Grocery Store - Trip Report
Question to myself. It was crowded today, Saturday morning, shelves going empty as I stood in line. What is it going to look like on Monday?
I didn't see much beer in people's shopping carts, all essentials, food, beans, paper towels, bottled water. In fact, as I finally approached the check-out, I saw a woman take the LAST bottled water. Maybe they have more in the back. Maybe they don't.
Never mind Monday, what is it going to look like tonight?
Food production and supply lines are currently minimally affected, if at all. The shelves will be completely re-stocked with the next shipment. I bet these grocery stores and food companies are laughing all the way to the bank. I've heard people say they're generating way more revenue than they do even during Christmas and Thanksgiving.
What's going to happen a few weeks or a month from now, when all these hoarders are still stocked with food, and don't need to go to the store? Prices will come down 'cause fewer people are buying, and I'll be cleaning up on sales. Thanks, suckers!
Quote: TigerWuPeople are effing stupid.
Food production and supply lines are currently minimally affected, if at all. The shelves will be completely re-stocked with the next shipment. I bet these grocery stores and food companies are laughing all the way to the bank. I've heard people say they're generating way more revenue than they do even during Christmas and Thanksgiving.
What's going to happen a few weeks or a month from now, when all these hoarders are still stocked with food, and don't need to go to the store? Prices will come down 'cause fewer people are buying, and I'll be cleaning up on sales. Thanks, suckers!
What's with the toilet paper? Why is everyone buying tons of toilet paper? How much can one use?
Quote: bobbartopWhat's with the toilet paper? Why is everyone buying tons of toilet paper? How much can one use?
Because "everyone else" is buying toilet paper. That's literally the only reason. It's a self-perpetuating cycle. FOMO, because people are stupid.
Quote: bobbartopWhat's with the toilet paper? Why is everyone buying tons of toilet paper? How much can one use?
Thinking back about forty years, my entire family had a flu that lasted about 48 hours. Luckily, we had three bathrooms as everyone had horrible diarrhea the whole time. We probably used a months worth of to in that short time. I'm a single guy who had 12 rolls at my shop and a half dozen at home. I thought about picking up another dozen rolls, for trading purposes but thought it was unpatriotic.
Agreed. Herd instinct. See some reporter talking about possible disruptions and suddenly there is a horde of shelf-sweepers. The old NY yarn was a guy who had a stiff neck was waiting to cross the street and soon a crowd gathers and everyone is looking up to see something.Quote: TigerWuPeople are effing stupid.
I have oodles of "stuff" to eat. In three tiers. No need to buy anything until I get to the dregs of tier three. I never really NEED to buy a specific item. FRESH asparagus is nice but I have it in pills to. Coffee? I got individual bags, two pound cans, five pound cans and some espresso. I often go without any though. Tea? Got two or three teas, if the whim strikes. It rarely does.
Quote: bobbartopWhat's with the toilet paper? Why is everyone buying tons of toilet paper? How much can one use?
It's the women. If you've ever lived
with a woman, you soon find out
that running out of their fave TP
is a nightmare they do not want
to face. Men don't care, we'll use
an old newspaper or a paper towel.
My wife always has 2 dozen rolls
of HER BRAND on hand so she can
sleep at night. Has anybody ever
seen a man freak out over TP?
It's not something we give a great
deal of thought to.
Quote: TigerWuBecause "everyone else" is buying toilet paper. That's literally the only reason.
That's hardly the reason at all. Two
of my wife's sisters discovered on
Thursday they each had one roll
of Charmin UltraSoft left and they
went out of their minds. Ever use
that stuff. It's like your wiping with
a cloud. Women have other areas
that are super sensitive that we don't
have. They finally found a Target that
had 10 packs left and they bought
them all.
My wife uses Charmin and she told
me a few years if I was going to do 'that'
at her house I had to bring my own
TP. Hers is way too expensive for
a mere man to waste. What's going
to interesting is you just know there
are millions of people who forgot
and will find none this weekend.
