Posted on 03/14/2020 9:24:09 AM PDT by ConservativeInPA
Suburban Harrisburg, PA - March 14, 2020
I was somewhat dreading the weekly shopping trip due to all the news stories about shortages and hoarding. On the other hand I was curious to see what it was like. I wanted some fresh vegetables, meat and fish, so off I went shopping.
Traffic was unusually light for a Saturday morning. I was thinking shopping might not be too bad. However, as I turned into the local supermarket (Karns, for folks in South Central PA) the parking lot was jammed packed. Actually, that's not too unusual for a weekend shopping trip.
I get a cart and head towards the entrance. Exiting from the store was a woman with a cart full of toilet paper and bottled water. "So", I say to myself, "there's TP still in the store, but I don't get the water part, maybe that is normal for that woman. She must piss lot."
I go about my normal shopping. Everything is about normal, except a few more people. First stop, veggies. All is normal. Good sale on broccoli, cabbage and mushrooms - all on my list, this is going good. Next up, around the corner to the meat department. (No shrink wrapped meat at this store - all fresh cut/in case) Wow, there's a line! That's where all the people are. The line is almost the length of an aisle. It takes 20 minutes to get to the counter, everyone is friendly, just talking away and taking things in stride. Then a woman walks by. She's wearing an ear loop face mask and latex gloves. I wonder if she's sick. That type of mask doesn't stop the virus going into your lungs, but does protect others from your breath. Anyways, I get my chopped chuck, and score a deal on chicken - $1.09 for boneless/skinless thighs (5 lbs or more)
Onto more shopping ... Pasta aisle, shelves are pretty bare, but there's a 10 item for $10 sale. It must be the sale that has the shelves depleted. But, I get my $1 pasta that I need. Going to make chicken tetrazzini, among other chicken dishes this week.
I venture to the other side of the store to get dairy products and I pass the dreaded TP aisle. It is trashed. Along comes two palettes of TP rolling to the aisle. Hungry vultures await. It really is sort of frenzy. People anxiously waiting, but they take their turn and get what they need. Doesn't seem to be a limit on how much TP you can buy. Alas, I don't need TP. I got my normal amount last week and I'm good for a month.
The rest of the shopping trip is uneventful. Everything seems to be fully stocked. No one is going to go without. I get the feeling the grocer is loving this since there are so many people stocking up.
Having bananas and oranges 50 meters out your front door has its advantages. I think our new chicken friends arrive tomorrow
(Karns, for folks in South Central PA)
==========+=======
East Shore or West?
East ... Jonestown Rd & Mountain Rd
Yum.
</grin>
I went last night. Pasta, frozen foods, and cleaning supplies were all decimated. Milk was also scarce but there were still a few gallons on the shelf. No shortages that I could see in the eggs and booze sections. People want to face the apocalypse sober it seems. I did, however, see a sign that the store would be limiting purchases of high-demand items to a certain number per household and another sign saying the store would be closing early to restock and would reopen at 6 AM.
“ whats with the TP vultures they”
There are lots of alternatives for TP including the garden hose.
Just wondering how’s Wegmans doing? I’ve heard they might open more in Mass and Conn...
Mr sneakers was in our local Walmart (Indiana County, Pa). Yesterday was payday and we needed a few things. Fresh meat and chicken sold out. TP, paper towels and bleach gone. We needed clothes detergent. He grabbed one of the three left of the brand that we use. Canned meats sold out.
We are not panic buying. Mr S is retiring soon, and we started stocking up months ago because we are preparing for a smaller monthly income. We’re good for months, so no worries here. Everyone should have at least a one or two month supply put back anyway, for possible hard times or unforeseen circumstances.
Nicely played
I need a chuckle
Fat finger, Small screen, old eyes
And you are correct
That’s perfect
I was thinking that folks here in north Georgia clean out the bread and milk aisle but the TP aisle is about the usual.
Toilet paper. The prepping staple of Team #Woke, even in apocalypse.
Never had bugs in my toilet paper, no matter how long it was on the shelf.
“I stocked up a couple of months ago. Not out of fear or panic but because of two reasons: possible mandated quarantine or needing food in a supermarket jammed with shoppers who may already be sick and just don’t know it.”
That logic seems to be lost on those continually wondering “why should you stock up on toilet paper (et al) for the flu?” Those are the same reasons I stocked up a while back. Nothing will go to waste. I’ll use it or donate it.
“Never had bugs in my toilet paper”
Yeah, I haven’t either, in fact thought that was a joke, but I guess things are different in other areas of the country.
our electricity went off for nearly 10 hrs last night....and after a very mild winter we had wind and very cold temps.....I couldn't sleep because I had no backup for my cpap...
Some of us rotate our stash.
And who’s going to stop using TP?
Deep freezer is your friend!
All stuff like that takes a 7-10 day vacation in my deep freezer before it hits my pantry shelves.
The empty shelves should give people a good view of what socialism looks like.
There is a limit to the capacity of people's refrigerators, and what they can reasonably expect to eat before it spoils. Meat can get frozen, but fresh fruit and veggies needs to get used within a week or so, so there is limited hoarding potential.
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