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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that panic buying just because of a bit of snow is mad?

42 replies

wannaBe · 06/02/2009 13:13

Just went to our local tesco to buy a couple of things, and the shelves looked as if the shop had been burgled. No bread (not a problem as I already have bread), no milk, not much of anything else.

So I assumed that because we have about six inches of snow the deliveries didn't make it. So I asked, only to be told that customers had been coming in and panic buying, that they'd had the usual delivery this morning but people were buying 5/6 loaves of bread at a time and loading up as if there is a food shortage or something.

Fgs it's a bit of snow. And yes it's inconvenient but it's all going to be gone by tomorrow - it's not as if people are going to be snowed in for days.

Madness.

OP posts:

FAQtothefuture · 06/02/2009 13:15

hmm well I "stock piled" up on the milk yesterday morning when I made it to the shop. And I'm bloody glad I did, even before we got more snow this morning I would have struggled to get up to the shop again......

I can't see all of this having gone by tomorrow morning, wish I'd brought some more bread too......

ConnorTraceptive · 06/02/2009 13:16

Oh I know our local shop has been the same. It's ridiculous! DH braved the elements and went to the supermarket in the end.

I sent him with a list of ten things he spent £100 Fortunately he got all the essentials for a snow in (cava, 3 bottles of shower gel, a dvd , 12 tins of beans )

twoluvlykids · 06/02/2009 13:17

My local was dead quiet,quite a bit on the shelves though.

Having said that, i didn't fancy the eggs from there and have sent DH for a stroll to town to buy some from the butchers.

All so I can make some fatfilled delicious cakes

violethill · 06/02/2009 13:18

It's hilarious isn't it?

Where do they think they're living? Antarctica?

twoluvlykids · 06/02/2009 13:19

Oh, YANBU! It's only snow. Nothing stops the mighty Tesco in it's tracks.

Original poster

wannaBe · 06/02/2009 13:20

see my personal feeling is that the supermarkets should put limits on the number of items in these situations.

Because it is unreasonable to expect a small local shop to meet all demands, and once you have ten customers or so buying 6 loaves of bread each there's nothing left for the other 90.

I understand the not wanting to go to the shop, but I also think that it's wrong that a few people should be able to buy up everything and leave everyone else without.

OP posts:

Original poster

wannaBe · 06/02/2009 13:21

and yes it's only snow. How much bread can people eat?

OP posts:

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 06/02/2009 13:23

We have not a single flake of snow here but only a few miles down the road it is a very different story apparently - so no newspapers, bread or milk in Tesco this morning.

ConnorTraceptive · 06/02/2009 13:24

My FIL can't drive, his only options are local shops, people are thoughtless tossers really

FAQtothefuture · 06/02/2009 13:24

it's not a case of not wanting to, it's a case of not being able to. I know it's NOT a low of snow, however I really struggled yesterday morning to get the pushchair to the shop, took us about 25 minutes to walk there (as opposed to the usual 10 minutes), the same coming back. The snow is thicker this morning, I'd never have made it with the pushchair.

I'm just hoping that it rains, (but doesn't freeze) overnight otherwise it'll be another day stuck in

MarmadukeScarlet · 06/02/2009 13:25

I offered to go to the small local shop for my neighbour (40's has a 4x4 so not elderly) when picking up my DD from school and she asked for 22 pints of milk and 3 loaves of bread.

I told my DH I was too embarrassed to buy that much as everyone would presume it was for me. Luckily the shop was nearly out so I couldn't!

Agree Wannabe, when there were fuel protests the shops limited folk to two loaves at a time.

GrapefruitMoon · 06/02/2009 13:28

ah, that explains why a local supermarket was heaving at 3pm one day this week - I just popped in for a few things and couldn't believe how busy it was.

