Covid-19 and toilet paper hysteria - Page 2

Myriad · 8th March 2020, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by catsmate

Someone making nerve gases?

More likely it's because this coming full moon is Rubbing Day, a South Coast New England tradition begun by a rogue splinter sect of Swedenborgians who settled in the North Dartmouth-Hixville area in the late 1600s while everyone else was too distracted by King Philip's War to send cats to chase them out. You'd think the local pharmacies would be used to it by now, and know to stock up extra rubbing alcohol, but no, inventory management is handled by Corporate off in Roswell or Chattanooga, who are ignorant of our local values. So every year it's "where did all the isopropanol and clean towels go?" and "verily, the Red Sox have traded away all their good players again." (The latter has nought to do with Rubbing Day but happens at the same time of year.)

We don't cotton to the making of nerve gases until after the Midmaymonth June-bug festival in early August.

shemp · 8th March 2020, 09:58 AM

Or it could be that they're mixing it with hand lotion to create a sanitizer substitute. But I think your explanation is more likely.

a_unique_person · 8th March 2020, 06:27 PM

Two supermarkets checked, both out of toilet paper. It's a sign of the end times.

At least this will give The Walking Dead writers some ideas. The heavily armed fortress run by a psychopath that has the all the world's remaining stocks of toilet paper stored inside it.

shemp · 8th March 2020, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by a_unique_person

Two supermarkets checked, both out of toilet paper. It's a sign of the end times.

The rear end times.

The Atheist · 8th March 2020, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by a_unique_person

Two supermarkets checked, both out of toilet paper. It's a sign of the end times.

At least this will give The Walking Dead writers some ideas. The heavily armed fortress run by a psychopath that has the all the world's remaining stocks of toilet paper stored inside it.

I did like some Aussie talking head quoted in the paper: "This isn't Mad Max."

I don't recall seeing a single roll in that.

Trebuchet · 8th March 2020, 07:20 PM

I was in an Office Max store today. They had TP. And other products not related to their core business.

TragicMonkey · 8th March 2020, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by Trebuchet

I was in an Office Max store today. They had TP. And other products not related to their core business.

I think they've always sold TP. And snacks. I think it's so businesses can buy that kind of stuff on the same order as more officey-type supplies. I like the weird aisle of clearly-not-for-regular-people stuff, where they sell things like timeclock punchcards and universal HR forms for firing someone, and rolls of raffle tickets.

Gord_in_Toronto · 8th March 2020, 07:47 PM

Just to chime in with a single data point from Canada (Toronto, more or less). I regularly shop at two supermarkets. One is one of the big chain stores and the other is a discount store (though actually owned by one of the big chain stores). The first I went to today had a sale on TP, paper towel and tissues at some pretty good discounts (as much as 50%). There were a few holes in the shelves but everything was available. I actually stocked up because of the prices. The second store did not have a sale on anything and the shelves were almost empty.

If I understood what was actually happening, I sure I would be very rich.

Delphic Oracle · 8th March 2020, 08:45 PM

Like many Americans I have 3 jobs. One of them is at a big box store.

We've been out of masks for over a week, which really irritates people who work with chemicals or in dusty/moldy environments.

It occurred to me earlier today while reading articles that I see foreign places with people wearing them uniformly. Skipping past that you should wear it if you're sick, not the other way around (granted it can help retain "don't touch face" awareness), where have all the masks gone?

Sitting on a box in the basement "just for a minute while I find a spot..."?

I've not seen one being worn. Not. One.

rjh01 · 8th March 2020, 11:33 PM

Originally Posted by Delphic Oracle

Like many Americans I have 3 jobs. One of them is at a big box store.

We've been out of masks for over a week, which really irritates people who work with chemicals or in dusty/moldy environments.

It occurred to me earlier today while reading articles that I see foreign places with people wearing them uniformly. Skipping past that you should wear it if you're sick, not the other way around (granted it can help retain "don't touch face" awareness), where have all the masks gone?

Sitting on a box in the basement "just for a minute while I find a spot..."?

I've not seen one being worn. Not. One.

