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General Discussion => Welcome and General Discussion => Topic started by: frugalnacho on March 11, 2020, 09:48:54 AM

Title: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: frugalnacho on March 11, 2020, 09:48:54 AM
Amid the coronavirus panic, stores are running out of toilet paper.  Costco has been absolute insanity the last several weeks, and they've been out of toilet paper every time I go.  I need to buy toilet paper now because it's my regular schedule to restock on toilet paper, and the stores are all out.  I still have enough to last me another month probably, but I like to keep a pack in the basement because I like to be well stocked on basic supplies I use every day.

I guess I just don't get it.  Why toilet paper? Why the run on toilet paper? All these people panicked about coronavirus - did they not anticipate needing toilet paper before this virus? What have they been using literally every day of their life?  How has this virus caused a surge in people needing toilet paper?  My wife seems to think it's people stocking up in anticipation of a quarantine.  She also seems to think most people are not like me and don't "stock up" on items (I would hardly call what I do "stocking up".  I keep a stack of like 6 rolls in one bathroom, and I keep my other bathroom cupboard stocked with rolls.  Beyond that I have a single costco sized pack of toilet paper in the basement, which is enough to restock both bathrooms fully about 1.5 times).   

I have a couple of issues with her reasoning though.  How long do people think they are going to be in quarantine? Are they expecting a government mandated lock down that is going to last months? Or are they anticipating potentially getting sick and needing to self quarantine for 2 weeks? Secondly, how do people not keep a stock of something like toilet paper as a general rule?  What if life gets busy and you can't get to the store for a week or 2?  Do you just stop using toilet paper, or have these people never gotten busy in their lives and constantly go to the store to purchase toilet paper a few day's worth at a time?  Do all these people not keep enough TP in the event they get a regular virus like the flu or food poisoning?
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: CNM on March 11, 2020, 09:51:45 AM
I think it's a combination of people anticipating a quarantine for at least 2 weeks (probably more), people anticipating being ill for a few weeks with coronavirus and unable to leave their homes, and plain old panic.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: OtherJen on March 11, 2020, 09:56:07 AM
I don't know. I bought one big pack at Costco 2 weeks ago because that's the pack that we normally buy. I did buy it (and a few other things) a couple weeks earlier than I might have done otherwise because I expected a run on non-perishables once we had a local case, and I know that people in our area are vultures at grocery stores when faced with the prospect of 6 inches of snow. I avoid those panic situations whenever possible. I think I will only need to set foot in Joe Randazzo's on Friday to replace produce, and avoid the rest of the nonsense for a couple of weeks.

I do know that there have been panics in Hong Kong and Japan over toilet paper, and sell-outs in Australia. That's probably crystallized in people's minds as "we're all going to run out of toilet paper and it will be anarchy!"
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Wrenchturner on March 11, 2020, 09:56:36 AM
Peace of mind.  Same with hand sanitizer.  People want to feel like they're taking steps to ensure their well being during this outbreak.

Hand sanitizer is a bit more useful, but with cross contamination it's really not so great.  Also, coronavirus doesn't enter from the hands.  Not touching your face except when your hands are clean is a better strategy imo. 
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: DadJokes on March 11, 2020, 10:02:37 AM
I don't know about anyone else, but I was building a toilet paper fort.

Why? Is something happening?
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Wrenchturner on March 11, 2020, 10:04:00 AM
I don't know about anyone else, but I was building a toilet paper fort.

Why? Is something happening?

N95 masks are more structurally sound!
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: MyAlterEgoIsTaller on March 11, 2020, 10:22:03 AM
I'm currently trapped at home indefinitely because an unusually early and ferocious mud season has made all 3 dirt roads out of here impassable. The mud-moat is protecting me from the germ-bringing hordes better than hand sanitizer ever could, and I'm glad I was already hoarding toilet paper before that got all trendy.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: fattest_foot on March 11, 2020, 10:22:56 AM
Didn't you hear?

The only known cure for coronavirus is toilet paper.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Morning Glory on March 11, 2020, 10:28:38 AM
If it was norovirus or rotavirus I would understand.  I expect in a couple months there will be some great deals on toilet paper.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: saguaro on March 11, 2020, 10:29:52 AM
We aren't seeing runs on TP around here but the one thing that is going: bottled water.  Even people who normally use tap water are getting it.

I guess if you normally use bottled water then I guess it makes sense but if not, it's not like the water will stop running. 

Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: FINate on March 11, 2020, 10:35:15 AM
The illusion of control is being shattered by the coronavirus, hence people are anxious. Most of us are good consumeristic westerners and we "solve" our problems by buying stuff. So people alleviate their anxieties about loss of control by hoarding things like TP, facemasks, and so on. It's all a sad commentary on the shallowness of our society.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Mr. Green on March 11, 2020, 10:40:40 AM
I think it's a combination of people anticipating a quarantine for at least 2 weeks (probably more), people anticipating being ill for a few weeks with coronavirus and unable to leave their homes, and plain old panic.
I think it's time to question your life choices if you typically keep less than 14 days of toilet paper on hand.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: frugalnacho on March 11, 2020, 10:43:38 AM
Yes bottled water is going like hot cakes too.  Costco had a limit of 2 cases per person, and they actually had to have an employee standing there pointing at the sign when people were taking more than 2.  The employees seemed pissed like they are totally done with this bullshit.  You get 2 cases of water asshole, you see that big fucking sign that says limit 2 per member? That means there is a limit.  Of 2 cases. Per member.  So put your other 4 cases back you illiterate jackass.  And you want toilet paper? Tough shit! We are all out of kirkland brand! You'll have to buy the more expensive charmin brand...while it lasts!

The employees were not actually using profanity, but from their tone and body language I could tell they absolutely wanted to. 

The water I almost get.  Some people don't drink tap water.  I think they are likely idiots and I don't agree with them, but at least I understand how this panic could cause you to stock up on a couple more cases of water you already buy.  I think it's extremely unlikely that water services will stop, but I suppose I understand people not thinking rationally and wanting to stock up on a couple cases of water "just in case" for some weird reason.  Not my thing, but I can kind of understand the behavior driving it.  But the toilet paper just has me flummoxed.  You all use toilet paper literally everyday.  You are also clearly a member of a bulk warehouse club where you buy your supplies.  How do you not already have toilet paper at all times?!?!?!?
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: frugalnacho on March 11, 2020, 10:44:46 AM
I think it's a combination of people anticipating a quarantine for at least 2 weeks (probably more), people anticipating being ill for a few weeks with coronavirus and unable to leave their homes, and plain old panic.
I think it's time to question your life choices if you typically keep less than 14 days of toilet paper on hand.

(https://media0.giphy.com/media/1Z02vuppxP1Pa/source.gif)
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: G-String on March 11, 2020, 11:07:17 AM
I've been trying to go to the bathroom more at work lately in order to conserve TP at home. 
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: ketchup on March 11, 2020, 11:14:02 AM
I've been trying to go to the bathroom more at work lately in order to conserve TP at home.
I always do this.  I'm not about to poop on my own time.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: BDWW on March 11, 2020, 11:14:27 AM
I'm just confused at the idea in general really. If things go to hell, not being able to wipe my @$$ is pretty low priority.

Do people not have baths/showers/wash clothes? If those solutions don't work, then things are really bad, and I guess I'll just make do like we did for the first 200,000 years of human existence.

Food and water make sense if you're prepping for disaster, but in the event of an apocalypse I'm not trading food for TP.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: SunnyDays on March 11, 2020, 11:15:19 AM
I'm just glad my wasteful roommate has left.  By myself, I use one double roll of TP about every 2 weeks.  With her here, I was putting out a new roll every 3 days!  I expect that she would run out quickly.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Free Spirit on March 11, 2020, 11:18:44 AM
I think it's a combination of people anticipating a quarantine for at least 2 weeks (probably more), people anticipating being ill for a few weeks with coronavirus and unable to leave their homes, and plain old panic.
I think it's time to question your life choices if you typically keep less than 14 days of toilet paper on hand.

My reaction to seeing a neighbor bring home a 4-pack of tp yesterday:

Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: G-String on March 11, 2020, 11:20:18 AM
I've been trying to go to the bathroom more at work lately in order to conserve TP at home.
I always do this.  I'm not about to poop on my own time.
Problem lately is people have been stealing toilet paper form the office bathroom to take home. 
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: mm1970 on March 11, 2020, 11:25:32 AM
I think people are worrying about being in quarantine for a month.

I usually only buy a 12-pack every 2 weeks.  I have 2 12-packs right now.  I have had a tendency to be on the last roll on a Weds (Sat is shopping day), need to not do that.

If I end up in quarantine at home with my husband and 2 kids, those 24 rolls won't last.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: ixtap on March 11, 2020, 11:39:16 AM
I've been trying to go to the bathroom more at work lately in order to conserve TP at home.
I always do this.  I'm not about to poop on my own time.

Maybe all the people who poop at work have no idea how much TP their family would use if home full time for a couple of weeks.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: secondcor521 on March 11, 2020, 11:57:47 AM
I think it's not exactly hoarding that people are doing.  I think it's a combination of two other things:

1.  I think we have (had?) a finely tuned supply chain for most things.  TP would be at the top of the list in terms of supply chain tuning because it's got a simple supply chain (some trees, some bleach, some plastic wrap), the demand is easily predictable (usually), and it's probably all made here in the US, so lead time isn't even a problem.

With a Virus going around, people decide to stock up buy buying an extra 4/6/12-pack of TP.  Not a big deal to just buy some extra just in case.  But if everyone does it, the finely balanced supply chain that was expecting a constant demand gets hit with a demand shock.

2.  Once part 1 happens, people notice it happening.  This creates media attention and a FOMO-type / "bank run" type of scenario where people are afraid that there won't be TP there when they need it, so they stock up even more, which just exacerbates the problem.

Pretty much the same story with bottled water.

I'm sure the manufacturers' demand planners and manufacturing folks are hard at work trying to figure out if they need to make more product to alleviate the situation, as well as how much more and when.  That is probably hard to predict, although I'm betting that with TP the manufacturers realize that people, in aggregate, probably won't use any more over time, so there will just be an excess inventory in people's bathrooms, and when people realize it's not the End of the World As We Know It, they'll settle down and use up the excess.  So TP manufacturers likely will stay the course, as will bottled water people.  Hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes and such probably will ramp up production as there will probably be above average use of those for a while.

I'd guess that all of these products can be ramped up fairly quickly (weeks), and I personally think the panic will subside soon, so all in all a short-lived phenomenon IMHO.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Kem on March 11, 2020, 12:13:30 PM
Given that the Sears magazine is no more...
Just pull out the yellow pages
Or the mailed adverts
Tear a page.... crumple it up until soft
Capital

Given that most youthful summers were lived at an old farmstead with no running water...
I can say it is not that bad & takes very little skill or practice to master.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: terran on March 11, 2020, 12:43:25 PM
Given that the Sears magazine is no more...
Just pull out the yellow pages
Or the mailed adverts
Tear a page.... crumple it up until soft
Capital

Given that most youthful summers were lived at an old farmstead with no running water...
I can say it is not that bad & takes very little skill or practice to master.

I heard that some newspaper (don't remember which one) included a number of blank pages "for emergency use."
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: hadabeardonce on March 11, 2020, 01:02:29 PM
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/09/health/toilet-paper-shortages-novel-coronavirus-trnd/index.html
Reason 1 People resort to extremes when they hear conflicting messages
Reason 2 Some are reacting to the lack of a clear direction from officials
Reason 3 Panic buying begets panic buying
Reason 4 It's natural to want to overprepare
Reason 5 It allows some to feel a sense of control
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: John Galt incarnate! on March 11, 2020, 01:04:37 PM
Given that the Sears magazine is no more...
Just pull out the yellow pages
Or the mailed adverts
Tear a page.... crumple it up until soft
Capital

Given that most youthful summers were lived at an old farmstead with no running water...
I can say it is not that bad & takes very little skill or practice to master.

I heard that some newspaper (don't remember which one) included a number of blank pages "for emergency use."

