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?

@MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously

Who are these people spending over a fiver on sugar? Coffee or chocolate, I would understand

I don't know, but someone left the following feedback (in the last month) on the above ebay sugar:

Good value would buy from you again.
And paid £5.67!

Either they have never set foot in a supermarket. Or they are selling sugar with extra additives or some description!

In my local supermarket everything is fine at the minute. I will continue to do my shopping as normal. This time around, I will buy just fresh food every 4-5 days which I normally do anyway instead of hoarding on long life products or frozen food. I think it won't be as bad as before. There were plenty of toilet rolls, formula, pasta, nappies, calpol and paracetamol available. The daily shit would probably post pictures from the first lockdowns 'empty shelfs' to cause panic though. Someone really needs to close down the Daily Shit seriously.

@Bwlch you must be somewhere very very remote.

Bwlch you must be somewhere very very remote.

Why? No immediate neighbours but not exactly Outer Mongolia.

So you got a delivery spot in March and there have been none available since? I find that very difficult to believe

I had fairly regular deliveries until March, yes. However, whenever I have tried to do an online order since, there have been no delivery slots available.

I will add the caveat that I haven't spent all day, every day trying. I haven't got the time.

Well I just came back from a quick trip to Tescos and thankfully it doesn't seem to be as bad as last time. The fruit and veg had definitely taken a big hit, and the pasta was a little shorter - although plenty available if you wanted it - and lots of canned goods available.

I remember last time I couldn't get tinned tomatoes or canned soup for quite a while, and although I had pasta and didn't need it, I recall there wasn't any available. And no eggs last time either, although plenty today.

Hopefully people are being more sensible this time around.

I do the 'big shop' every 2 to 3 weeks. We were long overdue one and I had already planned to go yesterday.

What a bloody mistake that was! I felt like such a tosser in there as well because my trolley was really loaded up like it always is but I looked like I was in the panic buying category of shopper...

If we have learned anything from the pandemic it is that large sections of the population simply cannot be trusted to behave responsibly. Fear, greed, stupidity & selfishness are just too ingrained. That being the case, supermarkets need to be much more proactive in setting and enforcing purchase limits on the worst-affected items at the first signs of panic buying starting.

I do the 'big shop' every 2 to 3 weeks.

I do the same. I did one last week. If it had had been today, I expect I would have been a "panic buyer" suspect.

I seem to be panic cooking ! Making a pasta bake with tin of toms and part of jar of black olives. Haven’t made for ages but seems right tonight.

I don't understand the panic buying either, madness. But I think it's probably incase people need to self isolate. I am a little worried if we can't go to the shops and there are also no delivery slots like last time. But it doesn't make me rush out shopping in the supermarket. Luckily we have just got back from a week away (alllowed in our area before anyone starts) and I booked a click and collect for today before even knowing of a potential lockdown. So glad I did.

I did however go to the local shopping centre as wanted to get some things I needed and would struggle to order online as won't be able to go for the next month. No panic buying or rushing around witnessed. Annoyingly I forgot to buy birthday cards so will have to go back out before Thursday for those.

Annoyingly I forgot to buy birthday cards so will have to go back out before Thursday for those

I remembered!

Weirdly proud of myself

Just went to huge london Waitrose to pick up John Lewis order from last week. No queues. Everything seemed to be on shelves but did see the biggest bag of penne I’ve ever seen in my life !! (Around 10 normal bags).

I am never quite sure if there are not so many panic buyers and just lots of people who like to have a go at the panic buyers they imagine might be active.

Oh Jeez, the toilet roll saga again. How much toilet roll can a family get through in 4 weeks? Just buy the usual quantities of everything and everyone will be okay. Manufacturers are still going to be working.

It is those who start shopping for extras who make others panic that nothing will be available for them which leads to empty shelves.

How many bags of treacle toffee counts as panic buying? Asking for a friend.

It really depends on whether you are sharing or not SistemaAddict

I went to Aldi to do my fortnightly shop (was feeling flush as I got paid on Friday)& it was quiet, fully stocked no shortages. I managed to get everything I needed. The staff did tell someone that they could only buy 3 cartons of almond milk and not the whole box,which contained 12. I did overhear the manager talking to his staff about putting a limit on goods which I think is sensible and allows everyone to buy what they need.

Well if it has to be shared I best get an extra bag. I mean she should get an extra bag obviously.

15 substitutions on my food order today. Mostly tins, chocolate and pasta related

I should add I buy a higher quantity of pasta than usual as my autistic child exists off pasta and not a lot else. I bought more tins than usual as the start of every month I batch cook dinners for me and other child. I wasn't stocking up.

I wish I had stocked up, but I left it too late and now there are no deliveries available and we are low on food, so guess we will be hiring a car and trying to get to a supermarket later, even though my immunologist is advising me to shield again, so shouldn’t be going outside.

I don’t blame anyone who stocks up extra to protect themselves.

Because the majority of them are blinded by the media, emotional, stressed and can't calm down and just rationalise. They don't recognise that they are being whipped into a frenzy by speculation and fear which spreads to others. A lot of people honestly believe they will die if they get covid. Unless your over 80 your more likely to die from any one of the following, an accident, get cancer (any other of the numerous terminal or deadly illnesses, including flu!) than covid but your highly likely to contract covid unlike be in an accident or get cancer etc.

Sadly some people will die, sadly some people will get long covid. I have a family member who became diabetic, type 1, after getting chicken pox as a child, I have another relative who got ME out of nowhere when they were a teenager. My grandad was blinded in one eye while decorating etc etc etc.

Yes to minimise your risks and of course be sensible and don't push your luck but panic is not a good mental state to make good decisions.

Is a taxi not an option for you @NotAnotherUserNumber?

I don't know why people are panic buying. They are being ridiculous. We have decided not to take up delivery slots that people who are more vulnerable require.