# So what shortages are you personally seeing? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [July 24, 2020, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268 "2020-07-24T23:28:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/301 "2020-10-24T19:06:05Z")
Yesterday at FoodsCo, I noticed paper goods are getting clobbered again (I’m well supplied for now). Was able to score 2 16oz bottles of rubbing alcohol, so for the most part I think I’m well supplied. Today, I did see 5-tub packs of Clorox disinfectant wipes, limited to one per order. I have a few tubs around, but did order more (I’m willing to share with people who are having worse supply-hunting luck than I am). I’m mystified by why Amazon is having so much trouble with Nature Valley protein bars (a favored snack for my diabetic DH who needs to be putting on some weight) when other sources are doing OK. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/302 "2020-10-24T19:38:26Z")
Update: Costco (my Instacart source for the day) was in fact out of those packs of Clorox wipes I mentioned, but did have DH’s protein bars, and they’re even on sale currently for almost 1/3 off usual price. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/303 "2020-10-24T19:48:15Z")
Quoting myself from last week. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > Tortillas in almost all forms seem to have evaporated from all our mainstream groc store chains. Corn, flour, whole wheat, large, small, hard, soft; doesn’t matter. They’re _all_ missing in action. > > There’s only one other mention of tortillas in this thread and that was late July. Color me mystified. And now tortillas are back, at least at another location of my backup grocery chain. Even the oddball ones are plentiful. Haven’t been back to my primary store yet. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/304 "2020-10-24T20:43:55Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Well, I’m going from memory, obviously, but my recollection is they said “Brewed in Ireland”. > > There still are some Guinness products in the store, tinned, but they say brewed in Canada. My Irish 8-pack is back! Guiness, Kilkenny, Smithwicks and Harp! Yes, box does say “Imported from Ireland”. ---
**Author:** ![PoppaSan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/poppasan/32/189_2.png) [@PoppaSan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoppaSan)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2020, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/305 "2020-10-25T00:11:04Z")
Stopped by to pick up some extra ammo to sight in my hunting guns. There wasn’t any. What I don’t need they didn’t have any either. Well some but a very limited supply. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/306 "2020-10-26T01:08:43Z")
Seriously? Its only 8 days before the election and you think there will be any ammo available anywhere? You’d be lucky to find a gun for sale. ---
**Author:** ![PoppaSan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/poppasan/32/189_2.png) [@PoppaSan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoppaSan)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/307 "2020-10-26T03:08:26Z")
They had guns. All hunting. There was ammo, just not what I wanted. Bird shot, steel shot. I didn’t have much time to actually search, just took a quick look while walking through that part of the store. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/308 "2020-10-26T13:12:36Z")
At Costco yesterday there was a sign stating that they didn’t have clorox wipes available. They did have paper towels and toilet paper, but sales are limited to one of each per account holder. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/309 "2020-10-26T19:34:04Z")
Toilet paper is still hit and miss. Meat is hit or miss, and much more expensive than before the pandemic. I’ve started buying from a local farming co-op to support local farmers. Actually, any grocery order is a journey in discovery. I routinely don’t get several items due to unavailability or I get substitutes that are … interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2020, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/310 "2020-10-27T02:09:11Z")
I’m seeing paper goods getting clobbered hard enough that my squirrel reflex has kicked in again. On a stop at Costco Business, I got toilet paper, paper towels, and wipes (each limited to 1 pack per customer), plus hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol (no limit imposed by the store, but I limited myself to a 2-pack of quart bottles for each, since I really didn’t need more than that). ---
**Author:** ![dummygladhands71](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c0e974/32.png) [@dummygladhands71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dummygladhands71)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/311 "2020-11-04T21:31:16Z")
Just back from the grocery. Shortages popping up - cleaning stuff, name brand TP and paper towel, etc. I asked the front end manager why. He said people are hoarding again because Biden will be closing everything down. I can’t. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/312 "2020-11-05T01:39:33Z")
