Coronavirus (COVID-19) Panic Buying?

[lovetravellingoz]

Indeed, I get the impression Aussies are too busy emptying supermarket shelves to go on holiday!
cheers skip

Not at the supermarkets I frequent. And at Costco, when don't shoppers here have full trollies?

I think it is more that hand sanitiser has a run on.

 

[jakeseven7]

It seems the toilet paper run is now affecting our local Woolworths.A few tissues left.
But one aisle unaffected was the Health foods including vegan,vegetarian and gluten free goods.

Probably because the smart educated people aren't hoarding

 

[Denali]

Some services have already enacted business continuity plans to ensure staff are less likely to contract the virus. In one instance I am aware of the service staff have been told to cancel any arrangements to attend events and the organisation will reimburse the lost $, also to stay at home and to not have anyone except household members in the house. The floor this team works on has been isolated from other staff - they aren’t exactly an essential service but there would be flow on consequences to the general public if their service shut down.

We have brought some local manufacturing machines back on line and cross training with some selected office staff as our factory people are boots on the ground and cant work from home for what they do.

 

[opusman]

Oh I also almost missed the part where this virus is incapacitating EVERY single person to the point where they can’t do any work whatsoever.

It seems to be incapacitating their brains, even before infection!

 

[Lawrage]

I am far from a panic buyer but seeing all the lockdowns going on and school closures even I am starting to think of buying a bit more food and bottled water etc... this week.

Even thinking about cancelling my flights to South Africa 1st June.

Might be the media finally getting to me

 

[Anna]

Just back from Coles. Huge signs on the toilet paper shelves saying 1 pack per transaction. But I saw at least 3 people with several packs in their trolleys

 

[Lawrage]

Just back from Coles. Huge signs on the toilet paper shelves saying 1 pack per transaction. But I saw at least 3 people with several packs in their trolleys

Check out attendant told us the other day that if you want loo roll or hand sanitizer to be there when the doors open or you won't get any.

 

[Denali]

Just back from Coles. Huge signs on the toilet paper shelves saying 1 pack per transaction. But I saw at least 3 people with several packs in their trolleys

My hubby went to the stores yesterday and said there is now an area designated for security staff and it had a security guard in place

No toilet paper but he secured bacon and sausages. Hubby is foregoing his Friday Breakfast with the Guys for a while so made his own. Hes gettting pretty good now, as long as it involves eggs.

 

[jakeseven7]

I am far from a panic buyer but seeing all the lockdowns going on and school closures even I am starting to think of buying a bit more food and bottled water etc... this week.

Even thinking about cancelling my flights to South Africa 1st June.

Might be the media finally getting to me

If you live alone and have no other way to get food to you and have to self isolate for 2 weeks (currently 2 weeks, they have said may change to 1 but who knows) then I think its prudent to make sure you have enough food to get through an isolation period.

Water though? Unless you are allergic to tap water

Understand the mainstream media are whipping up a storm to serve their own self interest remember you click on something they get paid!!!

Post automatically merged: Mar 13, 2020

Just back from Coles. Huge signs on the toilet paper shelves saying 1 pack per transaction. But I saw at least 3 people with several packs in their trolleys

As if check out attendents get paid enough to care / start an altercation.

If coles and woolies were really serious (which they aren't they don't care, a $ is a $) they'd get extra security on to help

 

[burmans]

Probably because the smart educated people aren't hoarding

I'm not a prepper myself, I should hasten to add, because I think some of their possible scenarios are way over the top (they are essentially being prepared for anything including a total meltdown of the system) but I think its worth noting that being prepared is the polar opposite to panic buying. I have relatives in NZ (Wellington) which is of course earthquake country, many if not most have earthquake kits which essentially suggest you have two weeks supplies of everything (including water).

In Australia's case water possibly not so essential (I don't have any) but at the same time I'm not such a critic of the idea of being prepared rather than panicking. What has been shown already in this crisis is that things escalate quickly and I don't think we should knock planning even for some of the worst scenarios. Buying when you are not quite sure why you are buying but because everyone else is, however, is another matter.

