Can we please stop all the bashing of “stockpilers”

[Notcontent]

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.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being prepared. I wish I’d of trusted my instincts and started buying a bit more each shop when China’s cases started climbing. I was a bit in denial I think and though I had a niggling feeling, I just shopped as I normally do. However once people really started stockpiling I couldn’t get what I wanted in the shops and I saw some people just picking up whole trays of products leaving none on the shelves - that IMO is selfish.

The woman in my local Sainsbury’s told me they had stock, as soon as it was going out it was disappearing as people were texting each other to tell them. If the bread van came then people would run over and buy all the bread in minutes. She said they had stopped making the effort to put things out so fast.
They are now limiting the people going in the shop now and they are much better stocked. There was plenty of bread yesterday for the first time (I did have to wait 20 minutes to get inside though)

esjee not all of us have the finances to prep; I have enough money each month to buy what I need but the other effect now from everyone who bought extra is that I’m spending more because my normal products are all gone and only the expensive ones are left. Exactly what we all need when our jobs are at risk.

amp.theguardian.com/environment/2020/mar/28/fruit-and-veg-will-run-out-unless-britain-charters-planes-to-fly-in-farm-workers-from-eastern-europe

Timely

@user1493413286 , obviously you can't get a load of stuff in now but there were times over the past year or so when I bought one extra cheap tin of veg or fruit from Aldi because that's all I could afford.

Unless they bring in rationing and restrictions on how frequently you can shop I don't see how you're expected to know what to do.

In our local shops there's plenty of most foodstuffs but people seem to be trooping in and out buying little and often, which seems bonkers in a lockdown, it would be better if people bought a bit more but shopped less frequently. I feel everyone worried about being judged for 'stockpiling ' here is counterproductive when there's no appreciable shortage. Clearly if everyone does a shop once per fortnight that doesn't work either but having every other person trooping through a supermarket every 2 days is madness.

bellinisurge I’m confused; were you prepping for this for a year? We do have some extras in the cupboard but enough for a few days, a week at a push so at the beginning of all this we had an extra tin of things for times when we didn’t get to the shops ad planed but as we’ve now had 4 weeks of not being able to get stuff we use every week we have nothing

No. I'm a general prepper. So I was prepping generally.

I started prepping when 'mainstream' media outlets told us that having a few extra essentials would be a good idea once Brexit hit.

That started back in October.

I have a fairly full freezer, a good stock of toilet paper, toiletries, detergents, rice, oats, quinoa, soya chunks and mince.

Just built up with an extra can here, freezing short dated stock there and picking up the unpopular varieties being sold at half price because no one wanted them.

Fresh food is bought in small quantities as and when required.

The panic buyers (and price gougers) who have suddenly gone out and stockpiled, clearing whole shelves of hand wash, hand sanitiser, toilet paper, bread, milk and other suddenly popular sundries are responsible for this.

I've had to stay in for a week due to viral symptoms and I was out of quarantine yesterday.

I needed a couple of pints of milk, some fresh fruit and veg, 4 toilet rolls and some stuff for packed lunches for next week.

While I was 'off', I ran out of a few frivolous things (flavoured fizzy water and pop), but I was perfectly OK.

When this is all over, I'll get back to buying an extra can here, a couple of extra packets there and so on.

But not now. Now is not the time.

What is the ultimate fear? That you will run out of food completely?

If we ever get to that point, it will be dog eat god and survival of the fittest. Won’t matter how much food you have.

Proper US preppers have been loading up on their Uzi’s for this reason! Nutters

Please be aware that food is not being picked, transported or manufactured in the usual amounts because farmers, East European pickers (if any left in the UK), factory workers and depot & transport workers are also sick or self isolating. Or sick of being shamed on Social Media for going to work or for trying to keep their workers working.

There is still a need for a certain amount of intelligent prepping. Or, of course, you can believe Boris. But if you believe Boris then do not blame those of us who don't, in a couple of weeks time when it gets even harder.

