2/26/20 A day to just a few days left before panic buying. Get to stores before.

AnnieA

AnnieA

Well-known Member
Location
Down South
Saw pics of stores in Italy three days ago with people in check out lines that reached to the back of the store. People were lined up outside a block or more trying to get in. Store shelves still empty in a lot of places. Since China makes so much of first world goods, who knows when stores are going to be able to restock.

I have never shopped on Black Friday and don't wish to be in crowds in a panic so am just about finished up. Have also bought container garden seeds for salad stuff.

Things to get:

Hand sanitizer and Lysol/generic sprays effectively kill COVID-19 and are likely to run out
Over the counter and RX meds -- 96% of US medicines or components come from China
Vitamins -- similar percentages to meds made in China
Toilet paper and toiletries
Soaps

Food: Much of our food preservatives are made in China so restocking even basics will be an issue.

Frozen meats, fruits and veggies
Staples such as flour, yeast, sugar, salt, cornmeal, seasonings
Oil
Peanut butter
Canned stuff
Shelf stable boxed milk, powdered milk, condensed milk etc
Oatmeal, rice, pasta all store well
Dried beans
Some crackers such as Cheezits, chips such as Pringles have long shelf lives
Pet food if you have pets


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday warned that it expects the novel coronavirus that has sparked outbreaks around the world to begin spreading at a community level in the United States, as a top official (Nancy Messonnier, director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases) said that disruptions to daily life could be “severe.”

https://www.statnews.com/2020/02/25...p-official-warns-disruptions-could-be-severe/
 

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..I'm trying not to make light of this because it's a very serious issue,, but we mustn't start panic buying in areas where the coronavirus hasn't even taken hold... it'll cause absolute anarchy and mayhem..... incidentally, if there was only peanut butter to stock up on I'd starve I hate that stuff...:oops:

The thing is how much stuff is anyone expected to stock up on, even?..I mean for how long if you were to do it?... 2 weeks..? 2 months...a year ..?.....how can we know if in fact this virus isn't just going to fade away almost as quickly as it passes..

No harm in stocking up with essentials if you plan not leave the house for a while..perhaps you have someone at home who is weak, old, infirm , or recovering from serious illness and you want to reduce the chances of any coronarvirus entering your home..fair enough stock up and stay self quarantined.. ..but

..as long as we we practice good hygiene , ensure hands are washed thoroughly with soap and hot water several times a day, stay away from anyone who has coughs and sneezes... and by all means wear a mask if you have to go out where there are crowds..airports, stations, stores etc.. but really , we cannot allow this to spread to hysterical panic ..or we all lose control ..schools will close, no-one will go to work, no nurses, doctors, no police, no essential services, no water no electric .. no mechanics, no delivery drivers, no fuel pumps open, all because everyone is too frightened to leave the house..... panic everywhere... we are all very rightly concerned, but panic buying isn't the answer..
 
hollydolly said:
..I'm trying not to make light of this because it's a very serious issue,, but we mustn't start panic buying in areas where the coronavirus hasn't even taken hold... it'll cause absolute anarchy and mayhem.....
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Incubation times for people returning home from Chinese New Year and international students returning after break pretty much guarantee a rise in cases. When that happens, people will panic. I posted this hoping some will shop before panic sets in ...because it's going to. When a CDC official states "severe disruption" that's just what she means.

ong if you were to do it?... 2 weeks..? 2 months...a year ..?.....how can we know if in fact this virus isn't just going to fade away almost as quickly as it passes..
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As much as you can afford. Call it bargin shopping if that makes you feel better because with so much of our stuff including food preservatives, medicines, vitamins, most anything with a chemical component connected to Chinese manufacturing ... prices WILL go up on most everything.

No harm in stocking up with essentials if you plan not leave the house for a while..perhaps you have someone at home who is weak, old, infirm , or recovering from serious illness and you want to reduce the chances of any coronarvirus entering your home..fair enough stock up and stay self quarantined.. ..but
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...but... I don't like crowds and don't want to be out when panic hits and it's going to. Some of the stuff you list in the quote below is going to happen. The CDC in the US has already said school closures are likely. Schools are already closing in the UK.

