Coronavirus virus fears causing panic buying

[edwin_m]

This is very odd about the washing up liquid, it was the other way round in my Sainsburys yesterday, loads of their own brands, but fairy gone except the very large ones on the bottom shelf, how strange is that.

The obvious culprits are people who believe in fairies. I think we can eliminate the dwarves from our enquiries though.

 

[Tom B]

It would be nice to think so. But then I always thought a modest stockpile of essential foodstuffs was good practice anyway. Not enough for a nuclear winter, but enough for if the winter is bad and the pavements stay icy for a few weeks (as they did a few years ago), or there is a petrol strike (as there was), or a delivery drivers strike, or I badly sprained an ankle and couldn't walk, or I lost my wallet with banks cards in. Probably some more very good, and reasonably likely to happen, reasons on top. Oh, like seasonal flu.

Perhaps the suppliers and supermarkets will make changes to their supply chain too. An empty shelf means a dis-satisfied customer, the customer shops elsewhere, the customer likes elsewhere and continues to shop there.

I have, for many years, maintained a sufficient stockpile for a week or so. Care is taken to rotate the items, albeit that they have long lifespans. This comes from living alone - if I were to be struck down by a flu or d&v bug, the last thing I would want to do would be to have to leave the house to stock up on basic supplies.

 

[LAX54]

The people that have a trolley load of Pasta, or 40 tins of soup, 150 loo rolls all piled high, have any of them said why they do it ? Can they even explain why and make it sound sense ?? ( A week, yes, maybe 7 or 8 tins of soup / beans, 2 bags pasta maybe, 1 pack 16 loo rolls...)

 

[superjohn]

Can they even explain why and make it sound sense ??

For some it is probably a fear that the virus will affect the distribution networks and result in limited availability later on. A reasonable concern in itself but doesn’t justify the ridiculous scenes we have seen lately.

Some may be intending to profit from such a situation later on. The ease of doing so via online selling has to be considered.

The vast majority are just fooled by the press and social media hysteria. They see everybody else doing it and follow the crowd.

The reality where I live (rural East Anglia) is that sense is starting to prevail. The people who want to fill their garages with shopping have done so and the suppliers have stepped up production to refill the shelves.

As mentioned in other posts, smaller local shops seem less affected anyway and these are very common near me, co-op particularly. The fact that most village shop customers know each other puts people off being so blatantly selfish and greedy in public view.

The anonymity of a giant Tesco with self service tills has the opposite effect.

 

[Peter Kelford]

This is very odd about the washing up liquid, it was the other way round in my Sainsburys yesterday, loads of their own brands, but fairy gone except the very large ones on the bottom shelf, how strange is that.

In large central London supermarkets the scenario is such: the cheapest products are sold out (probably university students from China) and the most expensive organic stuff is sold out (the professional class)

As mentioned in other posts, smaller local shops seem less affected anyway and these are very common near me, co-op particularly. The fact that most village shop customers know each other puts people off being so blatantly selfish and greedy in public view.

The anonymity of a giant Tesco with self service tills has the opposite effect.

Knowing customers also leads to a reduced fear of catching the virus as well it seems.

 

[Mojo]

Please remember the subject title of this thread. This is about Supermarkets and people “panic buying” products. If you wish to discuss the virus, or what the Govt’s response is, there is a separate thread in this forum for that.

 

[Meerkat]

How many people have you actually seen panic buying at ridiculous levels - ie not explainable as over-cautious people with large families and maybe shopping for others too?
Social media makes even the very unusual seem usual the way photos etc go round.

 

[Mojo]

How many people have you actually seen panic buying at ridiculous levels - ie not explainable as over-cautious people with large families and maybe shopping for others too?
Social media makes even the very unusual seem usual the way photos etc go round.

Only one woman, who was in front of me in the queue at B&M the other day and somehow managed to spend over £150!

I tend to shop for about 3 or 4 weeks at a time because I get so stressed out by cheap supermarkets, with small topup shops for things that I don’t want to freeze (milk, cream, fish etc) and loose fruit/veg, so whilst I had a few dirty looks yesterday as it might have looked like I was stockpiling with 4 boxes of cornflakes and multiple tins (all of which were on 4 for £x offers) it was just my normal shop!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

With my wife just out of hospital, my son took us on Saturday to the Sainsbury's superstore at Cheadle Royal and as regards toilet rolls, there were plenty of the 9-packs of both Andrex and Sainsbury's own brand ones, plenty of all bread and milk products and plenty of well stocked shelves in all sections of the store.

