Panic buying

[beast66606]

Delivery update

 

We got everything except for any tomato products, no puree and no tinned toms (as we already knew).

 

The regular guy said that - at least in his Sainsburys - the limit on the vans had been lowered meaning they can take less out with them but more vans had been acquired so they were delivering the same tonnage overall (more or less) BUT (and this is worth noting), nearer the day the vans are due to be loaded they check the final weight of the delivery as people can change / cancel orders and if the van is underweight they will put extra slots in, so if you need a delivery it's worth checking daily and maybe even more as a slot may suddenly appear for the next day or so.

 

He also said the team - again his branch - were pushing hard for regulars to get priority (behind those in real need of course) as the regulars will be needed once the crisis is over and the "Johnny come latelys" vanish back into the shadows.

 

Now off for a walk and to see if we can get a chicken from the butchers, if not then there's a couple of the near neighbours (relative term where I live - within 200yds or so) - have chickens laying eggs and one may have an "accident" (kidding)

[Anglian]

In the last two days I've been to Sainsburys, Tesco and Waitrose to do my weekly shop that I would normally do in Tesco. I needed all three visits to get what was on my usual list. 

Tesco was an 8pm evening visit as I thought they might have been restocking by the time I go there. Fresh produce left and plenty of meet but many shelves were stripped bare. I bought a few things for the freezer that I'd buy anyway about every two weeks. No loo roll but I have a packet of that, no cat food that I wanted to buy. 

Sainsburys was the same, fresh produce, meet and fish but I got very little there. Very little frozen stuff left, no cat food, loo roll etc. I bought a box of cakes that I'd never normally buy, almost out of frustration. Shopped mid-afternoon.

Waitrose. I arrived just before 8am and waited as the first hour was reserved for older people. Only myself and one other waited until 8am before going. There were plenty of middle aged people already shopping. One woman had bought huge quantities and I hoped the shop staff refused so sell them all to her. As I walked past her I muttered 'selfish'. She must have been there at 7am to get so much and she was middle-aged. I did quick dash around and was able to buy the four things I needed, including cat food but I was lucky as I had the last bag of the type I wanted. Many shelves were bare and they were bringing palettes of loo-roll directly onto the shop floor and not even putting them on the shelves. It was chaos in there. No tinned stuff not that I was looking for any. I bought one luxury that I never normally buy as a friend suggested it to me as I'd never heard of it – non dairy ice cream. I'm can't have diary produce so haven't had ice cream for over ten years…

There were no queues to get into any shop. My plan is to keep doing top-up shopping, a few items every now and then, if I'm passing a supermarket, rather than trying to do a weekly shop. All had good supplies of fresh produce and bread.

In one store I over heard the staff (they all looked exhausted). They said that they needed to shut all their shops for three days and they'd be able to get back to normal full stock levels but they just can't keep up as it is.

I've started eating less, has anybody else?

Edited March 21, 2020 by Anglian

[Titan]

I do find it a fascinating study in shopping habits.  I have a Nisa about 100 yards from my front door.  They have just about everything in stock, as indeed they have had since the beginning of the crisis.  I was chatting to a neighbour about this and their opinion was that Nisa was thought to be expensive, so everyone shops at the supermarkets.

 

Now I am careful with my shopping, and although some items are more expensive, there are several items in Nisa that are cheaper than the big supermarket, some significantly so, milk being one of them, typically 10p per bottle cheaper if not more.  Last time I visited Asda a few days ago, they were bereft of milk.  Nisa still had a fully stocked fridge...

 

However Nisa are starting to get low on certain stocks, but I suspect not as a direct result of panic buying, I think it is locals buying their normal quantities from Nisa because they can't get any from the supermarkets.

[Butler Henderson]

Simply crazy, use to going shopping early on a Saturday and finding car parks virtually empty, not today. Aldi was pretty well stocked but even then I got one of the last three bottles of hand wash and oranges were limited to blood oranges. Less than £6 spent. Then to the Co-Op whose fridges were empty in large parts but amazingly the only fish available was the gluten free chunky breaded cod that I can safely eat while the only cheese available was the low fat cheddar that I normally buy. Final stop Waitrose for a  free copy of the Times (provided another £8 is spent) and allowing restricted access for the first hour had seen toilet rolls wiped out and most of the freezers were empty. Just managed to spend the requisite amount to get the paper free. Needs to be further controls - how amount precluding sales of toilet rolls  altogether unless the empty cardboard cores are presented and banning the use of trolleys - if any one has a genuine need for a shop that requires the use of a trolley they have to click and collect (although that  would need the retailers to adopt their web sites in particular and cause major issues for Aldi and Lidl) which would give the retailers powers to control bulk buys further and in the future limit repeat orders as data on the shopper is built up. Privacy rights altered so that retailers can share details of customers orders. If retailers do note a shopper trying to order excessive quantities of toilet rolls the shopper be advised that an appointment for them at their nearest hospital is being arranged.

[kernowtim]

My local farmfoods had plenty of cat and dog food but apart from 2 pizzas (I bought 1) macaroni cheese pies,odd chinese  and Yorkshire puddings, no frozen food at all. Only bread was a couple of packs burger buns! Was at 6pm though.

