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?

They're panic buying because last time it was very difficult to get certain items that some people use every day. I personally didn't have this problem as I live in a rural Australian town in the middle of nowhere, so it's normal for me to buy 40 rolls of TP at a time, because I know I won't be going to the shops again for a few months, so I didn't run out of anything. But, being completely honest, if my family and I had been wiping our shitty arses with ours hands for the last lockdown, you'd better believe that I'd be stocking up right now.

I am now sitting here in my PJs wondering if I should go out panic buying but I can't think what to panic buy. I think I will assert control over the housework instead...

There is no need for it in any way.

The potential 14-day isolation period has been in force for months. It should not suddenly come as a surprise unless you've been living under a rock.

Absolutely NOTHING has changed in terms of supermarket availability and access (in England - not counting Wales' fencing off of certain ranges). You can still go to the shops! They are still open!

There is NO NEED to panic buy.

@Sparklingbrook - you could get toilet roll... or an other tin of tomatoes?

I agree, people are soo stupid, we never really run out of anything last time.

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles I don't have any corned beef. I hate it. Should I get some anyway? Thankfully my loft is full of gift wrap from last January's sale. Phew. Oh but I have nothing to wrap because it's only the 1st of November.

Big ship will be my highlight outing of the week for next month or so!

[quote Ylvamoon]@Sparklingbrook - you could get toilet roll... or an other tin of tomatoes?

I agree, people are soo stupid, we never really run out of anything last time.[/quote]
None of us like tinned tomatoes but I'll get a couple of cans next time I am out if that's what's required. I really don't know the Sparkling family toilet roll situation so will review that urgently.

Lockheart there isnt a run on delivery slots in case people need to self isolate, there's a run on slots because people are self isolating. More households are self isolating now because there are more infections around now.

It is really not hard to understand.

I wonder if we'll see the same level of food waste as we did last time.

During the last lockdown, the local vicar went round on bin-day morning and took photos of all the extra bags of perfectly good fruit and vegetables - many unopened and still very much fresh and edible - which had been chucked out with the rest of the food waste.

It was really sickening, especially since we live right next to a borough with some of the highest foodbank use and child poverty in the city.

All because people couldn't control themselves and then couldn't be arsed to use what they'd bought. Around here is mostly an affluent area too.

@Porcupineinwaiting

Lockheart there isnt a run on delivery slots in case people need to self isolate, there's a run on slots because people are self isolating. More households are self isolating now because there are more infections around now.

It is really not hard to understand.

I would bet almost everything I have that the run on supermarket slots this weekend is because of the govt announcement and not because people are actually self-isolating.

It’s so frustrating. DP and I are currently Covid positive so we can’t go out, and now all the supermarket delivery slots are gone. We’re screwed.

@lemontt I'm pretty sure my post is saying there is no need for panic buying as grocery shops are operating as normal. I think you might be referring to the stockpiling section of MN 🙄

@SpookyNoise

It’s so frustrating. DP and I are currently Covid positive so we can’t go out, and now all the supermarket delivery slots are gone. We’re screwed.

Another very good reason for not panic buying - it crowds out those who actually need the slots.

Make sure to look into local covid mutual aid @SpookyNoise - they should be able to put you in touch with a volunteer who can get shopping for you.

@lockheart

Your first post say exactly what I think. I'm not suggesting people are idiots or should/shouldn't do. I'm just saying that lockdown has changed nothing relating to grocery shopping and therefore I don't get it. I'm enjoying reading all the different opinions.

@Lockheart

There is no need for it in any way.

The potential 14-day isolation period has been in force for months. It should not suddenly come as a surprise unless you've been living under a rock.

Absolutely NOTHING has changed in terms of supermarket availability and access (in England - not counting Wales' fencing off of certain ranges). You can still go to the shops! They are still open!

There is NO NEED to panic buy.

Well. It depends on whether you think the government aren't just going to make a hash of covid but also Brexit.

There'll be a lot of banana cakes on instagram again i bet 😂

I think it’s just a natural reaction to this kind of stuff. It’s a way to feel in control as everything fees in constant flux.

The March restrictions were announced as three weeks then review. The re-opening of non-food shops was announced as possibly one date, then three weeks later in reality.
Michael Gove this morning has mentioned it might be extended beyond December 2nd, if infections do not fall by enough.

No surprise people panic buy. I don't trust the government and I am not alone.

@RedToothBrush don't get me started on Brexit - one cocked-up crisis at a time please

I hope they aren't. I need to go to supermarket today. That's my normal weekly shop and I'm out of some things so it's a must rather than a want.

I'm not panic buying, but I have booked up as many delivery slots as I can (which is 2 over the next 2 weeks). This is because I live rurally and don't drive. The bus to the supermarket only leaves every 2 hours and is not conveniently timed to return on, and it takes me an hour to walk to the nearest supermarket, plus there's only so much I can carry as I also have a baby and a toddler with me so can only manage basket sized shops not trolly shops. If I can't get food delivered, then getting food at all becomes very very hard. Usually I book for the next week when my shop is delivered, but I predicted that slots would now be harder to get so I've booked as many as I can.

For pp saying it's classism. I'm a single parent on low income and have a small house so no where to store extra food even if I wanted too.

We went without nothing last time though, walked a couple of times a week to Tesco express and got milk, bread etc and what we needed for a few days at a time. Didn't drive my car for about 3 months.

@Brokenchair1

There'll be a lot of banana cakes on instagram again i bet 😂

Oh no. Do I have to start baking as well? Actually I have no bananas.

Do I have to do all the things I didn't do last lockdown like take up running/cake decorating or learning a foreign language? Panic taking up a hobby?

Well. It depends on whether you think the government aren't just going to make a hash of covid but also Brexit

Brexit is going to be a disaster, at least until 2030. There is no good way to stifle trade with 50% of your clients.

What we don’t know is how manageable the disaster will be. For instance, will supermarket prices rise by 5% or 20%? This is what the government still has some theoretical control/negotiating power over, but those red lines still seem awfully dear to them so I wouldn’t hold my breath, and would be betting on Big Disaster.

@Sparklingbrook

Re: the corned beef - get it while you can. When Society breaks down and we have reverted to a bartering system I think you could find a tinned meat product could be literally worth its weight in gold, and there are many health benefits of gold - so a street trader, selling cheap gold chains, told me.