 

[Meerkat]

There will probably be another wave of bulk buying by the over 70s before they get sent into quarantine

 

[Aictos]

Only one woman, who was in front of me in the queue at B&M the other day and somehow managed to spend over £150!

I tend to shop for about 3 or 4 weeks at a time because I get so stressed out by cheap supermarkets, with small topup shops for things that I don’t want to freeze (milk, cream, fish etc) and loose fruit/veg, so whilst I had a few dirty looks yesterday as it might have looked like I was stockpiling with 4 boxes of cornflakes and multiple tins (all of which were on 4 for £x offers) it was just my normal shop!

That doesn't surprise me; just been to Lidl, Iceland and Poundstretcher and all out of basic stuff such as toilet paper etc, Lidl resembled a warzone with panic buying in full flow with people having 36 plus bottles of water or 160 rolls of toilet roll etc with queues to pay going from the tills to the rear of the store which I've never seen in any store in my life.

Iceland and Poundstretcher were much calmer but still sold out of basic stuff such as toilet rolls and strawberry jam for some reason...

Now I know they say the British public is made of tough stuff and we usually would just carry on regardless but the actions of the British public recently have been nothing but selfish, lazy and ignorant to the extend that I believe that the UK Govt should step in and with immediate effect bring back rations like in WW2 OR have the stores themselves put limits on how much you can actually buy from the stores such as restricting how much toilet roll, bottles of water you are allowed etc because those who stockpile atm will no doubt only be selling them on Ebay at a well inflated price indeed someone at the moment is selling HALF a roll of toilet paper for £52.90 which backs up my view that the British Public needs a dose of reality.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Half-a-Toilet-Roll/283814053008?hash=item4214a2c490:g:FoUAAOSwKI5ea85q

 

[Darandio]

Now I know they say the British public is made of tough stuff and we usually would just carry on regardless but the actions of the British public recently have been nothing but selfish, lazy and ignorant

Couldn't agree more.

I've been to Farmfoods this morning and they have decided to limit toilet roll packs to 2 per person. Apparently it's because a lady came in yesterday and cleared what was left which was around £90 worth. She has been back this morning after a delivery and wanted all of the new stock as well.

Plot completely lost.

 

[Aictos]

Couldn't agree more.

I've been to Farmfoods this morning and they have decided to limit toilet roll packs to 2 per person. Apparently it's because a lady came in yesterday and cleared what was left which was around £90 worth. She has been back this morning after a delivery and wanted all of the new stock as well.

Plot completely lost.

That's why the Govt needs to step in and the stores need to limit items such as bottled water, toilet rolls, hand santiser etc because people like that lady clearing £90 worth of stock and wanting even more is pure selfishness and greed.

 

[PG]

those who stockpile atm will no doubt only be selling them on Ebay at a well inflated price indeed someone at the moment is selling HALF a roll of toilet paper for £52.90

I haven't looked at the link to that listing but I'd have to assume it is someone doing it to point out the absurdity of it rather than any attempt at profiteering.
who's going to pay that kind of money??

 

[Meerkat]

I haven't looked at the link to that listing but I'd have to assume it is someone doing it to point out the absurdity of it rather than any attempt at profiteering.
who's going to pay that kind of money??

If they could deliver in ten minutes....

 

[Mojo]

I haven't looked at the link to that listing but I'd have to assume it is someone doing it to point out the absurdity of it rather than any attempt at profiteering.
who's going to pay that kind of money??

I’m not sure if I’ve missed some sarcasm here but eBay listings for toilet roll with multiple bids at inflated prices are quite clearly a joke and intended to be humorous rather than a serious attempt to make loads of money.

 

[Karl]

If they could deliver in ten minutes....

They could have it delivered to an Amazon locker in your local supermarket!!

 

[Meerkat]

They could have it delivered to an Amazon locker in your local supermarket!!

That’s a long penguin walk

 

[RichT54]

Even more selfish than panic buying and hoarding, people have been stealing hand sanitiser from hospitals.

