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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:
Thread gallery
9
Whatsername177 · 14/03/2020 12:55

Shopping this morning was bizarre. Shop assistants stood by the tinned food, pasta, rice, pasta sauces, long life milk and were rationing things per customer. I usually spend between £60- £80 per week for a family of 4. I didn't buy anything we don't need, but I did shop differently - I bought slightly more frozen food than I usually would. I also bought an extra 4 pints of milk and a loaf of bread for the freezer. I spent £82 - so fairly average. However, the empty shelves, the assistants stationed on aisles only allowing a certain amount of food, the other shoppers continually eyeing up each others carts, it was tough not to feel slightly tempted to buy more. I didn't, but it was so disconcerting.

MyHairNeedsASnip · 14/03/2020 12:55

I already had all the tinned and dried stuff in. A hangover from when we had no money and no food in the cupboards 10 years ago. I didn't realise I had a problem with this stuff until I cleared out the cupboards when this all started and realised just how much I had.

I have got 2 nine packs of loo roll that I wouldn't usually have bought, 1 Calpol and some UHT milk. So I'd say yes, I panic bought those over the last 3 weeks.

Buyitinbamboo · 14/03/2020 12:57

@lynsey91 we don't have the storage space and I just don't like having excess food in the house, it's too easy to overeat. Our area is very unlikely to flood, if it snows or the car breaks down we can walk to the shop. Illness, we can get home delivery. No financial problems. Having no food in for 12 hours really doesn't fuss me. I guess there would always be some sort of meal I could make with leftover pantry stuff

wannabeadored · 14/03/2020 12:57

I usually have a good supply of toilet paper, cleaning products, pasta and sauces as I buy them when they are on offer.

With pasta I like a variety so there's a lot of it in my house.

I've fallen out the habit of batch cooking and freezing so my freezer was a bit empty. So just in case the worst happens and I have to self isolate or food shortages I batch cooked lentil ragu, chilli and spag bol, if nothing happens then brilliant and the food I have made and frozen will be used and in the long run I'll have saved money on future shops.

AnotherMurkyDay · 14/03/2020 12:59

No. But I wish I had now.

Livelovebehappy · 14/03/2020 13:00

Nope. It’s really not necessary. If we have to self isolate we are talking about 2 weeks tops. Unfortunately its the sheep mentality, and a lot of people who are short on brain cells will follow. This sort of situation we’re in doesn’t bring out the best in people. I called at Tesco today to get some bread and saw a mass argument between people in the toilet roll aisle - absolutely bonkers.

EnterFunnyNameHere · 14/03/2020 13:01

@KatherineJaneway yes but my point is that it's easy to say other people are panic buying (by your own standards) but I doubt anyone ever thinks of themselves as panic buying.

As in, there are people who have bought enough for weeks and weeks of isolation. I would say those people have been panic buying. They were say they are just being cautious.

OP has asked for panic buyers themselves to explain why they are doing it, but I don't believe anyone views THEMSELVES as a panic buyer, IYSWIM

Toria70 · 14/03/2020 13:01

No I'm not and shame on every fucker that is.

They don't have the common sense to work out that if they're hoarding soap and anti bacterial products, other people can't wash their hands and will be freely spreading the virus around.

As for hoarding food, it all has a shelf life, and people will be dumping it all in landfill in a few months when they realise what an anti climax the whole threat is, and that it is merely the media fanning the flames of panic.

It's a fucking disgrace.

KatherineJaneway · 14/03/2020 13:04

I called at Tesco today to get some bread and saw a mass argument between people in the toilet roll aisle - absolutely bonkers.

On the bright side at least there was some to fight over.

BertieBotts · 14/03/2020 13:05

Not panicking, but buying more food than usual because with DH & DS1 home all day, and DS2 and I less able to be out and about, we're going to need more food than usual.

FireandFury · 14/03/2020 13:05

No, because I’ve seen the detrimental effect it is having on the elderly and the poor. It’s just unnecessary.

My DP on the other hand, well, yesterday an unexpected delivery from Ocado arrived with triple of everything. We’ve been down the local food bank this morning giving away what we really don’t need. He bought bloody tinned sardines (we never eat sardines! Ever!).

