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.

 

[drron]

The product that was in short supply in the Lonnie Coles I went to that surprised me was mouth wash.Plenty of 100ml bottles and a few 250ml bottles.Only 3 500ml bottles and none of 1 litre.

 

[Denali]

Its all that enforced togetherness.... "Go brush your teeth" followed by "and use mouth wash"

Although I admit it, we gargle a lot with Betadine so maybe extra gargling is now a thing.

 

[blackcat20]

Costco here has already got a no returns for change of mind in place.

No loo paper to be seen at Woolies, or disinfectant. The two items consistently out of stock. everything else was fine.

 

[nickykim]

Did my weekly shop earlier today (8 am). This is my normal time as I hate grocery shopping when its busy anyway. Coles will let me have as many cans of legumes as I want, but Woolies will only let me have two. How are the vegetarians getting on if they only have a Woolies? Just shop more often so you can have more /different people cough on you? Makes no sense as there were plenty of cans of all varieties at both supermarkets locally.

 

[MollyJones]

Agree with the lentils thing.
3 out of 4 in our household are vego and I have been struggling to keep up with lentils, kidney beans, chick peas etc
I figured that’s why the rush on toilet paper - people who aren’t really used to their protein including good gut bacteria and fibre are probably making quite a few more toilet stops than before.

I have noticed though that they seem to have swooped on the canned stuff but left the large packets of dried legumes alone. Especially in the Indian section - I can get big bags of chick peas and lentils there without any issue.

What I can not find, anywhere, is wholemeal flour, only white flour and when I’ve asked they’ve all said it’s not coming in at all.

 

[Flashback]

Agree with the lentils thing.
3 out of 4 in our household are vego and I have been struggling to keep up with lentils, kidney beans, chick peas etc
I figured that’s why the rush on toilet paper - people who aren’t really used to their protein including good gut bacteria and fibre are probably making quite a few more toilet stops than before.

I have noticed though that they seem to have swooped on the canned stuff but left the large packets of dried legumes alone. Especially in the Indian section - I can get big bags of chick peas and lentils there without any issue.

What I can not find, anywhere, is wholemeal flour, only white flour and when I’ve asked they’ve all said it’s not coming in at all.

After going weeks and weeks without brown/wholemeal flour, we gave up and went and asked our local bakery; they were happy to sell us some. It's been reported that the problem over here is not supply, but more so size of supply i.e. they're built to supply big bags to bakeries etc. but not the smaller size bags. Problem solvered.

 

[Himeno]

Costco here has already got a no returns for change of mind in place.

No loo paper to be seen at Woolies, or disinfectant. The two items consistently out of stock. everything else was fine.

Today was the first time in 6 weeks when I saw toilet paper still on the shelf more then 2 hours after store opening.

 

[Himeno]

Did my weekly shop earlier today (8 am). This is my normal time as I hate grocery shopping when its busy anyway. Coles will let me have as many cans of legumes as I want, but Woolies will only let me have two. How are the vegetarians getting on if they only have a Woolies? Just shop more often so you can have more /different people cough on you? Makes no sense as there were plenty of cans of all varieties at both supermarkets locally.

The current limit is 2 canned legumes, 2 canned tomatoes and 2 other canned veg.
The lock out at the checkouts can be overridden, but only by the store manager.

 

[Cossie]

Today was the first time in 6 weeks when I saw toilet paper still on the shelf more then 2 hours after store opening.

Finally got some dunny rolls at woolies erindale today, first time I've seen them since the troubles started.

 

[boomy]

In Brisbane it was easier to find TP in city than in suburbs.
The two Coles CBD stores had Quilton x20 @ $10.
Woolies had both Quilton and Sorbent but both more expensive than Coles.

What I’m still struggling to find is foam liquid soap and medium grain rice. In last 3 weeks I found only 1 of each.

 

[p--and--t]

The was an interview on ABC yesterday where someone from the primary production arena (forget the name/association) was advising of an up coming shortage of rice in AU.

Due to the drought we haven't been able to produce sufficient product locally and the main external source of rice (VN) has banned exports of rice to AU.

It was also forecast that unless the gov increased water allocations the shortage would extend for quite some time.

