Poll, related to hoarding

[kenny]

Last night it was time to buy my usual monthly (just guessing) 30-roll package of toilet paper at Costco (only one package).
But they were sold out, and have been selling out an hour after opening.

Tomorrow I plan to do as the Costco manager advised, stand in line 1 to 2 hours before opening to assure I get some.

If you were yourself in my situation, would you buy only the usual single package of 30 rolls?
Or would you buy more to avoid having to stand in line next month, and the month after that, etc. if this goes on?
IOW would you join the hoarders?

IOW would/should we be community minded, or selfish?
Should we act out of fear, or remain calm?

 

[lyra]

We did just buy the one, although it wasn't the usual Kirkland brand, that was sold out. From now on, I'll just buy whatever is on at the grocery store. I would spend more money rather than stand in line, that's crazy.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

I voted for the multiple option mainly because if I'm there anyways and there is obviously a higher demand it makes sense to get an extra. Peace of mind and all of that.

I don't think it comes close to being a hoarder. Edited to add it's also not selfish, it's smart IMO.

 

[Bron357]

If I was to hoard anything it would be antibiotics and respiratory equipment, neither of which are at my local supermarket.
Call me crazy, but my advice would be to get it sooner rather than later if you are younger and otherwise healthy. If you are older or with any lung or kidney conditions, take all and every measure you can to avoid infection.
Sooner so there still are antibiotics, doctors, medical equipment and hospital beds available if you need them.
From what I’ve read it’s a pretty nasty illness with a high complication rate of pneumonia. This is why elderly people and immunosuppressive people are at greater risk of death. Pneumonia definitely needs antibiotics for treatment and some people will require oxygen support in a hospital situation. Without antibiotics/ oxygen support for those who need it there will be an increased mortality rate.
That’s the real risk, access to appropriate medical treatment if you need it. Not 300 rolls of loo paper.

 

[Gussie]

Buy it all!

After seeing all the TP shortages, I have since bought 4 24=96 mega packs. No shortage here at all. In fact it's on sale!

 

[OoohShiny]

If everyone just bought normally there would be no issues with shortages, because suppliers are already supplying a supply that keeps up with normal demand - it is panic buying that causes issues, not helped by a media intent on stirring up emotional responses because scaremongering sells!

The world will not end in a month so buy 1, I would say, or 2 at most. Then next month go back to buying 1, leaving the spare as an 'emergency' pack.

 

[Gussie]

If everyone just bought normally there would be no issues with shortages, because suppliers are already supplying a supply that keeps up with normal demand - it is panic buying that causes issues, not helped by a media intent on stirring up emotional responses because scaremongering sells!

The world will not end in a month so buy 1, I would say, or 2 at most. Then next month go back to buying 1, leaving the spare as an 'emergency' pack.

Way to use reasoning @OoohShiny. That's so not fun!

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Define hoarding.

cheers--Sharon

 

[Elizabeth35]

We buy our normal amount--which is a jumbo pack at Costco.

Coronavirus: The psychology of panic buying

Amid the coronavirus outbreak, people are flocking to supermarkets worldwide – but are they simply preparing, or irrationally panicking?

www.bbc.com

We always have at least 2 cases of water and a well-stocked pantry. 3 refrigerators plus a freezer. Not worried.

 

[kenny]

HI:

Define hoarding.

cheers--Sharon

From dictionary.com

hoard
[ hawrd, hohrd ]SHOW IPA
SEE SYNONYMS FOR hoard ON THESAURUS.COM
noun
a supply or accumulation that is hidden or carefully guarded for preservation, future use, etc.: a vast hoard of silver.
verb (used with object)
to accumulate for preservation, future use, etc., in a hidden or carefully guarded place: to hoard food during a shortage.
verb (used without object)
to accumulate money, food, or the like, in a hidden or carefully guarded place for preservation, future use, etc.

 

[canuk-gal]

Thanks Webster.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

To clarify I'm suggesting one extra not twelve!

 

[kenny]

To clarify I'm suggesting one extra not twelve!

But but but ... Costco has these ... You can push one, and pull another, both stacked high with TP.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

@kenny those come in handy when you have a couple of kids in tow, just throw them on with the toilet paper. Of course sometimes you run out of room and you have to leave the kids behind

 

[kenny]

@kenny those come in handy when you have a couple of kids in tow, just throw them on with the toilet paper. Of course sometimes you run out of room and you have to leave the kids behind

... Oh look! ... you can tie the rugrats down to the cart ...

 

[voce]

TP specific? I usually buy 2 each time I buy. A lot of food items at Costco, I buy multiples whenever they're available, and that's not related to public health scares at all. That's because often times Costco will only stock that particular product seasonally, so I buy more in case next week I go back and it's not in stock.