I think these should be rationed to people who need them. Like prescription only. I did see a mother with her two children on the bus today wearing them. One of the children had taken her off in the bus, thus making it useless. Worse they were obviously not wearing them properly as I could see holes where air could get into the mouth without going through the mask. I did want to say to the mother "If your children are sick they should at home. If they are not sick they should not be wearing a mask." But I have more sense than that to do so.

cullennz · 9th March 2020, 12:53 AM

Originally Posted by Delphic Oracle

Like many Americans I have 3 jobs.

Far out.

Serious?

Assume if so they must be all part time?

Matthew Best · 9th March 2020, 01:05 AM

We were almost out of toilet paper yesterday, and I was a bit embarrassed about going to the shop to buy some as I thought people might think I was stockpiling. In the end I just went to my local mini-market and bought a a 4-pack (no sign of any shortage there) and it was fine.

The Great Zaganza · 9th March 2020, 01:09 AM

Since people are already hoarding all the non-perishables, I've decided to buy up all the perishable goods.
I'll sell them at a huge mark-up in a month or two.

Nessie · 9th March 2020, 02:21 AM

Originally Posted by Delphic Oracle

Like many Americans I have 3 jobs. ...

Instead of panic buying toilet paper, you can panic poo at work.

Nessie · 9th March 2020, 02:24 AM

Originally Posted by Matthew Best

We were almost out of toilet paper yesterday, and I was a bit embarrassed about going to the shop to buy some as I thought people might think I was stockpiling. In the end I just went to my local mini-market and bought a a 4-pack (no sign of any shortage there) and it was fine.

For our weekly major supermarket delivered shop, all the cheap toilet paper was gone, but it was still easy to get other toilet paper. The little local shop, where even the cheap stuff is quite expensive, has always had a supply.

Panic appears to have a price ceiling, after which people calm down.

Darat · 9th March 2020, 03:54 AM

Is it really panic buying or is it earlier than usual buying?

I think what has happened is that the media started talking about toilet paper and one or two people bulk buying and then when folk were out shopping they thought "oh I don't need any this week, but I'll pick up a pack while I am here".

With how our supermarkets are stocked (which is based on a certain forecasted amount being sold in a particular week) it doesn't take many "one pack early" to completely empty the shelves.

psionl0 · 9th March 2020, 03:56 AM

This is not unlike the baby formula saga. Because people in China are willing to pay a fortune for Australian baby formula, people raid the supermarkets of all the baby formula they can find and flog it to the Chinese.

It didn't mean that I had to stock up on 6 month's supply. I just needed to keep my eyes open and pick up an extra tin whenever I saw one. I never went more than a couple of weeks without seeing one so we did ok.

I'm pretty sure that if I deal with toilet paper in the same way (I found a 4 pack today after waiting for 2 weeks) then I won't end up having to use my hands.

There isn't really a TP shortage. The TP manufacturers are having a field day ramping up production.

psionl0 · 9th March 2020, 03:59 AM

Originally Posted by Darat

Is it really panic buying or is it earlier than usual buying?

No, it's panic buying (in Australia anyway). People have been buying up as much TP as they can load up on and even fighting each other in the aisles for the stuff. Supermarket shelves are empty everywhere.

Matthew Best · 9th March 2020, 04:05 AM

Originally Posted by psionl0

There isn't really a TP shortage. The TP manufacturers are having a field day ramping up production.

Why ramp up production when there's no reason that people should use any more toilet paper than they always have - and, if a load of people die, then we'll actually need less toilet paper?

a_unique_person · 9th March 2020, 04:12 AM

Originally Posted by Darat

Is it really panic buying or is it earlier than usual buying?

I think what has happened is that the media started talking about toilet paper and one or two people bulk buying and then when folk were out shopping they thought "oh I don't need any this week, but I'll pick up a pack while I am here".

With how our supermarkets are stocked (which is based on a certain forecasted amount being sold in a particular week) it doesn't take many "one pack early" to completely empty the shelves.

