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Original poster

Panic buying?

53 replies

janaus50s · 04/03/2020 01:50

Has the world gone mad, Or is it just here in Australia.
Toilet paper, shelves are bare. If a shop gets a delivery in, within 5 minutes of onloading, it’s all gone.
Some stores are limiting the amount people can buy, if they are lucky enough to get any.
It’s just ridiculous.

OP posts:
chocolateisavegetable · 04/03/2020 16:32

Everywhere in the UK has sold out of hand gel, and today the local Tesco had sold out of Paracetamol

Isthistrueor · 04/03/2020 16:34

I overheard an old man saying he had been out and stocked up on loo rolls earlier, I assume he was stockpiling due to coronavirus so I just rolled my eyes. People are so over dramatic.

BiddyPop · 04/03/2020 16:59

I bought a 500ml bottle of sanitising gel 2 weeks ago in the chemist. Not a lot there, but there's never a lot of anything out on the shelves to get the full range of goods displayed.

I was in the chemist this morning for something else, and the 2 people in front of me were looking for hand sanitiser. Sign on the counter saying sold out but soap and water just as effective if proper regime used. Manager was explaining that they had bought 300 bottles of the gel last week, which was the last available from the wholesaler, and it was completely sold out. No idea when wholesaler was getting fresh stock either.

But plenty of most other items on the shelves.

Ricekrispie22 · 04/03/2020 17:48

Spent this afternoon batch cooking to stock the freezer. S’pose you could call it panic cooking.

Novembernickname · 04/03/2020 18:10

I think it's funny that people are distinguishing themselves from 'panic' buyers. Ithink the preppers were the first to panic.
If I'm wrong, what is the difference between preppers and panic buyers. Is it the quantity of stuff bought at one time?
I just can't see what the difference is between stocking extra 3 weeks ago and stocking now.

Nefelibata86 · 04/03/2020 18:28

Low stocks of unleaded petrol at nearest station but unsure if that is a coincidence or not.
Also struggling to differentiate between preppers or panic buyers. Surely any change to buying habits that involves stocking up means you are panic buying (and contributing to the problem). It feels like a bit of an arms race.
I hear people say about having children, I’m due to give birth anytime soon but don’t feel that entitles me anymore than the next- we all need to eat to survive after all!? Maybe I’ll eat my words...

EssentialHummus · 04/03/2020 18:39

just can't see what the difference is between stocking extra 3 weeks ago and stocking now.

The former - let alone stocking up months beforehand - allows shops to restock / adjust orders accordingly.

f00k · 04/03/2020 18:46

I went into Asda at lunchtime to get a few bits that we needed. Hand soap had completely sold out. The pasta aisle was almost empty apart from wholemeal pasta and a box of Smartprice spaghetti. Paracetamol and vitamins were almost empty too. Plenty of crisps and chocolate so I'll be fine Smile

LER83 · 04/03/2020 18:50

I can't understand why people would panic by pasta?! Can't imagine having that everyday, would be sick to death of it! Would rather live off chocolate and crisps!

EssentialHummus · 04/03/2020 18:53

ler - one, some of it is sourced from Italy (i.e. import shortages more likely). Two, it can live forever in the cupboard so it’s an easy thing to use up over time even if not needed urgently.

falcon5 · 04/03/2020 19:18

I'd suggest the difference is proactive or reactive. If you prep as a general thing it means that at times when everyone isn't buying at the same time you have prepared for some of the most likely risk scenarios. So you already have your loo roll for x days in doors or your hand sanitizer if the water is off etc. Not everyone can do it and not everyone can do it to the same extent but if those who can do it removes pressure at a time when everyone is reacting to a situation.

Ricekrispie22 · 04/03/2020 19:19

I’ve just done a panic-borrow from the library - I’ve maxed out my card (20 loans) just in case it closes or we can’t get there!

falcon5 · 04/03/2020 19:27

Now that sounds an excellent idea... I admit my BIL has just done some panic buying from used books as he has read his stash.

CaptainBrickbeard · 04/03/2020 19:28

AnneLovesGilbert if I stockpile snacks, the stockpile will not last me through to the impending apocalypse. I have had to stock up on non-tempting items like quinoa and yeast (to make bread if we have to). A stockpile of delicious crisps and biscuits would fall prey to panic-eating sadly...

BentNeckLady · 04/03/2020 19:31

The only thing I’ve not been able to get is hand gel. Everything else seems to be stocked as notmal.

RufustheLanglovingreindeer · 04/03/2020 19:33

stockpile of delicious crisps and biscuits would fall prey to panic-eating sadly

I generally panic after ive eaten them

AgeLikeWine · 04/03/2020 19:40

Waitrose’s shelves were normally stocked this afternoon, so no evidence of panic buying by the middle classes. Lidl’s shelves were also well stoked, so the plebs aren’t panicking either. Grin

Billyeyelash · 04/03/2020 19:41

Went to the supermarket tonight. I thought this panic buying was media hype. Then I saw the empty shelves.

Kudos to the women who dashed past with her trolley full of chocolate bars, biscuits and wine.

CeibaTree · 04/03/2020 19:45

overheard an old man saying he had been out and stocked up on loo rolls earlier, I assume he was stockpiling due to coronavirus so I just rolled my eyes. People are so over dramatic.
You won't be saying that when you run out of toilet paper and can't get any more :)

I think the difference between preppers and panic buyers is that preppers buy extra stuff slowly over time in a more considered manner than panic buyers who strip the shelves bare buying 20 bags of pasta in one go. Panic buyers cause shortages, preppers do not.

Titsywoo · 04/03/2020 19:47

I'm in Surrey and the loo roll shelves were empty today and there was no Ibrupofen

coppersuits · 04/03/2020 19:49

Ocado are out of stock on so many dried/canned foods - so bloody annoying.

Pipandmum · 04/03/2020 19:50

Just had a weekly Tesco delivery and only thing they didn't have was hay (for my rabbits). In fact Sainsbury's didn't have hay earlier this week either. Hmmm.

MuchTooTired · 04/03/2020 19:57

I hear people say about having children, I’m due to give birth anytime soon but don’t feel that entitles me anymore than the next- we all need to eat to survive after all!? Maybe I’ll eat my words...

Leaving aside my desperate instinct to ensure my children stay alive, fed and warm, babies and children are really bloody noisy when they’re hungry 😂

Splodgetastic · 04/03/2020 19:58

If you have to panic buy, why panic buy pasta? Food is going to be the least of your worries. Surely water purification equipment is the most essential thing. You can live for at least nine months on your fat stores if you’re an average woman. Three days without water.

TildaKauskumholm · 04/03/2020 20:10

Scotland here, yesterday went to lidl and sainsburys, no empty shelves except for hand gel.