To feel like UK shops are perpetually out of stock

[Frederita]

I feel like I'm in the twilight zone because noone else is saying anything or noticeably irritated like I am. 5 years ago, I was able to get anything within reason from a major retailer online or on the high street.

Argos was always stocked and did same day deliveries for pesky household staples that that needed a quick replacement like unexpected guests and needing extra towels but not having time to go shopping. Literally anything within reason except for seasonal things like fans which ran out (but often close to mid season with a shipment on the way to end out the season). Argos never has anything for delivery unless 300 miles away or collection 20 miles away.

And it's not just them, John Lewis, Debenham (online), M&S, small businesses, even Amazon can be sparse and everything takes 2 days now.

Now I feel like I have to try several shops for one thing and most are always out of stock. FFS even a food shop is impossible to complete in one shop regardless of price just sheer lack of availability.

Yes we had a pandemic (much expected then), Brexit and a war but am I insane for not wanting to hunt down every single thing across multiple different shops. I'm already plus sized so clothes are next to impossible already and that's all I have tolerance for - I don't want to have the same experience with my bloody food shop and common household goods too! Am I the only one experiencing this. Maybe its location specific, I'm in London if that makes a difference.

Am I really alone feeling like this?

Luckily there are no shortages of anything in my local supermarkets.

I'm going to join in the mouth frothing. Because whether you're willing to accept it or not, Brexit is largely to blame for this.

Brexit has screwed us over and the establishment are doing all they can to pretend otherwise.

It's Brexit but the government are covering that up by saying it's weather! Weather ffs! They grown the bloody things under cover!

There aren't any shortages around here either.

Actually tell a lie, my DH moaned that there weren't any "normal" free range eggs left in the co-op the other day and he was forced to buy the expensive organic ones.

it sounds like you are living in the communist Soviet Union in the 80s OP .

Weather affects the transportation of the grown items. Do you really not understand that?

About toilet paper, I always buy it in every shop multiple packs at a time because I cannot walk into a shop and buy it. I typically select no substitutions because of getting multiple subs which make no sense. So if the brand I selected isn't in stock that day but was the day before and after I don't get it until my next online shop where the same thing may or may not happen.

Admittedly because I always buy to stock up, I have only run out once last year when I had to buy from Amazon, but yes in Dwcember I had 4 consecutive shops where I didn't receive any toilet paper. That is something I couldn't fathom 4 years ago.

I think those saying it's not that hard, just shop around are missing the point for disabled people like me, my mobility is severely limited to a less than a 100 feet at a time, I cannot "shop around". The availability of goods is what is there when I do my shopping once a week/fortnight online in the distribution centre.

Boots shows things not available in my area for delivery but that I can collect at one of their locations 2 miles away. That is not an easy journey for me and even if I get there I'm not sure I can make it to the collection point safely.

Alternatives are not easily available for everyone. And that's before the cost implication. FFS it's things like even waiting a month before being able to buy my favourite perfume because it is out of stock or only available for collection. Phones, laptops, I'm waiting 28 days for a new dryer. Its every single thing, and it's compounded by the fact that I'm disabled, shopping is not accessible for me.

They didn't have stock rooms for tomatoes!

They still do have stock rooms for non-perishable items.

Just in time deliveries, the supply chains we had before Brexit were great. And now they're broken. Thanks to everyone who voted for it.

How much “stuff” do people buy that this is an issue?

The only thing I can think of that it would cause me an issue if I ran out or couldn’t get easily would be medication . Everything else you just make do surely?

Maybe I am just not very fussy or easily stressed?

I guess I’m lucky, I haven’t noticed any shortages here, not even substitutions for online grocery delivery.
I get a local veg box, I can choose exactly what I want in it, bread, groceries can all be ordered and delivered from my wonderful village shop.
They buy and collect direct from the wholesaler.

I buy food three times per week.

I do buy other things, but it isn't joyous to see gaps where foods we used to buy once were.

I'm not 'stressed' by it, just preferred it when you could go to the shop and buy what you wanted.

Just like no one enjoys price rises!

Brexit is a part, and even where it is not the sole cause, provides cover and an excuse for some of the rest. Low stock on shelves, things only being in shops for a short period of time, seems to be a strategy for some stores. Notable for non-food retailers with large chains who have kept stores in small to medium sized towns and cities, together with minimal staffing.

This isn't the case. I'm in canary Islands and there are shortages of fresh salads and fruits. Prices have increased. Locals cannot get hold of certain fresh foods. Restaurants are adapting to fit.

It's not unusual for bad weather etc to disrupt supply chains. I just think that combined with bird flu etc we seem to have several shortages at the same time. Plus we all have acute memories of empty shelves in COVID.

I'd also like to add the food here is happily wonky. I wonder if that is an issue.

have increased costs for growers, mostly as a result of having to pay higher wages to workers amid labour shortages.

Well this seems fair, people who do this hard physical work deserve a decent wage. Now for the supermarkets to pay a fair wage to growers. We will have to start paying more for our fresh food if we want a more consistent supply, as they do across Europe. We have exploited cheap labour for too long and taken advantage of various things which benefit us as customers but no she else in tbe supply chain.

I've not noticed shortages myself. We don't have a full service argos now, just a counter in Sainsbury's, so usually it's a 4 hour wait or so to pick up (it's a 5 minute walk away so no big deal) screwfix is usually similar but amazon is as reliable as normal, order at 3pm on free delivery to the locker and it's there the next day. Even evri didn't loose my package last week.

With delivery it is down to the courier company not the retailer often too.

And I was in lidl yesterday evening, fully stocked, even had peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers. But of course if the media say there's a shortage people create one by rushing to stockpile. Remember the loo rolls crisis that never existed???

The news explained why france still had plenty of fruit, the supermarkets have agreed to significantly higher prices which are being passed onto the public

Thank goodness you didn't live from 1939 to 1954. A ration book would send you over the edge
Make do

It’s weather but mostly energy costs as large under cover suppliers in eg Thanet have had spiralling costs.

They usually provide salad and other all year

Fair buying policy stops restaurants and businesses bulk buying first thing in the morning, so it should help average customer.

I've definitely noticed more empty shelves in shops including pharmacies. Can't get hold of hydrogen peroxide anywhere, something about a missing ingredient apparently. Eggs are another issue and tomatoes recently.

I haven't noticed anything else specific yet but it all just looks a bit sparse.

The European single market was invented for a reason.

If you’re looking for something it’s probably stuck in a lorry queue at the border, slowly rotting. But a lot of European sellers simply aren’t bothering to sell in Britain anymore because of all the border admin.

Well done Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson. They both made a fortune from Brexit, shame about the rest of us 🤬

About toilet paper, I always buy it in every shop multiple packs at a time because I cannot walk into a shop and buy it. I typically select no substitutions because of getting multiple subs which make no sense. So if the brand I selected isn't in stock that day but was the day before and after I don't get it until my next online shop where the same thing may or may not happen.

You can reject subs, unless there is absolutely only one brand you can have then this just makes life harder surely? Shops never hold masses of loo roll at any one time as it takes up so much space. Even during the pandemic that was the issue rather than production.

Had this conversation this morning with a friend.

Can't buy what you need.

Asda just essentials range almost non existent but always the have more expensive alternatives.

And what is in stock is twice the price.

Most of this country wouldn't survive it should it happen now to be fair. We are weak compared to years gone by because we've had a decent few decades (which is actually a blip in history if you look back) we can't handle it.