Uh Oh.
Mostly i didn’t want to walk around the store with all the crowds. I hope it works out.
Quote: EvenBobHas anybody ever
seen a man freak out over TP?
Oh, clearly you've never been in the military... haha
Quote: GialmereI wouldn't say the people are stupid. They're panicked. And who can blame them with all the fearmongering going on?
Our shelves are not empty yet. The people of Venezuela have had empty shelves at the store for more than a few years. They have been living the nightmare. I am not in a panic yet but truthfully, I am very nervous. And what happens if they run out of my anxiety medication?
Quote: GialmereI wouldn't say the people are stupid. They're panicked. And who can blame them with all the fearmongering going on?
I don’t believe I’ve heard too much fear mongering. A likely event is not fear mongering. Nor is a fact, even if it is a terrible fact.
Of course people are free to overreact to the actual facts. However, being worried about the risk of a vulnerable family member is not an inappropriate reaction.
the millions who aren't in on this hoarding
go to the store, They're out home and
every store is sold out. Ahhhh, schaden...
the local Walmart today. It
was picked bare, clean as a
whistle. All the bread, canned
goods, fresh meat, cheese,
potatoes and onions, pet food,
water, most of the frozen
entree's, baby food, condiments,
salty snacks, totally bare. The
pics made me very sad.
I just went 10 days ago and don't
have to go till the 26th. I've been
stockpiling pet food for 2 weeks
and have 20 16# bags of cat food
and 300 cans of cat food. All delivered
from online. They were almost out
yesterday, of the cheap stuff anyway.
I can always eat anything but cats
have a very specific diet. They totally
rely on me, they came first.
There was a period during my youth when colored toilet paper was in vogue. My mom put yellow and pink tissue in the lavs. That's when I learned how terribly allergic my anus is to the dye they use in coloring tp. My anus was swollen badly.Quote: EvenBobIt's the women. If you've ever lived
with a woman, you soon find out
that running out of their fave TP
is a nightmare they do not want
to face. Men don't care, we'll use
an old newspaper or a paper towel.
My wife always has 2 dozen rolls
of HER BRAND on hand so she can
sleep at night. Has anybody ever
seen a man freak out over TP?
It's not something we give a great
deal of thought to.
Since then, I have worked in several paper mills and learned how many caustic chemicals it takes to make paper white, add a few more to make paper pink or yellow. Haven't seen colored tissue in years. Thank god.
Sphincter rules the body.
Enjoy. I just checked, I have three rolls.Quote: EvenBobWhere the schadenfreud comes in is when
the millions who aren't in on this hoarding
go to the store, They're out home and
every store is sold out. Ahhhh, schaden...
If I stay two or three days sometimes I come home with a roll for each day
And I stay in a lot of hotels
And I commemorate this by building a toilet paper tower in my bathroom. Several feet high pyramids of unopened toilet paper rolls.
Look who's laughing now
Two grocery stores today. I probably have enough food for 1-2 weeks but want to set up for 2-4, which I usually had but was rotating old stuff out as winter broke. I think it is all overreaction, but empty shelves are empty shelves.
The bigger grocer was picked clean of TP, chicken, and ground meat. But you could buy tenderloin beef if you wanted. I got some of the "premium" frozen chicken as hey I still need to make lunch. Not a potato left in produce. It was not "The Day After" as lots of stuff on lots of shelves but short of a few things.
You want to live on beans and rice, have at it. I prefer a full meal.
The other store we had to stop as my mother wanted a brand of sauerkraut (yech.) They had all the potatoes you wanted. They are a less popular store. They were otherwise about the same, not Venezuela but out of plenty of things.
Rumors were the cops had to be called at a local Aldi over canned goods, other rumors were that it was exaggerated.
At least one casino closes at midnight. Word is the other is dead. Closing one was quiet but not dead.
At the moment the grocery stores are a glorified snow scare rush. Restaurants have salt and pepper off the tables. Lots of weird little things. Monday awaits.