Last week, when I was last in the store: baking soda is back. Rubbing alcohol has disappeared again. There were blank spaces in the shelves here and there through the store; most of them looked like particular brands or sizes were missing, not entire categories of stuff. Definitely holes, though. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/313 "2020-11-05T02:28:34Z")
I was surprised to see an endcap display or bottles of rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide last Sunday. I didn’t take any, because I was able to find some on-line a month or two ago. But it was nice to see it back on the shelves. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/314 "2020-11-05T16:18:08Z")
For the past several months the TP situation has greatly improved: the shelves have been full and steadily restocked and other than a few of the “usual” (pre-'rona) brands not being available, its been smooth sailing. I went to the local Fred Meyer last night and saw that the shelves were about 2/3 empty of TP, and 1/2 empty of paper towels. Several people were picking up packages and loading them into their carts. I grabbed one because we only have one left at home. Dear God, not again… ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/315 "2020-11-05T16:25:53Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > … On the other hand, I went to Costco a few days ago for the first time in months and they had a lot of stuff that has been scare at other stores: Lysol disinfecting spray and disinfecting wipes (but not Lysol or Clorox brand) in particular. That was nice to see. > [@dummygladhands71](#): > > He said people are hoarding again because Biden will be closing everything down. Christ almighty. The stupidity of some people just boggles the mind. This is deep Trump country, and if that rumor gets traction here it’ll be April all over again. Now that I think about it, that may explain the above TP situation. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/316 "2020-11-05T16:26:11Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > For the past several months the TP situation has greatly improved For the past ten years or so I’ve bought toilet paper infrequently, but in huge amounts. I go to Sam’s Club and buy two or three of the biggest Maker’s Mark TP packages. Coincidentally, I did this right before COVID hit, so I was set for quarantine and beyond. Two weeks ago I noticed our supply dwindling, so when I was near a Sam’s Club I stocked up. I got a few looks from people, but my purchasing has nothing to do with anything other than not wanting to buy a little package every month. ---
**Author:** ![dummygladhands71](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c0e974/32.png) [@dummygladhands71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dummygladhands71)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/317 "2020-11-05T23:28:52Z")
Wal-Mart today, same shortages, & the limit signs are back. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/318 "2020-11-06T02:34:14Z")
What I posted in another thread at the end of September. > [@Food shortages that don't make sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-shortages-that-dont-make-sense/915213/260): > > Two items I bought regularly that totally disappeared from the shelves my local Jewel at the beginning of the COVID situation are 10 lb. bags of carrots and Campbell’s Chunky Jazzy Jambalaya soup. (Before that, very occasionally these items were sold out.) The soup finally returned to the shelves a couple of weeks ago. The carrots are still missing. I can understand hoarding the soup. For carrots, I know there are ways to store them without refrigeration. But are that many people scared enough … Big bags of carrots still missing. Comet Tub and Tile cleaner has finally shown up. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/319 "2020-11-06T09:22:24Z")
I’m beginning to wonder about soda shortages. Still no caffeine free coke or caffeine free Dr Pepper to be found. But somehow Dr Pepper managed to roll out an entirely new beverage - Dr Pepper Cream Soda. No canned purple hull peas to be found. But as I said before, this could be more weather related than covid related. We are making do with blackeyed peas. I don’t see how my dad can tell a difference, the way we season them and then he drowns everything in either ranch dressing or salsa or both, and mixes jalepenos and hot sauce into things to boot. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268/320 "2020-11-07T00:51:44Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > I’m beginning to wonder about soda shortages. Still no caffeine free coke or caffeine free Dr Pepper to be found. But somehow Dr Pepper managed to roll out an entirely new beverage - Dr Pepper Cream Soda. Yeah. As someone who doesn’t drink colas but only less popular fruit flavored sodas, I’ve noticed this too: still no canned Minute Maid lemonade, still no Schweppes dry grape ginger ale, and still almost never Sunkist orange soda. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-shortages-are-you-personally-seeing/916268.md?page=17)