Proper US preppers
And with Trump at the helm those who are armed and determined to survive at all costs will no doubt feel emboldened😱

What I am genuinely interested in from people who “prepped” though is; did you get extra supplies of foods you don’t use on a weekly basis or just get a lot? As we use two tins of tomatoes a week and I haven’t been able to get them for 4 weeks so even if I had prepped I’d need to have got at least 8 and i’d still be running out now. Same with pasta and loo roll, surely you’re all running out now unless you got quite a large supply? Or are you still buying it and keeping your supply for another time when you see it getting worse?
I say all of that hoping to be educated rather than trying to have a go at anyone.

Proper US Preppers are in the US. Not here. Spot the difference.

I agree OP we usually shop little and often but we are now told to go out as infrequently as possible so we are having to buy more often than we normally would to make sure we don't go out several times a week

Now here's a pepper...

www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/coronavirus-colin-furze-bunker-lincolnshire-3995516

I bought from end January, doubled up some stuff, bought really a lot of other stuff (costco does mega boxes though anyway) and am not eating most of it. It's for our actual lockdown when we can't leave the house. I ate the pandemic chocolate though ;)
I'd rather be self sufficient. I'm not into relying on other people to do things for me so if we are self isolating I would rather do that without asking people to drop stuff off.

If this becomes the New normal and we are regularly locked down because a dangerous virus has escaped from somewhere then we will all have to be proper preppers

@user1493413286 , assuming it's a genuine question, I have a variety of shelf stable shop bought stuff. I grow a lot of my own in my little garden. I dehydrate fresh food much to the entertainment of others on the Preppers topic. I also have equipment that I saved up for which allowed me to pressure can meat in jars .

I get milk and eggs delivered and have done for over a year.
I got a breadmaker for an anniversary present and make my own bread with that.

I stocked up ahead of the current panic as I was watching the news and figured it would happen here. I also routinely have a couple of weeks of provisions in as I like the security of it and also because I get one big delivery a month.

I do not feel guilty as otherwise I would now be lining up at supermarkets every few days due to restrictions. Am not sure why people who plan ahead are being castigated here. Because I planned ahead, I am leaving more now for everyone else.

There is no lack of food supply in general - is this specific to some towns?

Just been this morning to get weekly shop in Tesco and all lines were in stock - including flour, eggs, tins, toilet roll, soap, paracetamol (has e changed to lower shelf!), all varieties of meat and deli, all veg - and some rice/pasta (although quite depleted).

We're in East of England, where are these shortages?

You won't be able to 'win' on MN OP. If you buy a bit extra you're a selfish bastard killing people. If you don't and therefore have to go to the shops more frequently, you're a selfish bastard killing people

Heh I laughed, because it's true

I’m not jealous but I am annoyed that I can’t get a single tin of tomatoes while other people have enough in their cupboard for several weeks

It's fine to be annoyed but maybe direct it at yourself.

I am starting to think this is a case of looking in neighbours bowls to check they don't have more than you. Misery likes company and woe betide if you're sorted.

@user1493413286. I stuff mostly bought canned frozen and packet food as an emergency supply if I have to be in for a couple of weeks. All things I normally eat, but not constantly. I'm still going shopping once a week to get fresh stuff and additional food for the week and mostly use this. I have 2-3 weeks worth of toilet roll, but I haven't seen any in my nearest shop for weeks, so I'll be specifically looking to top that up soon. Basically, my aim is to have a full 2 weeks worth of supplies available at any one time so I don't have to find someone to go for me if I have to stay in.

You won't be able to 'win' on MN OP. If you buy a bit extra you're a selfish bastard killing people. If you don't and therefore have to go to the shops more frequently, you're a selfish bastard killing people.

Yes, THIS.

It is clear that some people on this planet are resentful that families with kids cannot live on fresh air.