Quote: AZDuffmanLots of weird little things. Monday awaits.
Sunday awaits. Sunday for decades
has been the busiest grocery shopping
day of the week. Imagine the number
of people going tomorrow with their
list. Uh oh.
Quote: EvenBobSunday awaits. Sunday for decades
has been the busiest grocery shopping
day of the week. Imagine the number
of people going tomorrow with their
list. Uh oh.
Monday will be an empty. Most stores get a delivery tonight but Sunday night was always when you "pulled the backstock" and filled the shelves. Then you ordered Monday morning. So on Monday the warehouse workers will be breaking their backs to refill. For the most part a distribution center will go a few days before it is picked clean. No supply disruptions have happened yet so if that stays the case this should stabilize but warehouse workers will be macking the OT hard.
Local major grocer just announced all stores close at 10PM until further notice.
I am seriously just hoping my office does not close. Too much work and I do not want to do it from home for the most part. I could have worked 8AM-midnight tonight and not got caught up enough. When rates go down after this all ends I have no idea how we will keep up. A good thing but sooner or later you need some good rest.
Quote: Everything Counts by Depeche Mode
The grabbing hands
Grab all they can
All for themselves after all
Just went out and filled up all the vehicles with gas. Went back to the grocery store and there was no waiting, no lines. No bottled water. I bought just a few things that caught my eye since there was no wait. Of course, no rubbing alcohol anywhere, no hand sanitizer. But, I was driving home through a crummy part of town and took a flyer at a small neighborhood liquor store. Heck, there were no gang members standing around in front, so why not. And guess what I found. Three bottles of rubbing alcohol, tucked away on a shelf. So I bought what was probably the only rubbing alcohol for miles. I'll make my own hand sanitizer.
I found some empty spray bottles at a dollar store. That surprised me. None in the regular stores.
Got another bright idea when I got home. I usually carry a wad of cash with me in my pants pocket, basically for video poker purposes. Of course, the cash is the nastiest germ-infested thing you can touch. So I took the wad, mostly benjamins, and tossed them in the washing machine. Detergent, a little bleach, it's spinning as I type. We'll see how that turns out. Hopefully ok, then I'll throw them in the dryer.
Also I have no food at home as we cleaned everything out before leaving for Arizona. Hoarding has also taken place in Canada so I am not sure if I will have much luck buying groceries. We are not happy campers right now.
Quote: vegasI am from Canada and winter in Arizona. I just got an email from my health insurance provider that I have 10 days to get back to Canada because my health insurance will not cover me after the 10 days. This was done because the Canadian government issued a travel ban outside of Canada. I will also lose out on my money deposited for the condo I am renting. I was paid up to the end of April.
Also I have no food at home as we cleaned everything out before leaving for Arizona. Hoarding has also taken place in Canada so I am not sure if I will have much luck buying groceries. We are not happy campers right now.
Gosh, that sucks. Kiss the rent money goodbye, that's the least of your worries. Do you have friends, family, back home that can/would share food? Stay healthy, and consider yourself lucky.
I went to through the self help. At least I discovered a sort of AP like move while waiting. I turned all my packages so the scan symbol was face up if possible. And then when the conveyer belt brought me right by the scanner, I grabbed the portable gun and went bleep, bleep, bleep, bleep rapidly scanning all of them. Probably can't get more than 12-15 like that, since the gun has a cord. I didn't have anything to weigh though.
Quote: smoothgrhI was at the grocery store last night and based on the pasta section, it appears that people would rather die than survive on whole wheat spaghetti!
I don't know where I saw this recently, probably somewhere on Twitter. All the bottled water in a store was sold out, except there was still a pallet of Coca-Cola's Dasani brand bottled water. I know I don't drink it.
Quote: bobbartopthe cash is the nastiest germ-infested thing you can touch. So I took the wad, mostly benjamins, and tossed them in the washing machine.
Just dilute the alcohol 50%
with water and rub down all
bills with a cotton ball. Way
better germ killer than washing
them.
