Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Or just wait for it to calm down. It will. People don't need an unlimited amount of stuff.
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Coronavirus virus fears causing panic buying
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Or just wait for it to calm down. It will. People don't need an unlimited amount of stuff.
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Karl
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DynamicSpirit
Established Member
Yes I was wondering something similar, although broader: Wouldn't it have made more sense for the Government's announcement to have been that they'll pay 80% of these workers' salaries provided that those workers make themselves available to work helping out with the crisis if required. Not just thinking about warehouse pickers, but delivery drivers, checking up that elderly and vulnerable people are OK, even providing a security presence at supermarkets etc. I appreciate that it would take time to work out what is required, to train people up, and establish who reasonably could work doing what, but if the initial announcement came with that condition attached, then at least the option is there and people who choose to claim their 80% salary would know upfront that they could be 'called up' in return.
Definitely seems better than literally paying people to do nothing - which itself could eventually attract some resentment from people who are still in their jobs and therefore still working long hours to earn their salaries.
edwin_m
Veteran Member
Absolutely agree. I was just this as an example as the previous poster mentioned the shortage of pickers, but there must be many more people who have nothing to do that could be matched to jobs that need doing.
Yes you’re absolutely spot on about that. My other half has put herself forward to look after children of key workers (she’s a qualified child minder), and I’m going to be volunteering to deliver provisions locally or help out where I can.
We won’t take any government money unless it’s totally and absolutely necessary, because at the end of the day it’ll just be taking it out of a desperately flagging economy and society will be paying for this for decades.
I make no judgements on those that will have to look for the government for help though and I’m extremely worried for many people I know.
According to trusted sources who work in this area, staff are being redeployed where required, product lines are being cut and they are starting to turn the corner.
Anyone who currently needs to stock up would probably be best waiting until next week and avoid the weekend rush though if you can get by until then.
I get the impression a lot of people are moving from a state of having very few food reserves to wanting to have several weeks worth of food stored. Clearly it is going to take time to cater for all that demand but it will reduce eventually.
Anyone who currently needs to stock up would probably be best waiting until next week and avoid the weekend rush though if you can get by until then.
I get the impression a lot of people are moving from a state of having very few food reserves to wanting to have several weeks worth of food stored. Clearly it is going to take time to cater for all that demand but it will reduce eventually.
PG
Established Member
Good to hear they are not wasting electricity so reducing their environmental impact.
Bantamzen
Established Member
That's if they actually get paid this 80%. The money doesn't just magically drop into their bank accounts, someone, somewhere has to actually make that happen. People aren't going to work for free, or for that matter travel to distribution centres that might be very long distances from their homes when they have no money.
Peter Kelford
Member
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How about a ration card for an area (e.g. Lancs+South Cumbria for Northern Lancastrians) for the most bought products? Toilet paper is limited to 32 rolls (2 large packs) per week, eggs set at 56 a week (2 eggs x 4 people x 7 days), exceptions made for large families, pasta at 1kg a week etc.
Supermarkets yesterday said they can employ 30,000 more people. It’s interesting that that announcement coincided with the governments announcement on wage support. I would have been happier if this announcement had said that the wage support was tied to some sort of agreement to be re-deployed though. We need to keep people working and the economy turning as much as possible.
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/business-51976075
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trainophile
Established Member
What??? Four rolls per week should be more than enough for two to four people, unless someone has a medical condition.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
There is no real need for that as there is not (yet) a supply problem. It just needs to settle down.
It's best to avoid big supermarkets this weekend. Wait until next week.
I'm informed there is no supply problem as such but the logistics of getting goods into the shops is where the bottleneck lies.
A lot of people may go food shopping this weekend because they can't do other things so it really is best to wait. If you need some food for the next few days visit a local shop.
I'm informed there is no supply problem as such but the logistics of getting goods into the shops is where the bottleneck lies.
A lot of people may go food shopping this weekend because they can't do other things so it really is best to wait. If you need some food for the next few days visit a local shop.
trainophile
Established Member
The "don't stockpile or panic buy" request (currently just a request, perhaps needs upgrading to an instruction) is at odds with the regular warnings that we may be in this situation for over a year. Those considered more at risk will not be wanting to venture out even for shopping.
Not that I'm condoning stockpiling but I can understand why it's happening.
Not that I'm condoning stockpiling but I can understand why it's happening.
That's my fear too - "lets go shopping because there's nothing else to do"
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Yes, this. I haven't been shopping for a few days but I have found local shops to be well stocked. The best one is one near me which is literally 2 minutes' drive from the big Morrisons and Aldi - nobody is going there other than locals so other than the inevitable bog roll it's still very well stocked.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Cue a load more spread as people pack into the large sheds.
