For those that stockpiled...

[spiders]

Quantity limits get put into place because everyone has family and medical issues.

If you want to stockpile based on speculations on how things will be in a few months then that’s obviously your choice. But let’s note pretend that death is imminent by going to a store. Once again, millions of people from cashiers to physicians will be going to work and then they’ll go back home to do it all again the next day.

 

[ronandannette]

The supply chains would be fine if it weren’t for the hoarders.

I was an economics major (some 30-odd years ago) and I still remember some coursework I did in supply management. The just-in-time method of inventory efficiency (having materials delivered right at the time they are needed to keep production moving - no inventory stockpiles) was the gold-standard in business management. I now wish I’d taken the 202 level course to better understand the far-reaching implications of an artificial surge in demand such as hoarding and unexpected shortages in materials like when medical-grade pulp for PPE was held up in international trade disputes.

As for me, the idea of buying what I need when I need it has never left me, plus I don’t have excess storage space. It so happens though that with the exception of disinfectant wipes and yeast, there has literally been nothing I couldn’t find in the stores at any given time, including toilet paper.

 

[Minnesota!]

Well, we had stocked up on TP because my mom, who lives out in the middle of nowhere, was struggling to find some. And then, after we got a ton to keep her replenished, too, her shortage ended. So, we have still been going through that. I think we are near the end of it.

We had a ton of veggies and beans, too. But, last weekend we donated a ton of it to a family that was struggling. So, I am going to slowly rebuild it - I never really realized I had food shortage anxiety until all of this. I just thought that, pre-Covid, I enjoyed grocery shopping far too often. But, the panicked feeling of not having enough to feed my kids...it really freaks me out.

 

[jo-jo]

Yes, that's how we ended up with all the extra stuff, as well. A month of scavenger hunts for groceries put us in panic mode. I'm going to take a box to the food bank. Even though we would eventually use it all up, it feels like the right thing to do.

We didn't go out for months. We were at the mercy of what ever the shoppers found. We normally always have about a month of food. Not a month of well balanced meals, but we wouldn't starve. When it was first started and stay home for a few weeks, no big deal. Then the numbers of perhaps millions losing their lives and staying home for much longer, that's when I started getting a little panic. I spend hours and hours on amazon looking for TP, hand sanitizer, clorox/lysol wipes for my sister and brother, so I could send it to their house. Watching people line up for an hour or two before they even got into a store....... In Ju;y. it seemed like finding stuff was getting easier and we were getting out, that's when we started picking up a few cans of tuna on sale here and canned veggies there.

And now that we are heading into winter, that's even less reason for us to go out. For some reason, 5 year olds can play in the snow for hours. walking to the mail box, can chill me to the bone.

 

[spiders]

I was an economics major (some 30-odd years ago) and I still remember some coursework I did in supply management. The just-in-time method of inventory efficiency (having materials delivered right at the time they are needed to keep production moving - no inventory stockpiles) was the gold-standard in business management. I now wish I’d taken the 202 level course to better understand the far-reaching implications of an artificial surge in demand such as hoarding and unexpected shortages in materials like when medical-grade pulp for PPE was held up in international trade disputes.

Lots of people laughed at Fred Smith (FedEx) when he told them he wanted to start an overnight shipping company. Talk about getting the last laugh.

 

[HeatherC]

Why do people even care what others buy for their families? So what if someone has a lot of toilet paper or canned goods. They can spend their money however they choose. Yes, there have been limits on certain items. As long as people adhere to the limits each week what is the big deal?

 

[ronandannette]

Why do people even care what others buy for their families? So what if someone has a lot of toilet paper or canned goods. They can spend their money however they choose. Yes, there have been limits on certain items. As long as people adhere to the limits each week what is the big deal?
So now people who plan ahead are greedy and selfish. Good grief.

...or maybe it’s just a topic on a chat board that we’re all discussing in a fairly congenial manner?

 

[mom2rtk]

You guys must have stockpiled a whole lot more than us. We've been buying TP again for at least a couple months. And we only ever stockpiled a couple weeks' worth of food.

What I do have still stocked up is Clorox wipes and Germ-X. And I do have 4 cans of generic Lysol sitting here for my hairdresser (she sprays everything down between customers). I always buy that for her if I see it (which is still pretty rare).

 

[spiders]

Why do people even care what others buy for their families? So what if someone has a lot of toilet paper or canned goods. They can spend their money however they choose. Yes, there have been limits on certain items. As long as people adhere to the limits each week what is the big deal?

The thread was started by someone who chose to share what they purchased. If you don’t want to hear other people’s opinions then don’t share what you purchase or at least say you’re seeking reassurance only.

 

[ronandannette]

You guys must have stockpiled a whole lot more than us. We've been buying TP again for at least a couple months. And we only ever stockpiled a couple weeks' worth of food.

