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.

 

[RAM]

I need someone to talk me off the ledge.... Im looking up Chest Freezers. I dont even want to hoard but it would be nice to know I have enough to not have to shop beef & chicken ect for a couple of months.

Like most items - all freezers aren't equal. It is worth delving into the electricity consumption VERY closely, sometimes the price saving can be eaten up by extra power costs within 3 or 4 years.

With an apples for apples comparison (same quality & same manufacturer etc) - a chest freezer should use much less power than a vertical one with similar capacity.

Reason - cold air drops & hot air rises. Open a chest freezer and the air does not immediately flow through it vs open the door of a vertical unit and the cold air drops instantly and the much warmer air (30-40+ degrees C) rushes up.

BUT (you knew that was coming...) if you are not organised with a chest freezer then it's cost increases due to digging for treasure. Best outcome is a chest freezer with moveable dividers (1or 2 or 3 if large enough). People are known to create their own dividers...

Always store like with like - don't just go for the largest empty space = more time searching later on.

Location, location, location...

If possible never have a freezer (or fridge for that matter) in a place (if possible) that receives direct sunlight. Ideally on a south eastern wall/position. Make sure you leave (yes this is more than manufacturers say & for a reason) at least 90 mm clearance ideally on all 3 non-door (vertical) sides as well as much distance as possible above (really only relevant for vertical models). Good 'paid' kitchen designers put only 2/3rd or 3/4 depth cabinets above so that the hot air can completely escape...

At least quarterly use your vacuum cleaner to suck/clean dust from air intakes (if your model has them). BE GENTLE!

Read 'instruction manual' (you know that thing you DIDN'T throw away with the packing materials...).

Before turning on after delivery/unpacking - let it stand at least 3 hours (longer is better) to ensure there are no bubbles left in the coolant otherwise that can cause a burnout and all the coolant past that point ceases functioning so the compressor has to work much harder & for longer.

 

[OZDUCK]

I have inherited my late MIL's very old small 5 drawer freezer. She bought it back in the 1980's and it is a Gorenje (Proudly made in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) but it is still working well.

 

[jakeseven7]

Panic buying? Or just knifing Virgin while its down?

What crisis? Alliance buys 14 E190s in $111m deal

The business said the aircraft will predominantly fly regional routes and hinted its moderate size made it perfect for a post-COVID-19 market.

australianaviation.com.au

 

[p--and--t]

An outer suburban Melbourne supermarket today. Very little fruit and veg (no fruit no potatoes and many others). Just got a similar report from Glenferrie and Richmond plus no milk. Not much of anything else in staples.

 

[p--and--t]

Woollies are introducing Q-Tracker so you can see how busy stores are and book your time to visit the supermarket in advance for Melb metro.

Three woollies stores will be closing to personal customers and converting to delivery supply Hubs/stores.

BigW in Melb metro closing to in-store shopping from tomorrow night. Click and collect only.

 

[Denali]

And i just jumped!



Your fault!

What did you buy?

 

[Pushka]

What did you buy?

An upright freezer that has 2 shelves and 3 drawers. Palsonic. Coming tomorrow! Now I can stock up on icecream! And they are taking the second hand fridge I bought in April away so my purchase wont be so obvious . Now just need to work out where it will go in the apartment next year! Here it can go in the garage.

In my defence. I have a loved fresh chicken shop where we used to live, about 30 minutes away. I have not been able to replicate it near here. Now I can stock up on that and not have to do the trip once a week. And Costco has the best fillet steak so I can stock up on that as well.

 

[Denali]

What store - as theres not a lot of choices in stock to be honest.

Make sure you yell instructions at your delivery men like youre deaf - dont want him upsetting your neighbour

 

[Pushka]

What store - as theres not a lot of choices in stock to be honest.

Make sure you yell instructions at your delivery men like your deaf - dont want him upsetting your neighbour

Applicances online. Likely not the cheapest but delivery and take away the other is included. Ive used them heaps.

The other night MrP flushed the toilet. He banged four times. So he flushed it again. Tosser.

 

[Denali]

Thanks, didnt think of them (and they were the cheapest I found for verical freezer options for us) and we get QF points to buy a toaster! Just ordered one as well and delivery suppose to be tomorrow and only place for it is the garage but its clean and tidy

Hubby already planning a Denada icecream drawer because I made a couple of batches of lasagna on the weekend and cant fit his icecream or iced packs in.

 

[VPS]

Applicances online. Likely not the cheapest but delivery and take away the other is included. Ive used them heaps.

The other night MrP flushed the toilet. He banged four times. So he flushed it again. Tosser.