How ironic it will be if someone  quickly depletes their hoard of TP because they caught a bug when purchasing it at a  store crammed with other TP hoarders.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: PDXTabs on March 11, 2020, 01:07:54 PM
I guess I just don't get it.  Why toilet paper? Why the run on toilet paper?

I mean, have you tried it? It's cheaper than dollar bills and way softer too.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on March 11, 2020, 01:10:47 PM
I think it's a combination of people anticipating a quarantine for at least 2 weeks (probably more), people anticipating being ill for a few weeks with coronavirus and unable to leave their homes, and plain old panic.
I think it's time to question your life choices if you typically keep less than 14 days of toilet paper on hand.

(https://media0.giphy.com/media/1Z02vuppxP1Pa/source.gif)


Hahahahahaha . . .

My wife was like "You always keep two large Costco packs of TP in the cold room in the basement . . . that's the only thing I never have to worry about stocking up!"

:P
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: NotJen on March 11, 2020, 01:15:44 PM
I've been trying to go to the bathroom more at work lately in order to conserve TP at home.

Enjoy it while you can!  I quit in December and I use SO MUCH MORE TOILET PAPER now (and water, too).  And now this tp crisis...  Rethinking all my life decisions at this point...

The stores I frequent have plenty of TP on the shelves for now.  I bought a pack yesterday - I like to have one unopened (12/24/whatever pack) on hand while I work my way through the open one.  I didn't want to contribute to the panic, but I had a coupon to use and an extra 10% off at Target, so I bought one.

I've heard some people cite supply chain issues for the panic buying, which makes the most sense to me.  Though I know nothing about tp supply chains.

I think it's a combination of people anticipating a quarantine for at least 2 weeks (probably more), people anticipating being ill for a few weeks with coronavirus and unable to leave their homes, and plain old panic.
I think it's time to question your life choices if you typically keep less than 14 days of toilet paper on hand.

My BF regularly has to make emergency runs to the store for TP.  It's, like, the main reason I won't be living with him - I cannot deal with (what seems to me like) his complete unwillingness to think ahead.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: bigblock440 on March 11, 2020, 01:45:46 PM
I've been trying to go to the bathroom more at work lately in order to conserve TP at home.
I always do this.  I'm not about to poop on my own time.

Maybe all the people who poop at work have no idea how much TP their family would use if home full time for a couple of weeks.

That's as good an explanation as any
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Metalcat on March 11, 2020, 02:00:59 PM
I just don't remember this whole TP thing happening with swine flu, and the warnings about it were just as scary at the time, but this weird TP insanity didn't happen.

I had H1N1 and self quarantined for a few weeks, and it was super miserable, but I can't remember thinking even once about toilet paper.

I do remember having absolutely no food stockpile and my family and friends dropping off food outside my door for me, which was good because I was floor-bound for over a week because I couldn't stand up. No way I would have been able to cook even if I had eight thousand pounds of pasta.

Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: better late on March 11, 2020, 02:04:54 PM
IDK

seems this is more a Kleenex illness than a TP illness
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: marty998 on March 11, 2020, 02:11:01 PM
Those smug assholes (pun intended) with bidets are laughing so hard right now.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: FIRE Artist on March 11, 2020, 02:22:37 PM
I went to Costco first thing this past Sunday morning to pick up a thing for my house I needed for a project I wanted to do that same day.  I got there 5 minutes before the store opened and holy shitballs it was insane with the people lined up.  I sighed, grabbed one of those flat bed carts and got in line.  Once in store while everyone else was hightailing it to the back where the paper goods are stored, I went in another direction and loaded up my big box.  I stopped and checked my phone for my Costco shopping list, and damn it, I needed paper towels. 

I worked my way to the back of the store and the frenzy was insane.  I decided to park my cart three aisles over and went in.  I dodged through the carts and grabbed my paper towels, and as I danced my way back out of the fray I had to pass the TP so I grabbed a pack of that and got the hell out of there.  Did I need TP right now?  No, I still have half a Costco pack in my cupboard.  Why did I pick it up then?  Because after seeing that, there is no f'ing way I am going back to Costco for a long time because this shit is insane.

The hilarious thing was overhearing people saying "but we actually need it".  Like everyone wants to make sure they are properly identified in their camp - crazy hoarders vs. your average person who needs to wipe their ass.  Buying TP has become a source of embarrassment for the sane. 
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: DadJokes on March 11, 2020, 02:35:16 PM
The hilarious thing was overhearing people saying "but we actually need it".  Like everyone wants to make sure they are properly identified in their camp - crazy hoarders vs. your average person who needs to wipe their ass.  Buying TP has become a source of embarrassment for the sane.

I recall a similar experience on 9/11 (and the day after) with gas stations. It was a terrible time to actually need gas, since the lines were going down the street.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Morning Glory on March 11, 2020, 03:06:31 PM
The hilarious thing was overhearing people saying "but we actually need it".  Like everyone wants to make sure they are properly identified in their camp - crazy hoarders vs. your average person who needs to wipe their ass.  Buying TP has become a source of embarrassment for the sane.

I recall a similar experience on 9/11 (and the day after) with gas stations. It was a terrible time to actually need gas, since the lines were going down the street.

Oh yes I drove home from school on fumes that day. The stations in my town had jacked the price up to $5 per gallon and cars were lined up. Next day it was back to  $2 or whatever the normal price was at the time.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Helvegen on March 11, 2020, 03:12:14 PM
I heard a rumor that this all actually started in China. That the Chinese were afraid that the government was going to turn toilet paper factories into mask factories and it sparked a run that went...well...viral...across the globe.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: alsoknownasDean on March 11, 2020, 08:54:32 PM
My local Costco was all sold out, as was my nearest Aldi.

Might have to queue up at the supermarket at 6am to ensure I get some after the shelves are stocked :p

Worst case I could hoard junk mail and use it. I wonder how many plumbers would get extra business from people flushing all types of toilet paper substitutes down the john?
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: ender on March 11, 2020, 08:57:58 PM
People overreact to everything.

I am decently worried about supplies that are actually needed by medical folks being hoarded by idiots.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: markram on March 11, 2020, 09:01:51 PM
I think it's just an easily "hoardable" item, and once people are in that mindset they don't stop and use logic.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: ender on March 11, 2020, 09:02:40 PM
I think it's just an easily "hoardable" item, and once people are in that mindset they don't stop and use logic.

People also like to feel in control.

Buying a bunch of TP for no practical benefit still gives them that feeling.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Frankies Girl on March 11, 2020, 09:44:45 PM
So this is how Demolition Man's 3 seashells is implemented... the great TP shortage of 2020.


Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Moonwaves on March 12, 2020, 02:17:31 AM
So this is how Demolition Man's 3 seashells is implemented... the great TP shortage of 2020.
Love it. LOL

But seriously people, just consider a switch to cloth. After years of using my own homemade stuff (by which I mean an old towel cut up into squares) I splurged last year on a set from Cheeky Wipes (https://www.cheekywipes.com/). No connection to them other than being a satisfied customer. I heard of them because my sister got a set when she had her twins a couple of years ago and she heard of them because a good friend got them when she had a baby. When my set arrived there was damage to part of the container and they sent me a replacement part immediately. I think it took the owner less than an hour to reply to my email.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: FIRE Artist on March 12, 2020, 02:49:53 AM
So this is how Demolition Man's 3 seashells is implemented... the great TP shortage of 2020.
Love it. LOL

But seriously people, just consider a switch to cloth. After years of using my own homemade stuff (by which I mean an old towel cut up into squares) I splurged last year on a set from Cheeky Wipes (https://www.cheekywipes.com/). No connection to them other than being a satisfied customer. I heard of them because my sister got a set when she had her twins a couple of years ago and she heard of them because a good friend got them when she had a baby. When my set arrived there was damage to part of the container and they sent me a replacement part immediately. I think it took the owner less than an hour to reply to my email.

I think getting a bidet attachment and something like these reusable cloths to dry is the way to go.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: thesis on March 12, 2020, 08:17:13 AM
I remember reading articles about rushes on toilet paper in other countries. This was back when the US only had around 12 identified CoV cases. I was a bit scared of the whole thing, but I went out and stocked up on some key items, not because I'm at high risk with this corona virus thing, but because people DO panic over these things, and I was more concerned about not being able to buy those things once people got crazy (and my concerns were well-founded when the next week marked the beginning of the craziness here in Colorado). My tp supply was already on the lean side, and I thought, "Well, at least this toilet paper will actually get used". So I bought a 30 pack. Nothing super giant, and definitely not multiple packs. I don't really pay attention to how much I use, but it isn't much. 30 rolls will last a very long time :)

However, I'm not the only person who thought this. If everyone is afraid of everyone else rushing on something, they are likely to buy some just-in-case, and as mentioned before, that just screws up the supply chain, as the demand suddenly outstrips the supply. It will probably level-off soon. I think the media, once again, is just highlighting the cases where some dude grabbed 3 or 4 costco packs, which is probably not the amount most people are buying. Reminds me of game theory, and one of those economics lessons about two criminals being incentivized the rat each other out. The disadvantage of not being able to buy tp far exceeds the disadvantage of looking like a moron. Something like that :D
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: netskyblue on March 12, 2020, 08:35:21 AM
I don't think everyone *is* hoarding toilet paper.  You've got your handful of nutcases who probably are, but when the word gets out that people are hoarding toilet paper, everybody else goes, "hmm, I've only got a week's worth, better buy a pack," or "I guess I should grab an extra pack when I'm at the store, if it's going to be sold out."  And when all the "normal" people buy ONE pack of toilet paper that they weren't otherwise planning on buying, you suddenly have a situation that the supply chain was not prepared for. 
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: mm1970 on March 12, 2020, 11:39:25 AM
There was literally no TP at any store I've stopped at in 4 days.  Costco, Home Depot, Trader Joe's, target, staples.

I decided to order some in bulk from Staples. We'll see if they actually have it and can deliver it.

If not, there are alternatives.  We probably have enough for #2, just not for the one female (me) if I'm stuck at home.
I was remembering the post-birth peri bottle option...and air dry.  I can make that happen.
Also "family cloth", if it comes to that.  (Or kula cloth).
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: driftwood on March 12, 2020, 02:18:46 PM
just came here to say it's...

for when the shit hits the fan.

But seriously, I'm with OP. I usually have 'what I'm using plus one'. When my ketchup is empty, I pull out the 'plus one', and put ketchup on the grocery list. I've also accidentally thought I was almost out of TP twice in the past so I have an overstock.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: solon on March 12, 2020, 02:26:47 PM
There was literally no TP at any store I've stopped at in 4 days.  Costco, Home Depot, Trader Joe's, target, staples.

I decided to order some in bulk from Staples. We'll see if they actually have it and can deliver it.

If not, there are alternatives.  We probably have enough for #2, just not for the one female (me) if I'm stuck at home.
I was remembering the post-birth peri bottle option...and air dry.  I can make that happen.
Also "family cloth", if it comes to that.  (Or kula cloth).

Good idea. I just ordered some from Staples too. They say it will be delivered tomorrow.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: MrsPennyPincher on March 12, 2020, 07:21:57 PM
In Soviet Union, people used newspapers in case of TP shortages... Subscribe to WSJ and you will be fine!t
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: HBFIRE on March 12, 2020, 07:38:27 PM
FOMO herd mentality.  People assume because the group is doing it, there must be a reason.  It's human herd psychology that's genetically wired in us.  Oftentimes it's good for survival, but also it can lead to silliness like this case.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Firehazard on March 12, 2020, 08:02:38 PM
Know what's nice?  Going to Walmart to buy a pack of TP that you actually need (along with other groceries), and finding that the Walmart Great Value knockoff version of Scotts TP (my friend refers to Scotts as 'prison toilet paper') is the only kind left on the shelves.  There's plenty of it because nobody wants it except for you, the frugal Mustachian.  Because you've been using it all along.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: big_owl on March 12, 2020, 08:10:47 PM
People hoard TP for the same reason everybody has to rush the aircraft boarding line as soon as the first jackass gets out of his seat and starts the line 20min early.