There are plenty of pictures of people with shopping trolleys full of toilet paper. Even the OP has video of one.

psionl0 · 9th March 2020, 04:24 AM

Originally Posted by Matthew Best

Why ramp up production when there's no reason that people should use any more toilet paper than they always have - and, if a load of people die, then we'll actually need less toilet paper?

I suspect it is just a case of working the existing resources harder rather than building new factories. It is always better to make the sales now rather than later.

Darat · 9th March 2020, 04:29 AM

Originally Posted by a_unique_person

There are plenty of pictures of people with shopping trolleys full of toilet paper. Even the OP has video of one.

It's the internet, there are plenty of pictures of everything!

dann · 9th March 2020, 06:25 AM

Originally Posted by Matthew Best

Why ramp up production when there's no reason that people should use any more toilet paper than they always have - and, if a load of people die, then we'll actually need less toilet paper?

Maybe you can use it to mummify the casualties - or their houses.

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I AGREE

Drewbot · 9th March 2020, 06:44 AM

Just an FYI in Southfield MI, a suburb of Detroit, I went into a beer store to get some beer, and they were selling the $1.79 bottles of hand sanitizer for $14.99 / bottle.

It was Costco brand, so I'm guessing much of the bulk buying at Costco was by small businesses hoping to cash in on the scare.

Armitage72 · 9th March 2020, 07:19 AM

Originally Posted by Drewbot

Just an FYI in Southfield MI, a suburb of Detroit, I went into a beer store to get some beer, and they were selling the $1.79 bottles of hand sanitizer for $14.99 / bottle.

It was Costco brand, so I'm guessing much of the bulk buying at Costco was by small businesses hoping to cash in on the scare.

The company I work for sells hand sanitizer in 1 gallon bottles and 55 gallon drums (we sell to food processing plants and institutional settings, not to consumers). The products are manufactured by another company which then applies our labels, because our manufacturing facility doesn't have FDA certification. We were recently told that the increased demand would result in an 8 week delay on any future orders.

jeremyp · 9th March 2020, 07:27 AM

I think people are panic buying toilet paper because they think that all the other idiots panic buying toilet paper will leave none for them.

After the panic has died down, everybody will be left with a mountain of toilet paper which will cause demand to slump and many manufacturers will find their business in the toilet.

Suddenly · 9th March 2020, 08:01 AM

Originally Posted by jeremyp

I think people are panic buying toilet paper because they think that all the other idiots panic buying toilet paper will leave none for them.

After the panic has died down, everybody will be left with a mountain of toilet paper which will cause demand to slump and many manufacturers will find their business in the toilet.

This is pretty much it.

It starts probably with the rumor that there will be a shortage, which sets off this where even normal people buy as much as possible because they figure friends and family might need it.

There is no better way to get people to buy five of something than to set a limit of five per customer. So even limits can backfire a bit.

TragicMonkey · 9th March 2020, 08:23 AM

At least toilet paper doesn't go bad over time.

Does it?!?!

The Great Zaganza · 9th March 2020, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by TragicMonkey

At least toilet paper doesn't go bad over time.

Does it?!?!

Well, you have to use it before it hatches.

Ian Osborne · 9th March 2020, 08:56 AM

I've stocked up because the shelves are emptying, and I'd hate to run out before the madness has ended. There's no need to stock up on bog roll because of the coronavirus, but stocking up because of the coronavirus-fuelled shortage of bog roll seems sensible.

plague311 · 9th March 2020, 09:03 AM

Amazon Subscribe and Save, my TP shows up on my doorstep every month without me having to leave my house. Though, it would be ****** if we ran out.

Darat · 9th March 2020, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by Ian Osborne

I've stocked up because the shelves are emptying, and I'd hate to run out before the madness has ended. There's no need to stock up on bog roll because of the coronavirus, but stocking up because of the coronavirus-fuelled shortage of bog roll seems sensible.

Self fulfilling prophecy!

Darat · 9th March 2020, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by plague311

Amazon Subscribe and Save, my TP shows up on my doorstep every month without me having to leave my house. Though, it would be ****** if we ran out.

Packed and delivered by who......

plague311 · 9th March 2020, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by Darat

Packed and delivered by who......

