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Original poster

Can we please stop all the bashing of “stockpilers”

265 replies

Notcontent · 28/03/2020 23:06

Reading all the threads, it seems that anyone who has bought more than a week’s worth of food is being accused of being a selfish stockpiled responsible for all the food supply issues we have at the moment.

I think that’s slightly unfair. Yes, people who went out and bought 10 big packs of toilet paper in one go are probably responsible for the shortages. But many of us simply bought a few more things over a number of weeks.

I am one of those people. I have friends with families in Europe and I was closely following the progress of the situation since early January. Back in February, when lots of people I spoke to thought it was all an overblown drama, I started buying a few extra things every time I did a shop. Why? Because I don’t have any family nearby to help out and I usually rely on supermarket deliveries for most of my needs (no car). I would be really stuck now if I didn’t have some extra supplies as I am reliant on some small nearby shops.

OP posts:
grafittiartist · 28/03/2020 23:08

I know what you mean.
We have been told to go out less, so therefore will need more. And many families have changed their habits- no school dinners, fewer opportunities to eat out.
No wonder it looks like people are over buying.

Babyroobs · 28/03/2020 23:10

I have bought a few extra bits. If anyone in our family of five gets ill we all have to quarantine and have no close family around who could drop stuff to us. We cannot get a supermarket delivery slot. every time I go to the shops there has been no pasta, meat, tinned stuff or toilet rolls. So if I do happen to stumble across these things off course I'm going to buy a couple because I haven't seen them in my local shops for two weeks now. I don't want to have to keep going to the shops as that just increases the risk.

BanKittenHeels · 28/03/2020 23:11

You’re a prepper.

PumpkinP · 28/03/2020 23:12

I wish I had. Now that shops are apparently banning children and being a lone parent means it would be impossible for me to go to the shops. I’ve prebooked the next 4 weeks delivery slots from Tesco’s in advance and got called selfish for that! I’m glad I did, how else do people expect a single mum to get to the shop with 4 children who apparently aren’t allowed in Hmm

BanKittenHeels · 28/03/2020 23:13

And that’s a good thing to be BTW.
Buy sensibly in advance of other people panicking and keep yourself out of the “theatre of conflict” (a Partridge quote there for you) when SHTF.

I have full cupboards because I prep for years.

Porpoises · 28/03/2020 23:17

It's being blamed on irresponsible stockpilers, but there are a lot of factors. This article is good. One point they make is that 30% of food is usually consumed "out" - school and work canteens, fast food, restaurants. And that food can't be easily redirected to the supermarkets because that supply chain is not in place at the moment.

RishiSunakFanClub · 28/03/2020 23:18

I don't think anyone is criticising those who buy a little extra each week, especially if it means they can last an extra day or two before having to go shopping.

However, those who cleared the shelves of items that everyone needs before the supermarkets imposed restrictions are nothing but scum. Take a look on e-bay at the prices of things liked anti-bac spray and Calpol etc. They cleared the shelves of meat and veg and fruit and I've read that refuse collectors are reporting huge food waste, near to Christmas levels. It's disgusting.

Petiolaris · 28/03/2020 23:23

I can’t take a toddler to the supermarket. He has no concept of social distancing and will touch everything. And there’s no way he’d tolerate an hour long queue to get inside. If we didn’t have some tins and pasta I don’t know what we’d do.

GreenTulips · 28/03/2020 23:26

Local restaurant suppliers are selling commercial bags of pasta sugar flour etc to local businesses. Which helps.

Original poster
Notcontent · 28/03/2020 23:27

I don’t mind being called a prepper even though I never thought of myself as being one! But maybe I am, to some small degree. I always like to have spare things, even in normal times, be it extra packs of pasta, extra tights or extra pens that dd needs for school. I find it reassuring.

OP posts:
Prepperfan · 28/03/2020 23:28

I have bought in bulk for years because it’s cheaper and then I only need do top up shops. I bought 8 large bottles of shampoo and conditioner 6 months ago, 200 small packs of tissues, 100 bottles of hand wash a few years ago (gave most of it away to family) 1000 tea bags 2 months ago. Did an order online for 200 toilet rolls.

So when the virus hit, only needed mostly fresh food.