Whatever, two weeks ago I told my wife she better order a whole bunch of TP on boxed.com before it was too late. She laughed at me for a few days but finally gave in and ordered and guess what, shipment was delayed because of stock issues.  Luckily it came through so we have almost 100 rolls of TP in house. It doesn't go bad and we'll obviously use them over time so I'm fine with it.  Plus when you've had IBS for 39yrs the thought of going without TP and using reusable cloth is PTSD level anxiety. Immodium only gets you so far.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: hops on March 12, 2020, 08:17:46 PM
You never know why someone's stocking up on toilet paper. We didn't have to buy any -- we keep a ton on hand because I have Crohn's and a j-pouch and we know we'll use it sooner than later -- but my parents recently bought a bunch because they're caregivers for an elderly person with dementia who has essentially forgotten how to use toilet paper and runs through a roll every one to three days as a result. If they were all stuck at home for weeks, it would disappear very quickly.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: lost_in_the_endless_aisle on March 12, 2020, 09:11:13 PM
I don't think everyone *is* hoarding toilet paper.  You've got your handful of nutcases who probably are, but when the word gets out that people are hoarding toilet paper, everybody else goes, "hmm, I've only got a week's worth, better buy a pack," or "I guess I should grab an extra pack when I'm at the store, if it's going to be sold out."  And when all the "normal" people buy ONE pack of toilet paper that they weren't otherwise planning on buying, you suddenly have a situation that the supply chain was not prepared for.
I think it's not exactly hoarding that people are doing.  I think it's a combination of two other things:

1.  I think we have (had?) a finely tuned supply chain for most things.  TP would be at the top of the list in terms of supply chain tuning because it's got a simple supply chain (some trees, some bleach, some plastic wrap), the demand is easily predictable (usually), and it's probably all made here in the US, so lead time isn't even a problem.

With a Virus going around, people decide to stock up buy buying an extra 4/6/12-pack of TP.  Not a big deal to just buy some extra just in case.  But if everyone does it, the finely balanced supply chain that was expecting a constant demand gets hit with a demand shock.

2.  Once part 1 happens, people notice it happening.  This creates media attention and a FOMO-type / "bank run" type of scenario where people are afraid that there won't be TP there when they need it, so they stock up even more, which just exacerbates the problem.

Pretty much the same story with bottled water.

I'm sure the manufacturers' demand planners and manufacturing folks are hard at work trying to figure out if they need to make more product to alleviate the situation, as well as how much more and when.  That is probably hard to predict, although I'm betting that with TP the manufacturers realize that people, in aggregate, probably won't use any more over time, so there will just be an excess inventory in people's bathrooms, and when people realize it's not the End of the World As We Know It, they'll settle down and use up the excess.  So TP manufacturers likely will stay the course, as will bottled water people.  Hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes and such probably will ramp up production as there will probably be above average use of those for a while.

I'd guess that all of these products can be ramped up fairly quickly (weeks), and I personally think the panic will subside soon, so all in all a short-lived phenomenon IMHO.
I think these are the best answers. Inventory Management 101 is the better your demand forecast and the lower your lead-time variability, the less safety stock you need for a given in-stock rate. Something that works incredibly well until it doesn't... (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzm1XSnT-oI) I'm going to point out that retailers should have raised prices sharply but people who don't understand economics will complain about "gouging" and maybe the demand surge was too fast to do anything about.

In Soviet Union, people used newspapers in case of TP shortages... Subscribe to WSJ and you will be fine!t
When in the USSR visiting family in my youth, we used newspaper exclusively; I don't know that it was widely available outside of the biggest two or three cities, barring the black market.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Free Spirit on March 12, 2020, 10:06:25 PM
Know what's nice?  Going to Walmart to buy a pack of TP that you actually need (along with other groceries), and finding that the Walmart Great Value knockoff version of Scotts TP (my friend refers to Scotts as 'prison toilet paper') is the only kind left on the shelves.  There's plenty of it because nobody wants it except for you, the frugal Mustachian.  Because you've been using it all along.

This! I prefer the Walmart brand to any other but maybe it’s because I was raised on John Wayne tp.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: frugalnacho on March 12, 2020, 10:24:45 PM
Know what's nice?  Going to Walmart to buy a pack of TP that you actually need (along with other groceries), and finding that the Walmart Great Value knockoff version of Scotts TP (my friend refers to Scotts as 'prison toilet paper') is the only kind left on the shelves.  There's plenty of it because nobody wants it except for you, the frugal Mustachian.  Because you've been using it all along.

Why not just buy sand paper? Same effect.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Leisured on March 12, 2020, 11:10:17 PM

My BF regularly has to make emergency runs to the store for TP.  It's, like, the main reason I won't be living with him - I cannot deal with (what seems to me like) his complete unwillingness to think ahead.

I think it is a variation on living paycheck to paycheck. You must not be seen thinking ahead. I think it is a working class mindset. Only middle class nerds think ahead.

I am old enough to remember newspaper being used as toilet paper in an outdoors toilet, where the containers were taken away. I suspect that newspaper would not go well in a flush toilet.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on March 13, 2020, 09:10:00 AM
Know what's nice?  Going to Walmart to buy a pack of TP that you actually need (along with other groceries), and finding that the Walmart Great Value knockoff version of Scotts TP (my friend refers to Scotts as 'prison toilet paper') is the only kind left on the shelves.  There's plenty of it because nobody wants it except for you, the frugal Mustachian.  Because you've been using it all along.

Why not just buy sand paper? Same effect.

I exclusively buy the lowest ply, highest grit, cheapest toilet paper.  That soft stuff doesn't grip as well.  :P
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: frugalnacho on March 13, 2020, 09:17:24 AM
Exactly.  Keep your butthole clean with a constant flow of fresh blood because you've been using scotts tp. 
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: frugalnacho on March 13, 2020, 09:20:51 AM
(https://i.imgflip.com/3sggwt.jpg)
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: MilesTeg on March 13, 2020, 09:34:14 AM
Went shopping last night, my usual late night run. Usually it's me and the stockers, which is my preferred shopping experience. But last night there were several other shoppers. Most clearly in hording mode with carts full of bulk items. One guy had two carts he was sheparding.

Looks like panic mode has been activated fully here in CO. The store (super center) was cleaned out of rice, beans, pasta, peanut butter, most canned goods, most frozen veggies, flour, bottled water, paper products, liquid hand soaps, most cleaning products except laundry soap, first aid supplies, etc.

Looks like a few things above were being restocked, but not all. I was annoyed only by the total lack of cleaning products and frozen veggies.

For kicks I looked on amazon and pretty much all their TP and other paper products are 'unavailable at this time'.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: John Galt incarnate! on March 13, 2020, 10:35:10 AM
Here is Peter Noel Murray on why people are hoarding TP.


“In this case the cognitive factor is cognitive bias. We tend to overemphasize things that are recent and very vivid."

“When there’s a plane crash people don’t fly. When there’s a shark attack people think all sharks are killers. That process makes us think that whatever the current thing is, it’s similar to some terrible thing — it catastrophizes our view of whatever this thing is.”


“On the emotional side, the answer is self-affirmation. In our minds we know one day we are going to be dead, and the mind deals with it through seeking control.”

“There’s an over-representation of fear and people’s minds need to respond to those kinds of feelings. The need for self-affirmation is triggered, and that drives us to do unreasonable things like buying a year’s worth of toilet paper. It overwhelms the knowledge that we don’t need to be doing that.”   

Peter Noel Murray is a New York-based member of the American Psychological Association and the Society for Consumer Psychology.

Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Bird In Hand on March 13, 2020, 11:10:11 AM
The hoarders' actions have a ripple effect on those of us not following the herd.  When doing my regular weekly grocery shopping -- which includes buying a pack of TP -- it is perfectly rational to see the low stock and pick up two packs instead of the usual one pack, fearing that the hoarders are going to...wipe out the supply before I visit the store next week.  While I feel a little self-conscious with two packs at the checkout line, I put on my most charmin' smile and mention that I have a large family, all of whom have IBS.  I thereby hope to dispel any notion that I'm going to leave the store just to ply my extra rolls on the TP black market.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: OtherJen on March 13, 2020, 11:12:33 AM
Okay, people have lost their damn minds.

Our little neighborhood Aldi is a free-for-all, with people in masks shoveling cases of orange juice and cool whip in their carts and ignoring the “limit 3 gallons” sign on the milk case. The store is completely out of flour and meat (except corned beef) and most fresh fruit. Fortunately, bacon, kale, cabbage, mushrooms, plain yogurt, and limes don’t seem popular so I bought one pack of each (all on my list before the shit hit the fan) and a corned beef brisket.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: mm1970 on March 13, 2020, 11:17:12 AM
There was literally no TP at any store I've stopped at in 4 days.  Costco, Home Depot, Trader Joe's, target, staples.

I decided to order some in bulk from Staples. We'll see if they actually have it and can deliver it.

If not, there are alternatives.  We probably have enough for #2, just not for the one female (me) if I'm stuck at home.
I was remembering the post-birth peri bottle option...and air dry.  I can make that happen.
Also "family cloth", if it comes to that.  (Or kula cloth).

Good idea. I just ordered some from Staples too. They say it will be delivered tomorrow.
Mine actually shipped!  From TX.  Supposed to come Tuesday.  I'm in California.

But more to the original post.

They have not closed our schools ... yet.  Parents are either scared they will or pissed that they won't.  Next week is a minimum day week (conferences) for elementary.  Conferences will be by phone.  All travel and large group things have been canceled.  As it is, school is still happening.

The week after that is spring break.  I expect that the district will add a week or two to the end of spring break.  We currently have no diagnosed cases in the county.

However, if they DO close school for up to a month - I have done the math, I would need approx 40-48 rolls of TP.  In a typical 2 week period, when we spend 50 hours a week at work and at school, we go through half that.  If we are quarantined a month?  Those 18 rolls I have won't last.  Thank goodness I'm the only female in the house.

Some people may be hoarding, but others might just be doing the math on how much they need for a month of quarantine.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: bacchi on March 13, 2020, 11:31:10 AM
I was at the store when the frenzy started but didn't want to wade into the crowds. I had about 1-2 weeks left of TP so no problem.

I went back yesterday and the aisle was picked clean of every paper product. No tp, no paper towels, no nose tissue.

I am now down to 2 rolls. I should've thrown some elbows and dove into the panicked crowds when I had the chance. Our only hope is for spring to arrive with its soft, new growth, leaves.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on March 13, 2020, 11:36:14 AM
Okay, people have lost their damn minds.

Our little neighborhood Aldi is a free-for-all, with people in masks shoveling cases of orange juice and cool whip in their carts and ignoring the “limit 3 gallons” sign on the milk case. The store is completely out of flour and meat (except corned beef) and most fresh fruit. Fortunately, bacon, kale, cabbage, mushrooms, plain yogurt, and limes don’t seem popular so I bought one pack of each (all on my list before the shit hit the fan) and a corned beef brisket.

Wouldn't corned beef be a great thing to buy as a long lasting quarantine staple?
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: OtherJen on March 13, 2020, 11:37:29 AM
Okay, people have lost their damn minds.

Our little neighborhood Aldi is a free-for-all, with people in masks shoveling cases of orange juice and cool whip in their carts and ignoring the “limit 3 gallons” sign on the milk case. The store is completely out of flour and meat (except corned beef) and most fresh fruit. Fortunately, bacon, kale, cabbage, mushrooms, plain yogurt, and limes don’t seem popular so I bought one pack of each (all on my list before the shit hit the fan) and a corned beef brisket.

Wouldn't corned beef be a great thing to buy as a long lasting quarantine staple?

One would think. I only grabbed one because I didn’t have a cart, but I might go back on Monday morning to grab a few more.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: frugalnacho on March 13, 2020, 11:39:22 AM
(https://media.giphy.com/media/ZGDk9lMkuSDhm/giphy.gif)

(https://www.shutupandtakemymoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/this-is-the-final-boss-at-costco-toilet-paper-meme.jpg)

(https://assets.infowars.com/2020/03/tpmemes23.jpg)

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ESrXeZwUcAEcMdC?format=jpg&name=small)
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: ChickenStash on March 13, 2020, 11:40:20 AM
I bought a bidet add-on for the toilet. I figured it's a more long-term solution. lol

I've been wanting to buy one for some time and finally decided to go for it. Cost about the same as 3 Costco TP mega-packages. I guess I'm lucky I ran out a few weeks before the panic and was able to resupply normally.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on March 13, 2020, 11:43:03 AM
I bought a bidet add-on for the toilet.