Not China! I thought Amazon had robots that did all of that now.

Darat · 9th March 2020, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by plague311

Not China! I thought Amazon had robots that did all of that now.

Only in the original sense of the word robot....

catsmate · 9th March 2020, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by a_unique_person

Two supermarkets checked, both out of toilet paper. It's a sign of the end times.

Both Lidls I visited today had plenty.

Wolrab · 9th March 2020, 11:44 AM

Went for regular grocery shopping today at Wegmans, a multi-state corporation. TP was out. No matter as we usually buy enough. What sucked is alcohol preps and bottles of rubbing alcohol were out and had signs up for limits. I got two small boxes of the alcohol preps at Walmart. The last two! Both my mother and I have insulin for DMII.

I noticed all the Wegmans brand bleach was gone but there was plenty of brand named bleach there. I guess the Covid-19 apocalypse isn't worth the extra buck or two for those. There was however plenty of soap available.

TragicMonkey · 9th March 2020, 12:28 PM

The solution to two panics is to combine them so they cancel out:

Corona virus is spread by purchasing toilet paper.

Put that on Facebook and watch the supply chains normalize. You're welcome, world!

The Atheist · 9th March 2020, 02:00 PM

This is pure genius:

https://play.stuff.co.nz/details/_6139855915001

deadrose · 9th March 2020, 06:24 PM

I'm fairly annoyed by these idiots. I don't panic-buy things, so if shelves are still being stripped by the time we run out of our current Costco pack, I'll be very unhappy.

And why is there a run on hand sanitizer but not on soap? It's more effective. You don't need gallons of hand sanitizer if you're washing your hands and using sanitizer as a backup when water isn't available.

8th March 2020, 08:47 AM	#41
Myriad Hyperthetical Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Betwixt Posts: 16,272	Originally Posted by catsmate Someone making nerve gases? More likely it's because this coming full moon is Rubbing Day, a South Coast New England tradition begun by a rogue splinter sect of Swedenborgians who settled in the North Dartmouth-Hixville area in the late 1600s while everyone else was too distracted by King Philip's War to send cats to chase them out. You'd think the local pharmacies would be used to it by now, and know to stock up extra rubbing alcohol, but no, inventory management is handled by Corporate off in Roswell or Chattanooga, who are ignorant of our local values. So every year it's "where did all the isopropanol and clean towels go?" and "verily, the Red Sox have traded away all their good players again." (The latter has nought to do with Rubbing Day but happens at the same time of year.) We don't cotton to the making of nerve gases until after the Midmaymonth June-bug festival in early August.
	__________________ A zømbie once bit my sister...

8th March 2020, 09:58 AM	#42
shemp a flimsy character...perfidious and despised Pither Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: People's Democratic Republic of Planet X Posts: 34,888	Or it could be that they're mixing it with hand lotion to create a sanitizer substitute. But I think your explanation is more likely.
	__________________ "Shemp, you are the one fixed point in an ever-changing universe." - Beady "I don't want to live in a world without shemp." - Quarky "...just as a magnet attracts iron filings, ~~Trump~~ shemp attracts, and is attracted to, louts." - George Will "[shemp is] a most notable coward, an infinite and endless liar, an hourly promise breaker, the owner of no one good quality." - Shakespeare

8th March 2020, 06:27 PM	#43
a_unique_person Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Waiting for the pod bay door to open. Posts: 42,318	Two supermarkets checked, both out of toilet paper. It's a sign of the end times. At least this will give The Walking Dead writers some ideas. The heavily armed fortress run by a psychopath that has the all the world's remaining stocks of toilet paper stored inside it.
	__________________ *Continually pushing the boundaries of mediocrity.* Everything is possible, but not everything is probable. “Perception is real, but the truth is not.” - Imelda Marcos Last edited by a_unique_person; 8th March 2020 at 06:30 PM.

