Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that the supermarkets have a responsibility to control panic buying

17 replies

maddening · 01/11/2020 01:05

The media is already doing its bit to whi up the population to panic buy, aibu to think that the supermarkets should implement a max purchase rule again to curb panic buying, to not do so is irresponsible, feeds the panic and just boosts their profits and the resulting news stories about panic buying. And they should implement this on opening for trade in the morning.

OP posts:
Cabinfever10 · 01/11/2020 01:10

What about people who are buying for friends, family or neighbours as well as their own home?

Sometimeswinning · 01/11/2020 01:16

What about people who are buying for friends, family or neighbours as well as their own home? Buy a large pack and share till the next shopping day? No excuse for clearing the shelves when we know there's enough. Brain dead, selfish are key words for these people.

GlummyMcGlummerson · 01/11/2020 01:17

Absolutely, totally agree with you

Grin

On a serious note, I think limiting items is a good idea as long as it's not limited to 1 or 2 as some people are buying for those shielding and it's a massive PITA to make two transactions (and which in March I had to do in 2 different supermarkets as couldn't go back to the till, when shopping for my grandad)

maddening · 01/11/2020 01:18

I doubt they are the majority and if the panic buying does kick in again there will be nothing to buy for their friends and family. Plus the delivery system is much more robust, so family and friends that cannot go out are more likely to be able to book a delivery.

OP posts:
Sometimeswinning · 01/11/2020 01:25

I was at work and was faced after with empty shelves! I know from last time it will calm down but honestly people are stupid! Then others panic because of the stupid people. Then shops have to step in! Its day one. Shops were not prepared.

Anordinarymum · 01/11/2020 01:28

If the shops start rationing again they will create the need to panic buy.

safariboot · 01/11/2020 01:28

It's a myth that shortages are caused by "selfish panic buyers". Supermarkets have the actual data and it showed that in March the shortages were primarily down to normal people buying a little bit extra, not the small number of stockpilers.

It's not "selfish" or "panic" to buy an extra tin of beans. When everyone does that without the supermarkets expecting it, there's no more beans on the shelves.

DaddysGirlForLife · 01/11/2020 01:29

At our store we have signs that say something like "please be considerate and buy what you need"

If it gets crazy again, they'll start limiting obviously.

BlackPetunia · 01/11/2020 01:31

7 adults in my household.

Limiting how many things we can buy means extra trips out! Counterproductive

But it’s fine, we manage

melj1213 · 01/11/2020 01:34

YABU - we are already expected to be the mask police,the social distancing police and now we are supposed to be the panic buying police ... why is it our responsibility?

I work in a supermarket and it's hard enough just doing our actual jobs without having to police the general public on sensible shopping.

Everyone has a valid excuse as to why they are the exception to the rules and it is exhausting just trying to ensure policies are fair and adhered to when people argue with you every single day as to why you should make an exception just for them.

During the initial pandemic lockdown in March we had limits on high demand things like loo roll, pasta, baby food etc and for every person that was trying to hoard multiple 24pks of loo roll for themselves, someone else was trying to buy the same number to keep a care home or children's centre stocked or to split between care packages for multiple shielding people. Unfortunately in order to prevent the first we couldnt make allowances for the second because we cant tell which is which, especially when people will straight out lie to get what they want.

I, and my colleagues, were screamed at, threatened, intimidated and subject to all kinds of abuse for trying to enforce limits during our original lockdown, despite my company hiring in extra security, so no I do not want to have to deal with that again, all for barely above minimum wage whilst also dealing with the risk that one of the hundreds of people I have to interact with every day could be a covid carrier.

MagicMabel · 01/11/2020 01:35

@safariboot people on here don't want facts if it gets in the way of their irrational anger.

DaddysGirlForLife · 01/11/2020 01:35

@BlackPetunia

7 adults in my household.

Limiting how many things we can buy means extra trips out! Counterproductive

But it’s fine, we manage

You don't have to limit, just buy what you need.
Sometimeswinning · 01/11/2020 01:36

@safariboot you're right. An extra 9 pack of toilet rolls is like picking up an extra tin of beans. Plus your data argument is slightly flawed Hmm

DaddysGirlForLife · 01/11/2020 01:36

@melj1213

YABU - we are already expected to be the mask police,the social distancing police and now we are supposed to be the panic buying police ... why is it our responsibility?

I work in a supermarket and it's hard enough just doing our actual jobs without having to police the general public on sensible shopping.

Everyone has a valid excuse as to why they are the exception to the rules and it is exhausting just trying to ensure policies are fair and adhered to when people argue with you every single day as to why you should make an exception just for them.

During the initial pandemic lockdown in March we had limits on high demand things like loo roll, pasta, baby food etc and for every person that was trying to hoard multiple 24pks of loo roll for themselves, someone else was trying to buy the same number to keep a care home or children's centre stocked or to split between care packages for multiple shielding people. Unfortunately in order to prevent the first we couldnt make allowances for the second because we cant tell which is which, especially when people will straight out lie to get what they want.

I, and my colleagues, were screamed at, threatened, intimidated and subject to all kinds of abuse for trying to enforce limits during our original lockdown, despite my company hiring in extra security, so no I do not want to have to deal with that again, all for barely above minimum wage whilst also dealing with the risk that one of the hundreds of people I have to interact with every day could be a covid carrier.

I second this!
cloudylemonade13 · 01/11/2020 02:03

@melj1213 fwiw, I'm in total awe at the way supermarket staff have responded during the pandemic, can't imagine some of the shit you've had to put up with.

LostAcre · 01/11/2020 02:39

Some shops are still doing this - I went to Tesco on Thursday, and next to some product types (soap, baby wipes, I think a few others) they had signs up about max purchases.
I can’t remember the exact wording but it was along the lines of “This is limited to 3 purchases to make sure there’s enough for everyone”

I guess if people start panic buying they’ll extend that to more products.

MiniMum97 · 01/11/2020 02:41

There are still limits on many foods (including pasta and loo roll, lol), and I've noticed that the limits keep changing - being removed, put back on, amount changed presumably as the supermarket responds to purchasing behaviour. I tried to buy 8 tins of beans today for example as they were on special offer, but could only buy 6 (annoyingly as the offer was 4 tins for £2!). In March/April, we were limited to 3 tins.

So I think the supermarkets are on it now and I feel confident they won't let the previous issues happen again now they are prepared for it.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page