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No Masks In Businesses, Disheartening


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When businesses started to reopen, we were encouraged by the ones that were consistently diligent and made a point of patronizing those businesses. One of those was the Riberas Pet Store formally referred to as the animal shelter. Today I was disappointed to find employees with no masks, not even under their chin. The one stocking the cat food was sneezing. Several businesses have loosened up recently and it's disheartening to no longer feel confident with the ones we used to trust with following protocol. This is part of our new reality. 

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3 hours ago, moonhill said:

When businesses started to reopen, we were encouraged by the ones that were consistently diligent and made a point of patronizing those businesses. One of those was the Riberas Pet Store formally referred to as the animal shelter. Today I was disappointed to find employees with no masks, not even under their chin. The one stocking the cat food was sneezing. Several businesses have loosened up recently and it's disheartening to no longer feel confident with the ones we used to trust with following protocol. This is part of our new reality. 

What did they say when you asked to speak to the owner/manager....or did you... ?

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19 minutes ago, TelsZ4 said:

What did they say when you asked to speak to the owner/manager....or did you... ?

 

3 minutes ago, Natasha said:

I'm with you guys!  Make an issue  at the door of any business that does not comply, and then tell them you will not be back any time soon, turn, and walk or drive away!

In many retail outlets the owner isn't there and the "manager" is a 17 year old kid who views you as an interruption to their conversation or streaming video on their phone.  They could care less that a gringo wants them to put on a mask.  

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Many of my Mexicans friends have told me they don’t feel comfortable with confrontation.  Perhaps some of the store owners and employees don’t feel comfortable enforcing the protocols for that reason.  We’ve all read those stories about employees suffering abuse from some patron that became unhinged because they were asked to where a mask.  To me it seems pretty simple, if you want to go to a store, wear a mask and keep appropriate distance or if you don’t want to wear a mask, don’t go to the store.  For many small businesses here, people live in the same place where they work.  I sympathize with the challenges some may face trying to make a living in these times.  

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I just took a walk that included Chapala's mercado. At the front is a major bus stop. I saw not one getting on or off with masks. Between the two probably 40 locals. The question is if there are none being used should we just not take that bus?

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56 minutes ago, bmh said:

If the manager is a 17 year old kid who does not care then do not go there, simple.

Agreed.  My response was to other posters who think the solution is to complain to the store owner, when many times the owner is not present, nor is any adult present.   

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24 minutes ago, AngusMactavish said:

I just took a walk that included Chapala's mercado. At the front is a major bus stop. I saw not one getting on or off with masks. Between the two probably 40 locals. The question is if there are none being used should we just not take that bus?

About the only time I see anyone wearing masks in Seis Esquinas is at the bus stops.  Might depend on the insistence of the drivers??  

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40 minutes ago, Bisbee Gal said:

Agreed.  My response was to other posters who think the solution is to complain to the store owner, when many times the owner is not present, nor is any adult present.   

If you complain to the owner/manager/employee then at least you have tried to do something So many expats complain on web boards but do nothing in person to rectify the issue.. if no one talks to the business then they don’t know it’s an issue even though we think they should..

 

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I should have mentioned that I spoke to the girl at the register about the employees with no masks, there didn't appear to be any of the usual people there that run the place. She shrugged her shoulders and told me to have a nice day. At least she was polite. I could have bought my pet food at Walmart, but like to support the "shelter". If they are going to allow maskless employees to work there, and one with a nagging cough no less, they have lost my business. 

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We went to San Juan Cosala Tianguis just this past Tuesday. It was fairly well attended, not many gringos, but we live here and wanted to visit. I am not embellishing when I say, the masks we saw two months ago on most locals when we arrived Lakeside are ALL gone! Not a single vendor or local shopper had a mask! Only a couple gringo mask-wearers like us. Terrible that numbers are starting to spike again and I fear a total lockdown is on the Governor's plate.