8th March 2020, 06:29 PM	#44
shemp a flimsy character...perfidious and despised Pither Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: People's Democratic Republic of Planet X Posts: 34,888	Originally Posted by a_unique_person Two supermarkets checked, both out of toilet paper. It's a sign of the end times. The rear end times.
	__________________ "Shemp, you are the one fixed point in an ever-changing universe." - Beady "I don't want to live in a world without shemp." - Quarky "...just as a magnet attracts iron filings, ~~Trump~~ shemp attracts, and is attracted to, louts." - George Will "[shemp is] a most notable coward, an infinite and endless liar, an hourly promise breaker, the owner of no one good quality." - Shakespeare

8th March 2020, 07:19 PM	#45
The Atheist The Grammar Tyrant Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 25,443	Originally Posted by a_unique_person Two supermarkets checked, both out of toilet paper. It's a sign of the end times. At least this will give The Walking Dead writers some ideas. The heavily armed fortress run by a psychopath that has the all the world's remaining stocks of toilet paper stored inside it. I did like some Aussie talking head quoted in the paper: "This isn't Mad Max." I don't recall seeing a single roll in that.
	__________________ The point of equilibrium has passed; satire and current events are now indistinguishable.

8th March 2020, 07:20 PM	#46
Trebuchet Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Port Townsend, Washington Posts: 26,967	I was in an Office Max store today. They had TP. And other products not related to their core business.
	__________________ Cum catapultae proscribeantur tum soli proscripti catapultas habeant.

8th March 2020, 07:25 PM	#47
TragicMonkey Poisoned Waffles Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Monkey Posts: 55,215	Originally Posted by Trebuchet I was in an Office Max store today. They had TP. And other products not related to their core business. I think they've always sold TP. And snacks. I think it's so businesses can buy that kind of stuff on the same order as more officey-type supplies. I like the weird aisle of clearly-not-for-regular-people stuff, where they sell things like timeclock punchcards and universal HR forms for firing someone, and rolls of raffle tickets.
	__________________ You added nothing to that conversation, Barbara.

8th March 2020, 07:47 PM	#48
Gord_in_Toronto Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 19,150	Just to chime in with a single data point from Canada (Toronto, more or less). I regularly shop at two supermarkets. One is one of the big chain stores and the other is a discount store (though actually owned by one of the big chain stores). The first I went to today had a sale on TP, paper towel and tissues at some pretty good discounts (as much as 50%). There were a few holes in the shelves but everything was available. I actually stocked up because of the prices. The second store did not have a sale on anything and the shelves were almost empty. If I understood what was actually happening, I sure I would be very rich.
	__________________ "Reality is what's left when you cease to believe." Philip K. Dick

8th March 2020, 08:45 PM	#49
Delphic Oracle Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 4,610	Like many Americans I have 3 jobs. One of them is at a big box store. We've been out of masks for over a week, which really irritates people who work with chemicals or in dusty/moldy environments. It occurred to me earlier today while reading articles that I see foreign places with people wearing them uniformly. Skipping past that you should wear it if you're sick, not the other way around (granted it can help retain "don't touch face" awareness), where have all the masks gone? Sitting on a box in the basement "just for a minute while I find a spot..."? I've not seen one being worn. Not. One.

8th March 2020, 11:33 PM	#50
rjh01 Gentleman of leisure Tagger Join Date: May 2005 Location: Flying around in the sky Posts: 25,713	Originally Posted by Delphic Oracle Like many Americans I have 3 jobs. One of them is at a big box store. We've been out of masks for over a week, which really irritates people who work with chemicals or in dusty/moldy environments. It occurred to me earlier today while reading articles that I see foreign places with people wearing them uniformly. Skipping past that you should wear it if you're sick, not the other way around (granted it can help retain "don't touch face" awareness), where have all the masks gone? Sitting on a box in the basement "just for a minute while I find a spot..."? I've not seen one being worn. Not. One. I think these should be rationed to people who need them. Like prescription only. I did see a mother with her two children on the bus today wearing them. One of the children had taken her off in the bus, thus making it useless. Worse they were obviously not wearing them properly as I could see holes where air could get into the mouth without going through the mask. I did want to say to the mother "If your children are sick they should at home. If they are not sick they should not be wearing a mask." But I have more sense than that to do so.
	__________________ This signature is for rent.