LeggyLinda · 28/03/2020 23:33

No

BanKittenHeels · 28/03/2020 23:39

There is a difference between having a stock of consumables that you bought when the JIT system was still functioning (mine has been built up since 2015 and I stopped buying more than my weekly necessities about 5-6 weeks ago) and those who went out panic shopping with no clue about how to manage what they had bought and are now producing incredible waste.

blubellsarebells · 28/03/2020 23:41

Ive been prepping since october for brexit fallout/price rises.
Only a few things, long life milk, sauces, cereal, pasta, rice, tins, freezer food.
Im so glad i did, i went to the shop today for fresh fruit and bread, first time in 11 days, i can easily do another 11 days before needing to shop again.
I will probably go before that again for fresh fruit salad and meat.
I dont want my stocks to get too low but im not panicking.

BrooHaHa · 28/03/2020 23:45

Thing is, everyone buying a few extra bits can cause a shortage. People who have been doing it for a long time are already accounted for in the calculations of how much we need. People who started doing it when all this started are the reason I'm now limited to three tins of beans every shop, so have to go out far more frequently than I would have done previously.

EasterElf · 28/03/2020 23:49

Those of you just buying ‘just a few extra bits’ ARE the cause of the shortages.

www.kantar.com/Inspiration/FMCG/Accidental-stockpilers-driving-shelf-shortages-in-the-UK

You’re the reason my elderly neighbour had to ring around the estate to ask if anyone could give her supplies because she couldn’t get them when she went to the shops.

You. Are. So. Selfish.

Porcupineinwaiting · 28/03/2020 23:51

I prepped for Brexit. Just as well as I'm now sick and we are isolating for 14 days. Neighbours are fetching us bits and pieces but I'm really pleased I dont need to ask them to do a full shop for 4.

hamstersarse · 28/03/2020 23:51

But you didn't need to buy a 'few extra bits"

YAB defensive. You know there was no need and you've caused massive issues/

UYScuti · 28/03/2020 23:52

perhaps my definition of prepper isn't quite in line with convention but I thought they were people who would never have to resort to panic buying because they are are always prepared?
or if they did have to stock up in a short space of time they would do it in such a carefully calculated and strategic way that no one would be any the wiser 🤔
I think after this I might go bit 'prepper' myself🤔

BanKittenHeels · 29/03/2020 00:02

Those of you just buying ‘just a few extra bits’ ARE the cause of the shortages.

Yes, if they do it once panic is happening/about to happen. Totally.

I always buy extra but as soon as it became apparent others would start doing it, I stopped.

UYS that’s why I prep, it takes me out of the equation. I’ve bought some fresh fruit from a local supplier who delivered to us but we had everything else in and ready months and months ago and stopped prepping weeks ago.

Everyone who stopped prepping mid-Feb is okay in my book. Those people who went wild over-buying from there on out are the problem because the just in time system couldn’t keep up with their demand.
Whereas they could keep up with the demand of regular preps.

Daffodil101 · 29/03/2020 00:06

I note on other threads people self isolating and unable to get out to the shops.

This is causing genuine distress to them, which could have been alleviated had they prepared for such a scenario.

I suspected hairdressers would close, so I used my brain and bought hair dye. Apparently it’s impossible to buy now, so I’m glad I did.

Was I being selfish?

UYScuti · 29/03/2020 00:09

That's funny there's loads of hair dye around my way!
I'll trade you some for some bread making flour😊🤭
(Not selfish at all in my opinion, it's not like you bought enough to stock a shop now is it!)

StirCrazed · 29/03/2020 00:09

You are organised and to be congratulated for looking after your family with far-sighted advance preparation

A whole ton of people are just a bit pissed off with themselves and deflecting

I am just annoyed I didn't buy more bread flour. I was worried about weevils but actually I'd really like homemade bread every day now.

ChristmasCarcass · 29/03/2020 00:10

I think there is a difference between picking up an extra tin of beans in your usual weekly shop, and having a garage full of toilet paper that would take you three years to use up. Or even worse, buying a crate of formula and then selling it on FB at 10x RRP.

Sounds like you are in the first camp, and nobody has any issue with that. It’s the second two that are causing problems.