How Empty Are Your Local Stores? - General Discussion Discussion

[–] Otter (24464) 5 years ago

My local supermarket was pretty well stocked overall, and maybe 20% more crowded than usual on a Sunday evening. The TP and paper towel shelves were empty, the rice shelf was bare and the pasta shelf was lean, but I was able to get most of the imperishable foods and cleaning products I was after. I'm set for a couple of weeks of voluntary quarantine, or more.

Funny thing, the third emptiest display was the bagged salads and greens. WTF? You can't store those for more than a few days.

reply

[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

That is odd. There were plenty of bagged salads and greens here. Few carrots to be found and the long-lasting fruits and veggies you'd expect people to buy.

The fact that your supermarket was only around 20% busier on a Sunday night than usual is a good sign.

reply

[–] Otter (24464) 5 years ago

My area hasn't been hit hard, and this is an isolated college town with no known cases anyway.

Classes at the university have all been switched to online, even the final exams. I think a lot of the students have gone home.

reply

[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

Sounds like your area will do fine. I still don't know what to make of the run on the greens.

reply

[–] Otter (24464) 5 years ago

Nearby counties have had a "shelter in place" order enacted, and there's a rumor that a statewide order will happen in a few days. Hopefully all this is in time to stop the spread of the COVID.

As for the salad greens, well, apparently this is the only place in the world that has shortages! In fact, the whole produce section looked threadbare and picked-over. I mean most people want imperishables, that's what I bought, but this is a college town and that means a lot of vegetarians and vegans and people who believe in a plant-based diet. Maybe some of them are dim enough to try to freeze lettuce, or maybe they're having a Farewell To Fresh Produce party. Lots of the US's produce is flown in from other countries, and there's no guarantee that international cargo flights will keep going in the weeks or months to come.

reply

[–] nyctc7 (44112) 5 years ago

People who have those home vacuum sealer thingys are probably pretty pleased with themselves right now

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D1GhhEy-tw

reply

[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

Hey, I wouldn't mind having one of them now 🤓

reply

[–] sslssg (35194) 5 years ago

My province is now under self imposed quarantine. I had to go to the store this morning for my parents and the fruits and veggies were well stocked, but I think they get delivered daily. The freezers, dried pasta, rice, cleaning supplies, paper products, canned veggie and soup shelves were all empty.

reply

[–] nyctc7 (44112) 5 years ago

I went to my local Walgreens March 16 and everything was normal EXCEPT toilet paper/paper towel shelves utterly bare. The funny thing is that just 3 or 4 days ago I had no trouble buying my usual brand at this location and it was on sale to boot! Also the hand sanitizer/wipes section sold out.

reply

[–] mikethemartian (7001) 5 years ago

The funny thing is I haven’t had any problem buying hand soap. I would have thought that would have sold out before TP.

reply

[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

Yeah, you'd think so. Stock was low here the last two times I went, but there was still soap on the shelves.

reply

[–] db20db (17754) 5 years ago

What I haven't been able to mentally grasp is, how did such an immense segment of the population suddenly become so "regular" in order to justify hoarding massive amounts of toilet paper.

reply

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Almost completely.

No milk
No bread
No eggs
No cat food
No toilet paper
Hardly any meat

They have started opening supermarkets here at 7am for the elderly to have an hour to get supplies before the rabble clear out the shelves again. The only time I can shop is after work and by then they are well and truly cleared out. I'm close to running out of everything. I'm not even interested in stocking up for self-isolation, at this point I just want enough to get through the week.

Pretty over it really.

reply

[–] Quasimodo (16388) 5 years ago

When they did the "special hour" for the elderly and disabled apparently the shelves were bare anyway. Thanks for nothing !

As your situation shows this is going to become a national emergency soon and yet ScoMoFo's only response is to sternly tell the supermarket looters to "Stop it !" Gee once again thanks for nothing commander in chief ! The Army needs to be called out to stop the looting.

reply

[–] Catbookss (13664) 5 years ago

I stopped by tonight and was shocked to see how empty the shelves were.

Little milk
No bread
No eggs
Don't know about cat or dog food
No toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, hand sanitiser or soap
No onions, potatoes, garlic, or carrots
No peanut butter
No pasta or pasta sauce
Some canned veggies
Almost no meat

I told the checker I got, whom I know, I was surprised to see the shelves even more bare than they were last time I went, and weren't they getting new shipments and restocking? He said they were, but the manufacturers were putting restrictions on how much they're allowed to order. He also said the shelves usually get stocked early in the morning and there's a rush, so things sell out quickly.

I don't know if they allow a time for the elderly or at-risk to show early or not. I heard Trader Joe's does.

Is there another grocery store you can try, maybe in a less dense area? I'm so sorry you're close to running out of everything and can't find enough to replenish so you can get through the week :(

reply

[–] Otter (24464) 5 years ago

I was at the local Target tonight, and even though it's closing tomorrow under the voluntary local "shelter in place" recommendations, it was still pretty well stocked. The TP shelf was the only one totally empty, the cleaning products and first aid shelves were pretty threadbare, but everything else was in stock.

Except they didn't have any 12-packs of Diet Coke, I had to get bottles. Oh, the tragedy!

reply