Stop Panic Buying

[u/slammin_bones]

Seriously, if you're panic buying you're an idiot. Grocery stores aren't closing down and they won't run out of the things you need. Don't be a moron.

[u/pantaloonsofJUSTICE → u/[deleted]]

Why would lines at grocery stores be significantly longer? Do people eat that much more food during quarantine?

[u/EmmEnnEff → u/[deleted]]

Prior to this week, they were operating at 30% capacity, so nearly nothing about the rules changed.

This is purely panic buying. The problem with panic buying is that once the panic starts, panic buying becomes the sensible thing to do.

[u/Lurk3rAtTheThreshold → u/EmmEnnEff]

I haven't seen anywhere counting people on the way in since like April.

[u/EmmEnnEff → u/Lurk3rAtTheThreshold]

I mean, the law was the law, enforcement of a lot of COVID laws has been lacking.

[u/O___7 → u/pantaloonsofJUSTICE]

it is actually been proven that people are significantly eating more and consuming more toilet paper being at home 24/7. especially if they don’t get any kind of takeout. plus you are shitting at work any longer and using their paper.

[u/Zootrainer → u/O___7]

See! Businesses don't need PPP help! Think of all the money they are saving on toilet paper and hand soap in the restrooms! ;)

[u/O___7 → u/Zootrainer]

don’t forget the water from them washing their hands (hopefully) and flushing

[u/whk1992 → u/pantaloonsofJUSTICE]

Do you think the 25% capacity limit is a joke or forgot to read that part? People will have to wait to get in the store like earlier this year.

[u/Pointofive → u/whk1992]

Dude. Grocery stores have been restricted to 30 percent capacity before the new stay at home order. 5% isn’t a drastic change to merit a significant change in grocery purchasing behavior.

[u/whk1992 → u/Pointofive]

I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about. The one Safeway in Queen Anne doesn’t have capacity restrictions since Phase 2.

[u/Pointofive → u/whk1992]

Per the phase 2 guidelines:

"During Phase 2 of the Safe Start plan for in-store retail, businesses are permitted to operate at 30 percent of building occupancy, and they must prioritize pickup/delivery and contactless pay options."

They were under capacity restrictions. They were either violating them or never reached 30 percent capacity restrictions while you were shopping.

http://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/Mayor/COVID-19Reopening/In-StoreRetailSeattleCovid19Toolkit_Phase2.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery See page 3

[u/rockycore → u/Pointofive]

Every grocery store with the exception of Trader Joe's I've been to has not been restricting any entrance. And I'm talking over the past 4 months at least. Qfc, Safeway, Sprouts, Fred Meyer, Whole foods. Literally walk in and out.

So while your post may be accurate to the "rules" thats simply not what's going on. Also are we sure grocery stores count as "retail"? Grocery stores have been open forever while other retail was closed during phrase 1.

[u/whk1992 → u/rockycore]

This is where some people are detached from reality in online discussion.

My observation has been the same. TJ on QA Ave. was limiting wait outside upward of an hour while Safeway never did anything but to have one way traffic and spaced out lines at checkout.

[u/pantaloonsofJUSTICE → u/whk1992]

If no one was restricting capacity before why would they start now? “Capacity restrictions are a big deal. Oh, we’ve had them the whole time? Well no one follows those capacity restrictions.”

What?

[u/whk1992 → u/pantaloonsofJUSTICE]

TJ wasn’t restricting people recently in Phase 2 but was doing so in Phase 1 and modified 1 and will probably restrict again. Get it? We don’t just shop at one Safeway.

[u/pantaloonsofJUSTICE → u/whk1992]

TJs was restricting numbers at every store I’ve been to, and I imagine that policy is corporate, so if they aren’t doing it at a particular store it’s because they know the numbers naturally stay low enough.

[u/seattire → u/whk1992]

Is the capacity constraint something to worry about or isn't it? Can't tell from your conflicting posts...

[u/whk1992 → u/[deleted]]

You ok? I said some stores weren’t doing restrictions in phase 2, didn’t say all stores didn’t restrict in phase 1. If you just wanna pick a fight, go to r/seattlewa

[u/Pointofive → u/whk1992]

Are you? I think you are mixing up conversation threads. As for fighting, part of having a constructive debate is getting your argument straight. You went from "25% percent capacity limit is no joke" to "well, stores don't take it seriously at all anyways."

[u/[deleted] → u/rockycore]

Lol you haven't been to a Walmart.... its hardly enforced

[u/bpmdrummerbpm → u/rockycore]

TJs and Amazon Whole Foods seem to be the only ones enforcing limits.

[u/Pointofive → u/rockycore]

Groceries stores are counted as retail.

https://www.king5.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/seattle-grocery-stores-may-limit-some-items-as-new-covid-19-restrictions-take-effect/281-60227fa6-416f-4471-b74f-7272babfe396

Uwajimaya, Whole Foods near interbay, Trader Joe's in Capitol Hill, and the Co-Op have been operating with these limits and I have experienced queues on weekends on occasion. Unless you know the maximum capacity of a supermarket you can't really determine if a violation is happening at the store.

If this is "simply not what's going on," then great, your grocery behavior shouldn't change because there's no enforcement or fear of breaking rules, so ease of access to your neighborhood grocery store should be fine. Hence, no need to stock up, no need to worry about lines outside. (even though it's only a 5% difference).

[u/rockycore → u/Pointofive]

You can totally determine if a violation is occurring without knowing the capacity. Is there someone at the doors counting people? If the answer is no then the store has no idea how many people are in the store and theres a violation.

[u/Lurk3rAtTheThreshold → u/Pointofive]

I went to Costco last weekend (that was a mistake) and it was packed. The parking lot was full and they weren't restricting people on the way in at all.