Fuming I can't even buy nappies.

[GAW19]

Me and my partner both work in a supermarket.
For over a week now we have been trying to buy nappies for our 16 month old. Cannot get 1 pack.
Went in today to do our shop and the whole aisle was empty. Was absolutely nothing. Non in the warehouse. Nothing.

It really does anger me that people can be so selfish and greedy. There is no need to stupidly panic buy.
I have now had offers from relatives to send us some in the post from where they live around the country.
I just find it very sad that at times like this, people still can't be thoughtful of others
Sorry for the rant!

I think in shop demand is going to be a lot more lumpy at the moment as people bounce in and out of isolation.

More pragmatically, today is 1st working day after pay day for those paid at the end of the month, so would assume that people might stock up on essentials as soon as they've been paid.

Just in time distribution sucks in uncertain times!

Are the shops not rationing them?

Glad you’ve got some coming.

So sorry, it will calm down soon. If you call somewhere like Boots they can order for you and keep aside. Petrol stations are another good bet, we had the same problem first time around. I just can't believe how stupid and selfish people are.

I had the same. Ordered some on boots today.

So the supermarket can’t find you some? My local Asda had full shelves.

Supermarkets should have started rationing again ages ago. I know it’s not their job to police peoples behaviour, but it shouldn’t get to the point where shelves are empty because some people have mass purchased items. My friends struggled to get baby milk last lockdown - they were panicked they weren’t going to be able to feed their son. It’s totally unacceptable how selfish people are.

Why have the supermarkets not put restrictions in place should of done that middle of last week we all knew this was coming but yes panic buyers are the worst and am dreading doing my weekly shop on Thursday.

I don’t think any of it is panic buying, it’s simply that people are picking up one extra of stuff, and as supermarkets tend to work on a just in time model and not hold lots of stock shelf’s get empty

One would have hoped they learnt from the last lockdown

You can order them on Amazon.

I agree it’s not good that people are panic buying.

Last lockdown buying for twins, Boots was my salvation. Also, don't shoot... Amazon.

This is awful. Do you know anyone in Scotland who could send you some. We aren’t locked down (watch this space)! I got accused by a neighbour of panic buying loo roll. I bought one of the big packs of 18 and there are only 2 of us but this is my normal buying pattern. I buy a huge amount once we run low, takes several weeks to get through. He claimed he was only joking but he wasn’t.

Our tesco had plenty in the south.
I normally do costco but see a fb post of a friend and there was an hour que. So didn't bother. Tesco fully stocked. But more expensive but hey ho.

its blooody pathetic you know everytime this happens i do believe weve got he common sense of trump

the shops were never going to run out of food theyre not closing nor are delivries like last time-which i sort of understood it was ll new

i hate ignorance

Unfortunately no, they aren't restricting items yet which they should have put in place weeks ago IMO.
I will have a look at boots and Amazon, thank you!
We always make sure we have at least one packet in the wardrobe, then buy more when we need that one, but with not being able to get any it has left us short. I guess my faith in people was too high still!
My family are down south and surprisingly haven't had a lot of bulk buying in their shops so are thankfully sending me some

I went into Sainsbury's today and if I wanted to, I was able to buy many nappies and wipes as there were no restrictions on the amount. Supermarkets must put restrictions and even 3 is too much as it strips the shelves bare. Last time I wasn't able to get hold of calpol as I had gone through the spare bottles because of teething, thank god I came across a pharmacy that was making medication with paracetamol for babies as they had trouble getting hold of them too. I think the further you drive out of town/cities, you have a better chance of finding items you need or as other posters have suggested try Amazon.