Clettercletterthatsbetter · 14/03/2020 13:05

No. But I wish I had because now I can’t even get a normal weekly shop. I’m going to have to get creative with meals this week as so many of the foods we normally buy were out of stock.

FireandFury · 14/03/2020 13:06

Ps he also bought spam - 10 cans. Said spam are now being enjoyed by the community in East London.

GoatyGoatyMingeMinge · 14/03/2020 13:09

@EnterFunnyNameHere

I don't believe anyone views THEMSELVES as a panic buyer, IYSWIM

I think we would fit the definition, and did admit as much further up the thread, although perhaps the OP needs to define it!

We have been reactively buying more than we would mainly out of fear that it won't be available soon or that we'll need to stay at home. And we've just bought what is available, which might not be what we'd normally buy. That seems a fair definition to me.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 14/03/2020 13:28

Buying stuff YOU WONT USE is a pretty good definition IMO. I bought a tin of ham the other day. . Useful if we do get trapped inside, otherwise can be used when we go camping. Didn't buy any tinned fish, because we won't use it. Buying random items without thinking how you can use them is panic buying.

FabulouslyElegantTits · 14/03/2020 13:31

Fucking stupid Gemma Collins put on her Insta story a video of her buying up half of Marks and Spencer - bragging about how many bog rolls she has bought and videoing the poor staff she had coerced into pushing her five trolleys back to the car.

pelirocco123 · 14/03/2020 13:34

Went to sainsburys earlier shelves pretty full except no loo roll or hand sanitiser hand was running low as well ....did people never wash hands before ?
I have always kept a stock of loo rolls for some reason I get jittery when down to last pack ! And i tend to overstock my cupboards and freezers ,I have been trying to use it all up

Jamieson90 · 14/03/2020 13:44

No one is going to admit to panic buying just how people can justify a lot of shitty things to themselves so they don't feel guilty. They'll call it stockpiling or prepping or something else.

The problem now is, that people who wouldn't even normally consider panic buying are doing just that because the shelves are empty. It started off with the fear that supplies would run out, so people selfishly 'stock piled'. Other people saw people 'stock piling' and the shelves getting emptier, and thought. "Maybe I should buy some extra just in case...." Now people are buying as much as they can because they legitimately don''t know when they'll be able to buy stuff again. It's basically just one massive domino effect.

Ruby1991 · 14/03/2020 13:55

Not a panic buyer but have been grabbing toilet roll, tuna, pasta etc in the past few days as i currently am low myself and i have no idea how many weeks the supermarket shortages will go on. If i dont grab stuff now we might end up without ..and with a child to think about i dont want that to happen

GemmaTellerMorrow · 14/03/2020 13:56

Whatever the definition of panic buying is, my MIL is the exact opposite. Elderly and widowed, underlying health conditions, doesn't live near us. DH asked her if she'd bought extra food this week. Yes, a tin of salmon Confused

Southwest12 · 14/03/2020 14:00

I panic bought a soda stream if that counts? I only drink sparkling water and when I did my Tesco online order it was restricted to five packs per customer and I don't want to be left without. It'll help save the planet as well as less plastic.

ParsnipToast · 14/03/2020 14:05

It's an interesting question. We do lots of small shops usually, rather than one big shop. But I have moved to doing a big shop instead, because my usual routine might not be possible. It's not loading up the trolley with 24 bags of pasta, but I have bought more than usual. So I am contributing to the shortages, even though you hopefully wouldn't judge my trolley contents.

Youwonjane · 14/03/2020 14:05

Ok I’ll be honest - I’ve done an entire shop that I wouldn’t have usually to stock the freezer and my larder.

I’ve bought the pricey pasta that was left, rice etc. Not bundles of toilet roll as I always have a fair amount anyways as I buy large packs most of the time anyways.

IKEA888 · 14/03/2020 14:11

I have bought extra tinned goods and hand soap. it's panic buying yes.
I have a son with immune deficiency

BodiesMakeForGoodFertiliser · 14/03/2020 14:13

I just want my extra large free range eggs from ASDASad
We can't figure out if all the eggs are bought by people stocking up or if ASDA has delivery issues and has no freerange. There is not much of the caged option too tbh