Posted on 03/13/2020 1:49:13 PM PDT by Kaslin
Fancy grocery stores like Trader Joe's in affluent neighborhoods have lines out the door, regular stores, not so much.
Different types of people handle situations differently, especially when it comes to stuff like a pandemic of a deadly Wuhan virus. But in New York City and elsewhere, an interesting pattern is emerging in regard to fancy chain grocery stores like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods which have been picked over like a carcass and still have long lines. Meanwhile, regular neighborhood chain stores have a few shortages, but are operating pretty normally.
The evidence is anecdotal, but it’s reflected on social media as well. I went to my local grocery this morning and there were a few people hoarding, but it wasn’t packed, it was well stocked, and seemed to be humming along.
COVID-19 has officially hit NYC.
There’s not a single piece of food left at Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods. pic.twitter.com/L5mF15LmRs
— Yano (@JasonYanowitz) March 12, 2020
Over at Trader Joe’s, multiple news reports have made the popular millennial hot spot sound like a post apocalyptic hellscape.
Here is video of the line inside one Manhattan location.
There is probably more than one reason that these differences are occurring, but it seems highly likely that the dispositions and incomes of the two sets of customers are playing a role in the run on Trader Joe’s and the slow steady traffic of old school grocers. The former are almost all in affluent sections of the city, the latter more often in middle and lower middle class neighborhoods.
But it’s not just in New York City.
This pattern is also happening in DC. Costco and big-box stores much worse than neighborhood grocers. https://t.co/mq9XzZaUfm
— Inez Stepman (@InezFeltscher) March 13, 2020
Whole Foods, Los Angeles. 8:00pm Thursday, March 12. pic.twitter.com/fpVJb4yHK3
— Arezou Rezvani (@ArezouRezvani) March 13, 2020
In the industrial part of Houston supermarkets are stocked with light traffic. In the expensive parts of town the whole foods are packed. It doesn't pay to be extremely online.
— Chris Raab (@ChrisRaab3) March 13, 2020
Welp.
This is what the Trader Joe’s on 14th street in DC looks like this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/31BDKERnEn
— Peter Suderman (@petersuderman) March 13, 2020
The scene this afternoon from the Trader Joe’s in Cambridge. pic.twitter.com/wysIrl8Ujz
— Jonathan Yuan (@jyuanathan) March 13, 2020
There is something to be said for the fact that more affluent people may be paying closer attention to the virus, but before we get to that, there are a few practical reasons this could be happening.
The first is income. New Yorkers who aren’t wealthy are not known for being swimming in savings. For many, the idea of dropping $500 right now for a stockpile would interfere with tight budgets. Another factor is space, people in small apartments don’t have storage for 27 twelve packs of toilet paper. And small apartments mean small fridges and freezers compared to those in new luxury buildings.
But it’s not completely off base to point to some psychological differences as well. For one thing, white collar professionals are far more likely to have jobs that allow them to stay tuned in constantly to the updates that cause anxiety and panic buying. The wage-worker, who isn’t on a device all day, is watching a severe pandemic occur, but not in a constant cascade of panic. The affluent in these areas also tend to be more progressive than middle class New Yorkers, and the progressive media has leaned very hard into the worst possible outcomes, whether for political reasons or not.
Whatever the reasons for the disparity, there seems to be two different realities playing out in the city regarding the Wuhan virus. Everyone might be taking precautions, but in different ways across socio-economic lines.
In the working class neighborhoods rules and advice from officials are being followed, but not exceeded to the point of baring the the shelves of the stores. Ultimately, this is probably a much more responsible approach, as local stores will have better control of their supply lines.
It’s a tale of two cities, one experiences a bit of a panic-driven freak out and another takes a more measured approach. I find myself in the latter camp, and I could be wrong, but at least I won’t be spending two hours on line at Whole Foods.
Lotsa conservatives and general foodies shop at Trader Joe's. It's good and it's much cheaper than supermarket prices. But I'll bet you're right that liberals (who do love TJ's) are driving the panic.
Lol
I once saw a man a newspaper store with his billfold full of lottery tickets he won about $5 it was a scratch type so he reinvested an added a lot more like 20 more on lottery then after that I saw him walk into the grocery store next door and he bought a24 case of beer I have a second this guy has got his afternoon all set up LOL
By the way Mom, if your kids call you that oh, you must be an excellent mother happy mother’s day ín well advance!
oh yeah...I just attributed it to Janis Joplin...forgot KK wrote it....lol
yeah, I’ve ribbed my husband about the TP.....he just doesn’t get into issues and news like I do......I bought extra TP weeks ago...maybe a month ago....I’ve told a co worker 2 weeks ago about the china virus...the lack of pollution over parts of China meant the plants were not functioning and there might be shortages HERE.....
I probably passed you at the Costco....I was there about 1 pm....
I live in a small town of less than 5000.
Friday I went to the 4 main shopping options.
The grocery store had some TP still but the shelves were more empty than on Wednesday. Usually more expensive.
Dollar General. No TP and very little of other paper products. Went in for cat food and had to hunt it down on the racks that were lined up all over the store and then had to get help to actually be able to buy it. Nothing new really as those racks never seem to move.
Walmart. On Tuesday they had some TP but gone Wednesday. Now most other paper products gone. Mad house.
Dollar Tree. We picked up 6 4 packs on Tuesday and I got 6 more on Wednesday. Gone on Friday. We got there right before 5 pm and there was a note on the door saying they were closing at 5 and I think it said would be closed today. Who knows what is going on there. My sister did find a small bottle of hand sanitizer.
It also made sense to buy a little extra since Flu B has visited us. Niece had it first, then my mom who thankfully seems to be getting over it now. I have had a cold for at least 3 weeks. Some days I use a ton of tissues and others hardly any.So far the rest of us seem okay but that could change.
During the winter we usually buy 4 at a time and sometimes more if bad weather is coming. So really not much more than we usually have stocked. 4 packs last about a week or two.
Before my surgery almost 5 years ago I was buying 12 packs of double rolls every few days. So glad those days are over.
Nice.
First rule of prepping: you dont talk about your preps.
Second rule of prepping: if TSHTF, no charity, barter only.
Nice.
First rule of prepping: you dont talk about your preps.
Second rule of prepping: if TSHTF, no charity, barter only.
Yesterday every store here was apocalyptic but before that Kroger had plenty of TP and Costco was out.
Very smart of you Sis!
A few of our local grocery stores are closing early to give them time to restock. They must be loving the craziness and profits they are making right now.
Keep praying!
Psalm 91:1-8
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.a
2 I will say to the LORD, “You are my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3Surely He will deliver you
from the snare of the fowler,
and from the deadly plague.
4 He will cover you with His feathers;
under His wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and rampart.
5You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the calamity that destroys at noon.
7 Though a thousand may fall at your side,
and ten thousand at your right hand,
no harm will come near you.
8 You will only see it with your eyes
and witness the punishment of the wicked.
If the SHTF good luck bartering.
It’s open warfare & free for all.
You know it will be in this stupid society.
Did your co-worker listen?
True.
Once they know you have enough to trade.....
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