 

[Maria D]

I'm so confused by this conversation. So I take it we're talking about stocking up on toilet paper in case of quarantine. Is Costco the only place to buy TP? Why not just pick up a bunch at the supermarket? I would not wait in line for 1-2 hours to buy anything. Might've done it for Led Zep tix back in the day, but that's about it. Amazon will ship you 24 rolls for $22.

@Bron357 how do you stock up on antibiotics? Don't they require a prescription? In my experience, doctors are reluctant to prescribe them unless absolutely necessary as overuse of antibiotics leads to drug resistant viruses - superbugs.

 

[kenny]

Amazon strikes me as a less-efficient and less-green way to buy TP compared to Costco, since my car's Costco trip is already producing toxic emissions to buy several other things.

Yes, lots of places sell TP, but I find Costco is the least-expensive place to buy high quality TP in bulk.
Bulk buying 30 rolls together reduces car trips.
Minimizing driving trips is more green ...... not that everyone gives a shit about the planet.
People vary, ya know.

It's so sad to see tiny mom and pop corner markets selling one roll for $1.
The poorest people without the money to buy bulk suffer.
The richest folks can afford to buy in bulk and pay Costco's annual fee.

Not fair, not right, but I don't want Bernie Sanders elected.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

If everyone just bought normally there would be no issues with shortages, because suppliers are already supplying a supply that keeps up with normal demand - it is panic buying that causes issues, not helped by a media intent on stirring up emotional responses because scaremongering sells!

The world will not end in a month so buy 1, I would say, or 2 at most. Then next month go back to buying 1, leaving the spare as an 'emergency' pack.

I completly agree Kenny

This week i only brought a $2 pack of 4 rolls - because we had 10 in the bathroom and it just might not have got us through the fortnight - we grocery shop fortnightly

Gary is fussy with the brands, he likes thick and soft and strong but only 2 ply not 3, so i alternate between a couples of brands both regular and long roll - i buy what's on special

I have a 4 pack in the back of the linen cupboard in case we run out that has been there since we started getting the groceries delivered
Kenny if you were my neighbour i would have given you that to tide you over
i think hoarding toilet paper beyound an extra pack (depending on how many bums in one's house hold) is just redicoulss and there would not be a shortage if people just brought nornally and thought outside of their own 'survival' for 10 min and thought of everyone else
Toilet paper does not even come from China (in NZ or Australia)
Its just panic clouding the mind
and where is someone in a modestly sized dwelling going to keep it all ?

Many years ago (mid 1980 something) Fijji had serouse political unrest - our sugar comes from there, we don't grow it here and we have one refinary that ships in its own sugar as far as i know still from Fijji
Anyway my mum baked alot and went into panic mode
She stocked up on about 4 years of sugar
There was never a shortage but that sugar took up sooooo much room in the kitchen (and the laundry)

It is possible the loo paper shortage looks worse than it is?
Its a bulky product - look how many say tins of tuna fit on a shelf compaired to dunny roll ?
do supermarkets really want a stockroom overflowing with loo paper?
Do people have no boxes of tissues at home ?
Id use a paper servette or a paper towel in a pinch - I'd have a shower - water is not going to stop flowing
i have soap - regular old cheap as chips bar soap
its 1st world problems

However on reflection I do think that my spair pack should be something nice like aloe vera - because i can only think of one reason why we would run out of toilet paper and in that case aloe vera would be soothing

Last night on the news i saw a truck of toilet paper in Brisbane burning after an accident - assuming no one was hurt and the truck is insured its hillerouse

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Amazon strikes me as a less-efficient and less-green way to buy TP compared to Costco, since my car's Costco trip is already producing toxic emissions to buy several other things.

Yes, lots of places sell TP, but I find Costco is the least-expensive place to buy high quality TP in bulk.
Bulk buying 30 rolls together reduces car trips.
Minimizing driving trips is more green ...... not that everyone gives a shit about the planet.
People vary, ya know.

It's so sad to see tiny mom and pop corner markets selling one roll for $1.
The poorest people without the money to buy bulk suffer.
The richest folks can afford to buy in bulk and pay Costco's annual fee.

Not fair, not right, but I don't want Bernie Sanders elected.

And those shoppers have to buy their fruit and veg from shops like that too if those stores even sell fruit and veg ?
Before we got our groceries delivered when Gary couldn't drive with his eye problems it was costing me a fortune shopping at a beighbourhod supermarket - id hate to think what a corner store is priced like
(Im with you on Bernie -politics aside he shouts too much)

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

If everyone just bought normally there would be no issues with shortages, because suppliers are already supplying a supply that keeps up with normal demand - it is panic buying that causes issues, not helped by a media intent on stirring up emotional responses because scaremongering sells!

The world will not end in a month so buy 1, I would say, or 2 at most. Then next month go back to buying 1, leaving the spare as an 'emergency' pack.