Seriously, watch Netflix or go for a walk.
trainophile
Established Member
Or play online. I must say we are so lucky this crisis is happening in the Internet age.
I also must say that this is proving one of the most informative, hysteria-free forums that I know of. Thanks to all concerned and long may it continue!
I also must say that this is proving one of the most informative, hysteria-free forums that I know of. Thanks to all concerned and long may it continue!
The local big ASDA wasn't too bad around 9am when I visited. There was still fresh meat (though you'd need to be flexible as plenty was sold out but if you want meat you could get it), plenty of milk, bread and even paracetamol! No pasta that I could see (other than wholemeal spaghetti) and I forgot to look for rice. No toilet roll of course.
I figure by 1300 or 1400 there will be very little choice left at all as I got there only around an hour after opening (one member of staff told me that there had been a queue about 200m long at 8am when they opened) and stocks were dwindling but by no means gone.
As I think everyone sensible on this thread (god why can't more people be like the good people of RailUK eh?
) there's plenty of supply just to many people being ridiculous with what they want to buy.
I figure by 1300 or 1400 there will be very little choice left at all as I got there only around an hour after opening (one member of staff told me that there had been a queue about 200m long at 8am when they opened) and stocks were dwindling but by no means gone.
As I think everyone sensible on this thread (god why can't more people be like the good people of RailUK eh?
) there's plenty of supply just to many people being ridiculous with what they want to buy.3rd rail land
Member
I plan to go to one of my local supermarkets in a few minutes time. I fear my options will be trek round all the supermarkets in my area to get what I need or come home empty handed.
trainophile
Established Member
I think the answer is to go with an open mind and not a list of meal plans, then get what you can. Obviously things like milk and bread are pretty essential so it's to be hoped that people are sensible about those.
OH shopped with his disabled sister this morning, got milk today which wasn't available yesterday, but today there was no butter although he did get some yesterday. It's an ever changing situation.
OH shopped with his disabled sister this morning, got milk today which wasn't available yesterday, but today there was no butter although he did get some yesterday. It's an ever changing situation.
Yes and No....
Unfortunately this is not the case on an awful lot of the internet. Just read some of the nonsense on social media and The Daily Mail.
I can remember when idiots spreading their stupidity online was a source of humour, it is now becoming downright dangerous.
I probably bought double what I’d usually buy when I went shopping Thursday morning, and that’s mainly due to me wanting to minimise any of us having to go out over the next few weeks (when I say double I mean it was still only one trolley full that came to £101 and we’ve got a large family). It did make me think that even a sensible increase in the amount of shopping people have bought would still quite easily overwhelm the system.The local big ASDA wasn't too bad around 9am when I visited. There was still fresh meat (though you'd need to be flexible as plenty was sold out but if you want meat you could get it), plenty of milk, bread and even paracetamol! No pasta that I could see (other than wholemeal spaghetti) and I forgot to look for rice. No toilet roll of course.
I figure by 1300 or 1400 there will be very little choice left at all as I got there only around an hour after opening (one member of staff told me that there had been a queue about 200m long at 8am when they opened) and stocks were dwindling but by no means gone.
As I think everyone sensible on this thread (god why can't more people be like the good people of RailUK eh?
(I feel like I’m making myself sound like part of the problem here)
deltic
Established Member
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Massive queues at our local farmers market today but traders were limiting amount of items people could buy - popped into our local Sainsbury Supermarket (picking up an office chair to work from home from Argos) - fresh fruit and veg available for first time that I have seen in a week - some fresh meat and fish - frozen chips restocked. Seems to be less panic buying - perhaps as people see the shops starting to restock or they have run out of space in the freezer to store fresh items.
Bantamzen
Established Member
Its encouraging to know that its logistical rather than supply issue. Luckily over a few trips we've got enough in for the rest of the month so save a few small items we'll not need to do a big shop until payday.
Play online you say? On it!!
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
It could become a supply issue if farmers don't get workers to harvest, though if you're out of work applying to do that would be a good idea.
R G NOW.
Member
I have just had a delivery from Sainsburys and they supplied everything I had ordered, even toilet paper and cleaner 4pts of milk. I got my ready meals and Ovaltine. I am very grateful to have these as many people are struggling to get even milk. They have put some prices up though but my lindor white chocolate was 1.50.
Enthusiast
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Lucky you! I've been trying to get a delivery or "Click & Collect slot from Tesco, Sainsbury and ASDA since last weekend. None available. On Thursday night I actually logged in to Tesco just before midnight and watched the slot dates move forward a day as midnight struck. I went immediately to "book a slot" (possibly about 20 seconds after midnight) and none were available for the day that had just been added to the rota.
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