It sucks to think about but it's going to happen. People are going to panic as cases appear in their country and that's 100% going to happen. When it happens here, I'll be at home and not out fighting crowds. Heck, I even stocked up on hair color ...priorities and all... 🙃

..as long as we we practice good hygiene , ensure hands are washed thoroughly with soap and hot water several times a day, stay away from anyone who has coughs and sneezes... and by all means wear a mask if you have to go out where there are crowds..airports, stations, stores etc.. but really , we cannot allow this to spread to hysterical panic ..or we all lose control ..schools will close, no-one will go to work, no nurses, doctors, no police, no essential services, no water no electric .. no mechanics, no delivery drivers, no fuel pumps open, all because everyone is too frightened to leave the house..... panic everywhere... we are all very rightly concerned, but panic buying isn't the answer..
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Ruth n Jersey said:
I've got two chest freezers full of food. We might not have a totally balanced meal everyday but we will have plenty of food to last quit awhile. I'm not going to risk going to the store to get more.
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Ruth, you can use pick-up services and not have to go inside a lot of places. I use them for Kroger, Walmart, Sam's Club. Whole Foods delivers to homes in certain areas. I pay for the stuff online, drive to the pick-up parking slot and a clerk loads it in my cargo area.
 
Ruth n Jersey said:
I've got two chest freezers full of food. We might not have a totally balanced meal everyday but we will have plenty of food to last quit awhile. I'm not going to risk going to the store to get more.
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The problem with frozen food is that during problem times like pandemics, utilities may not be available if they don't have workers . Can foods are best, but I really hate them. I'll just buy enough for one week. I rather not think about it. I did buy four bags of cat food and lots of litter today.

https://www.verywellfit.com/why-keep-foods-for-an-emergency-2507684
 
Catlady said:
Can foods are best, but I really hate them. I'll just buy enough for one week. I rather not think about it. I did buy four bags of cat food and lots of litter today.

https://www.verywellfit.com/why-keep-foods-for-an-emergency-2507684
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There are some canned things I really like. I'm a big fresh fruit eater but do like canned fruits in their own juice such as pineapple and mandarin oranges. Also like mixed nuts to snack on and can do a lot with beans and rice ...esp love creole red beans and rice. Then there's marinara sauce, alfredo sauce and pasta ...lots of variety that doesn't have to cost a lot. And if you're a chip eater, Pringles has a super long shelf life.
 
AnnieA said:
There are some canned things I really like. I'm a big fresh fruit eater but do like canned fruits in their own juice such as pineapple and mandarin oranges. Also like mixed nuts to snack on and can do a lot with beans and rice ...esp love creole red beans and rice. Then there's marinara sauce, alfredo sauce and pasta ...lots of variety that doesn't have to cost a lot. And if you're a chip eater, Pringles has a super long shelf life.
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I USED (long time ago) to like canned pineapple and peaches, also ravioli and chili. I like homecooked beans (pinto) and rice with soy sauce and grated parmesan, but if there is no power, you can't cook them. I also love my homemade marinara and freeze portions, but again, if the power goes out, the freezer is only good for maybe 48 hours. How DID people live before refs and freezers? LOL, we're spoiled!
 
hollydolly said:
..I'm trying not to make light of this because it's a very serious issue,, but we mustn't start panic buying in areas where the coronavirus hasn't even taken hold... it'll cause absolute anarchy and mayhem..... incidentally, if there was only peanut butter to stock up on I'd starve I hate that stuff...:oops:

The thing is how much stuff is anyone expected to stock up on, even?..I mean for how long if you were to do it?... 2 weeks..? 2 months...a year ..?.....how can we know if in fact this virus isn't just going to fade away almost as quickly as it passes..

No harm in stocking up with essentials if you plan not leave the house for a while..perhaps you have someone at home who is weak, old, infirm , or recovering from serious illness and you want to reduce the chances of any coronarvirus entering your home..fair enough stock up and stay self quarantined.. ..but

..as long as we we practice good hygiene , ensure hands are washed thoroughly with soap and hot water several times a day, stay away from anyone who has coughs and sneezes... and by all means wear a mask if you have to go out where there are crowds..airports, stations, stores etc.. but really , we cannot allow this to spread to hysterical panic ..or we all lose control ..schools will close, no-one will go to work, no nurses, doctors, no police, no essential services, no water no electric .. no mechanics, no delivery drivers, no fuel pumps open, all because everyone is too frightened to leave the house..... panic everywhere... we are all very rightly concerned, but panic buying isn't the answer..
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Obviously you have no experience in disasters. Waiting one day can leave you holding the bag (empty). The "unknown" is the key factor with this virus and as long as that holds true being prepared is paramount in dealing with the unknown. Being prepared is not panicking.
 
