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Original poster

Are you a panic buyer?

382 replies

Insideimsprinting · 14/03/2020 07:22

Just that really. I would Just like to know why. There are lots of threads about people finding it ridiculous and not being able to get their normal shop, we're being told there is no need so why have you done it? Can you explain your panic, fear? Especially since its not happening across the board with all food stuffs andjust certain items.
Why toilet roll and not washing up liquid, shower gel etc, why pasta but not pasta sauces c why beans but not tinned soup etc

OP posts:
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9
EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 14/03/2020 07:55

There are people with far far great need than myself who absolutely should be stocking up

Not everyone has the freedom to pop to various shops (as some won’t have what needed this weekend) and not think about how this could impact their lives

AhoyMrBeaver · 14/03/2020 07:57

Stockpiling is a form of panic buying because if everyone 'stock piles' the effect is the same, things run out more quickly.

Not true. Stockpiling is an ongoing, everyday thing - it is the norm for lots of people and is anticipated by retailers. I haven't increased my stock since other people have begun preparing for the potential of isolation.

smeerf · 14/03/2020 07:58

I woke up at 5 (pregnancy insomnia) and thought I'd pop to Tesco at 6 when it opened, instead of 8 like I usually do, as I figured it would be busier than usual today. My cupboards are really run down as I've just had my kitchen redone and I've been away. It was really busy, busier than it usually is at 8, the shop staff have removed all the big trollies (so you're stuffed if you have a baby with you) and the queues were mental. I tried to do my normal 'big shop' I do every month or so and I really felt like everyone was judging me for panic buying! I only got one 24 pack of loo roll as I'm down to the last 2 from the last 24 pack I bought, but I almost wanted to justify it to the other people queuing!

AvocadoPrime · 14/03/2020 07:59

I do a weekly online shop normally for friday delivery. This week I couldn't get a slot until today and I couldnt get soap, washing up liquid, cornflakes, tinned Tom's, baked bins, toilet roll. All things I would usually buy. Half wish I'd stockpiled a bit but the panic buying is making it difficult. Also couldnt get any calpol for my teething DS.

Scruffyoak · 14/03/2020 07:59

Panic no. Stockpiler yes. Brought extra toilet roll soon as it was reported in wuhan.

walkingtheway · 14/03/2020 08:01

It's interesting that very few people on Mumsnet admit to panic buying. They're all just doing their normal shop - it's everyone else Smile.

I heard a woman on the train yesterday telling her companion that one of her neighbours had bought an extra fridge freezer to store food!

PrepprPig · 14/03/2020 08:04

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

YellowPinkie · 14/03/2020 08:04

I find people trusting in the government at the moment more crazy than panic buyers 😂

The reason people aren't bulk buying washing liquid is pretty obvious I would say. A big bottle of washing liquid will last a few months (or at least it does in our home) yet we go through a roll of toilet roll a day. So obviously if you were planning ahead you would need to buy a bigger quantity of toilet roll than washing liquid.

Pasta can be eaten with many meals, not just pasta sauce. If you look you will also see tinned tomatoes and passata are running low. There's your sauce.

It is also low value things which people tend to bulk buy because it means they can buy large amounts and it is comforting to them and makes them feel like they have a bit of control.

YellowPinkie · 14/03/2020 08:05

Also, if we all have to stay home who do you think is going to be processing your online shopping?

Not sure why people are so sure this would still continue 😂

RishiSunakFanClub · 14/03/2020 08:08

I was down to my last loo roll so didn't feel unreasonable when I ordered a 4 pack in my last order for delivery. No panic buying here.

Isthistrueor · 14/03/2020 08:08

No because I’m a measured and calm person, I haven’t got hysterical over a virus with a 2% death rate.

BasinHaircut · 14/03/2020 08:09

Well I couldn’t get any pasta on my Tesco delivery this week so popped into Lidl yesterday for a packet of spaghetti for dinner.

They had only been open an hour, apparently the shelves were full first thing but when I got there the shelves were 95% empty.

I did manage to get spaghetti though and so bought 2 packs instead of 1 - does that count? Grin

We don’t keep much in as I don’t really have the cupboard space but I may start just throwing in an item or 2 extra each week just in case this panic happens again in a month or 2. I’ve got a big freezer so may also do a bit of batch cooking over the coming weeks.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 14/03/2020 08:10

What is panic buying?
Buying your 24 pack of toilet roll a week earlier than normal?
Buying 2 bags of pasta rather than 1?
An extra bottle of Calpol, in case you can't get any in a couple of weeks?
Buying 6 litres of long life milk when you normally buy none?
Buying extra meat to freeze?
12 bottles of wine not 6?
3 trolleys if shopping for a 2 person household?