There's already a shower head in my bathroom.  No need for a second one.  :P
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Glenstache on March 13, 2020, 12:19:32 PM
Why buy a lot of toilet paper? Probably because people heard the shit was going to hit the fan. And what else do people clean shit up with?
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: John Galt incarnate! on March 13, 2020, 12:22:21 PM
The hoarders' actions have a ripple effect on those of us not following the herd.  When doing my regular weekly grocery shopping -- which includes buying a pack of TP -- it is perfectly rational to see the low stock and pick up two packs instead of the usual one pack, fearing that the hoarders are going to...wipe out the supply before I visit the store next week.  While I feel a little self-conscious with two packs at the checkout line, I put on my most charmin' smile and mention that I have a large family, all of whom have IBS.  I thereby hope to dispel any notion that I'm going to leave the store just to ply my extra rolls on the TP black market.


I hereby, nominate  one Bird In Hand, for the esteemed position of Master Punster of Mu$tacian$.

And I like his/her signature line too!
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Bird In Hand on March 13, 2020, 12:45:33 PM
The hoarders' actions have a ripple effect on those of us not following the herd.  When doing my regular weekly grocery shopping -- which includes buying a pack of TP -- it is perfectly rational to see the low stock and pick up two packs instead of the usual one pack, fearing that the hoarders are going to...wipe out the supply before I visit the store next week.  While I feel a little self-conscious with two packs at the checkout line, I put on my most charmin' smile and mention that I have a large family, all of whom have IBS.  I thereby hope to dispel any notion that I'm going to leave the store just to ply my extra rolls on the TP black market.


I hereby, nominate  one Bird In Hand, for the esteemed position of Master Punster of Mu$tacian$.

And I like his/her signature line too!

Thank you!  I expect to roll with this nomination right to the winners' podium.  I advise all others in the running for Master Punster to fold immediately, or risk being utterly crumpled.  And in the latter case, I will not be the one to clean up the mess; that will be left to your hands alone.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: teen persuasion on March 13, 2020, 01:24:33 PM
Okay, people have lost their damn minds.

Our little neighborhood Aldi is a free-for-all, with people in masks shoveling cases of orange juice and cool whip in their carts and ignoring the “limit 3 gallons” sign on the milk case. The store is completely out of flour and meat (except corned beef) and most fresh fruit. Fortunately, bacon, kale, cabbage, mushrooms, plain yogurt, and limes don’t seem popular so I bought one pack of each (all on my list before the shit hit the fan) and a corned beef brisket.

Wild!

Just got back from our nearest Aldi, TP was the only thing they were out of, everything else was pretty normally available.  TP was the only paper product missing.  As this is a respiratory illness, I'd expect tissues to be in higher demand, or paper towels for cleaning/disinfecting/disposable hand washing, but they weren't touched.

Limit 3 on milk, though, that's different - years back when all my kids were still at home, I regularly got 7-8 gal of milk per week.  I think they might have a limit 6 sign up now, but 2-3 gal per week is good for the 3 of us now.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: J.R. Ewing on March 13, 2020, 01:31:54 PM
Does anyone know how to make a home made bidet from common items found around the house?  Asking for a friend. 
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on March 13, 2020, 01:33:27 PM
Does anyone know how to make a home made bidet from common items found around the house?  Asking for a friend.

Step 1 - Lift shower head from cradle
Step 2 - Complete!
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Alternatepriorities on March 13, 2020, 01:42:56 PM
I think it's a combination of people anticipating a quarantine for at least 2 weeks (probably more), people anticipating being ill for a few weeks with coronavirus and unable to leave their homes, and plain old panic.
I think it's time to question your life choices if you typically keep less than 14 days of toilet paper on hand.
Amen!
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: frugalnacho on March 13, 2020, 01:58:19 PM
Does anyone know how to make a home made bidet from common items found around the house?  Asking for a friend.

Step 1 - Lift shower head from cradle
Step 2 - Complete!

Instructions unclear.  Gave myself massive enema. 
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Alternatepriorities on March 13, 2020, 02:01:52 PM
just came here to say it's...

for when the shit hits the fan.

But seriously, I'm with OP. I usually have 'what I'm using plus one'. When my ketchup is empty, I pull out the 'plus one', and put ketchup on the grocery list. I've also accidentally thought I was almost out of TP twice in the past so I have an overstock.

Yeah that's how our house usually functions too. DW and I did that last fall... We still haven't broken into the second Kirkland pack. Yesterday I was at Costco and they had TP... I decided not to be an ass since we still have plenty. It's interesting to think that as Mustachians we have more options to hoard than most people because we have more money but most of us clearly are not. I did buy an extra half gallon of mayo, but only because it was on sale and doesn't go bad.

It was a little weird going through the line with my normal costco groceries while everyone around is in total chaos stocking up. Like others mentioned it's weird to feel like I needed to defend my normal purchases from accusations of hoarding... I also had to buy one lb blocks of butter because they were out of the regular sticks...
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: ixtap on March 13, 2020, 02:12:34 PM
just came here to say it's...

for when the shit hits the fan.

But seriously, I'm with OP. I usually have 'what I'm using plus one'. When my ketchup is empty, I pull out the 'plus one', and put ketchup on the grocery list. I've also accidentally thought I was almost out of TP twice in the past so I have an overstock.

Yeah that's how our house usually functions too. DW and I did that last fall... We still haven't broken into the second Kirkland pack. Yesterday I was at Costco and they had TP... I decided not to be an ass since we still have plenty. It's interesting to think that as Mustachians we have more options to hoard than most people because we have more money but most of us clearly are not. I did buy an extra half gallon of mayo, but only because it was on sale and doesn't go bad.

It was a little weird going through the line with my normal costco groceries while everyone around is in total chaos stocking up. Like others mentioned it's weird to feel like I needed to defend my normal purchases from accusations of hoarding... I also had to buy one lb blocks of butter because they were out of the regular sticks...

I have been buying a bit more. Last week I stocked up on some non perishables because I had just finished a clean out the cupboards goal and decided now wasn't a good time for bare cupboards. This week, I bought enough that I shouldn't have to go back for a whole week, vs our normal 2x a week shopping. The stores are crazy and I don't want to go more often for my mental health, much less my physical health.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Alternatepriorities on March 13, 2020, 02:12:52 PM
Does anyone know how to make a home made bidet from common items found around the house?  Asking for a friend.

Step 1 - Lift shower head from cradle
Step 2 - Complete!

Instructions unclear.  Gave myself massive enema.

Probably took care of tomorrow too then.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Alternatepriorities on March 13, 2020, 02:14:22 PM
just came here to say it's...

for when the shit hits the fan.

But seriously, I'm with OP. I usually have 'what I'm using plus one'. When my ketchup is empty, I pull out the 'plus one', and put ketchup on the grocery list. I've also accidentally thought I was almost out of TP twice in the past so I have an overstock.

Yeah that's how our house usually functions too. DW and I did that last fall... We still haven't broken into the second Kirkland pack. Yesterday I was at Costco and they had TP... I decided not to be an ass since we still have plenty. It's interesting to think that as Mustachians we have more options to hoard than most people because we have more money but most of us clearly are not. I did buy an extra half gallon of mayo, but only because it was on sale and doesn't go bad.

It was a little weird going through the line with my normal costco groceries while everyone around is in total chaos stocking up. Like others mentioned it's weird to feel like I needed to defend my normal purchases from accusations of hoarding... I also had to buy one lb blocks of butter because they were out of the regular sticks...

I have been buying a bit more. Last week I stocked up on some non perishables because I had just finished a clean out the cupboards goal and decided now wasn't a good time for bare cupboards. This week, I bought enough that I shouldn't have to go back for a whole week, vs our normal 2x a week shopping. The stores are crazy and I don't want to go more often for my mental health, much less my physical health.

terrible timing...

That's the best reason I can think of for hoarding right now...
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: YYK on March 13, 2020, 02:23:52 PM
I was at the store on Wednesday and didn't notice any panic. My state's only got a couple confirmed cases so far, both from travellers to Italy, so I guess panic hasn't totally set in yet. I don't use much tp so the 9-pack I just opened a week ago will last me until next winter probably. Consequently, I didn't even check the tp aisle. They were strangely completely out of dry milk, an item I usually buy once every other month and which was on my list this time. I attributed it to stocking inefficiencies since the store is being remodeled. Actually, while writing this I remembered that they were also totally out of isopropanol, which I also happened to need a bottle of. Maybe the world really is ending.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: YYK on March 13, 2020, 02:27:55 PM
I do know that there have been panics in Hong Kong and Japan over toilet paper, and sell-outs in Australia. That's probably crystallized in people's minds as "we're all going to run out of toilet paper and it will be anarchy!"

I suspect that this is where it started. I heard from someone in Japan that the panic started since trade with China is totally shut down, and they were worried that toilet paper would dry up. Ironically, according to the same source, Japanese tp is made domestically.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on March 13, 2020, 02:33:26 PM
Does anyone know how to make a home made bidet from common items found around the house?  Asking for a friend.

Step 1 - Lift shower head from cradle
Step 2 - Complete!

Instructions unclear.  Gave myself massive enema.

Your water pressure must be significantly better than mine.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: BDWW on March 13, 2020, 02:57:45 PM
Does anyone know how to make a home made bidet from common items found around the house?  Asking for a friend.

Step 1 - Lift shower head from cradle
Step 2 - Complete!

Instructions unclear.  Gave myself massive enema.

Your water pressure must be significantly better than mine.

More enemas = less pooping, less pooping = less tp. Genius!
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: the_fixer on March 13, 2020, 03:28:25 PM
Cut out the middle man (aka toilet) and take your morning dump in the shower.

No wasted toilet paper and no need for a bidet.

Kidding of course cause that sounds nasty :o






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Buffaloski Boris on March 13, 2020, 03:31:03 PM
As I explained to DW a week ago as I bought 2 things of TP at Costco. (As she rolled her eyes).  Yeah, it's stupid.  But it's not what you or I think, it's what crowds are going to do.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: SunnyDays on March 13, 2020, 03:54:16 PM
A spray bottle and a hairdryer are cheepo substitutes for a bidet attachment!

Last night the news posted a list of virus symptoms, and "diarrhea" was on it.  So maybe people aren't so crazy.

One of the local grocery stores was pretty busy this PM, but maybe it's normal because I generally don't shop on Friday afternoons (or weekends) and there were noticeable bare spots on the shelves, but I attribute that to the sale vultures that prevail around here.  There was still some TP left, but only smaller packages.  Glad I started stocking up a few weeks ago and am basically done.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: big_owl on March 13, 2020, 04:55:20 PM
Well our household assistant did her grocery run today and sent pictures of empty shelves and stock gone missing. Hoarding is for real. Lucky we have our TP so that's not a problem.  Living on the Chesapeake bay there's no shortage of water and we have a year's worth of food in the house so I'm cool. Bring on the apocalypse.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Roland of Gilead on March 13, 2020, 05:11:55 PM
TBH I wasn't totally sure a few weeks ago that some part of our toilet paper was not made in China and the supply would be disrupted.  Maybe the outer plastic wrapper material or maybe something else.  It just seems like all we make in the USA is street tacos and movies.

So I bought some 2 month supply of TP three weeks ago and now I watch as the store has a line running out the building to get the last couple rolls.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on March 13, 2020, 05:29:33 PM
Cut out the middle man (aka toilet) and take your morning dump in the shower.

No wasted toilet paper and no need for a bidet.

Kidding of course cause that sounds nasty :o






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk



I dunno . . . if you have enema level water pressure from your shower head, you can probably just blast the turds down the drain without too much issue.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: frugalnacho on March 13, 2020, 05:35:42 PM
Cut out the middle man (aka toilet) and take your morning dump in the shower.

No wasted toilet paper and no need for a bidet.