Catlady said:
I USED (long time ago) to like canned pineapple and peaches, also ravioli and chili. I like homecooked beans (pinto) and rice with soy sauce and grated parmesan, but if there is no power, you can't cook them. I also love my homemade marinara and freeze portions, but again, if the power goes out, the freezer is only good for maybe 48 hours. How DID people live before refs and freezers? LOL, we're spoiled!
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It would have to get really bad for a long time for the power to go out.
 
AnnieA said:
It would have to get really bad for a long time for the power to go out.
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well it wouldn't take very long for the power to go out if everyone was stocking up and staying home..no electricity workers, keeping the grid working... ..I'm not being deliberately provocative Annie..you know me well enough to know that I think.... :giggle: ..I'm just saying if people start panicking before there isn;t any real reason for panic in a particular area this is the type of thing which could easily happen.. of course there's no question as I stated in my earlier post, if you need or wish to stay home , if you feel safer then that's entirely your prerogative and sensible for you, and of course you must stock up, and anyay I'd hope most people should have a basic stock of food at all times anyway for any amount of reasons... all I'm saying is that panic buying..stripping shelves where there''s been no reports of the virus, is never a good idea....it leaves those elderly and poor, and those unable to shop for very much at any one time, without food in the stores...
 
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hollydolly said:
I'm just saying if people start panicking before there's isn;t any real reason for panic in a particular area this is the type of thing which could easily happen
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I remember the false gas shortage
Gas stations, with cars lined up for miles
Tankers in the bay.....waiting for prices to peak
Stores with empty shelves
Freeways, empty
Didn't take that long

Gotta be wise
Sure, do some stocking up, but think.....you could be a contributor to a false shortage panic
 
Gary O' said:
it's sure a part of it
the ugliest part
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absolutely Gary... if anything causes me sheer anger it's robbing anyone, but most of all those who are least able to afford it and the vulnerable ...

I remember (talking about sugar earlier)... back in the 70''s here the whole nation it seemed were either on strike on a 3 day working week , services were limited ..refuse was piling up for weeks, we'd have electricity cuts for hours at a time with no warning, people cleared the stores of torches, batteries, candles, toilet rolls etc... and all in all it was chaos..

Lots of food and fuel was in shortage and the supermarkets only permitted one 2 pound bag of sugar per person to be sold... if in fact there was any available.. there was so much panic buying of sugar ( I have no idea why) that instead of being known as the austere 70's it became the time of the ''sugar shortage''.

Anyway, on the edge of town we had one little independent store... and after searching every supermarket for sugar and finding none, I finally went to the little out of town store.. he was charging £5 a bag... !! I'll never forget it.. at the time I think the going rate for sugar was about 20pence... I didn't buy the sugar from him ( couldn't have afforded it for one, but the principle would have been the same even if I could).. I would have understood him adding a little extra to the price of a bag of sugar but taking the piss out of customers when they were in need made my blood boil , and I vowed never to buy from that store again when things returned to normal..and I never did..and neither did loads of others, so ultimately his business went to the wall and he was made bankrupt.

Just as an Addendum ... a few years after this incident, this very same store owner, used to come into the pub and go around trying to cadge drinks from everyone...
 
bingo said:
the guy that bought 10lbs of sugar..?
going back to get an another 10lbs..?
must be planning on prohibition...ha!
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I don't know how many people he's planning to feed. He lives in the country and has a nice little mini farm. He's got city relatives who are planning to stay with him if closures go into effect.
 
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hollydolly said:
I absolutely hate rip off merchants and opportunists
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They may be doing that right at the first. But as their distributors run out of stuff due to China's nearly at standstill production, the retailers will be paying more at their end due to shortages. That increased cost will be passed along to us.
 

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