[jonny777]

19 minutes ago, Butler Henderson said:

Simply crazy, use to going shopping early on a Saturday and finding car parks virtually empty, not today. Aldi was pretty well stocked but even then I got one of the last three bottles of hand wash and oranges were limited to blood oranges. Less than £6 spent. Then to the Co-Op whose fridges were empty in large parts but amazingly the only fish available was the gluten free chunky breaded cod that I can safely eat while the only cheese available was the low fat cheddar that I normally buy. Final stop Waitrose for a  free copy of the Times (provided another £8 is spent) and allowing restricted access for the first hour had seen toilet rolls wiped out and most of the freezers were empty. Just managed to spend the requisite amount to get the paper free. Needs to be further controls - how amount precluding sales of toilet rolls  altogether unless the empty cardboard cores are presented and banning the use of trolleys - if any one has a genuine need for a shop that requires the use of a trolley they have to click and collect (although that  would need the retailers to adopt their web sites in particular and cause major issues for Aldi and Lidl) which would give the retailers powers to control bulk buys further and in the future limit repeat orders as data on the shopper is built up. Privacy rights altered so that retailers can share details of customers orders. If retailers do note a shopper trying to order excessive quantities of toilet rolls the shopper be advised that an appointment for them at their nearest hospital is being arranged.

 

Baskets might discriminate against the elderly who can't carry much in terms of weight. However, restricting trolleys to those shallow ones might be an excellent idea. 

 

I think the supermarkets are struggling with their previous mantra of 'maximise sales at every opportunity' and therefore max profits, and converting to a more socialist ideal of 'small amounts for everyone'. 

 

I would have said 'little and often' but I am only a passed cleaner and not allowed the full vocabulary. 

[alastairq]

Without trawling through the whole thread.... [sorry if repeating]

 

Morrisons offer a 'click & collect' service [now]....I think a 40 quid minimum [I had a voucher through the letterbox]....which, to me, seems a sensible method of supply, under controlled conditions?

 

It Would eliminate panic bulk buying, as certain stocks can be rationed easily. 

Place order [over phone, or online?]...usually[round here] to be picked up next day.....drive to store, text them to let them know you've arrived.....then a picker comes out to you with shopping.

 

Personally, I always used to shop, as & when I needed stuff[ being retired]...

Rather than face the supermarket panic, possibly getting into trouble as I'm naturally confrontational......I use local village suppliers...farm butcher [who sells farm spuds]......a local farm shop [who flogs veggies..pricier than supermarkets, but hey, no queues]...plus, decent sausage sarnies and grumpy mule coffee...and when Thursday is cake delivery day!

Making lots of soup...out of what's left over form veggies & stuff. Major plea form shopkeepers is, please just shop as normal.

 

Toilet rolls?

Are we to become a '2-sheet' society in future?

[Ron Ron Ron]

When I passed the local allotments this morning, I couldn't help thinking, if this was happening in mid to late summer, those allotments will have been raided overnight.

 

Maybe that's a danger for the coming season?

 

 

.

[jjb1970]

Vessel movements at Chinese ports have pretty much returned to normal (important for those industries reliant on Chinese components to function, which may have implications for food chains and medical) and our ports are still functioning. The logistic chains are still working and in most cases there is no shortage of goods (at least not yet),, it is not adjusting supply/logistic arrangements to compensate for a massive surge in demand. The whole panic buying issue is another sign of irrational behaviour but given the saturation media coverage forecasting doom I really can't be surprised.

[big jim]

3 minutes ago, jjb1970 said:

movements at Chinese ports have pretty much returned to normal

 

As opposed to movements in many British toilets!

 

 

[Ron Ron Ron]

8 minutes ago, alastairq said:

...........Are we to become a '2-sheet' society in future?

 

We already are, judging by some of the crazy panic buying.

 

 

.

[eastglosmog]

Have done the weekly shop and staved off having to subsist on cat food for another week. No fresh veg or spuds to be had in the Coop, fortunately the small local shop on the corner had some and they always keep some for their regular customers like me!

In other news, our local picture framer has branched out and is now stocking toilet paper!

[AY Mod]

4 minutes ago, eastglosmog said:

our local picture framer has branched out and is now stocking toilet paper!

 

I've never thought much of Picasso's work. 

[beast66606]

Our local farmer is walking around proclaiming "everyone will die soon" and "the end of the world is nigh".

 

I hate Farmer Geddon

[stewartingram]

I think the first thing we should shut down is social media, stopping the armchair experts from posting panic. Then immediately, control the proper media channels - tv, radio, newspapers.  Not be undemocratic in this, allow news reports to be broadcast or printed, but not speculative discussion, which seems to be about 90% of a news broadcast nowadays.

 

That would I'm sure cut down on panic.

 

Stewart

[melmerby]

Apparently all this panic buying of toilet rolls has led to some folk running out and using other products (Kitchen Towl, wipes, Newspapers etc) instead causing blockages in the sewers.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-51980820

[alastairq]

18 minutes ago, stewartingram said:

I think the first thing we should shut down is social media, stopping the armchair experts from posting panic. Then immediately, control the proper media channels - tv, radio, newspapers. 