Staff on a cancer ward at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London wrote on Twitter: “I can't believe I am having to ask this but please do not take the hand sanitisers off our wards when you visit Barts Hospital.

“We need it to ensure safe care for your loved ones, the best way to prevent the spread of covid-19 is good hand washing.”

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...hand-sanitisers-hospital-uk-nhs-a9402831.html

 

[trainophile]

Stockpiling bottles of water is a new one? We still have taps! Presumably the waterworks aren't going to shut down?

 

[Meerkat]

Stockpiling bottles of water is a new one? We still have taps! Presumably the waterworks aren't going to shut down?

Some folk are too delicate to drink council pop you know!

 

[trainophile]

Some folk are too delicate to drink council pop you know!

Ah, well presumably they have water filter thingies at home then? Oh well, if they want to lug tons of the stuff back from supermarkets then I suppose that's their call.

Must admit we do (or did) buy the small bottles of sparkling water to take on our train trips, but we're now more socially responsible and take metal re-usable bottles.

 

[miami]

Stockpiling bottles of water is a new one? We still have taps! Presumably the waterworks aren't going to shut down?

A couple of months ago we went through a 3 week period when water kept going off for hours at a time - 5 times in total I think. We live in a medium sized town.

My sister lives in a cumbrian village and was off water for several days.

Always worth having 10-20 litres of water in bottles.

Now I know they say the British public is made of tough stuff

There's an element that say that. They're the same element causing chaos in the stores.

 

[nlogax]

I’m not sure if I’ve missed some sarcasm here but eBay listings for toilet roll with multiple bids at inflated prices are quite clearly a joke and intended to be humorous rather than a serious attempt to make loads of money.

In Canada a far more mainstream online outlet for everyday goods has been bitten in recent days.

https://www.newsweek.com/canadian-c...ng-lysol-wipes-amazon-inflated-prices-1492307

"A Canadian couple reportedly made CAD$100,000 (around $72,000) buying large quantities of Lysol disinfectant wipes and reselling them at inflated rates on Amazon amid panic over the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic."

 

[Belperpete]

That doesn't surprise me; just been to Lidl, Iceland and Poundstretcher and all out of basic stuff such as toilet paper etc, Lidl resembled a warzone with panic buying in full flow with people having 36 plus bottles of water or 160 rolls of toilet roll etc with queues to pay going from the tills to the rear of the store which I've never seen in any store in my life.

Last night my local Aldi had notices up limiting people to 4 of particular items. Today they have signs up limiting people to a maximum of 4 each of everything! Presumably as people who couldn't get loo roll shifted their attention to kitchen roll, and so-on.

 

[A Challenge]

Last night my local Aldi had notices up limiting people to 4 of particular items. Today they have signs up limiting people to a maximum of 4 each of everything! Presumably as people who couldn't get loo roll shifted their attention to kitchen roll, and so-on.

Does that include perishable items, such as as buying bananas loose?

 

[Ianno87]

I’m not sure if I’ve missed some sarcasm here but eBay listings for toilet roll with multiple bids at inflated prices are quite clearly a joke and intended to be humorous rather than a serious attempt to make loads of money.

What would be lovely is doing this as a tongue-in-cheek charity money-raising thing out of this.

Even more selfish than panic buying and hoarding, people have been stealing hand sanitiser from hospitals.



https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...hand-sanitisers-hospital-uk-nhs-a9402831.html

Jesus H Wept....

 

[mmh]

Does that include perishable items, such as as buying bananas loose?

In Aldi yesterday I saw a lady told she couldn't have 5 grapefruit. It's a great shame things have come to this, there are lots of things where buying more than four isn't that unusual. Loose bananas is a very good question though!

 

[387star]

Can be good for independent shops
I used the local to buy my rolls as big Tesco was out

 

[stevetay3]

This is all going to get out of hand very soon. All online delivery slots booked until the end of this month with my usual supermarket, even though I have a prepaid delivery pass for 6 months. Amazon making you wait a month for a thermometer to be delivered although they must have this item in stock as they offer a two day delivery for a £25 surcharge. Completely out of order, but what do you expect from a company that avoids paying their fair share of tax?