 

[Katie]

Can you use antiseptic cleaning wipes to wipe your bum?

Because if the toilet paper runs out here at home... we have about 14 packets of cleaning wipes now. Hubby just came home with 2 more.

Not that these will ever go to waste but geez, he only went to the store to get bacon. He also said no paper towels, no toilet paper and no tissues

Might sting a little! And certainly don't flush 'em.

 

[blackcat20]

Saw people in Coles with loo paper but the shelves were bare by the time I got to that aisle.

 

[MollyJones]

MIL just messaged to ask if we can get her some shopping.
She is housebound normally, but is quite ok to do her grocery shopping online.
There are no delivery spots for a week, due to people panic buying and even though the supermarkets have increased their delivery spots this is the flow on effect.
People who absolutely rely on delivery, who are often vulnerable anyway, will be stuck.
I will be able to get (most of) what she needs and deliver it. If I can get tissues and paper towel then I may just win daughter in law of the year!!

 

[Denali]

MIL just messaged to ask if we can get her some shopping.
She is housebound normally, but is quite ok to do her grocery shopping online.
There are no delivery spots for a week, due to people panic buying and even though the supermarkets have increased their delivery spots this is the flow on effect.
People who absolutely rely on delivery, who are often vulnerable anyway, will be stuck.
I will be able to get (most of) what she needs and deliver it. If I can get tissues and paper towel then I may just win daughter in law of the year!!

Fortunately mum in law lives next door so weve been checking every few days, offering to get anything. She insisted on doing her usual Friday shop but we have a few things at home if she cant get what she needs. Im not her most fav daughter in law (Im ok with that) but over the past 2yrs I think she appreciates what we do. Hubby and I are the ones she comes to, to get stuff done/fixed.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

There are no delivery spots for a week, due to people panic buying and even though the supermarkets have increased their delivery spots this is the flow on effect.

I suspect it is also that people are now increasingly using online grocery shopping to social distance.

 

[SydneySwan]

I am a bit slow but I finally worked it out. People are panic selling their shares so they can panic buy loo paper, tissue, oats, etc.

 

[Himeno]

If coles and woolies were really serious (which they aren't they don't care, a $ is a $) they'd get extra security on to help

The item limits are set up in the checkouts. They will not allow a second item to be scanned if there is a lock out and will put up an error message saying they aren't allowed more then x of item. This isn't currently working for users with supervisor access, though they are working to get that fixed.

The problem is that people are buying 1 packet, leaving the store, then coming back in a few minutes later and getting another packet.

Work got 9 pallets of toilet paper last night. Truck normally arrives between 3 and 5. Would have been filled as soon as it came in.
All gone by 9pm.

 

[jakeseven7]

The item limits are set up in the checkouts. They will not allow a second item to be scanned if there is a lock out and will put up an error message saying they aren't allowed more then x of item. This isn't currently working for users with supervisor access, though they are working to get that fixed.

The problem is that people are buying 1 packet, leaving the store, then coming back in a few minutes later and getting another packet.

Work got 9 pallets of toilet paper last night. Truck normally arrives between 3 and 5. Would have been filled as soon as it came in.
All gone by 9pm.

I know, and I've seen people split payment at the cashier with the check out attending sighing but not doing a thing - don't really blame them, don't get paid enough to care.

 

[JessicaTam]

I went shopping this arvo. The woman in front of me was asked which rice she wanted. She had 2x 1kg packets - one jasmine and one arborio. She kept the jasmine.

So we can't buy 2kg of rice?

 

[Denali]

Quite funny

https://www.facebook.com/14096281709/posts/10156593713336710

 

[OZDUCK]

My wife has just received some photos of a supermarket in Germany from one of her distant German relatives. The shelves look just like those in Coles or Woolworth's. Guess we aren't the only country with some panicked people.