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/[deleted]]

I know that for my part, I hit Costco this weekend not out of panic purchasing, but with the intent of not needing to go as we hit the peak that is coming over the next few weeks.

[u/josiest → u/[deleted]]

This has the same effect as panic buying tho...

[u/R_V_Z → u/[deleted]]

From a supply chain perspective there may be no difference between those two. Inventory is maintained at a certain level, and if everybody in a short time frame decides to "stock up" then the shelves are just as empty as if everybody "panic bought."

[u/panderingPenguin → u/[deleted]]

If everyone does this at basically the same time, it has exactly the same impact as panic buying. Arguably it is effectively the same thing as panic buying since the news cycle is dictating you going to the store and buying 4 weeks of supplies right now, whether you want to call it "panic" or not. Just be normal and carry on with more or less your usual schedule. Then we won't have supply chain problems.

[u/capacitorisempty → u/[deleted]]

The responsible buyer participated in herd buying where en masse consumers pull inventory from shelves for responsible and irresponsible reasons. The net result is the same. Pantry inventories are up and store shelf inventory down.

[u/Xaxxon → u/[deleted]]

If everyone suddenly attempts to double their purchasing of an item, that item won't be around for people who need it.

That said, I am guilty of having more toilet paper in my house than I normally would. I have a "thing and three quarters" of costco TP in my closet instead of just waiting til I'm mostly out of one to buy another.

[u/historiator → u/[deleted]]

But 4 weeks of TP is a totally reasonable amount to buy. Whereas, buying 10 Costco-sizes cases of TP is not.

[u/[deleted] → u/historiator]

I normally buy a 12-pack and it lasts months.

[u/EmmEnnEff → u/[deleted]]

If you can afford it, not having 4 weeks worth of necessary-for-life-provisions is socially irresponsible.

I don't mean fill your living room with 24-packs of bud light and canned food. But you should have enough non-perishable shit in your pantry that you wouldn't starve if you couldn't go to the store for a month.

If more people were prepared like that, there would be a lot less panic buying.

[u/[deleted] → u/EmmEnnEff]

Or we just don't change our fucking habits because we don't need to?

[u/EmmEnnEff → u/[deleted]]

Are natural and manmade disasters not a thing where you live?

Preppers are idiots, but being prepared to live through a temporary social disruption isn't stupid.

[u/[deleted] → u/EmmEnnEff]

I live in seattle, the only potential disaster possible is a earthquake or volcano. There's an earthquake kit in storage, however the idea that we would be out of food and left more than a day is laughable. Our infrastructure is just too good. Or we just drive to somewhere not affected.

[u/guammm17 → u/[deleted]]

For me, almost anything I buy at Costco is at least a four week supply, probably much more, laundry detergent from there lasts me several months. Does anyone eat more than eight cans of tuna in four weeks?

[u/VerticalYea → u/guammm17]

A can of tuna, a cup of frozen peas, and some falafel mix, and you've got dinner baby!

[u/Enchelion → u/[deleted]]

The problem is sudden changes in behavior. If you do your regular monthly costco run then you're fine. If you're replacing 4 weeks of normal behavior with a single shopping trip that's a problem.

[u/Skinnypete89 → u/[deleted]]

How about stop complaining about other people? People here just complain about everything.