Kidding of course cause that sounds nasty :o






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(https://i.imgflip.com/h0p61.gif)
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Fomerly known as something on March 13, 2020, 05:40:16 PM
I’m glad I make my bulk TP purchases from Amazon, only the person who packs the box can judge me.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Freedomin5 on March 13, 2020, 05:43:41 PM
The newspaper in Toronto just published an article about how the largest toilet paper supplier has enough raw materials to meet the increased demand for toilet paper, so no one has to worry about not having toilet paper when they need it.

Their tldr: Folks, there’s plenty of toilet paper to go around!

 https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-plenty-of-toilet-paper-to-go-around-canadas-biggest-producer-kruger/ (https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-plenty-of-toilet-paper-to-go-around-canadas-biggest-producer-kruger/)
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: American GenX on March 13, 2020, 06:17:36 PM

Just counted up my rolls.   I have about 300 regular sized rolls equivalent.

I bought most of these back in January and bought one pack two weeks ago, so I was set before the panic buying began.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: American GenX on March 13, 2020, 06:26:08 PM
Why buy a lot of toilet paper? Probably because people heard the shit was going to hit the fan. And what else do people clean shit up with?

Here are some options from an older frugality thread on MMM:

https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/welcome-to-the-forum/frugality-contest!-top-3-go!/msg1513417/#msg1513417
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Sibley on March 13, 2020, 07:38:13 PM
I'm good on TP, which is good because the store was out. Stopped on the way home. My area is shutting down, and I'm kinda anticipating that my office will be closing as well. Most of the schools have closed for 2-4 weeks. I'm hoping to just stay home for a while - my asthma is causing problems even without being sick, so I'd likely be in trouble.

Aldi's was nuts. No bread, TP, paper towels, tissues, napkins, meat, pasta, rice. Canned goods 80% empty with a purchase limit. Plenty of milk, eggs, cereal. Mix of everything else. I was able to get about half my list. Luckily, the stuff I needed I was able to get. The things I couldn't get I will be ok, if sad. I may have to ration cookies (currently addicted to their fudge stripes).
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: BigMoneyJim on March 13, 2020, 07:50:23 PM
The hilarious thing was overhearing people saying "but we actually need it".

Like the people in the airport asking to cut in line because they have to catch a plane....

Does anyone know how to make a home made bidet from common items found around the house?  Asking for a friend.

Sure! Just stock up on bottled water, the cheap ones in the flimsy PET bottles. ... Oh ... damn.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Wrenchturner on March 13, 2020, 08:25:01 PM
In many parts of the world, it's rude to eat with your left hand.  You can figure out the rest.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: marble_faun on March 13, 2020, 08:57:32 PM
Our plan is to use our baby's cloth diapers as toilet paper if the local supply really runs low.  Though hopefully it won't come to that!

It's funny to hear about all the panic buying in response to "other people panic buying."  It's still panic buying and contributes to the chaos!
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Sibley on March 13, 2020, 09:28:47 PM
Ugh. My parents are stupid. I TOLD them to do a big shopping trip.

Anywhere online that actually has TP? They're in Detroit area.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: frugalnacho on March 13, 2020, 09:58:44 PM
No toilet paper, no bread, no vegetables, no cheese, no meat. This is bonkers.  I've never experienced anything quite like this.

I've heard from people on the inside at some stores that despite the public message of "nothing is wrong more tp is on the way so don't worry" there have been major supply line interruptions, and there will be nationwide shortage soon with no one getting more for a month or more.  I do not know how credible those sources are, so take that with a grain of salt.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: lost_in_the_endless_aisle on March 13, 2020, 10:05:13 PM
No toilet paper, no bread, no vegetables, no cheese, no meat. This is bonkers.  I've never experienced anything quite like this.

I've heard from people on the inside at some stores that despite the public message of "nothing is wrong more tp is on the way so don't worry" there have been major supply line interruptions, and there will be nationwide shortage soon with no one getting more for a month or more.  I do not know how credible those sources are, so take that with a grain of salt.
No, it's a demand shock; there is no supply shock (yet). There is more TP on the way. My city was out for half a week but everyone at Hyvee had a package in their cart today. I have a 6 month supply myself purchased a month ago. Tons of cheese and I don't buy meat that often but it was mostly available in abundance. The only things with low stock here today were beans and rice. Maybe people are embracing David Ramsey's advice ;)
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: frugalnacho on March 13, 2020, 10:36:05 PM
More toilet paper on the way through the end of next week, then a glut, or so the rumor goes.  Just a rumor I've heard, so don't take it as true or not.

Went to 2 stores tonight, and they were out of most everything.  Apples, bananas, bread, asparagus, broccoli, onions, potatoes, water, toilet paper, sanitizer.

Empty bread aisle:

(https://i.postimg.cc/gj9GV5Gx/IMG-20200313-214926048.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

Meat department:

(https://i.postimg.cc/R0MdFVfF/IMG-20200313-214911351.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: lost_in_the_endless_aisle on March 13, 2020, 10:42:51 PM
More toilet paper on the way through the end of next week, then a glut, or so the rumor goes.  Just a rumor I've heard, so don't take it as true or not.

Went to 2 stores tonight, and they were out of most everything.  Apples, bananas, bread, asparagus, broccoli, onions, potatoes, water, toilet paper, sanitizer.

Empty bread aisle:

(https://i.postimg.cc/gj9GV5Gx/IMG-20200313-214926048.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

Meat department:

(https://i.postimg.cc/R0MdFVfF/IMG-20200313-214911351.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Nice pics! Very striking though still an extremely well stocked store compared to the USSR. The potential future glut is probably related to the bull-whip effect which results in an oversupply in inventory as an over-response to a sudden surge in demand. I have some goat meat in my freezer I can mail to you.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: YYK on March 13, 2020, 10:56:08 PM
All this panic and hardly anyone's sick yet. I can't help but imagine the chaos if a disease that was as infectious as this but killed way more came around.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: frugalnacho on March 13, 2020, 11:11:13 PM
There was some food stocked still, I'm not going to starve, I just can't get half the things I want.  I've gotta use plain feta instead of the garlic feta I like when I make my quiche. This is supposed to be a first world country god damnit!
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on March 14, 2020, 04:29:26 AM
There was some food stocked still, I'm not going to starve, I just can't get half the things I want.  I've gotta use plain feta instead of the garlic feta I like when I make my quiche. This is supposed to be a first world country god damnit!

Is that really even living???
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: OtherJen on March 14, 2020, 06:46:15 AM
Yeah, don't be these guys, folks.

He Has 17,700 Bottles of Hand Sanitizer and Nowhere to Sell Them (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/14/technology/coronavirus-purell-wipes-amazon-sellers.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage)
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Schaefer Light on March 14, 2020, 07:11:27 AM
Higher prices would discourage people who don't need TP from stocking up on it.  I blame "price gouging" laws.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: ender on March 14, 2020, 07:15:22 AM
Yeah, don't be these guys, folks.

He Has 17,700 Bottles of Hand Sanitizer and Nowhere to Sell Them (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/14/technology/coronavirus-purell-wipes-amazon-sellers.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage)

I wish that we had laws about people like this.

Quote
On March 1, the day after the first coronavirus death in the United States, brothers Matt and Noah Colvin set out in a silver S.U.V. to pick up some hand sanitizer. Driving around Chattanooga, Tenn., they hit a Dollar Tree, then a Walmart, a Staples and a Home Depot. At each store, they cleaned out the shelves.

Over the next three days, Noah Colvin took a 1,300-mile road trip across Tennessee and into Kentucky, filling a U-Haul truck with thousands of bottles of hand sanitizer and thousands of packs of antibacterial wipes, mostly from “little hole-in-the-wall dollar stores in the backwoods,” his brother said. “The major metro areas were cleaned out.”

-----
The next day, Amazon pulled his items and thousands of other listings for sanitizer, wipes and face masks. The company suspended some of the sellers behind the listings and warned many others that if they kept running up prices, they’d lose their accounts. EBay soon followed with even stricter measures, prohibiting any U.S. sales of masks or sanitizer.

Good.

I hope assholes like that guy lose tons of money from this. I highly doubt they will though.

People like them actively make the situation worse.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Schaefer Light on March 14, 2020, 07:43:29 AM
Yeah, don't be these guys, folks.

He Has 17,700 Bottles of Hand Sanitizer and Nowhere to Sell Them (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/14/technology/coronavirus-purell-wipes-amazon-sellers.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage)

I wish that we had laws about people like this.

Quote
On March 1, the day after the first coronavirus death in the United States, brothers Matt and Noah Colvin set out in a silver S.U.V. to pick up some hand sanitizer. Driving around Chattanooga, Tenn., they hit a Dollar Tree, then a Walmart, a Staples and a Home Depot. At each store, they cleaned out the shelves.

Over the next three days, Noah Colvin took a 1,300-mile road trip across Tennessee and into Kentucky, filling a U-Haul truck with thousands of bottles of hand sanitizer and thousands of packs of antibacterial wipes, mostly from “little hole-in-the-wall dollar stores in the backwoods,” his brother said. “The major metro areas were cleaned out.”

-----
The next day, Amazon pulled his items and thousands of other listings for sanitizer, wipes and face masks. The company suspended some of the sellers behind the listings and warned many others that if they kept running up prices, they’d lose their accounts. EBay soon followed with even stricter measures, prohibiting any U.S. sales of masks or sanitizer.

Good.

I hope assholes like that guy lose tons of money from this. I highly doubt they will though.

People like them actively make the situation worse.
I would argue that Amazon made the situation worse by preventing them from selling their product at the price the market would bear.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: ender on March 14, 2020, 07:54:31 AM
I would argue that Amazon made the situation worse by preventing them from selling their product at the price the market would bear.

How so?

Overblown panic and reactions like buying all of a medical supply in order to create artificial scarcity and then price gouge make situations like Corona considerably worse.

Societally, people like the guys here are bad actors who actively make things collectively worse for their own selfish gain.

Just the same as how we have laws against most things that damage other people, I have no problems with effectively preventing people from doing this type of thing in our society.

How many people will end up with no hand sanitizer because of this? How many vulnerable people will not be able to have hand sanitizer as a result of some assholes trying to profit?

Medical professionals are going to have problems with supplies because people like these bought up supplies.

Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on March 14, 2020, 08:12:54 AM
I would argue that Amazon made the situation worse by preventing them from selling their product at the price the market would bear.

How so?

Overblown panic and reactions like buying all of a medical supply in order to create artificial scarcity and then price gouge make situations like Corona considerably worse.

Societally, people like the guys here are bad actors who actively make things collectively worse for their own selfish gain.

Just the same as how we have laws against most things that damage other people, I have no problems with effectively preventing people from doing this type of thing in our society.

How many people will end up with no hand sanitizer because of this? How many vulnerable people will not be able to have hand sanitizer as a result of some assholes trying to profit?

Medical professionals are going to have problems with supplies because people like these bought up supplies.

This type of price gouging is really the purest form of capitalism.  It is an individual mobilizing capital because they see a market opportunity.  This will go through a boom and bust cycle and resolve itself eventually . . . so who cares if anyone dies because of shortages in the interim?  Five years from now prices on hand sanitizer will be really low again . . . and at the moment the rich will be able to use their money to get the supplies they need.  Really no down side.  :P
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Sibley on March 14, 2020, 08:29:14 AM
Ugh. My parents are stupid. I TOLD them to do a big shopping trip.

Anywhere online that actually has TP? They're in Detroit area.

Ok, crisis averted, thanks to @Dollar Slice for the tip. Dad found a package of TP, it's not their preferred brand, but they only have themselves to blame because I told them.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: OtherJen on March 14, 2020, 08:32:39 AM
Ugh. My parents are stupid. I TOLD them to do a big shopping trip.

Anywhere online that actually has TP? They're in Detroit area.

Ok, crisis averted, thanks to @Dollar Slice for the tip. Dad found a package of TP, it's not their preferred brand, but they only have themselves to blame because I told them.

I’m sure they will survive, just like @frugalnacho and his plain feta. ;-)
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: frugalnacho on March 14, 2020, 08:38:43 AM
There was some food stocked still, I'm not going to starve, I just can't get half the things I want.  I've gotta use plain feta instead of the garlic feta I like when I make my quiche. This is supposed to be a first world country god damnit!