What I do have still stocked up is Clorox wipes and Germ-X. And I do have 4 cans of generic Lysol sitting here for my hairdresser (she sprays everything down between customers). I always buy that for her if I see it (which is still pretty rare).

I haven’t really looked for any but in the last month or so all my stores have big displays of a brand called Microban - several different spray-type products in eye-catching packaging at twice the price of Lysol. I wonder if it’s a new thing that has just been brought to market to take advantage of demand? My main store also carries a trendy brand of organic, green-based eco-friendly disinfectant wipes that come in a big (recyclable) tub of 200...for $29 bucks. That shelf doesn’t seem to be moving very fast.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

Being in Fl we always stock up on everything before hurricane season. With that said, DH came home every other day with TP...just in case. We still have some along with Clorox wipes.

 

[HeatherC]

...or maybe it’s just a topic on a chat board that we’re all discussing in a fairly congenial manner?

No I get that. It just seems that some of the posts come across as they perceive what others are stockpiling is wrong. I don’t see the big deal. That’s all.

 

[mom2rtk]

I haven’t really looked for any but in the last month or so all my stores have big displays of a brand called Microban - several different spray-type products in eye-catching packaging at twice the price of Lysol. I wonder if it’s a new thing that has just been brought to market to take advantage of demand? My main store also carries a trendy brand of organic, green-based eco-friendly disinfectant wipes that come in a big (recyclable) tub of 200...for $29 bucks. That shelf doesn’t seem to be moving very fast.

I think I have seen a few cans (jugs? Don't recall) of Microban. Never in large quantities. But while I like my hairdresser a lot, I'm probably not donating items that are twice the price. I think these cans of Wal-mart store brand Lysol were around $2.75 each.

I don't really sanitize around the house so don't use much of those items myself. I clean as usual, and focus on people washing their hands any time they've been out. I have a can and a half of Lysol (pre-pandemic) for us to use if anyone does get sick.

I have resisted all of the overpriced new products on the market. This pandemic has cost us enough already. Thankfully I've found most items at or near normal prices.

 

[ronandannette]

No I get that. It just seems that some of the posts get mad or jealous about what others are doing. I don’t see the big deal. That’s all.

Everybody seems to have such heightened sensitivity to perceived criticism when it comes to anything Covid-related.

 

[ronandannette]

I think I have seen a few cans (jugs? Don't recall) of Microban. Never in large quantities. But while I like my hairdresser a lot, I'm probably not donating items that are twice the price. I think these cans of Wal-mart store brand Lysol were around $2.75 each.

I don't really sanitize around the house so don't use much of those items myself. I clean as usual, and focus on people washing their hands any time they've been out. I have a can and a half of Lysol (pre-pandemic) for us to use if anyone does get sick.

I have resisted all of the overpriced new products on the market. This pandemic has cost us enough already. Thankfully I've found most items at or near normal prices.

Yep...that’s me too. About the third time I bleached my sink back in March I said “screw it - I’m just not a good enough housekeeper to survive Covid”.

 

[_19disnA]

While covid remains an issue, we will only go to the grocery store once a week. No longer go out to buy just one item and avoid unnecessary shopping. A bit of advance planning helps. Some items remain in short supply locally or can't be found online. Having a reasonable supply of essential items is good planning.

 

[DisneyHardin]

Back when TP was hard to find, I bought it whenever I saw it available and we ended up with a little bit of a stockpile. We finished using all that about a month ago and I had to buy more at Costco.

Since the spring, hamburger has been on sale at a good price several times, so I have stocked up on that. We have about 15 lbs of hamburger in the freezer now.

 

[Hikergirl]

The only thing I haven't gone through was the clorox wipes, but I have been very judicious about using them. I was able to find spray cleaners easily so I've been using them while picking up the occasional tub of wipes when I find them. Aldi's had them the other day with a limit of 1 per customer so I grabbed one to add to my stockpile.
TP and paper towels and any food other than the yeast and flour I got months ago has been gone through.

 

[Wendy31]

Remember back when everyone was baking bread & you couldn’t find flour anywhere?

Well, my dear husband decided to order a 50 pound bag of pricey bread flour from some supplier on Amazon, so we’ve got TONS of bread flour left.

I’m a germaphobe, so I had a stash of Lysol, Clorox wipes, & hand sanitizer anyway. I have not yet run out of hand sanitizer - but I discovered, when you’re home, you don’t use hand sanitizer. I did end up running out of Lysol & wipes due to all the sanitizing of groceries & deliveries.

 

[Moliphino]

We didn't go crazy stockpiling anything (we normally keep well stocked on essentials). I bought a 60 roll pack of TP on Amazon back in April, which is already long gone.