So...about claims of hoarding and "panic buying." (RANT WARNING)
I'll tell you what. I sleep better knowing that our household is stocked. We are *not* going to the grocery store. If we were going to the store right now, we'd want to minimize the number of trips. So, yep, I'd buy a couple more of things we really have to have on hand. My DH in particular, like many people, have special dietary needs. If we run out of what he can eat, what then? I don't want to lie awake wondering about using the last of the food he can eat.
That being said, so far, most of what we actually need to stock on is not on everyone else's list and no, we don't want to take the last 10 rolls of toilet paper. OTOH, it's often sold in packs of 6 or 12. We are going to need some someday - I've got 3 rolls hidden and when I get to those, I'll search for more (last time, had to have family members seek them out - that's not exactly great).
I imagine lots and lots of people are the same way. Who wants to go to the store every other day? If a food can last, we stock up. And it really doesn't take that long for us to get through half of what we have on hand.
We have two sets of pantry items: used all the time, and "in store for a real emergency." That's what any normal person does, if they live where there are hurricanes, fires, earthquakes etc. We buy canned tuna and salmon (wild, line caught, dolphin-friendly) online - so why would we want to pay more for shipping and handling? It comes 12 cans in a box, so we order 24. It lasts less than a year. Is that hoarding? AFAIK, the company still has more - although they won't have it right before salmon season starts, so we stock up.
There are items (posole) that are nearly impossible to find. It's something my DH can eat. We're down to 2 cans. I have the ingredients to make more (probably 4 cans worth). It's out of stock continually here, but if my shopper finds 4 cans, is that panic buying? On both Amazon and Instacart, we often get fewer of what we ordered, obviously we're getting the last of stock.
So, since I buy infrequently, I'm supposed to buy less? What? How is encouraging people to shop more frequently a good thing right now?
What the heck is "panic buying"? Are people literally hitting the stores at opening and buying all of everything that's on a typical shopping list? Like eggs? We eat a lot of them, have 4 dozen in the fridge (down from 8 dozen a month ago). I felt guilty adding more to our cart today, so now I'll have to do another cart sooner than we usually do.
If we ever do run out of eggs, it'll be very bad for DH. Am I panicked?
No, but it's a concern and why should I want anyone to make more runs to the store? I expect that lots of people feel the same way.
Asking the public to limit their essential shopping to a smaller amount of items (thus returning to the store 4-7 days later) seems really strange. Can't stores just put limits on things that are essential and in short supply? We are unable to get fresh salmon, smoked salmon, potatoes (often), frozen potatoes, onions, carrots that are actually edible, specialty and other cheeses, line caught tuna, our regular toothpaste, grass fed beef, my favorite triscuits, Skinny Pop popcorn, and much else - if I want those things, I have to order online and pay more.