All that is buying extra... And adding to supply problems. But you can't judge just by looking. The person with 2 bags of pasta might be a childminder with a bunch of kids to feed dinner to. The Calpol buyer might have a sick child at home. Wine buyer having a party tonight. 3 trolleys might be a Scout camp... You can't tell by looking!

MumW · 14/03/2020 08:10

I decided to be responsible and not stockpile.
I did my usual monthly shop and had normal amounts of tins/pasta/etc in my cupboard . However, I am regretting it now as I am now going to struggle to do my weekly top ups because of those who have given no thought to others.
There must be many families who can't afford to stock up in advance and food banks are struggling as donations have dropped.

VivaLeBeaver · 14/03/2020 08:10

I’ve stocked up on gluten free pasta but selfish non coeliac people are now buying the gf stuff. Dd is vegan, coeliac, with numerous allergies inc lactose so is very restricted. I’m making sure she doesn’t starve.

EdithWeston · 14/03/2020 08:11

I think there will be few people who talk about what they've been buying, as the whole tone of the question is that they've done something aberrant out of panic/fear. It implies they are somehow defective and need to justify themselves to others.

All they have done something which we all do - have a stockpile against misfortune - just on more compressed time line.

AllPointsNorth · 14/03/2020 08:11

I agree, Yellowpinkie.
I think when our government says ‘Don’t worry, we know what we’re doing, everything will be fine’ , it triggers panic because the vast majority disbelieve every word and rush to stock up.
My Brexit stash has become my virus stash, no panic buying.
If we go into lockdown, I’ll plan my veg and fruit growing and work on that.

VivaLeBeaver · 14/03/2020 08:11

But I still wouldn’t call it panic buying. I got an extra 4 bags of gf pasta, I left some in the shelf.

My colleague went to tesco and bought £400 worth of groceries. No idea what she bought.

ElizabethMountbatten · 14/03/2020 08:14

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the request of the OP.

Sexnotgender · 14/03/2020 08:15

I don't think anyone is going to admit they are a panic buyers, everyone will have an excuse for having excessive amounts of food, toilet paper etc

Because people will sneer and be judgy fuckers maybe?
There’s so much snobbery around this too. There was another thread recently where so many people were like, oh I couldn’t stock up because I only cook from fresh. Like the rest of us plebs are stocking up on fucking turkey twizzlers.
I cook pretty much everything from fresh. If the shit hits the fan though I’m happy to eat beans on toast until we can get back to the shops.

Have I stocked up? Yes. I have a 16 year old with serious health conditions and am I fuck going to put her at additional risk.

Have I been a dick and bought 800 toilet rolls? No of course not but my cupboards and freezer are enough to keep us if we need to isolate as a family. My cupboard is usually pretty stocked anyway (my mum usually takes the piss and say I’m like my nana was). But yes I’ve topped it up more than it usually is.

DontBe · 14/03/2020 08:15

DH and I realised we had no wine in the cupboard last night. I shall be panic buying that later. Priorities. Grin

YellowPinkie · 14/03/2020 08:15

I've bought extra stuff and I don't care if you want to call it panic buying. I wasn't in a panic when I was buying it 😂 and I'm not embarrassed about doing what I think is best for my family 🤷‍♀️

MamaGee09 · 14/03/2020 08:18

So I feel no one on here claims to be panic buying why are all the shelves of tins, toilet rolls, disinfectant, handwashes, pasta and jars of sauces empty?

Stockpiling and panic buying are just the same, both are buying more than you actually need just now ......just in case.

itgetsthehoseagain · 14/03/2020 08:21

I'm buying things that I know shops are struggling to stock when I encounter them. For example, I don't immediately need paracetamol and ibuprofen (I already have about 2 boxes of each) but I've been noticing empty shelves and so shall buy some more today if I happen across any. In a family of 4 if we all start running a temperature we'll get through a box a day. I don't want to go over 37.8 and then discover empty shelves!

dottiedodah · 14/03/2020 08:25

I always have spare tins and a good stock of loo roll anyway .(Got snowed in when a child, and Nan had a stockpile of groceries after that in case it happened again) I have bought some more supplies ,as no one knows if we may be locked down and need provisions .Official advice is to not go out if that happens ,so surely a sensible move is to stock up in advance ?