9th March 2020, 12:53 AM	#51
cullennz Embarrasingly illiterate Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 18,357	Originally Posted by Delphic Oracle Like many Americans I have 3 jobs. Far out. Serious? Assume if so they must be all part time?
	__________________ I generally oppose gun control, but I support the ban on assault weapons and I support a slightly longer waiting period to purchase a gun. With today’s Internet technology we should be able to tell within 72-hours if a potential gun owner has a record. Source: The America We Deserve, by Donald Trump, p.102 , Jul 2, 2000

9th March 2020, 01:05 AM	#52
Matthew Best Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Leicester Square, London Posts: 7,479	We were almost out of toilet paper yesterday, and I was a bit embarrassed about going to the shop to buy some as I thought people might think I was stockpiling. In the end I just went to my local mini-market and bought a a 4-pack (no sign of any shortage there) and it was fine.

9th March 2020, 01:09 AM	#53
The Great Zaganza Maledictorian Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 11,600	Since people are already hoarding all the non-perishables, I've decided to buy up all the perishable goods. I'll sell them at a huge mark-up in a month or two.
	__________________ ETTD Everything Trump Touches Dies

9th March 2020, 02:21 AM	#54
Nessie Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 12,597	Originally Posted by Delphic Oracle Like many Americans I have 3 jobs. ... Instead of panic buying toilet paper, you can panic poo at work.
	__________________ Audiophile/biker/sceptic

9th March 2020, 02:24 AM	#55
Nessie Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 12,597	Originally Posted by Matthew Best We were almost out of toilet paper yesterday, and I was a bit embarrassed about going to the shop to buy some as I thought people might think I was stockpiling. In the end I just went to my local mini-market and bought a a 4-pack (no sign of any shortage there) and it was fine. For our weekly major supermarket delivered shop, all the cheap toilet paper was gone, but it was still easy to get other toilet paper. The little local shop, where even the cheap stuff is quite expensive, has always had a supply. Panic appears to have a price ceiling, after which people calm down.
	__________________ Audiophile/biker/sceptic

9th March 2020, 03:54 AM	#56
Darat Lackey Administrator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: South East, UK Posts: 91,458	Is it really panic buying or is it earlier than usual buying? I think what has happened is that the media started talking about toilet paper and one or two people bulk buying and then when folk were out shopping they thought "oh I don't need any this week, but I'll pick up a pack while I am here". With how our supermarkets are stocked (which is based on a certain forecasted amount being sold in a particular week) it doesn't take many "one pack early" to completely empty the shelves.
	__________________ I wish I knew how to quit you Last edited by Darat; 9th March 2020 at 03:55 AM. Reason: That is the ?

9th March 2020, 03:56 AM	#57
psionl0 Skeptical about skeptics Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: 31°57'S 115°57'E Posts: 16,274	This is not unlike the baby formula saga. Because people in China are willing to pay a fortune for Australian baby formula, people raid the supermarkets of all the baby formula they can find and flog it to the Chinese. It didn't mean that I had to stock up on 6 month's supply. I just needed to keep my eyes open and pick up an extra tin whenever I saw one. I never went more than a couple of weeks without seeing one so we did ok. I'm pretty sure that if I deal with toilet paper in the same way (I found a 4 pack today after waiting for 2 weeks) then I won't end up having to use my hands. There isn't really a TP shortage. The TP manufacturers are having a field day ramping up production.
	__________________ "The process by which banks create money is so simple that the mind is repelled. Where something so important is involved, a deeper mystery seems only decent." - Galbraith, 1975

9th March 2020, 03:59 AM	#58
psionl0 Skeptical about skeptics Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: 31°57'S 115°57'E Posts: 16,274	Originally Posted by Darat Is it really panic buying or is it earlier than usual buying? No, it's panic buying (in Australia anyway). People have been buying up as much TP as they can load up on and even fighting each other in the aisles for the stuff. Supermarket shelves are empty everywhere.
	__________________ "The process by which banks create money is so simple that the mind is repelled. Where something so important is involved, a deeper mystery seems only decent." - Galbraith, 1975 Last edited by psionl0; 9th March 2020 at 04:00 AM.