Good to see there is still reason out there in the world

 

[arkieb1]

I was down to two rolls of toilet paper earlier in the week for the whole house because I didn't go out and panic buy anything, so I really needed toilet paper, my husband went to 4 supermarkets and couldn't find any. The next day I went to 4 big supermarkets, 2 small grocery stores, and two chemist warehouses and finally found some in a chemist warehouse. I just bought the one 24 packet. My husband found somewhere close to his work that had a packet with 4 rolls so he bought that... Neither of us panicked and bought more than necessary.

One of the small independently owned grocery stores had one 4 pack left for $20.00 - I was like you have to be kidding me, and did not buy it.

I'm not sure if this was a good or a bad decision yet because where I live has been sold out of TP for 5 days, on the news two guys were punching each other in the head fighting over TP in a supermarket in rural Australia and the police had to taser some dude to get him to calm down....

My husband stocked up on wine, I bought extra chocolate bars If the Zombie Apocalypse is going down, forget the TP, he's going to get drunk and I'm going to get high on sugar....

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I was down to two rolls of toilet paper earlier in the week for the whole house because I didn't go out and panic buy anything, so I really needed toilet paper, my husband went to 4 supermarkets and couldn't find any. The next day I went to 4 big supermarkets, 2 small grocery stores, and two chemist warehouses and finally found some in a chemist warehouse. I just bought the one 24 packet. My husband found somewhere close to his work that had a packet with 4 rolls so he bought that... Neither of us panicked and bought more than necessary.

One of the small independently owned grocery stores had one 4 pack left for $20.00 - I was like you have to be kidding me, and did not buy it.

I'm not sure if this was a good or a bad decision yet because where I live has been sold out of TP for 5 days, on the news two guys were punching each other in the head fighting over TP in a supermarket in rural Australia and the police had to taser some dude to get him to calm down....

My husband stocked up on wine, I bought extra chocolate bars If the Zombie Apocalypse is going down, forget the TP, he's going to get drunk and I'm going to get high on sugar....

good lord
I should not have laughed that that burning truck of bog roll in Brisbain
If you need more i could post you some

 

[arkieb1]

good lord
I should not have laughed that that burning truck of bog roll in Brisbain
If you need more i could post you some

Yes a whole truck filled with TP caught on fire and burned, people were up the top of the bridge it was on and they couldn't get it before it went up in flames....


The news articles seemed more concerned that a whole shipment of TP went up in flames than fact the driver was unhurt.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Yes a whole truck filled with TP caught on fire and burned, people were up the top of the bridge it was on and they couldn't get it before it went up in flames....


The news articles seemed more concerned that a whole shipment of TP went up in flames than fact the driver was unhurt.

Im glad the driver was unhurt

ive heard from others the loo paper thing is out of control in 'Oz -
I now see why Saint Jacinta is asking for calm and requesting no hoarding here in NZ

 

[Bron357]

I'm so confused by this conversation. So I take it we're talking about stocking up on toilet paper in case of quarantine. Is Costco the only place to buy TP? Why not just pick up a bunch at the supermarket? I would not wait in line for 1-2 hours to buy anything. Might've done it for Led Zep tix back in the day, but that's about it. Amazon will ship you 24 rolls for $22.

@Bron357 how do you stock up on antibiotics? Don't they require a prescription? In my experience, doctors are reluctant to prescribe them unless absolutely necessary as overuse of antibiotics leads to drug resistant viruses - superbugs.

That’s my point. The things you might really need can’t be “stock piled”.
Most people here in Australia are wondering why, of all the things one might want to stock up on, its toilet paper to the tune of 50 rolls or more per shopper if possible!
Which is why stores here have zero toilet paper on their shelves and people are hysterically searching suburb store by suburb store for a supply. It’s insane, Even if you had to remain home for two weeks, that’s only a roll or so per person.
Sigh.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

I don't have a Costco membership anymore but the toilet paper was one of my favorite staples.

Also the cat litter, good quality and cheap.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

If im quarenteened for two weeks from civilization who cares about toilet roll
Ill cut up an old cotton sheet or something for number 1s and wash them - ive read about those pee rags ladies take hiking these days and
I'll shower after a number 2

Ive read about environmentally friendly alternitive and you can buy reusable toilet wipes (for number 1s)

 

[arkieb1]

If im quarenteened for two weeks from civilization who cares about toilet roll
Ill cut up an old cotton sheet or something for number 1s and wash them - ive read about those pee rags ladies take hiking these days and
I'll shower after a number 2

Ive read about environmentally friendly alternitive and you can buy reusable toilet wipes (for number 1s)

If I'm stuck inside the house unable to go out for two or more weeks, with my husband and kids the first thing I'm going to do is eat all the chocolate in the house then take up drinking his stash of booze. Forget the TP people have their priorities all wrong....

 

[Karl_K]

Still have a 7 week supply from the last time it was on sale.
I always buy ahead when its on sale.
Last time it was on sale I bought a 4 months supply.