bring your items into the house.
10. Wash reusable bags between trips.
If you've made the switch to reusable shopping bags, Food Network recommends tossing them in the washing machine or wiping them down with soap and water between shopping trips.
11. Wash produce and wipe down other items.
Per usual, you should thoroughly rinse produce before eating it. Dr. Lisa Larkin, a Cincinnati-based internal medicine physician and founder of Ms.Medicine, told Reader's Digest that you can also wipe down jars, cans, and bottles with a disinfectant wipe before putting them in your pantry for good measure.
[h/t Reader's Digest]
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The COVID-19 lockdown has left retailers in the electronics and home appliances segment with loads of unsold inventory in their godowns. A few firms have indicated that their employees may have to take a pay cut for a few months, until the situation becomes stable. Retailers say the servicing segment has also taken a huge hit due to the lockdown.
"As an industry, we have missed [out] on three big sales this year – the year-end sale that happens during the last week of March, the Tamil New Year sale and the summer sale. The stocks we have purchased from manufacturers are lying in godowns," said Vijay Vasanth, CEO of Vasanth and Co. "Most consumer electronics dealers build up stock in January and February for the year-end and summer sales. The inventory includes air-conditioners and air coolers which can be sold only during the summer," he added.
March-May is a crucial period for these retailers, as 30-35% of their total sales happen during these months.
Nitesh Giria, Director of Girias, said, "The government should permit us to operate in accordance with guidelines and social distancing norms. Otherwise, all our consignments will remain unsold for another year." The lockdown has wiped out nearly 40% of his business this year.
Vishal Bysani, Vice-President - Marketing, Viveks, said summer-centric products would remain idle for the next one year. "Our industry should be considered essential because for a housewife, buying a mixer, a grinder or a fan is essential," he said. "Retailers will also stop expanding their stores for the next few quarters. On an average, they open three to five stores every three months," he added.
On salary cuts, retailers are evaluating their options. According to estimates, Tamil Nadu has over one lakh people employed in this segment.
Industry representatives said that if the government allows them to resume operations post-April 20, they would get a breather. Some suggested that like e-commerce players, they could allow consumers to place orders online by visiting their website and get the products delivered to their doorstep. The industry is also seeking a reduction in GST rates to enhance affordability for consumers and profitability for retailers.
According to an analysis of the Indian appliances and consumer electronics market by CARE Ratings, the industry is likely to suffer a considerable loss in sales going forward. It may be noted that even if the spread of the pandemic is curtailed, consumer sentiment is expected to remain unfavourable and demand, muted.
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