9th March 2020, 04:05 AM	#59
Matthew Best Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Leicester Square, London Posts: 7,479	Originally Posted by psionl0 There isn't really a TP shortage. The TP manufacturers are having a field day ramping up production. Why ramp up production when there's no reason that people should use any more toilet paper than they always have - and, if a load of people die, then we'll actually need less toilet paper?

9th March 2020, 04:12 AM	#60
a_unique_person Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Waiting for the pod bay door to open. Posts: 42,318	Originally Posted by Darat Is it really panic buying or is it earlier than usual buying? I think what has happened is that the media started talking about toilet paper and one or two people bulk buying and then when folk were out shopping they thought "oh I don't need any this week, but I'll pick up a pack while I am here". With how our supermarkets are stocked (which is based on a certain forecasted amount being sold in a particular week) it doesn't take many "one pack early" to completely empty the shelves. There are plenty of pictures of people with shopping trolleys full of toilet paper. Even the OP has video of one.
	__________________ *Continually pushing the boundaries of mediocrity.* Everything is possible, but not everything is probable. “Perception is real, but the truth is not.” - Imelda Marcos

9th March 2020, 04:24 AM	#61
psionl0 Skeptical about skeptics Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: 31°57'S 115°57'E Posts: 16,274	Originally Posted by Matthew Best Why ramp up production when there's no reason that people should use any more toilet paper than they always have - and, if a load of people die, then we'll actually need less toilet paper? I suspect it is just a case of working the existing resources harder rather than building new factories. It is always better to make the sales now rather than later.
	__________________ "The process by which banks create money is so simple that the mind is repelled. Where something so important is involved, a deeper mystery seems only decent." - Galbraith, 1975

9th March 2020, 04:29 AM	#62
Darat Lackey Administrator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: South East, UK Posts: 91,458	Originally Posted by a_unique_person There are plenty of pictures of people with shopping trolleys full of toilet paper. Even the OP has video of one. It's the internet, there are plenty of pictures of everything!
	__________________ I wish I knew how to quit you

9th March 2020, 06:44 AM	#64
Drewbot Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 7,291	Just an FYI in Southfield MI, a suburb of Detroit, I went into a beer store to get some beer, and they were selling the $1.79 bottles of hand sanitizer for $14.99 / bottle. It was Costco brand, so I'm guessing much of the bulk buying at Costco was by small businesses hoping to cash in on the scare.
Drewbot Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 7,291	__________________ "I dont call that evolution, I call that the survival of the fittest." - Bulletmaker "I thought skeptics would usually point towards a hoax rather than a group being duped." - makaya325 Kit is not a skeptic. He is a former Bigfoot believer that changed his position to that of non believer.- Crowlogic

9th March 2020, 07:19 AM	#65
Armitage72 Illuminator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 4,104	Originally Posted by Drewbot Just an FYI in Southfield MI, a suburb of Detroit, I went into a beer store to get some beer, and they were selling the $1.79 bottles of hand sanitizer for $14.99 / bottle. It was Costco brand, so I'm guessing much of the bulk buying at Costco was by small businesses hoping to cash in on the scare. The company I work for sells hand sanitizer in 1 gallon bottles and 55 gallon drums (we sell to food processing plants and institutional settings, not to consumers). The products are manufactured by another company which then applies our labels, because our manufacturing facility doesn't have FDA certification. We were recently told that the increased demand would result in an 8 week delay on any future orders.

9th March 2020, 07:27 AM	#66
jeremyp Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha Posts: 1,081	I think people are panic buying toilet paper because they think that all the other idiots panic buying toilet paper will leave none for them. After the panic has died down, everybody will be left with a mountain of toilet paper which will cause demand to slump and many manufacturers will find their business in the toilet.