@GAW19

Unfortunately no, they aren't restricting items yet which they should have put in place weeks ago IMO. I will have a look at boots and Amazon, thank you! We always make sure we have at least one packet in the wardrobe, then buy more when we need that one, but with not being able to get any it has left us short. I guess my faith in people was too high still! My family are down south and surprisingly haven't had a lot of bulk buying in their shops so are thankfully sending me some

I quite rare the Mama Bear nappies and wipes from aMazon but they also do Morrisons as well as Pampers

@calamariri

I went into Sainsbury's today and if I wanted to, I was able to buy many nappies and wipes as there were no restrictions on the amount. Supermarkets must put restrictions and even 3 is too much as it strips the shelves bare. Last time I wasn't able to get hold of calpol as I had gone through the spare bottles because of teething, thank god I came across a pharmacy that was making medication with paracetamol for babies as they had trouble getting hold of them too. I think the further you drive out of town/cities, you have a better chance of finding items you need or as other posters have suggested try Amazon.

If quite like the restrictions to be by number of children. Restricting me to two boxes of baby formula per shop last time was frankly ridiculous as that was 5 days worth, couldn't get a slot and so was having to go to the shops twice a week

That is shit, but I went to several supermarkets today (in busy areas) and although they were bustling, I didn't find them sort on anything including nappies.

Definitely consider setting up a subscription on Amazon. I do this for several things I want to keep a stock of, you get the chance to cancel the delivery in advance. Its very useful and I've become a big fan.

Last time. Calpol! Ds was due his jabs. They said make sure had calpol prior and after. I couldn't wet any anywhere. I normally have some in but dd had just been unwell and used it all.
When I got to his jabs and sat there and said I couldn't get any they went and spoke to gp who got a small sachet out the cabinet. Then did a prescription. That was the only way I could get it.. I offered to pay the prescription fee even though was for an infant and they wouldn't let me. The gp prescribed 2 large bottles. We still have 1 left all thses months later ( teething baby etc we've gone through some.)
I felt awful but ds would have suffered more without it as he has some side effects

how would that work sleeping how do you prove how many kids you have

Surely if you’re work in a supermarket you get first dibs on anything coming in? Rubbish if not.

@Barryisland unfortunately not, we get treated like everyone else.
I have started work at 2am every day since this pandemic and still had to queue and shop like everyone else

Amazon have in stock

panic buying isn't great, but if I've read your post correctly you've only tried to buy from the one supermarket you work in, and then got relatives to post you nappies
That's a bit extreme.

You say that surely 3 packs of nappies is too much, but you don't know that. It entirely depends on number of kids in nappies, and how often/easily someone can get to the shops. Although I do appreciate that there needs to be some sort of limit at the moment, and they can't please everyone. It's a shame that there's no way to have personalised allowances for things, but I'm sure that would take up a lot of resources that we don't have right now.

Also, I think people have very different ideas about what counts as panic buying. On an a normal day, when there is no pandemic (ah, remember those days? Just about...) I would buy 4 or 5 jumbo packs of nappies as bare minimum, assuming the shop was well stocked enough. If the shelves were stuffed full I would probably buy even more. I prefer to buy bulky items as infrequently as possible. It's not easy for me to get to the shops, I have a decent bit of storage space in my house, and I like to be prepared for hiccups in the road. The thought of running out of something I need every day fills me with dread. I have always been this way. I wait until bar soap is on offer and then buy about 20 bars at once. Same with shampoo and toothpaste. I get about 10 litres of bleach at a time. Buying anything less than 15 tins of chopped tomatoes seems like a waste of time to me. I don't buy these things every week, of course, I just do it when supplies start to run low. I think it stems from a time when I was living in severe poverty and never knew when I would have the money or the means to get hold of stuff again. I learned that in times of plenty, you stock up, because you never know when someone might suddenly lose their job, or if a big storm comes and you can't get to the shops etc.

Obviously I am well aware that these aren't normal times, so I am trying to be more conscious of not emptying shelves. But I have heard some people calling others selfish and saying that there's "no need" to buy 5 tins of tomatoes, or there's " no need" for someone to buy a couple of 9 packs of toilet roll. To some people this is entirely normal shopping. Not everyone is used to just living week to week and buying only what they will use over the next few days. Something I have learned from this pandemic is that we all have wildly different ideas about what is a normal amount of stuff to buy and store in your home.