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2 hours ago, AngusMactavish said:

I just took a walk that included Chapala's mercado. At the front is a major bus stop. I saw not one getting on or off with masks. Between the two probably 40 locals. The question is if there are none being used should we just not take that bus?

You couldn't pay me to get on a bus these days. Even when I see people put on a mask to get on a bus, they usually pull some wadded up filthy mask out of their pocket, ensuring that if there are virus particles on any part of it, they have now spread it to their hands (which they will touch the seats with), their face, and to anyone near them.

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8 hours ago, moonhill said:

When businesses started to reopen, we were encouraged by the ones that were consistently diligent and made a point of patronizing those businesses. One of those was the Riberas Pet Store formally referred to as the animal shelter. Today I was disappointed to find employees with no masks, not even under their chin. The one stocking the cat food was sneezing. Several businesses have loosened up recently and it's disheartening to no longer feel confident with the ones we used to trust with following protocol. This is part of our new reality. 

I am very sorry you had that experience visiting our store. The staff is supposed to wear their masks at all times They have been provided with sufficient masks so there is no excuse.I have sent a copy of your message to the store manager Luis,and asked him to have another talk with the staff. Please advise him if you find employees without masks in your future visits.  We all wish to remain as safe as possible during these times.

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35 minutes ago, sue said:

I am very sorry you had that experience visiting our store. The staff is supposed to wear their masks at all times They have been provided with sufficient masks so there is no excuse.I have sent a copy of your message to the store manager Luis,and asked him to have another talk with the staff. Please advise him if you find employees without masks in your future visits.  We all wish to remain as safe as possible during these times.

Nice, professional response.

What I would suggest store owners do is to let employees know that if they don't follow COVID directives, they'll be fired. No one should need "another talk".

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Firing people may not be the best approach to running a business in general, but firing employees who choose to ignore the instructions they were given regarding being required to wear a mask while working would seem a better idea than losing customers' business because word gets around that it's not safe to enter that place of business.

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4 hours ago, oregontochapala said:

We did just that at Quality Care today.

Not only are the receptionists in both the medical and dental offices not wearing masks, but doctors and dentists are either not wearing them or wearing them improperly.

I just sent an email, but we will seek care elsewhere no matter what their response is. A close friend just informed two specialists she sees there that she won't be back. Too bad that you have to tell medical professionals to wear masks and wear them correctly.

I was at quality care today at 11am in the main office and everyone was wearing masks including patients in the waiting room.

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14 hours ago, oregontochapala said:

We did just that at Quality Care today.

Not only are the receptionists in both the medical and dental offices not wearing masks, but doctors and dentists are either not wearing them or wearing them improperly.

I just sent an email, but we will seek care elsewhere no matter what their response is. A close friend just informed two specialists she sees there that she won't be back. Too bad that you have to tell medical professionals to wear masks and wear them correctly.

Go ahead and seek care elsewhere but don't tell a huge lie about a place on a public forum. I was there long enough Thursday to make the observation that is quite the opposite to what you have written. You are fortunate that they probably can't be bothered suing you for libel.

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A quote from someone I know pretty much sums it up for me also,

"Because those who believe they can exercise their freedom prevents those who don't from exercising theirs. Any place a bunch of folks waltz around without mask is a place others might be afraid to go. Because if those who aren't afraid are allowed to go everywhere and do everything, those who are afraid can go NOWHERE and do NOTHING.

I was brought up in a society where I was taught to give up my seat on a bus/train for an elderly, pregnant lady, or anyone lesser able than me. Not because I have no right to take that seat, but because decency calls for respect and altruism. Standing instead of sitting may be a small gesture on my part, but it means a lot to those who benefit from that sliver of willing self sacrifice. Perhaps one day, I shall be the lucky one on the receiving end of that kindness.

So I wear my mask when I go do my groceries, so granny can feel safe to do hers. So I practice social distancing and limit my exposure, so if I am contagious, I do not inadvertently infect - directly or indirectly - the weak and vulnerable. I might recover; they might not. I accept the inconvenience of my today, so I don't take away all of someone's tomorrows."

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