I like a well stocked closet. So I tend to buy certain things in bulk. I picked up an extra 12 rolls. Not sure if that’s hording. I like to have enough stuff in case I get sick. I was thinking of stocking more shelf item food. But It may already be the apocalypse. I couldn’t find any Spam.
The* Real *Reason its called ‘Down Under’!
I think it’s kinda like whenever there’s bad weather coming. What happens? People rush out and buy milk, bread and toilet paper. God knows WHY, but that’s what people do. At least, they did back when I used to work retail.
If that’s the case, I don’t know why they’re not bothering with the milk and bread though, this time.
Oh, they are. At least at my store they are. They’re also buying eggs, soda, pasta, rice and flour at above-normal rates.
It’s mostly if not entirely local production. I would have thought that eventually the recent bushfires would have had an effect (plantation timber), but apparently current production is normal.
It’s self sustaining. All you need is someone to start the loop of getting things, and then you get this loop:
Person 1: People are buying up supplies. -> I may not be able to get them. -> I’d better stock up on supplies. ->
Person 2: People are buying up supplies. -> I may not be able to get them. -> I’d better stock up.
I also understand there were some previous situations where toilet paper really did run out for a while, which might be why people initially thought of it as something that could run out. All it takes is someone buying a little extra to get the ball rolling.
I shopped WalMart today. (Central California.) They had plenty of TP but were out of cheap mouthwash. Yogurt was mostly gone, too. Go figure.
My husband reports from shopping yesterday that flour and rice were out, but stocks of packet soup and baked beans (what I’d think was pretty good sick people food) were just fine.
I dunno who thinks they’re going to be producing a ton of baked goods if they’re laid low with a flu-like thing
If I have a “flu-like thing” no, I won’t be baking but if I’m stuck inside for two weeks and NOT feeling ill I very well might be churning out some baked goods … because baking is something I already do when I have time. Not sure why non-bakers would be stocking up, though.
So does anybody here have any good toilet paper recipes to share? 
For my panic shopping, I’m going to stock up on chocolate chip cookies.
Corn on the cob is also a fine side dish. And when you’re done, you can use the cob to, uhhh…
Don’t try this with the baby corn on the cob that they always have out at salad bars.
Exactly. I’m guilty of that myself - I bought an extra package of toilet paper not because I’m afraid of the coronavirus, but because I’m afraid the stores will run out of toilet paper.
Tell her to buy the Sam’s Club brand. It’s actually really good TP and a great price.
My gf posted a picture on Facebook a couple years ago. We were in St Martin when a huge winter storm struck back home. She had me take her picture in a tiny grocery store. She had on her bathing suit and sunglasses and is holding milk, bread, and toilet paper. Caption: “it must be genetic”.
I had to explain the idea behind the picture to the cashier.
I noticed when I was shopping last Saturday that the store was down to one 5-pound bag of rice of the shelf. There were plenty of 20-pound bags, though, which is what I was going to buy anyway. ($2.99 for 5 pounds, $8.99 for 20 pounds–the 5 pounds is for people without much storage or without much math.)
Sam’s Club brand is THE best TP! Unfortunately, the jumbo rolls are the best of the best, but rarely available in the stores. The “good” brands, Sam’s being one of them, is out of stock, in the stores and online.
Oh, the humanity!
~VOW
My friend pointed out something to me last night. She said what’s the point in buying toilet paper for a 2-week long quarantine? If you’re going to be stuck at home you can just hop in the bath or use a wet rag after you go. I know someone made fun of the rag idea upthread but if you’re home alone (or alone with your family) and not entertaining guests, asking them to use a rag…what’s the bother?
Smart folks are investing in those attachable bidets right now!
It’s Johnny Carson’s fault (he’s history’s greatest monster) - kind of. Back in 1973, there was an actual risk of a TP shortage, and Carson mentioned it on his show. Based on Carson’s mention (and the other publicity this risk got), there was a dramatic jump in TP hoarding. I suspect that this bumped up TP on everyone’s list of things to worry about the supply of - and now it’s a completely self-fulfilling prophecy: whenever there’s a worry about supplies of anything, TP comes up on this list of things to worry about, leading to everyone trying to beat everyone else’s hoarding instincts.
I have to call straw-man beating on this. I keep seeing all these pictures of empty shelves posted on Facebook and elsewhere, but that’s not what I see in the real world. All the toilet paper aisles in every store I’ve been in this weekend are totally stocked.
But they better not explain them to children!
My theory is that people start to panic when the local news media say coronavirus has hit the local area. And you probably don’t have cases yet in the area you live.