I've also used them and they come when they say they will and have always found them very competitive in price

 

[Pushka]

Thanks, didnt think of them (and they were the cheapest I found for verical freezer options for us) and we get QF points to buy a toaster! Just ordered one as well and delivery suppose to be tomorrow and only place for it is the garage but its clean and tidy

Hubby already planning a Denada icecream drawer because I made a couple of batches of lasagna on the weekend and cant fit his icecream or iced packs in.

Oh snap. That's hilarious and both of the freezers going in to the garage! Ours is fine too. Nice and clean.

 

[Denali]

Just means I can prepare meals like lasagna and sauces and when theres specials I can stock up. Was looking at a meat markets/buy bulk packs just so I can avoid the shops.

Even English muffins that hubby has on Fridays are often on half price but I cant take advantage as our freezer is small

 

[Pushka]

Just means I can prepare meals like lasagna and sauces and when theres specials I can stock up. Was looking at a meat markets/buy bulk packs just so I can avoid the shops.

Even English muffins that hubby has on Fridays are often on half price but I cant take advantage as our freezer is small

Expect a phone call to be asked about covid symptoms before delivery.

 

[Lynda2475]

Expect a phone call to be asked about covid symptoms before delivery.

I had some furniture delivered on Monday, all the email/sms tracking notifications said this should happen, in reality I got a call saying they would be there in 30 mins, didnt ask about symptoms at all (although they did wear masks and gloves).

I havent been into a supermarket since Saturday, but am hoping the Vic panic buying hasnt spread to Sydney again like it did a few weeks ago with the toilet paper shortage round two. Living in an apartment, buying a separate freezer isnt an option - and I dont want to become vegetarian.

 

[jakeseven7]

I had some furniture delivered on Monday, all the email/sms tracking notifications said this should happen, in reality I got a call saying they would be there in 30 mins, didnt ask about symptoms at all (although they did wear masks and gloves).

I havent been into a supermarket since Saturday, but am hoping the Vic panic buying hasnt spread to Sydney again like it did a few weeks ago with the toilet paper shortage round two. Living in an apartment, buying a separate freezer isnt an option - and I dont want to become vegetarian.

A work colleague in inner Sydney said their local supermarkets were empty of meet and some F&V were scarce (e.g. potatoes), but everything else was ok - they are in a highly populated area so could be isolated.

A massive amount of food comes from VIC, and most of the nations milk as well. So its unclear what the capacity reductions will mean for other states.

 

[Lynda2475]

A massive amount of food comes from VIC, and most of the nations milk as well. So its unclear what the capacity reductions will mean for other states.

Report I saw last night mentioned the milk and that 60% of Lamb and Sheep meat comes form Vic, but only 20% of beef. So I hope that I can still get Beef in NSW, and that my local cafe can still get milk (I only consume milk in coffee).

As there is only restrictions on abattoirs in Vic, an option would be for producers to live export cattle/sheep to NSW or SA for processing, as don't have the same limits on production here. Then transport packaged meat back to vic where needed.

 

[Denali]

New upright freezer delivered and in the garage - not huge but enough to have some extras now without playing Tetris in my fridge/freezer.

Taking Friday off as hubby has made a mess in the garage (again) so will be cleaning up (ie, tossing out his poop) so its back to the way I like it and added 2 extra cuts of beef in my weekly shop. Not going crazy and hoarding but an extra thing or 2 per week.

 

[Pushka]

New upright freezer delivered and in the garage - not huge but enough to have some extras now without playing Tetris in my fridge/freezer.

Mine was a case of not dodging falling blocks of frozen food that kept falling out. Mine is due out right now.
No phone call? Curious if not. SA pretty much Covid free and a check call.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

An outer suburban Melbourne supermarket today. Very little fruit and veg (no fruit no potatoes and many others). Just got a similar report from Glenferrie and Richmond plus no milk. Not much of anything else in staples.

View attachment 224061

Well both grocery stores that I was just at were the opposite of that pic.

Well just back from my grocery shop late morning today.. Two stores, Woolworths and my Asian Grocery (goof for many things including it very broad range of fruit and veg).

I kept well clear since just prior to the new restrictions till now as I would rather shop when there are lest people out and about.

Woolies was not busy, but not quite either. The asian grocery very quiet, but it normally is.

Excellent range of goods at both stores in range and quality, no bare shelves. Everything I wanted was there in abundance.

Everyone I saw was wearing facemasks apart from some young children (who are not required too with one father. Children while grocery shopping has been a rare site for some time.

In the carpark police vehicle was there and they were in the process of booking someone. Possibly for not wearing a face mask as it was the side near the footpath and traffic lights (they had a mask on, but police may have just given it to them).