Quote: EvenBobJust dilute the alcohol 50%
with water and rub down all
bills with a cotton ball. Way
better germ killer than washing
them.
Now you tell me. :-)
Quote: smoothgrhI was at the grocery store last night and based on the pasta section, it appears that people would rather die than survive on whole wheat spaghetti!
:-). We could all use a sense of humor right now.
Quote: bobbartopI don't know where I saw this recently, probably somewhere on Twitter. All the bottled water in a store was sold out, except there was still a pallet of Coca-Cola's Dasani brand bottled water. I know I don't drink it.
At my local store, Arrowhead water was the last remaining brand. It confirmed my opinion that it’s the worst-tasting bottled water of all the major brands.
Quote: bobbartopGosh, that sucks. Kiss the rent money goodbye, that's the least of your worries. Do you have friends, family, back home that can/would share food? Stay healthy, and consider yourself lucky.
Yes lots of family back home. I have a brother who is in Florida and he is also heading home. It will still be cold back home but spring is coming.....I hope
Quote: smoothgrhAt my local store, Arrowhead water was the last remaining brand. It confirmed my opinion that it’s the worst-tasting bottled water of all the major brands.
That's strange. Here I would say it is the first brand to buy for people who don't price-shop. I regularly buy Arrowhead, for myself, and for my cats and dogs. I'm stocked up, a little bit, but decided the "kids" are going to be drinking tap for now, and "Dad" is going to drink the Arrowhead.
For awhile, when money and annoyance was no object, I was buying some different water online. Did you ever see the clip on Fiuggi water? Excellent water. Of course, it's from Italy.
Which reminds me, I eat a lot of garlic, for health reasons. Several years ago we started importing major amounts of garlic, FROM CHINA. I won't buy it. I want local garlic, or garlic from Gilroy, which is becoming difficult to buy. And now, how ironic, that I would have to buy garlic from CHINA, to stay healthy. Insane. I ain't gonna do it.
Quote: vegasYes lots of family back home. I have a brother who is in Florida and he is also heading home. It will still be cold back home but spring is coming.....I hope
Good to hear. I sincerely wish you best.
shopping a Kmart in Tennessee
today and the shelves were not
stripped at all. They were bare
in spots but there were few
customers and nobody was
hoarding.
My theory is the more upscale
the neighborhood the more
money people have to blow
on hoarding. My Walmart was
stripped bare to the bone today
and I live in the most affluent
area we have. The Kroger this
guy was at is in a poor part of
the state.
I'm calling around tomorrow to
see if the other Walmarts got
stripped this weekend.
Quote: bobbartopThat's strange. Here I would say it is the first brand to buy for people who don't price-shop. I regularly buy Arrowhead, for myself, and for my cats and dogs. I'm stocked up, a little bit, but decided the "kids" are going to be drinking tap for now, and "Dad" is going to drink the Arrowhead.
For awhile, when money and annoyance was no object, I was buying some different water online. Did you ever see the clip on Fiuggi water? Excellent water. Of course, it's from Italy.
Which reminds me, I eat a lot of garlic, for health reasons. Several years ago we started importing major amounts of garlic, FROM CHINA. I won't buy it. I want local garlic, or garlic from Gilroy, which is becoming difficult to buy. And now, how ironic, that I would have to buy garlic from CHINA, to stay healthy. Insane. I ain't gonna do it.
I remember that years ago some coworkers were having a bottled water taste test and the only one we could pick out consistently was the Arrowhead—because it tasted bad. Maybe it’s different now? They can change the mineral additives they use for flavor, so maybe it’s possible it tastes better now.
$4.29 27.5 bottles. Liquor was running low, as was spaghetti sauces.
Quote: bobbartop
Got another bright idea when I got home. I usually carry a wad of cash with me in my pants pocket, basically for video poker purposes. Of course, the cash is the nastiest germ-infested thing you can touch. So I took the wad, mostly benjamins, and tossed them in the washing machine. Detergent, a little bleach, it's spinning as I type. We'll see how that turns out. Hopefully ok, then I'll throw them in the dryer.