Is that really even living???

I'm basically in Auschwitz. No bananas, and using plain feta.  And my regular supply of toilet paper is down to only about a month left. 

All joking aside though the stores are looking pretty grim, and have been getting progressively worse for the past month.  We still aren't in any danger of starving, but it's definitely becoming a major inconvenience.  I am slightly concerned what it's going to look like in another month if this virus spreads wild like it's been doing in Italy. 
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on March 14, 2020, 08:40:59 AM
There was some food stocked still, I'm not going to starve, I just can't get half the things I want.  I've gotta use plain feta instead of the garlic feta I like when I make my quiche. This is supposed to be a first world country god damnit!

Is that really even living???

I'm basically in Auschwitz. No bananas, and using plain feta.  And my regular supply of toilet paper is down to only about a month left. 

All joking aside though the stores are looking pretty grim, and have been getting progressively worse for the past month.  We still aren't in any danger of starving, but it's definitely becoming a major inconvenience.  I am slightly concerned what it's going to look like in another month if this virus spreads wild like it's been doing in Italy.

I went to get groceries first thing in the morning like I usually do.  Instead of 1-2 cars in the parking lot, the lot was full before the store opened.  Shelves were already half bare by the time I got a cart.  Really hoping that people calm the hell down in the next couple weeks or it will get grim.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: frugalnacho on March 14, 2020, 08:42:31 AM
Our plan is to use our baby's cloth diapers as toilet paper if the local supply really runs low.  Though hopefully it won't come to that!

It's funny to hear about all the panic buying in response to "other people panic buying."  It's still panic buying and contributes to the chaos!

It is, but what else are you supposed to do? It's very Noble and enlightened to sit back and say "there is no reason to panic everyone!" Meanwhile all the supplies people are panic buying are gone and now you have none if you didn't participate in the insanity.

I don't think your message is very reassuring to the people sitting at home with no toilet paper and no hand sanitizer.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: frugalnacho on March 14, 2020, 08:45:22 AM
There was some food stocked still, I'm not going to starve, I just can't get half the things I want.  I've gotta use plain feta instead of the garlic feta I like when I make my quiche. This is supposed to be a first world country god damnit!

Is that really even living???

I'm basically in Auschwitz. No bananas, and using plain feta.  And my regular supply of toilet paper is down to only about a month left. 

All joking aside though the stores are looking pretty grim, and have been getting progressively worse for the past month.  We still aren't in any danger of starving, but it's definitely becoming a major inconvenience.  I am slightly concerned what it's going to look like in another month if this virus spreads wild like it's been doing in Italy.

I went to get groceries first thing in the morning like I usually do.  Instead of 1-2 cars in the parking lot, the lot was full before the store opened.  Shelves were already half bare by the time I got a cart.  Really hoping that people calm the hell down in the next couple weeks or it will get grim.

It's absolute insanity.  Im hopeful that this pandemic thing isn't going to be as bad as many are predicting, but the panic right now is real.

People panic every time there is a snow storm forecasted, but this is a whole new level I've never witnessed in my 37 years. 
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: OtherJen on March 14, 2020, 08:55:39 AM
There was some food stocked still, I'm not going to starve, I just can't get half the things I want.  I've gotta use plain feta instead of the garlic feta I like when I make my quiche. This is supposed to be a first world country god damnit!

Is that really even living???

I'm basically in Auschwitz. No bananas, and using plain feta.  And my regular supply of toilet paper is down to only about a month left. 

All joking aside though the stores are looking pretty grim, and have been getting progressively worse for the past month.  We still aren't in any danger of starving, but it's definitely becoming a major inconvenience.  I am slightly concerned what it's going to look like in another month if this virus spreads wild like it's been doing in Italy.

I went to get groceries first thing in the morning like I usually do.  Instead of 1-2 cars in the parking lot, the lot was full before the store opened.  Shelves were already half bare by the time I got a cart.  Really hoping that people calm the hell down in the next couple weeks or it will get grim.

It's absolute insanity.  Im hopeful that this pandemic thing isn't going to be as bad as many are predicting, but the panic right now is real.

People panic every time there is a snow storm forecasted, but this is a whole new level I've never witnessed in my 37 years.

Same. After living here for 40+ years, I assumed the panic level would be “forecast of 6 inches of snow tomorrow” x10. I was so naïve.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: ender on March 14, 2020, 08:58:41 AM
It's basically an arms race.

If 5% of people freak out and initiate operation-hoarder-level-9000, the remaining 95% are forced to determine if they are going to take their chances by not hoarding themselves to some extent too or face the risk of being bystander casualties.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: American GenX on March 14, 2020, 09:07:25 AM
Yeah, don't be these guys, folks.

He Has 17,700 Bottles of Hand Sanitizer and Nowhere to Sell Them (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/14/technology/coronavirus-purell-wipes-amazon-sellers.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage)

I wish that we had laws about people like this.

Quote
On March 1, the day after the first coronavirus death in the United States, brothers Matt and Noah Colvin set out in a silver S.U.V. to pick up some hand sanitizer. Driving around Chattanooga, Tenn., they hit a Dollar Tree, then a Walmart, a Staples and a Home Depot. At each store, they cleaned out the shelves.

Over the next three days, Noah Colvin took a 1,300-mile road trip across Tennessee and into Kentucky, filling a U-Haul truck with thousands of bottles of hand sanitizer and thousands of packs of antibacterial wipes, mostly from “little hole-in-the-wall dollar stores in the backwoods,” his brother said. “The major metro areas were cleaned out.”

-----
The next day, Amazon pulled his items and thousands of other listings for sanitizer, wipes and face masks. The company suspended some of the sellers behind the listings and warned many others that if they kept running up prices, they’d lose their accounts. EBay soon followed with even stricter measures, prohibiting any U.S. sales of masks or sanitizer.

Good.

I hope assholes like that guy lose tons of money from this. I highly doubt they will though.

People like them actively make the situation worse.
I would argue that Amazon made the situation worse by preventing them from selling their product at the price the market would bear.

Exactly.  If the buyer is willing to pay that much and gets what is advertised, then it's a fair deal.  That's capitalism working as it should.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on March 14, 2020, 09:09:36 AM
It's basically an arms race.

If 5% of people freak out and initiate operation-hoarder-level-9000, the remaining 95% are forced to determine if they are going to take their chances by not hoarding themselves to some extent too or face the risk of being bystander casualties.

I bought a bunch of stuff a couple weeks back, so guess we've been part of team hoarder for a while.  But now I'm feeling like I should have hoarded more.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Milizard on March 14, 2020, 09:14:41 AM
There was some food stocked still, I'm not going to starve, I just can't get half the things I want.  I've gotta use plain feta instead of the garlic feta I like when I make my quiche. This is supposed to be a first world country god damnit!

Is that really even living???

I'm basically in Auschwitz. No bananas, and using plain feta.  And my regular supply of toilet paper is down to only about a month left. 

All joking aside though the stores are looking pretty grim, and have been getting progressively worse for the past month.  We still aren't in any danger of starving, but it's definitely becoming a major inconvenience.  I am slightly concerned what it's going to look like in another month if this virus spreads wild like it's been doing in Italy.

I went to get groceries first thing in the morning like I usually do.  Instead of 1-2 cars in the parking lot, the lot was full before the store opened.  Shelves were already half bare by the time I got a cart.  Really hoping that people calm the hell down in the next couple weeks or it will get grim.

It's absolute insanity.  Im hopeful that this pandemic thing isn't going to be as bad as many are predicting, but the panic right now is real.

People panic every time there is a snow storm forecasted, but this is a whole new level I've never witnessed in my 37 years.

Same. After living here for 40+ years, I assumed the panic level would be “forecast of 6 inches of snow tomorrow” x10. I was so naïve.
I'm a west-sider (lake-effect snow country), so people here don't stock up unless a blizzard is forecast.   I don't even then. I could cross-country ski the 1 mile from my house to Meijer or Walmart if I really needed to.  6 inches of snow is just a night of snow, NBD.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: DadJokes on March 14, 2020, 09:19:49 AM
Yeah, don't be these guys, folks.

He Has 17,700 Bottles of Hand Sanitizer and Nowhere to Sell Them (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/14/technology/coronavirus-purell-wipes-amazon-sellers.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage)

I wish that we had laws about people like this.

Quote
On March 1, the day after the first coronavirus death in the United States, brothers Matt and Noah Colvin set out in a silver S.U.V. to pick up some hand sanitizer. Driving around Chattanooga, Tenn., they hit a Dollar Tree, then a Walmart, a Staples and a Home Depot. At each store, they cleaned out the shelves.

Over the next three days, Noah Colvin took a 1,300-mile road trip across Tennessee and into Kentucky, filling a U-Haul truck with thousands of bottles of hand sanitizer and thousands of packs of antibacterial wipes, mostly from “little hole-in-the-wall dollar stores in the backwoods,” his brother said. “The major metro areas were cleaned out.”

-----
The next day, Amazon pulled his items and thousands of other listings for sanitizer, wipes and face masks. The company suspended some of the sellers behind the listings and warned many others that if they kept running up prices, they’d lose their accounts. EBay soon followed with even stricter measures, prohibiting any U.S. sales of masks or sanitizer.

Good.

I hope assholes like that guy lose tons of money from this. I highly doubt they will though.

People like them actively make the situation worse.
I would argue that Amazon made the situation worse by preventing them from selling their product at the price the market would bear.

Imagine blaming Amazon for busting up a monopoly.

What these guys are doing in that story is no different than a large company buying up all of its competition, only to jack up prices when they are the only supplier remaining in the industry.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: OtherJen on March 14, 2020, 09:52:36 AM
There was some food stocked still, I'm not going to starve, I just can't get half the things I want.  I've gotta use plain feta instead of the garlic feta I like when I make my quiche. This is supposed to be a first world country god damnit!

Is that really even living???

I'm basically in Auschwitz. No bananas, and using plain feta.  And my regular supply of toilet paper is down to only about a month left. 

All joking aside though the stores are looking pretty grim, and have been getting progressively worse for the past month.  We still aren't in any danger of starving, but it's definitely becoming a major inconvenience.  I am slightly concerned what it's going to look like in another month if this virus spreads wild like it's been doing in Italy.

I went to get groceries first thing in the morning like I usually do.  Instead of 1-2 cars in the parking lot, the lot was full before the store opened.  Shelves were already half bare by the time I got a cart.  Really hoping that people calm the hell down in the next couple weeks or it will get grim.

It's absolute insanity.  Im hopeful that this pandemic thing isn't going to be as bad as many are predicting, but the panic right now is real.

People panic every time there is a snow storm forecasted, but this is a whole new level I've never witnessed in my 37 years.

Same. After living here for 40+ years, I assumed the panic level would be “forecast of 6 inches of snow tomorrow” x10. I was so naïve.
I'm a west-sider (lake-effect snow country), so people here don't stock up unless a blizzard is forecast.   I don't even then. I could cross-country ski the 1 mile from my house to Meijer or Walmart if I really needed to.  6 inches of snow is just a night of snow, NBD.

Yeah, I know. We have family in GR and Muskegon. Much lower population densities. How are your Meijer shelves?
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: marble_faun on March 14, 2020, 09:53:35 AM
Our plan is to use our baby's cloth diapers as toilet paper if the local supply really runs low.  Though hopefully it won't come to that!

It's funny to hear about all the panic buying in response to "other people panic buying."  It's still panic buying and contributes to the chaos!

It is, but what else are you supposed to do? It's very Noble and enlightened to sit back and say "there is no reason to panic everyone!" Meanwhile all the supplies people are panic buying are gone and now you have none if you didn't participate in the insanity.

I don't think your message is very reassuring to the people sitting at home with no toilet paper and no hand sanitizer.


For toilet paper, seriously consider reusable cloth wipes for these types of situations.  In our house, we already use cloth "paper towels" every day and never worry about running out.  Our cloth baby wipes come from the same brand. (Cloth-eez, in case anyone is curious!).  You can also just spray water on your nether-regions using a squirt bottle.  This is what women do in the days after giving birth.  There are plenty of options that don't involve ransacking stores and creating disruptions.