 

That would I'm sure cut down on panic.

 

Stewart

 Not an unreasonable thought..but...facebook [for example] is being used by small businesses to advertise their current presence...for example, local pubs advertising they do takeaway meals, pump beer[bring your own bucket]... thereby encouraging a semblance of normality...even if it is a different normality?

 

The one's I feel 'sorry' for  are those stuck in the middle of big estates, towns or cities.  For them the reliance on the supply chain is total.

To be honest, 'sorry' isn't the word I was looking for...since town or city dwelling is entirely a lifestyle choice.

[Gareth Collier]

One way to stop panic buying is avoiding pages and pages of threads like this. Do you really think post after post saying how low stock is and photos of empty shelves really helps as all it does it make people worry and rush out to panic buy compounding the problem.

I popped into the local Lidl 100 yards down the road from me to pick up some milk at 11:30 this morning-

Before you post think to yourself "will this help or will it just spread the fear". Scaremongering is rife and more dangerous than the actual virus!

[Matt C]

39 minutes ago, stewartingram said:

I think the first thing we should shut down is social media, stopping the armchair experts from posting panic. Then immediately, control the proper media channels - tv, radio, newspapers.  Not be undemocratic in this, allow news reports to be broadcast or printed, but not speculative discussion, which seems to be about 90% of a news broadcast nowadays.

 

That would I'm sure cut down on panic.

 

Stewart

 

At the moment all the speculation is being carried out by Armchair theorists.and SHOT DOWN JUST AS FAST BY OTHERS.

  you shut down all social media and all us old farts will get up off our chairs and gather in groups outside to pass on our gems of wisdom.  You think thats a good idea ?  Oh and at the same time  all those  conspiracy theorists will go into major panic mode lol

[AY Mod]

46 minutes ago, stewartingram said:

I think the first thing we should shut down is social media, stopping the armchair experts from posting panic.

 

On one level I completely agree but right here we are a form of social media but as Alistair says it can be useful and a force for good.

 

I am trying to police, address and/or remove stupidity from these pages to reduce the likelihood of here being a source of reference for bad facts.

 

I would love to see punitive measures and prosecutions made against the most stupid such as whoever first posted fake images of troops moving into London with accomplice prosecutions for anyone who went on to share it. Even locally on a Facebook page someone posted "Heard in the Co-Op that they're closing Aldi", are they so stupid to not see the implications of their need to spout bullocks?

 

The answer then seems to fit such armchairs with ejector seats to remove them from the environment they're affecting.

[JohnDMJ]

Just panic-bought the last block of decent cheddar in Iceland (It was their last today)!

 

Alternative sources of the usual required sustenance being used but not 'panic buying' as such, more stockpiling on a little and often approach! Having worked in the 'food' industry and also been around longer than 'sell by', 'use by' and 'best before' (and any other similar such option), and also having taken note of the various processes involved in getting food to the table, I apply (my form) of common sense! In their right mind in the current environment, who would eat Stilton cheese? It's MOULDY!! Aged for, in some cases, many years but with a sell/best/use by date of tomorrow.

 

Cheese, jam, pickling, tinning, corning (eg corned beef), salting among others are all well-proven preservation techniques from many years ago. Why do we need to panic-buy these?

 

In short, to where has this wonderful concept of ""Common Sense"" disappeared?

 

2 hours ago, melmerby said:

So more and more people queuing up to try and just get the basics of life.

Self isolating, social distancing. How?

 

You can't get stuff delivered, you can't get it in the shops, this is not going to end well.

 

Agreed.

 

43 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

 

I've never thought much of Picasso's work. 

 

It was "work", was it?

[JohnDMJ]

10 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

 

On one level I completely agree but right here we are a form of social media but as Alistair says it can be useful and a force for good.

 

I am trying to police, address and/or remove stupidity from these pages to reduce the likelihood of here being a source of reference for bad facts.

 

I would love to see punitive measures and prosecutions made against the most stupid such as whoever first posted fake images of troops moving into London with accomplice prosecutions for anyone who went on to share it. Even locally on a Facebook page someone posted "Heard in the Co-Op that they're closing Aldi", are they so stupid to not see the implications of their need to spout bullocks?

 

The answer then seems to fit such armchairs with ejector seats to remove them from the environment they're affecting.

 

How do Darwin awards fit into this schema?

[Legend]

I was hoping that things would return to some semblance of normal once everyone had stocked up. I mean how big are some folks freezers !  No sign of it I’m afraid . The thing is that we have restricted pubs and clubs rightly but no restrictions on folk queuing to get into supermarkets . No social distancing there . And as others have pointed out they are having to go round many shops to get provisions thus increasing the chance of transmission . 

[Rugd1022]

1 hour ago, AY Mod said:

 

I've never thought much of Picasso's work. 

 

Oi, you're barred...!

 

 

Er.... hang on a minute, I didn't quite think that through did I..... 

 

[Baby Deltic]

1 hour ago, AY Mod said:

 

I've never thought much of Picasso's work. 

Wasn’t that Picarshole?