I don’t really get it either. I just assume it’s sort of a mild mass hysteria. I haven’t had to buy a single item (toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning products etc) since the panic started, but now I’m starting to get low on toilet paper and am wondering if I’m seriously going to have a problem getting it because idiots are idiots. Probably not, though - I don’t personally know anyone panic buying in my medium-sized Midwest town, although I’m sure some people are. I don’t think it’s a widespread here as larger cities.
OR…
We could be like the lady who stopped using TP! She has a gigantic pile of, ahem, “toilet rags,” and a hamper next the potty. Family members and guests do their business in the toilet, wipe themselves with a toilet rag, then dump (heh) the used rag in the hamper. When the hamper is full, she does a load of TP rag wash.
Sure, she saves money buying no toilet paper. HOWEVER, I’m betting those savings are miniscule compared to her outlay for detergent and bleach.
I saw this story on “Extreme Cheapskates” years ago, and it still squicks me out.
~VOW
If it helps, I work for a big-box mostly-grocery store company (no, not Wal-Mart) here in the Chicago area and while the toilet paper is flying off the shelves we are, in fact, keeping up with demand. You many not get your first choice of size of package or particular brand but there very much is toilet paper on the shelves. TP shortage seems more of an Australia or Europe problem right now, not a North American problem.
It’s hand sanitizers and wipes we can’t keep up with.
I’ve always wondered how the Aborigines dealt with things like gympie-gympie. I mean, sure, the older folks would have passed on knowledge of what to avoid to the younger folks, but surely they got stung from time to time. Must have been miserable to deal with.
03/09/2020: Down to but 10 rolls of toilet paper; therefore, this could be my last transmission. If that is the case, tell my gf I love her and please inform my next of kin. How could I have been so blind as to not stock up? Oh, the regret, the regret! It is like a hot coal. Forgive me, Jesus…
But seriously, I Have stocked up on canned goods and also put together a strategic vodka reserve, and that’s about it. I like those canned seltzer waters, so I will likely pick up some at Costco today to cut the vodka if I am to shelter in place. Uh, yeah, I guess I will also grab some tp now that you mention it…
I also work at a big box store and we’re not keeping up with demand for TP. We were sold out less than an hour and a half after opening on Saturday and within two hours on Sunday. We can’t keep up sanitizers and wipes either.
To paraphrase a comedian I once heard:
“Why buy just one roll? Are you trying to quit?”
(Bolding emphasis mine)
or maybe
“Bile Ass Hysteria”
A newspaper in Australia just published eight blank pages so you can use it if you don’t have toilet paper.
Also, if people are cleaning out the shelves and are likely to continue doing so for a while, stocking up might actually be a reasonable thing for a person to do. There are certain products I buy regularly (mostly esoteric personal care and food items) that are often out of stock. When a new shipment comes in, I’ll buy a bunch so that I don’t have to deal with the store being out when I need more, at least for a while. I realize I may be contributing to the problem by doing this, but in this instance I’m going to be selfish and buy extra to ensure I have enough. (I have not been doing this with toilet paper or anything else that’s currently flying off the shelves due to the current panic, but I’m not ruling it out.)
I was able to obtain alcohol wipes for my resident diabetic’s insulin shots at a hospital pharmacy’s OTC section today. Bought 2 100ct boxes, figuring that either supply will normalize by the time we run out or there will be MUCH bigger problems. They seemed well-stocked, but the tech who took my payment said they were totally out of rubbing alcohol. I did also see a few bottles of aloe vera gel (didn’t bother buying that at this point, I’ve got a good supply of sanitizer, purchased well before the panic. We just normally keep it on hand anyway).
Hmm, I do still have some blank newsprint left over from our last move… OK, I do also have a decent stock of toilet paper. Again, just something I stay stocked up on anyway.
For some reason, there was a semi-official warning from a Responsible Person in Aus that you should stock up for a self-quarantine with a couple of weeks supplies of essentials like toilet paper.
From there it just went ballistic. People doing their next years toilet paper shopping. Women fighting over new stock. Whole aisle completely empty, day after day, week after week.
As a matter of fact I have. You have to crinkle it to get if softer. When I was growing up, we couldn’t afford to buy ahead on anything and were occasionally reduced to using newspaper.
DILs buying toilet paper like a mad woman. She said she doesn’t wanna live in a world w/o TP.
I have hoarder tendencies, I asked her to get me some at Sam’s club and take it to my house. I feel left out of the hysterics.
Dang, I never get to have fun.
Is Australia’s TP locally produced, or imported? I see price gouging for TP on Amazon.com.au, whereas the US prices still look about right.
Hey, that reminds me of my school days–crumble and uncrumble a piece of notebook paper enough times and it becomes as soft as any toilet paper. At the time I just did it out of boredom–now, maybe it can be called a “life hack.”
I’ve heard (sorry, no cite) that if you use silly putty you get a perfect representation of your derriere.
I wish I lived by the beach.
Seashell collecting is a great hobby. 