9th March 2020, 08:01 AM	#67
Suddenly No Punting Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Montani Semper Liberi Posts: 3,615	Originally Posted by jeremyp I think people are panic buying toilet paper because they think that all the other idiots panic buying toilet paper will leave none for them. After the panic has died down, everybody will be left with a mountain of toilet paper which will cause demand to slump and many manufacturers will find their business in the toilet. This is pretty much it. It starts probably with the rumor that there will be a shortage, which sets off this where even normal people buy as much as possible because they figure friends and family might need it. There is no better way to get people to buy five of something than to set a limit of five per customer. So even limits can backfire a bit.

9th March 2020, 08:23 AM	#68
TragicMonkey Poisoned Waffles Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Monkey Posts: 55,215	At least toilet paper doesn't go bad over time. Does it?!?!
	__________________ You added nothing to that conversation, Barbara.

9th March 2020, 08:36 AM	#69
The Great Zaganza Maledictorian Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 11,600	Originally Posted by TragicMonkey At least toilet paper doesn't go bad over time. Does it?!?! Well, you have to use it before it hatches.
	__________________ ETTD Everything Trump Touches Dies

9th March 2020, 08:56 AM	#70
Ian Osborne JREF Kid Tagger Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 8,186	I've stocked up because the shelves are emptying, and I'd hate to run out before the madness has ended. There's no need to stock up on bog roll because of the coronavirus, but stocking up because of the coronavirus-fuelled shortage of bog roll seems sensible.
	__________________ "Faith without doubt leads to moral arrogance, the eternal pratfall of the religiously convinced" - Joe Klein, Time magazine "The fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses. They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at Fulton, they laughed at the Wright brothers. But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown." - Carl Sagan

9th March 2020, 09:03 AM	#71
plague311 Great minds think... Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North Dakota Posts: 8,293	Amazon Subscribe and Save, my TP shows up on my doorstep every month without me having to leave my house. Though, it would be ****** if we ran out.
	__________________ "Circumcision and death threats go together like milk and cookies." - William Parcher “There are times when the mind is dealt such a blow it hides itself in insanity. While this may not seem beneficial, it is. There are times when reality is nothing but pain, and to escape that pain the mind must leave reality behind.” - Patrick Rothfuss

9th March 2020, 09:21 AM	#72
Darat Lackey Administrator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: South East, UK Posts: 91,458	Originally Posted by Ian Osborne I've stocked up because the shelves are emptying, and I'd hate to run out before the madness has ended. There's no need to stock up on bog roll because of the coronavirus, but stocking up because of the coronavirus-fuelled shortage of bog roll seems sensible. Self fulfilling prophecy!
	__________________ I wish I knew how to quit you

9th March 2020, 09:23 AM	#73
Darat Lackey Administrator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: South East, UK Posts: 91,458	Originally Posted by plague311 Amazon Subscribe and Save, my TP shows up on my doorstep every month without me having to leave my house. Though, it would be ****** if we ran out. Packed and delivered by who......
	__________________ I wish I knew how to quit you

9th March 2020, 09:47 AM	#74
plague311 Great minds think... Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North Dakota Posts: 8,293	Originally Posted by Darat Packed and delivered by who...... Not China! I thought Amazon had robots that did all of that now.
	__________________ "Circumcision and death threats go together like milk and cookies." - William Parcher “There are times when the mind is dealt such a blow it hides itself in insanity. While this may not seem beneficial, it is. There are times when reality is nothing but pain, and to escape that pain the mind must leave reality behind.” - Patrick Rothfuss

9th March 2020, 10:07 AM	#75
Darat Lackey Administrator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: South East, UK Posts: 91,458	Originally Posted by plague311 Not China! I thought Amazon had robots that did all of that now. Only in the original sense of the word robot....
	__________________ I wish I knew how to quit you

9th March 2020, 11:16 AM	#76
catsmate No longer the 1 Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 21,966	Originally Posted by a_unique_person Two supermarkets checked, both out of toilet paper. It's a sign of the end times. Both Lidls I visited today had plenty.
	__________________ As human right is always something given, it always in reality reduces to the right which men give, "concede," to each other. If the right to existence is conceded to new-born children, then they have the right; if it is not conceded to them, as was the case among the Spartans and ancient Romans, then they do not have it. For only society can give or concede it to them; they themselves cannot take it, or give it to themselves.