AIBU to genuinely not understand why people are stockpiling/ panic buying

[mumof2exhausted]

I am genuinely curious as to why people are doing this. Are people worried that shops are going to run out because of supply issues or is it because people think they may have to self isolate for couple of weeks. I just don’t get the reasoning behind it. Food wise we tend to cook fresh from scratch - a friend who is a consultant at hospital has done some batch cooking and froze for when she does get covid 19 which will happen and she’s feeling unwell and has to self isolate but buying hundreds of toilet rolls. Am genuinely confused.

But people would still take their cash out at the mere whiff of not being able to access it.

Calm down Buzz. Too many films.

metro bank hoax or Northern Rock

China had the rest of China for support. Its the equivalent of the rest of Europe sending in supplies and medical personnel into support Italy and prevent its spread. it hasn't happened.

I think the prospect of disruptions in the supply chain and shortages are highly likely. Lockdowns arent going to be a couple of weeks, its going to be a couple of months. I expect things will be fine at the start.... a month or two months down the line i might be greatful knowing i can plug any gaps.

Hong kong had an armed robbery of loo rolls. If loo rolls had no value no one would bother stealing them.

Two good reasons to stockpile

Oh and water.... how much extra water do you think well need if everyone actually washes their hands properly....

@Hazelnutlatteplease

Are you a proper prepper person?

@sleepingpup No not normally. I think this is the first time every i have a proper stash. Unless you count my car first aid kit which is quite impressive but with my DC most of it gets used.

I have DS with a rare medical condition that deteriotes rapidly when ill. he's ended up hospitalised or nearly hospitalised on a couple of occasions for "minor" ailments. Ive been watching for a while. Its no joke.

Hope you have everything you need Hazelnut.

This thread was started less than a week ago.

Hoping everyone is ok x

I'm stocking up because I don't have much money and I want to know, whatever else happens, we have the cupboards stocked of food and medicine for the DC especially.

I don't usually have weeks worth of food in. If I had more money I probably would anyway. DMIL for example doesn't have to go out and stockpile as she has a huge freezer which is always well stocked.

I'm also worried about the supermarket supply chains falling over once coronavirus really hits. And, I'd also prefer to do a small number of large shops rather than lots of small ones that we usually do for social distancing reasons.

I think all this is reasonable, no idea why people think it's panic buying. I'm not panicking, I'm being prudent.

I’ve been panic buying kitten and cat food and litter as I have really picky cats. I have just been trying to get my usual shopping but can’t get toilet rolls and eggs anywhere! What’s that all about?! I’ve got couple of eggs and 2 toilet rolls I’ve usually got lots in!

Pasta well if mum is ill then anyone can boil up pasta, so reasonable.
This is the most bonkers thing on the thread, are you suggesting that dad can boil pasta too?? Wild.

I also laughed at that but then the thread moved on...
In fairness we all (mum as well!) need easy stuff to cook

Online deliveries will become harder to get as staff either go off sick or are locked down. This means people will have to physically go to the shops. Nobody wants to go out into plague land if they can avoid it! There’s no way to know what it’ll be like or how dangerous. You could get infected. There could be dangerous crowds or hour long queues. You could get attacked (only last week a man threatened me because it was deserted). If your kids are off school you’d have to take them with you and put them at risk. Better to fill your cupboards then avoid the shops altogether.

That’s before you even consider other issues such as disrupted supply chains, empty shelves, self isolating so you can’t go out, etc.

Panic buying/stockpiling, it's all horseshit. Preppers too to some extent. Glorified panic buyers. People sat on 50+ cans, sauce packets and loo roll who continue shopping daily/weekly for shit they don't need. However way you want to look at it, it's all horsehit. I feel like I am the only one not to have changed my shopping habits. I don't feel I'm the idiot for not doing so. Life is going to be difficult enough, calm the fuck down.