I do not know if it is still true or not but in the 80s I remember reading that the USA was then the only country that sprayed its bills with an anti-bacterial at printing.
Quote: onenickelmiracleToilet paper is just something everybody needs.
But it's completely NOT. And even if it were, wtf is wrong with y'all's buttholes that you need palets?
Food, water, air and shelter, not s@#$paper. Add a gallon of bleach, a pint of Moxifish, and a box of 5.56 and you should be set til winter.
Paper goods, bottled water, frozen foods, canned fruit, peanut butter, cleaning agents all vanishing rapidly.
The "wierd" one is yogurt of any kind. All yogurt does is restore gut bacteria. Go figure. Consumer medical gloves, powdered milk, cereal, and bread also depleting, not as fast as others.
The big question is, "Should we wear gloves when retrieving and sorting the snail-mail from the box?" Now theres one from left-field.
Isolation protocol for 14 days is the main reason.
Regards
Suited89
Quote: smoothgrhI was at the grocery store last night and based on the pasta section, it appears that people would rather die than survive on whole wheat spaghetti!
I have had whole wheat spaghetti. I am not surprised. Whole wheat lasagne and anything used in mac & cheese (e.g. elbows, rotini) are fine, but anything where you can't get sauce over all of the pasta, no.
Quote: smoothgrhAt my local store, Arrowhead water was the last remaining brand. It confirmed my opinion that it’s the worst-tasting bottled water of all the major brands.
But...but...it's the Pope's water! Seriously, when Pope Francis had a mass in Philadelphia in 2015, when they showed his flight leaving, he was seen through a window of his plane with a bottle of Arrowhead.
Something else I learned that day; it took 15 minutes for his plane to get from the terminal to in the air - without having to wait for any planes in front of his. Remember that the next time it seems like they're taking a long time with your flight.
Quote: Suited89
The big question is, "Should we wear gloves when retrieving and sorting the snail-mail from the box?" Now theres one from left-field.
Friendly neighborhood postal carrier here. My claims of it being here "in 2 days" have been confirmed. We have it.
There's been zero official communication about it at work, not a peep of halting service. There's no sinks in the LLV. I just contacted 475 of your neighbors and 5 local businesses before dumping you your Reader's Digest and crate of Charmin. There's zero chance of me wearing gloves, and I'm not putting alcohol on bare hands in 20* weather else I'll crack and bleed on everything.
Not left field. Treat mail like hazmat.
Quote: Suited89Local Grocery stores and W-Mart:
Paper goods, bottled water, frozen foods, canned fruit, peanut butter, cleaning agents all vanishing rapidly.
The "wierd" one is yogurt of any kind. All yogurt does is restore gut bacteria. Go figure. Consumer medical gloves, powdered milk, cereal, and bread also depleting, not as fast as others.
Yogurt helps make you feel full. Good smoothie additive. I agree not what the masses will go for, but if enough people think that way boom.
Quote: Wizard:-). We could all use a sense of humor right now.
When I was in Basic Training the Drill Instructor told us that when we went to Vietnam toilet paper would be very scarce. He then demonstrated to us how you could wipe your a$$ with only one (1) sheet of toilet paper!!!
Quote: onenickelmiracleToilet paper is just something everybody needs. People don't have a real good grasp on how much they use in the month or two.
What? Most people know exactly how
much TP they go thru because they've
been buying it all their adult lives. I
know, my wife knows, her sisters know.
But they're very brand loyal and if
that's threatened they will empty the
shelves of it.
Quote: FatGeezusWhen I was in Basic Training the Drill Instructor told us that when we went to Vietnam toilet paper would be very scarce. He then demonstrated to us how you could wipe your a$$ with only one (1) sheet of toilet paper!!!
My high school friend visited Russia in 1985 for an educational trip, and the main thing I remember from her trip report is that public bathrooms give you only one sheet of toilet paper. I could not conceive how wiping could be done properly with one.