I assumed it must have been pension day or something - didn't occur to me that people would be panic-buying

SugarSpike · 06/02/2009 13:28

Yes our local co-op didnt have any bread on mon and again yesterday....just a little blooming annoying. Going again today so hope they have something as I dont wanna have to drive to sainsburys just for a loaf of bread. It depends on peoples situation I suppose, if they have to drive or walk quite a way to the nearest shop then I can understand them buying two loafs of bread instead of one etc, we are quite lucky that we have shops two mins walk....not that its much use at the mo

Original poster

wannaBe · 06/02/2009 13:30

I do hear what you're saying FAQ and tbh I am stuck in same position.

The snow is so deep that there is no distinction between where the curbs end and the road begins, and my guide dog cannot make the distinction iyswim. therefore it is literally not safe for me to go out on my own. Dh is working from home so we walked to the shop together only to find that there was no milk. They might get another delivery but by the time dh has finished work it'll be dark and unsafe and potentially pointless going because the panic buyers may have been back by then to clear the shelves.

OP posts:

FAQtothefuture · 06/02/2009 13:31

I think part of the problem with my "local" shop is that is serves a massive area, no other shops serving almost the entire NW corner of the town. Lots of people off work meant more people using the local Tesco express to pick up their milk and bread etc as opposed to popping into a shop near work/on school run.

FAQtothefuture · 06/02/2009 13:32

I can understand that - must be a nightmare for you. It was bad enough me managing to find the kerb edges with the pushchair yesterday and getting the DS's to follow in my footsteps.

I fell on my arse once trying to get the pushchair up the hill too grrr (and nearly went over many more times )

Original poster

wannaBe · 06/02/2009 13:33

22 pints of milk.

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laweaselmys · 06/02/2009 13:35

It is silly. We are at the tail end of this weather now anyway, I can only imagine it lasting a few more days at the very most. Surely people have food in their freezers?

What are you going to do with 22 pints of milk??? It's just going to go off!

FAQtothefuture · 06/02/2009 13:36

that's a lot of milk, I go throuh 4-6 pints a day, and that's with DS3 still having 4 bottles a day, me drinking lots of coffee, and DS1 and 2 always putting more milk on their breakfast than is really required!

I didn't go that OTT honest - I bought 8 pints (and still had 2 left in the house).

offerdilemma · 06/02/2009 13:37

yes, I was joking with the cashier in my local sainsburys about this!
It took me an hour to get through sainsburys today - I only wanted goats milk, bacon and bubble bath! (funnily enough I did panic buy some chololate and wine tho... you never know )

FAQtothefuture · 06/02/2009 13:37

I have absolutely NO food in my freezer at all, the stuff I did have in there before I moved last weekend is still in my BF's freezer.......her DH brought my fridge freezer over on Tuesday but she's been unable to get here to give me the frozen stuff back since then

I also have an almost bare fridge (apart from the milk ) as I need to do a big online shop.......

Original poster

wannaBe · 06/02/2009 13:39

FAQ it was something I'd never even considered before. We've never had weather this severe since I've been an adult and so while obviously ice and a bit of snow can be a bit difficult, I'd never thought of the inability to distinguish between where the curbs and the roads are.

As someone who values my independence immensely and does not relinquish it easily, I have found it frustrating. Because even though I have no intention of actually going out, the fact that I couldn't even if I wanted to annoys me.

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ohdearwhatamess · 06/02/2009 13:39

Depends where you are. I wish I'd stocked up a bit more rather than doing normal shopping.

I went shopping on Weds (the one day we could drive out of our village tis week). Haven't been able to get out since, and not likely to be able until Sunday by the looks of things. No village shop for essentials. We've run out of formula for 11mo ds2 (forgot to buy any on Weds and are nearly out of other milk. He'll just have to do without.

MarmadukeScarlet · 06/02/2009 13:40

Yup, 2 adults and 2 DC (6 and 2) wanted some of each type (full fat, SS and skimmed).

When I offerred I meant a few pints to get her through the day or so, as she was scared of driving. Her DH was home and we only live 1 mile from a big supermarket. I wasn't even going to the little shop for myself, just driving past enroute to my DD's school which was still open.

I realise if I am going to be judgemental about what I am asked to buy I shouldn't offer, but I was rather surprised at this request.

ohdearwhatamess · 06/02/2009 13:41

apologies for poor typing - one-handed

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