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?

[HomerRoberts]

Here’s the one....

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8050747/Families-stockpiling-nappies-food-medicine-coronavirus.html

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

However, unlike you, I did not go to every shop and also check out every delivery website, so it appears you did more thorough research. Ha ha ha ha !!

DH has done some very detailed reserarch as well then! AKA drove passed 3 supermarkets on his way home and noted the ridiculous queues!

We only wanted some Dijonnaise mustard, soap and milk. I've already shopped at the local farm shop - and the queue there was ridiculous as I was leaving!

We're rural though. A big shop can mean a 50+ mile round trip and there are always quite big queues on pay day weekends. But this morning's lines were very definitely much longer than normal!

So, pay day, end of half term and a new lockdown - each usually means a long line at the check out, and this weekend we have had all 3!

[RufustheSniggeringReindeer]

I popped to waitrose to get some bits for tea Yesterday

Certainly wasnt panic buying and loads of people in there only had baskets

I didn’t see anyone panic buying, but there was a queue outside

[Porcupineinwaiting]

But many more people are having to self isolate now because rates are far higher. Cause and effect.

[RufustheSniggeringReindeer]

Oh...no queue at asda

Massive queue (comparatively) at Dunelm...i just wanted one thing so I certainly wasn’t queuing up for it

[Sparklingbrook]

[quote HomerRoberts]Here’s the one....

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8050747/Families-stockpiling-nappies-food-medicine-coronavirus.html[/quote]
Oh blimey that list. Scissors! Note pads! Litres of olive oil. Large tubs of nuts. I did the first lockdown all wrong clearly.

In fact I wasn't on MN for months earlier in the year and I think it started because of all the bonkers CV threads and me being constantly .

[LemonTT]

@Brokenchair1

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.

How do you respond to accusations that you are scaremongering and part of the problem? Does it bother you that this post might encourage people to go out and panic buy. Crowding shops and other areas, possibly increasing the risk of transmission.

Is this just about you own curiosity ? If so, there is a price for others to pay.

[dollychopss]

Me too it is absolutely ridiculous and just stresses you out more

[RedToothBrush]

@MonaLisaDoesntSmile

Because people are idiots who learned nothing last time.

It could just as easily be that its because they learned from last time and don't want to get caught short this time!

[Iminaglasscaseofemotion]

People are stupid 🤷‍♀️

[Givemeabreak88]

I’ve just looked at delivery slots in Tesco’s and can’t get anything till the 11th now under normal slots, luckily we have priority slots.

[Chickenandrice]

I think I read last time that it doesn’t take much for the shelves to end up bare. If everyone who goes shopping just puts a few extra items in their trolley (but not even realise they are stockpiling) then over the whole population it tips the balance and the supermarkets struggle to restock quick enough

[Squiffany]

Tbf, it’s pay weekend and only one more payday for most people before Xmas so would always have been busy.

[Sparklingbrook]

Some of the panic buyers must have stuff left over from the last lockdown surely?

[TheGreatWave]

There was a fleeting moment this morning as I got a fresh loo roll out (still have 14 in the packet) that I should go and get a new one so I don't have to get one in a few weeks.

Then I decided it was too cold and too much hassle. Had I been at the shops I may just have grabbed one though. One less thing for people to worry about I guess.

[feelingverylazytoday]

@PicsInRed

We actaully have no idea what the politicians will do next, whether that be policing what people buy, or shutting public transport, or going full France lockdown. Between uncertainty around freedom of movement, and shortages caused by the "Just In Time" ordering systems (10 people buy an extra bag of pasta and there's none left today), people have been taught by experience to stock up.

People also know that at any moment they could receive a phone call telling them to remain on their property for 14 days, with no food delivery slots available.

The plebs aren't thick, they are actually behaving rationally based on what they know - which is that they know nothing and are told everything at the last moment therefore need to prepare now.

Don't blame the ordinary person for ineptitude of leadership.

Amazing how some people manage not to panic buy, isn't it then? Considering how we all have the same 'inept' leadership.

[CoronaIsWatching]

They're the same people that stand up as soon as the plane lands and push to the front to get off a minute quicker. The absolute dregs of society.

[derxa]

@RedRiverShore

I have booked all my slots at Tesco and Waitrose for the next month as I have no intention of queueing at the supermarket in the cold and wet when I can get it delivered, I do most of my shopping online anyway. Nothing to do with panic buying

Good for you

[NaughtipussMaximus]

@PicsInRed

We actaully have no idea what the politicians will do next, whether that be policing what people buy, or shutting public transport, or going full France lockdown. Between uncertainty around freedom of movement, and shortages caused by the "Just In Time" ordering systems (10 people buy an extra bag of pasta and there's none left today), people have been taught by experience to stock up.

People also know that at any moment they could receive a phone call telling them to remain on their property for 14 days, with no food delivery slots available.

The plebs aren't thick, they are actually behaving rationally based on what they know - which is that they know nothing and are told everything at the last moment therefore need to prepare now.

Don't blame the ordinary person for ineptitude of leadership.

This exactly. What happened last time actually taught people to stock up. If you ran out of toilet roll last time, would you be sitting at home thinking, ‘oh well surely that won’t happen again’ or would you be queuing up outside Tesco to make damn sure this time it wouldn’t be you using your hand after taking a shit? If your kids went without their favourite food last time, or you struggled to get enough pasta to feed your family, what would your takeaway from March be? ‘It’ll be fine’ or ‘I’m getting four packs now’? Ditto for getting clothes or other non-essentials. Last time some shops even stopped their online stores for a time, and who knows if we might get a ban on non-essential deliveries or need to fill in a form to leave the house. My son’s birthday is in November so I bought his presents in September and October in anticipation of another lockdown - if I hadn’t been able to afford to do that, if I’d been waiting until my October pay day, damn straight I’d be out today spending money.

[christinarossetti19]

I think some of the 'panic buying' and getting stuff in 'just in case' is a way for people to manage anxiety. They can't control the virus, or lockdown measures, but they can go and do some shopping.

[Heatherjayne1972]

It’s fear driven.- and selfishness And the media pushing that fear
The virus is big and scary and non of us can control it. But there’s an element of control over what we can buy/ prepare

When push comes to shove we are all self centred

[NaughtipussMaximus]

There’s a lot of classism in condemnation of panic buying, I think.

[TwoLeftSocksWithHoles]

I didn't know that we were supposed to be Panic Buying just yet. I really think this Government should not only fire a starting pistol to initiate the process but also publish a list of those items we should be buying.
I've obviously still got my garage full of toilet paper from last time, and I have a few bags of sugar left from the Great British Sugar Shortage of '74. Unfortunately the stock pile of bread from the same period did not fair so well, and consequently there are some very fat birds waddling about the lawn struggling to fly.
So what to stock up on...?
Cheese
Christmas wrapping paper
Corned beef
Any Halloween stuff that is half price.
Puzzler magazines

[RedToothBrush]

@Squiffany

Tbf, it’s pay weekend and only one more payday for most people before Xmas so would always have been busy.

Some of the supermarkets have been encouraging people to buy extra now (well in the last two weeks) ahead of Christmas.

That does tell you they are already concerned about issues with Christmas shopping.

[SistemaAddict]

I have a Waitrose delivery for tomorrow and the following Monday. I can't book further ahead than that at the moment and I usually book a month ahead and have done for months. I don't drive and rely on those deliveries for my household and my elderly mum. I have priority access so I'm surprised there are no more weeks available.