 

[Julesmac]

I nicked out yesterday to Karingal shopping centre to buy a few groceries, since MrMac is immuno compromised and over 70 we've been pretty much in self isolation for 6 weeks and our girls have been doing the shopping. Went first to BigW. 2 security guards on the front - doing nothing to control the flow of shoppers - and it was as busy as on a normal weekend! People appeared to be ambling around and just - shopping, certainly paying no heed to distancing. Crowds around the easter egg section. It was too scary for me, so I went to Woolies - which had the same - no attempts to control the numbers and as the aisles aren't particularly wide it was impossible to distance. I was absolutely gobsmacked & by now totally unnerved. so left . I went past Coles on the way out and they appeared to be much more vigilant. I was able to register for IGA online and have done an order which will be delivered Tuesday. And I won't be venturing out again.

 

[blackcat20]

In Brisbane it was easier to find TP in city than in suburbs.
The two Coles CBD stores had Quilton x20 @ $10.
Woolies had both Quilton and Sorbent but both more expensive than Coles.

What I’m still struggling to find is foam liquid soap and medium grain rice. In last 3 weeks I found only 1 of each.

Plenty of basmati and jasmine rice around but the medium grain is thin on the ground. I was lucky to find a 10kg bag, probably because most people around here wouldn’t want that much.

 

[drron]

Yes I have no problems getting brown or basmati rice.Fortunately that is what I prefer.

 

[boomy]

Plenty of basmati and jasmine rice around but the medium grain is thin on the ground. I was lucky to find a 10kg bag, probably because most people around here wouldn’t want that much.

You did the smart thing. The one time I found medium grain there were either 1kg or 10kg bags and I thought we don’t need that much, better get 1kg now and buy more later, leave the 10kg for bigger families. Since then I couldn’t find any more but it’s ok, can always eat potatoes instead. Live like the Irish

 

[pauly7]

Yes I have no problems getting brown or basmati rice.Fortunately that is what I prefer.

Brown basmati is all we eat and only a very small amount so have loads.

I wonder what is going to happen to national obesity rates if this continues much longer

I highly doubt most are exercising enough to ‘deserve’ all the high carb pasta, white rice, potato and flour based products that flew off the shelf during the panic hoard!

Seeing a lot of home baking happening on social, even if sugar and flour, butter are baked at home using grandmas cake recipe it’s still not healthy for you if you are not actively exercising and eating well!

 

[boomy]

I wonder what is going to happen to national obesity rates if this continues much longer

I highly doubt most are exercising enough to ‘deserve’ all the high carb pasta, white rice, potato and flour based products that flew off the shelf during the panic hoard!

Seeing a lot of home baking happening on social, even if sugar and flour, butter are baked at home using grandmas cake recipe it’s still not healthy for you if you are not actively exercising and eating well!

At least Aussie can still work out outside. Spare a thought for all those good looking Italians stuck for weeks in isolation, how they gonna look at the end of this

On a more positive note, I’m seeing quite a lot of talk on social media about people who didn’t use to exercise due to busy lifestyle / lack of motivation and now with all the spare time and outdoor exercise being one of the few things still allowed, they do.

 

[Denali]

Ive actually lost weight but I hoarded meds & toiletries not food. When I say meds, Im talking 1 packet of Panadine Extra and Panadine Forte ect and 1 prescription refill so nothing crazy.

Just went to the garage to find stuff for the garden and couldnt find my favourite hose in citrus fert AND Bunnings is out as well. Eventually found a bottle of stuff at home that I have to mix with water but would have preferred paying at Bunnings for the hose in stuff.

 

[pauly7]

On a more positive note, I’m seeing quite a lot of talk on social media about people who didn’t use to exercise due to busy lifestyle / lack of motivation and now with all the spare time and outdoor exercise being one of the few things still allowed, they do.

Somehow I doubt the outdoor exercise will be at any sort of intensity that will result in real health outcomes but let’s hope

 

[boomy]

Somehow I doubt the outdoor exercise will be at any sort of intensity that will result in real health outcomes but let’s hope

While not as efficient in burning calories as the gym (for most people), outdoor exercise has other important health and mental benefits plus every moment spent moving outside is a moment spared from sitting inside binging in front of a screen