Why are people panic buying?

[Brokenchair1]

I'm genuinely confused. People were queuing at some local supermarkets from yesterday afternoon, even before announcement. All delivery slots got booked up in my local area after the announcement. Supermarkets are still open. We can still drive to Sainsburys or Tesco or wherever and do a big shop like before, or walk/bus to local shop for those who don't drive.

My understanding is that in England stores will not cordon off non essentials anyway like in Wales. I plan to do one big shop a week as always at my local supermarket, wearing a mask and social distancing like I have been doing for the last few months. This is still allowed isn't it?

So why are people panic buying?

Supermarkets will pull slots as they'll be anticipating staff absence etc.

I went to the shops yesterday and was surprised how quiet it was in all shops, including both supermarkets. Plenty of loo roll etc so no panic buying here.

Because people are morons.

@Sparklingbrook

I don't see how queuing and cramming into shops with loads of other people buying stuff you don't need is maintaining a sense of control. Just anxiety inducing and adding to the stress.

The supermarkets will be open throughout. No need to shop as if they'll be shut too.

Having a fully stocked fridge and larder is something you can achieve and have control over. Then if no delivery slots are available, you don't have to worry. It might be stressful for the hour that you're in the shop but it reduces stress for the next few weeks, worrying if you will be able to get a meal.

Just wanted to say that I never used the word selfish in my OP. I am more curious as i feel in terms of grocery shopping literally nothing has changed.

I can see how people might visit family/go to gym/clothes shopping etc. It is just grocery shopping that has got me stumped. There have been no queues here for food stores since the summer as people started to shop in a normal manner and more people were allowed in store.

I went to the shop yesterday evening and it wasnt busy but I overheard the shop assistants saying that they had sold a lot more than they would on a normal Saturday.

I did look at the typical "panic buy" items just out of interest - eggs, flour, tinned tomatoes, loo roll were all plenty available, but pasta was looking a bit low.

People are panicking and trying to control what they can.

the selfish ones are the non regular shoppers who suddenly expect slots in a crisis

As in those who have to self isolate, or are medically vulnerable? How are they more selfish than someone who just doesn't want to wait in the rain, so instead of just booking a few slots books a month's worth over 2 supermarkets

I have my delivery booked for Monday morning, as I have for the past ten years till this stupid thing.
I’m fully expecting half my items to be missing because the panic has started already here, I think it makes people feel better KNOWING they’ve got their food or whatever. (For the first week atleast!)

I was in Lidl at 8am yesterday and did a huge shop. So sue me. Won't have to go for 2 weeks so very happy with that. Plus I have a hair appointment on Tuesday and a tesco slot booked mid November. For once I am feeling quite organised.

@Brokenchair1 are you in a Tier 1 area? I'm in Tier 3 and round here very many people are having to self isolate or are getting sick (just heard another friend and her family all have it) and cant go to the shops.

I have my slots booked til the end of November as I knew they would all go. I've shopped online for years and will continue to do so.

Panic buyers are vulgar.

I shop online, but it makes sense to me that people would be doing big shops in person- partly in case they suddenly have to self isolate for 14 days, but also now to minimise the number of trips they need to do.

Surely, if a person is able to afford it, only needing to visit Tesco once every 10-14 days is much better transmission wise than someone popping to the corner shop every two days?

Because they are scared

Ffs another one of these scaremongering threads. Just stop it you're as bad as the panic buyers.

The media fuelled the panic buying so much last time. Constant shots of empty loo roll aisles-pressing everyone's buttons, making them think they need to get out there.

There's no panic buying in my area as far as I can tell - unless you count all the hairdresser appointments going in a flash.

If people are panic buying it is because there has been a total erosion of trust capital that the systems we rely on are robust or that people will help you in a bind. It's not something I'm concerned about but then I'm in the lucky position of not having to worry about how to manage when all of the budget food is stripped from the shelves.

Oh god are we back to this again?

Hysteria and panic. That’s the whole ethos of 2020

And competitive hysteria is also very 2020. Who cares the most about our elderly. Who sacrificed the most. Who complied the most with progressively non-sensical rules.

I booked an online shop yesterday (not usual for me), precisely because I did learn from last time: I learned that delivery slots for people who don’t already have them became non-existent, and I learned that grocery shopping as a single parent (8 and 2, so had to come with) was a precarious business.

As a non-driver, it’s as much as I can manage to carry a week’s worth of shopping home, so it’s been the work of many months to ‘stockpile’ enough that we’ll be OK if we have to self-isolate. Which we will all have to do, if/when the 8yo has a classmate with covid, because I won’t be able to leave him.

I think a lot of this sneering about other people’s shopping habits comes from people who can’t see the privilege in their own situation... and I say that with the good fortune of being (physically and mentally) healthy, able-bodied, securely employed on a reasonable salary, with multiple supermarkets within walking distance - rather than assuming my own challenges are the only/worst sort!

I get the feeling that people that are panic buying this time are trying to get in the shops and get a few extra bits before the panic buyers get to it? Like people are worried about having nothing this time because of the panic buyers last time maybe if you get where I'm coming from? I'm not doing any of it obviously but I can see why people are worried. I work in a supermarket and the shop was heaving yesterday. It's going to be worse today and it's not helping anyone 😣

Cos they’re daft

For those who say it's because people might have to self isolate for 14 days, that's the way it's been for months. I've had to self isolate for 14 days in the summer due to travel and did one online shop and got friends to drop milk etc. What I'm saying is that lockdown won't change grocery habits from last month.

We can still shop like normal and people still self isolate like before. It's socialising, eating out and shopping for non essentials that have changed.

And for poster who asked I'm in tier 1 and currently know no one with covid and no cases in DDs primary.

It's an irregular verb.

I am sensibly stocking up.

You are panic buying.

He/she/they are selfish hoarders.

The media fuelled the panic buying so much last time

Which all started with a Daily Mail article referring to a Mumsnet thread about stockpiling!

@HomerRoberts

The media fuelled the panic buying so much last time

Which all started with a Daily Mail article referring to a Mumsnet thread about stockpiling!

Brilliant! We are all doomed aren't we?