This panic buying is frustrating

[GrandizerII]

But what frustrates me more (at least here in Australia) the supermarket management responding so timidly to the situation. Is it because they care more about bottom line than people? How about instead of timid notices in small print asking people to kindly not hoard, put up big DO NOT signs near aisles where essentials are being hoarded, with words printed in bold red or something? And if people can't or won't read them, put pictures of staring eyes (if I remember from my majoring psychology long time ago, research has shown that this can have an impact on people by making them feel super conscious). Appeal to people's fears, not to their supposed kindness. I don't know, but imposing limits isn't doing the trick because I can easily imagine scenarios in which shelves will still be emptied in record time regardless (for example, the same person can always come back a later time during the day to grab more of the same stuff).

Just my two cents.

[brewer]

The market where I shop has limited hoarding item purchases to 5 units.

Shelves are still empty.

[GrandizerII]

The market where I shop has limited hoarding item purchases to 5 units.

Shelves are still empty.

Exactly

[onlinebiker]

And yet - there you are - trying to get yours......

If you were prepared - you wouldn't have this problem....

[GrandizerII]

And yet - there you are - trying to get yours......

If you were prepared - you wouldn't have this problem....

It's not me I'm worried about.

[Rev. Rye]

I went to Jewel today. And Dad actually talked with someone who worked there about the TP situation. I think I mentioned before that they actually had signs stating a hard limit of TP and paper towels for people to buy and you can see them in the picture below. They were still deserted last week. Admittedly, today, the paper towels were better stocked, but the TP was still off the shelves. Apparently, after talking with the guy, it turns out that they're actually restocking TP more than usual. And with that in mind, they still run out quickly.

And just for reference, here’s a picture of the paper towel aisle last week:


I remember that they had a similar set of signs for the TP aisle (and still do, because they're still up in both aisles), but did not take a picture there.

Like it or not, this isn't an issue of people only caring about the bottom line this time around. On a store-to-store level (not on the manufacturing level, mind), it's a case of demand FAR outstripping the supply. This demand might be for very stupid reasons, but it's there.

[GrandizerII]

I went to Jewel today. And Dad actually talked with someone who worked there about the TP situation. I think I mentioned before that they actually had signs stating a hard limit of TP and paper towels for people to buy and you can see them in the picture below. They were still deserted last week. Admittedly, today, the paper towels were better stocked, but the TP was still off the shelves. Apparently, after talking with the guy, it turns out that they're actually restocking TP more than usual. And with that in mind, they still run out quickly.

And just for reference, here’s a picture of the paper towel aisle last week:


I remember that they had a similar set of signs for the TP aisle (and still do, because they're still up in both aisles), but did not take a picture there.

Like it or not, this isn't an issue of people only caring about the bottom line this time around. On a store-to-store level (not on the manufacturing level, mind), it's a case of demand FAR outstripping the supply. This demand might be for very stupid reasons, but it's there.

I know the lower level staff are working hard and overtime, and I don't blame them at all when it comes to this problem. It's the consumer's automatic tendency to do things that are irrational out of panic and social proofing that's the main culprit here along with, imo, ineffective measures by the leadership at the top to address these matters.

We have signs like the ones in the picture as well, but I'm saying they're not aggressive enough still. They don't induce much fear or self consciousness in consumers behaving in an automated manner. A panic buyer could see this and be like "ok I'll come back later for more or have another family member grab them for me". Whereas what I'm pondering about are warnings that make people panic about panic buying, to the point they'd be too scared to work around the restrictions. DO NOT in red print or pictures of staring eyes sound, to me, more aggressive than using the key word "only"

Not trying to pretend I'm an expert here or thinking I have some clear solution in mind. Just ranting and thinking out loud.

[The Valkyrie]

Just watched a video clip of a woman loading up a large truck in the States with every roll of toilet paper and paper towels from a shop.

Shop owners need to stop these pricks doing this.

A neighbour described how her daughter in Christchurch saw an old woman struggling to get a loaf of bread from a shelf with only two loaves left. A younger woman ran in and grabbed them both.

Scum.

[ignoramus]

Beccs, if there are only 2 TP rolls left, would you give me one? Or take them both BUT kick the shit out of me as consolation

[The Valkyrie]

Beccs, if there are only 2 TP rolls left, would you give me one? Or take them both BUT kick the shit out of me as consolation

I don't need to.

I have 12 rolls in the house, and that will keep me going for a while.

Plus I work in an essential service.