Hand sanitizer isn't necessary for most of us.  Better not to hoard it so that particularly vulnerable people and medical workers can have it.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Milizard on March 14, 2020, 10:43:35 AM
There was some food stocked still, I'm not going to starve, I just can't get half the things I want.  I've gotta use plain feta instead of the garlic feta I like when I make my quiche. This is supposed to be a first world country god damnit!

Is that really even living???

I'm basically in Auschwitz. No bananas, and using plain feta.  And my regular supply of toilet paper is down to only about a month left. 

All joking aside though the stores are looking pretty grim, and have been getting progressively worse for the past month.  We still aren't in any danger of starving, but it's definitely becoming a major inconvenience.  I am slightly concerned what it's going to look like in another month if this virus spreads wild like it's been doing in Italy.

I went to get groceries first thing in the morning like I usually do.  Instead of 1-2 cars in the parking lot, the lot was full before the store opened.  Shelves were already half bare by the time I got a cart.  Really hoping that people calm the hell down in the next couple weeks or it will get grim.

It's absolute insanity.  Im hopeful that this pandemic thing isn't going to be as bad as many are predicting, but the panic right now is real.

People panic every time there is a snow storm forecasted, but this is a whole new level I've never witnessed in my 37 years.

Same. After living here for 40+ years, I assumed the panic level would be “forecast of 6 inches of snow tomorrow” x10. I was so naïve.
I'm a west-sider (lake-effect snow country), so people here don't stock up unless a blizzard is forecast.   I don't even then. I could cross-country ski the 1 mile from my house to Meijer or Walmart if I really needed to.  6 inches of snow is just a night of snow, NBD.

Yeah, I know. We have family in GR and Muskegon. Much lower population densities. How are your Meijer shelves?

I'm in the Muskegon area. My DH just got back from Aldi & Meijer (mostly Meijer), and got most of our usual stuff-- veggies, salad, bread, cheese, and meat were all in stock. He also got more tissues, though I'm not sure why.  My son and I have allergies, so we always keep extra anyway.  He managed to get more of my preferred flavored water, which tends to run out during 11 for $10 sales like this week.He had to get a non-preferred brand of spaghetti sauce, but that's okay. Their TP was low a couple days ago when he bought more, but I'm not sure what the situation is today with that. Overall, I think Meijer has done well getting things restocked. Aldi, I think too, as he got the meat there.

ETA: I had a chance to ask my DH. Meijer was out of TP today. He didn't check Aldi.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Roland of Gilead on March 14, 2020, 10:54:16 AM

Exactly.  If the buyer is willing to pay that much and gets what is advertised, then it's a fair deal.  That's capitalism working as it should.

No it isn't.  If capitalism worked like that then the gasoline companies should have been able to collude to make the price of gas $50 a gallon in his area so he could not have afforded to drive the U-haul truck around to collect all the sanitizer.

People say they want this pure type of capitalism but they don't realize how many systems are in place to protect them from pure capitalism.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: SunnyDays on March 14, 2020, 11:31:58 AM
The people with massive hoards of products that have been banned from on-line sites will simply show up at grocery store parking lots and sell out of their trunk.  Of course, they might get lynched there......
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Jack0Life on March 14, 2020, 11:38:19 AM
I just use facial tissues in place of toilet paper if I do run out. Flush just like TP.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Roland of Gilead on March 14, 2020, 11:42:08 AM
The people with massive hoards of products that have been banned from on-line sites will simply show up at grocery store parking lots and sell out of their trunk.  Of course, they might get lynched there......

They would probably also be breaking the law, technically, by selling on store property.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Milizard on March 14, 2020, 12:01:15 PM
I just use facial tissues in place of toilet paper if I do run out. Flush just like TP.

It works in an immediate emergency, but it isn't good for sewer or septic.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: YYK on March 14, 2020, 12:51:37 PM
Heard that some people are buying pounds upon pounds of bananas too. I don't get it at all. What's the point of stockpiling something that's going to turn to mush before you can possibly eat it all?
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: NotJen on March 14, 2020, 01:08:26 PM
Heard that some people are buying pounds upon pounds of bananas too. I don't get it at all. What's the point of stockpiling something that's going to turn to mush before you can possibly eat it all?
Frozen bananas have many uses, so hopefully no one is letting these go to waste.  My usual habit is 2 bananas a week, but I'll admit I was considering getting at least 2 weeks worth on my next grocery trip!

I'm taking my chances - I haven't stockpiled a thing, including food.  I was in stores Mon, Tues, and Wed and things all seemed normal.  But now that sh!t is getting real, I don't know...  My normal grocery shop is on Monday, and I'm trying to hold out until then.  My hope is that my eating style is different from most Americans, so I'll be able to find what I want.  Someone local posted a picture of the empty shelves - empty shelves of potatoes, but there was plenty of produce in the background.  I think I'll be fine for now.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Alternatepriorities on March 14, 2020, 01:13:37 PM
I figured out the TP hoarding!

Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: John Galt incarnate! on March 14, 2020, 01:27:39 PM



 Consumer psychologist Paul Marsden  said panic buying  is "about ‘taking back control’ in a world where you feel out of control.”




Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Boofinator on March 14, 2020, 01:55:13 PM
Heard that some people are buying pounds upon pounds of bananas too. I don't get it at all. What's the point of stockpiling something that's going to turn to mush before you can possibly eat it all?
Frozen bananas have many uses....

Banana ice cream is the best! Especially mixed with peanut butter and/or fudge.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: MrThatsDifferent on March 14, 2020, 01:56:08 PM
I just use facial tissues in place of toilet paper if I do run out. Flush just like TP.

No No No! They aren’t designed to dissolve like TP, don’t flush, throw in the trash. Educate yourself and be responsible.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Boofinator on March 14, 2020, 02:11:42 PM
It's funny to hear about all the panic buying in response to "other people panic buying."  It's still panic buying and contributes to the chaos!

Actually, no, it is not panic buying, but rational buying (at least after the snowball gets rolling).

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6667849/toilet-paper-panic-has-basis-in-reality-people-arent-crazy/ (https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6667849/toilet-paper-panic-has-basis-in-reality-people-arent-crazy/)

E.g.: Last week, my wife said we were running low on toilet paper and to put it on the grocery list for next week. I responded, um, no, we need to buy toilet paper, now. Good thing we did, as within a couple days all of the shelves were bare and we'd be shitting in the shower this week (thanks MMM forum members for the great idea!).
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: American GenX on March 14, 2020, 02:27:21 PM
Banana ice cream is the best! Especially mixed with peanut butter and/or fudge.

I like banana ice cream shakes, or even a version using blended ice with milk instead of ice cream, but please don't put peanut better on there - I won't eat it.  And I'm not allergic.  I once bought some mixed flavor ice cream and didn't read the ingredients closely enough.  I started eating it and really disliked the taste.  There was peanut butter in it!
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: lilactree on March 14, 2020, 02:33:06 PM
So this is how Demolition Man's 3 seashells is implemented... the great TP shortage of 2020.
Love it. LOL

But seriously people, just consider a switch to cloth. After years of using my own homemade stuff (by which I mean an old towel cut up into squares) I splurged last year on a set from Cheeky Wipes (https://www.cheekywipes.com/). No connection to them other than being a satisfied customer. I heard of them because my sister got a set when she had her twins a couple of years ago and she heard of them because a good friend got them when she had a baby. When my set arrived there was damage to part of the container and they sent me a replacement part immediately. I think it took the owner less than an hour to reply to my email.

If you cut up an old towel, do you need to sew the edges so it won't unravel when washed?
I think for old T-shirts the answer is "no"? I seem to recall reading somewhere that one could use old T-shirt squares for nose-blowing.
Also, what about old bedsheets? Need to sew edges?
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on March 14, 2020, 03:02:49 PM
Good thing we did, as within a couple days all of the shelves were bare and we'd be shitting in the shower this week (thanks MMM forum members for the great idea!).

No, you shit in the toilet.  You wash your ass off in the shower.  I take no responsibility for people who shit in the shower.  That's on them.   :P
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: American GenX on March 14, 2020, 03:07:03 PM

With the TP hoarding, I think people are going to be more conservative in their use of TP as well, and there could be a lot more "stinky" and stained underwear out in public.  The coronavirus won't be the only reason to avoid public places.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Metalcat on March 14, 2020, 07:31:42 PM
Still no panic buying at the half dozen major grocery stores by my house.

Apparently in other parts of the city it's been so insane that stores had to be closed by the authorities, but the huge store across the street is as normal as ever and I've been there three times this week.

I didn't bother getting any TP though since I have it delivered by Amazon monthly.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: American GenX on March 14, 2020, 10:21:23 PM

I was just out at a local Walmart and grocery store between 9 and 10 PM.  It was pretty slow.  There was definitely a drop in stock on various items.   There were quite a few empty bins for cough and flu meds, the canned foods were pretty thinned out, and there were very few paper towels packages.  TP was still out of stock, and now the tissues were out of stock.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Missy B on March 14, 2020, 10:46:09 PM
Hopefully Vancouver has peaked with the TP hoarding. (and paper towels, kleenex...)
We make paper products here, and they are running extra shifts at the plant to accommodate the demand... which will dry up to almost nothing once people have their 6 month supply. Except for those of us who aren't buying, because we still have a month's worth of TP, and a little faith in those manufacturers that they will not need to close because of this.

The surge really has nothing to do with actual need. It has to do with anxiety, and the need to do something to feel you are somehow in control of something. But buying TP doesn't relieve the anxiety the way people hoped it might -- they just ask themselves what's next? I've been watching the waves as people go from TP & pasta & ramen, to canned beans and soup and pasta sauce (which they missed on the first run because people who are panicking aren't thinking through, what will I eat with all this pasta) to dried fruit and nuts (which the bf and I bought the week no one was buying, because pasta was the item du jour).

The mood here is half normal, half 'i better buy before it's gone.' It isn't 'oh, I should prepare in case I'm at home with the flu for 2 weeks', more like 'god knows when I'll be able to buy groceries again.'
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: AnnaGrowsAMustache on March 15, 2020, 04:32:22 AM
It's just a way of trying to take back some control of the situation. I bet that before the Civil War there was panic buying of buttons or nails, or some other useful but not gonna win the war type of items. I think we all have the instinct to gather/stock up when things look uncertain. At least it's not people stockpiling ammunition, huh?
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Fishindude on March 15, 2020, 08:58:45 AM
It's just a way of trying to take back some control of the situation. I bet that before the Civil War there was panic buying of buttons or nails, or some other useful but not gonna win the war type of items. I think we all have the instinct to gather/stock up when things look uncertain. At least it's not people stockpiling ammunition, huh?

Who says we're not stockpiling ammunition? :)
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: frugalnacho on March 15, 2020, 10:25:15 AM
The more I think about it I don't think the panic buying and hoarding is a psychological response to help people feel in control. That may be true for a small minority, but I think the rest of it is a perfectly rational response to others.  I certainly don't think the situation required hoarding (obviously as I created this thread), but in retrospect I should have panicked and hoarded goods I need just in response to other people's panic. By trying to be responsible and not panic I have now put myself at a disadvantage compared to everyone else that did panic.  Hopefully the situation doesn't get any worse and I am able to find some toilet paper in the next couple of weeks.  If see anything useful that I fear will be panic bought en mass I will be snatching it for sure and adding to panic buying
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: OtherJen on March 15, 2020, 10:55:34 AM
The more I think about it I don't think the panic buying and hoarding is a psychological response to help people feel in control. That may be true for a small minority, but I think the rest of it is a perfectly rational response to others.  I certainly don't think the situation required hoarding (obviously as I created this thread), but in retrospect I should have panicked and hoarded goods I need just in response to other people's panic. By trying to be responsible and not panic I have now put myself at a disadvantage compared to everyone else that did panic.  Hopefully the situation doesn't get any worse and I am able to find some toilet paper in the next couple of weeks.  If see anything useful that I fear will be panic bought en mass I will be snatching it for sure and adding to panic buying

Give it a few days and try the stores again. Right now, people are reacting to 1) the first positive tests, 2) Gov. Whitmer's late-night press conference on Thurs., and 3) all the shutdowns. Once the initial panic dies down, the stores should be able to restock a bit more normally.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: ender on March 15, 2020, 11:00:21 AM
The more I think about it I don't think the panic buying and hoarding is a psychological response to help people feel in control. That may be true for a small minority, but I think the rest of it is a perfectly rational response to others.  I certainly don't think the situation required hoarding (obviously as I created this thread), but in retrospect I should have panicked and hoarded goods I need just in response to other people's panic. By trying to be responsible and not panic I have now put myself at a disadvantage compared to everyone else that did panic.  Hopefully the situation doesn't get any worse and I am able to find some toilet paper in the next couple of weeks.  If see anything useful that I fear will be panic bought en mass I will be snatching it for sure and adding to panic buying

We're buying a house soon and this is my worry, we're going to move in and.. not be able to find a lot of basic life things like toilet paper or non-perishables.

Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Monerexia on March 15, 2020, 11:05:14 AM
My sense is people are trying to get two months ahead. Once they do that they will have this inventory at home and things will return to normal and supply chain will stabilize. Temp shortages no big deal.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Milizard on March 15, 2020, 11:09:02 AM
The more I think about it I don't think the panic buying and hoarding is a psychological response to help people feel in control. That may be true for a small minority, but I think the rest of it is a perfectly rational response to others.  I certainly don't think the situation required hoarding (obviously as I created this thread), but in retrospect I should have panicked and hoarded goods I need just in response to other people's panic. By trying to be responsible and not panic I have now put myself at a disadvantage compared to everyone else that did panic.  Hopefully the situation doesn't get any worse and I am able to find some toilet paper in the next couple of weeks.  If see anything useful that I fear will be panic bought en mass I will be snatching it for sure and adding to panic buying

Give it a few days and try the stores again. Right now, people are reacting to 1) the first positive tests, 2) Gov. Whitmer's late-night press conference on Thurs., and 3) all the shutdowns. Once the initial panic dies down, the stores should be able to restock a bit more normally.

My husband found some TP at Meijer today.  I convinced him to do the social distancing, so he today bought a ton of stuff to get us through ~ a month at home.   We're just trying to help the cause of not contributing to the spread/ overwhelming the hospitals.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on March 15, 2020, 11:20:09 AM
My sense is people are trying to get two months ahead. Once they do that they will have this inventory at home and things will return to normal and supply chain will stabilize. Temp shortages no big deal.

I don't believe this.  We wouldn't be running out of fresh fruit and vegetables if people were planning months ahead.  None of that will last for months.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: OtherJen on March 15, 2020, 11:35:30 AM
The more I think about it I don't think the panic buying and hoarding is a psychological response to help people feel in control. That may be true for a small minority, but I think the rest of it is a perfectly rational response to others.  I certainly don't think the situation required hoarding (obviously as I created this thread), but in retrospect I should have panicked and hoarded goods I need just in response to other people's panic. By trying to be responsible and not panic I have now put myself at a disadvantage compared to everyone else that did panic.  Hopefully the situation doesn't get any worse and I am able to find some toilet paper in the next couple of weeks.  If see anything useful that I fear will be panic bought en mass I will be snatching it for sure and adding to panic buying

Give it a few days and try the stores again. Right now, people are reacting to 1) the first positive tests, 2) Gov. Whitmer's late-night press conference on Thurs., and 3) all the shutdowns. Once the initial panic dies down, the stores should be able to restock a bit more normally.

My husband found some TP at Meijer today.  I convinced him to do the social distancing, so he today bought a ton of stuff to get us through ~ a month at home.   We're just trying to help the cause of not contributing to the spread/ overwhelming the hospitals.

In our area, it’s probably best to try on a weekday given the population density. Although AG Nessel was just on Facebook giving a press conference about prosecuting those who violate the state ban on large gatherings. That might ease the crush inside stores, at least, or it might just make the lines outside worse.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: frugalnacho on March 15, 2020, 11:41:49 AM
Big run on bread too. I haven't seen a loaf of bread in weeks.

Went to Target today.  Completely out of toilet paper and bread.  They did have stock of some other things though so I was finally able to get some bananas, which is good because I eat a banana every day.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: OtherJen on March 15, 2020, 11:43:38 AM
I’d say bake your own bread, but Aldi was out of flour on Friday so that might be tricky.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: NotJen on March 15, 2020, 11:57:11 AM
Just got back from my Aldi - plenty of bread there.  Found everything I expected to.  The only things I noticed they were out of were mandarins and cabbage, which were both on sale this week.  Neither was on my list, but I probably would have gotten one of each if they had been in stock.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Monerexia on March 15, 2020, 12:31:05 PM
My sense is people are trying to get two months ahead. Once they do that they will have this inventory at home and things will return to normal and supply chain will stabilize. Temp shortages no big deal.

I don't believe this.  We wouldn't be running out of fresh fruit and vegetables if people were planning months ahead.  None of that will last for months.

Right maybe some of it is that but then the irrationality kicks in. Of course they may be canning or some such. And what about onions! Store was actually out of onions on Thursday--that's a first for me. In some fiction novel I read years ago there was a huge blackout and some woman showed up with a whole bunch of frozen food--not connecting the dots that lack of power+frozen food=ummm...
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: DadJokes on March 15, 2020, 12:58:07 PM
I went to our local Aldi yesterday. Thankfully, we usually keep plenty of food and didn't need much. Shelves were mostly empty.

I think people have confused "overabundance of caution" with "overabundance of fear."
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GreenSheep on March 15, 2020, 02:49:24 PM
My sense is people are trying to get two months ahead. Once they do that they will have this inventory at home and things will return to normal and supply chain will stabilize. Temp shortages no big deal.

I don't believe this.  We wouldn't be running out of fresh fruit and vegetables if people were planning months ahead.  None of that will last for months.

We made one last (for the next 2-3 months, we're estimating) trip to the grocery store a few days ago and bought a fair amount of fresh produce. We already had a lot of pantry staples (because we always do), but I wanted to get some "nice to have" items that will allow me to continue to make all of our favorite recipes.

(I also wanted to use up a chunk of the gift cards I got on a Cyber Tuesday sale for this local mini-chain. I'm sure grocery stores would be one of the last businesses to fail in a bad economy, but a "fancy" one with higher prices, less robust supply chains, and fewer resources than, say, Walmart or Costco... you never know.)

I plan on eating some this week and freezing the rest. Things like onions, garlic, ginger, and peppers can really help a rice and beans dish. (I do always have dried versions of all of those, but fresh/frozen is just so much better, so I'll use it while I can.) I try to eat greens every day, so I now have a ton of leafy greens in the freezer for smoothies, as well as broccoli to reheat and add to pasta dishes. Also lots of bananas and other fruits for smoothies/oatmeal and banana "ice cream."

I don't know if that's everyone else's thought process, but that's what I've been up to, anyway.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Schaefer Light on March 15, 2020, 04:44:59 PM

Exactly.  If the buyer is willing to pay that much and gets what is advertised, then it's a fair deal.  That's capitalism working as it should.

No it isn't.  If capitalism worked like that then the gasoline companies should have been able to collude to make the price of gas $50 a gallon in his area so he could not have afforded to drive the U-haul truck around to collect all the sanitizer.

People say they want this pure type of capitalism but they don't realize how many systems are in place to protect them from pure capitalism.

Collusion =/ capitalism.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Schaefer Light on March 15, 2020, 04:51:42 PM
It's basically an arms race.

If 5% of people freak out and initiate operation-hoarder-level-9000, the remaining 95% are forced to determine if they are going to take their chances by not hoarding themselves to some extent too or face the risk of being bystander casualties.
If stores would raise their prices in proportional response to the increase in demand, then I doubt many people would be willing to pay the premium required to hoard things.  Of course, then the stores would be charged with the heinous crime of "price gouging" (aka following the rules of basic economics).  I applaud stores that increase prices when demand is high.  It discourages people from buying more than they need, and ensures that product is available for the people who really need it.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Kyle Schuant on March 15, 2020, 05:46:09 PM
I guess I just don't get it.  Why toilet paper? Why the run on toilet paper? All these people panicked about coronavirus - did they not anticipate needing toilet paper before this virus? What have they been using literally every day of their life? 
When I was a kid there were some fuel shortages. This led to lines around the block at petrol stations. In fact there wasn't really a great shortage. But because people worried about a shortage, instead of filling up when the tank was empty, they filled up whenever they saw a petrol station. Suddenly the places needed 50-100% more fuel, and the places which could get by with a weekly tanker delivery now needed one every 3-4 days. But before they could arrange it they'd run out of fuel and put a sign up saying so. Seeing this sign, drivers would rush to the next petrol station and line up, and...

This is consumer behaviour. A slight perception of a possible shortage in the stores actually creates a shortage in the stores. Meanwhile, exactly nobody has their car putter out with an empty tank and have to be left on the side of the road, exactly nobody is sitting at home on the toilet looking at the empty roll and wondering what to do. It's just that instead of being content with having 3-4 rolls sitting there waiting by the toilet, they want to see a 24 pack.

A run on the banks can happen the same way, history shows. If a rumour goes around that your bank will be limiting cash withdrawals soon, some people will rush to withdraw all their money, the branch will run out of cash, news that it's run out of cash will get around, so then more people will rush to other branches to withdraw their cash, and then the fractional reserve laws will kick in, and the bank will have to call in some of its debts, and - then the bank executive or the government steps in and limits cash withdrawals.


If it weren't bog rolls it'd be something else. Pasta and rice are getting wiped out here. Which is funny, really: even in refugee camps people get rice and beans. There's plenty of tinned fruit and vegies, stacks of fresh fruit and vegies. Do people think they will live on pasta and rice? No, they're just not thinking.

As they said in Men in Black, a person is smart, people are stupid.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: frugalnacho on March 15, 2020, 06:24:59 PM
I guess I just don't get it.  Why toilet paper? Why the run on toilet paper? All these people panicked about coronavirus - did they not anticipate needing toilet paper before this virus? What have they been using literally every day of their life? 
When I was a kid there were some fuel shortages. This led to lines around the block at petrol stations. In fact there wasn't really a great shortage. But because people worried about a shortage, instead of filling up when the tank was empty, they filled up whenever they saw a petrol station. Suddenly the places needed 50-100% more fuel, and the places which could get by with a weekly tanker delivery now needed one every 3-4 days. But before they could arrange it they'd run out of fuel and put a sign up saying so. Seeing this sign, drivers would rush to the next petrol station and line up, and...

This is consumer behaviour. A slight perception of a possible shortage in the stores actually creates a shortage in the stores. Meanwhile, exactly nobody has their car putter out with an empty tank and have to be left on the side of the road, exactly nobody is sitting at home on the toilet looking at the empty roll and wondering what to do. It's just that instead of being content with having 3-4 rolls sitting there waiting by the toilet, they want to see a 24 pack.

A run on the banks can happen the same way, history shows. If a rumour goes around that your bank will be limiting cash withdrawals soon, some people will rush to withdraw all their money, the branch will run out of cash, news that it's run out of cash will get around, so then more people will rush to other branches to withdraw their cash, and then the fractional reserve laws will kick in, and the bank will have to call in some of its debts, and - then the bank executive or the government steps in and limits cash withdrawals.


If it weren't bog rolls it'd be something else. Pasta and rice are getting wiped out here. Which is funny, really: even in refugee camps people get rice and beans. There's plenty of tinned fruit and vegies, stacks of fresh fruit and vegies. Do people think they will live on pasta and rice? No, they're just not thinking.

As they said in Men in Black, a person is smart, people are stupid.

I definitely keep a bit more than just 3-4 rolls, but I am now below my normal level.  And I can't get any more.  I haven't seen a roll of toilet paper for sale in weeks.  All I see are empty shelves in every store.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: American GenX on March 15, 2020, 06:39:04 PM
I definitely keep a bit more than just 3-4 rolls, but I am now below my normal level.  And I can't get any more.  I haven't seen a roll of toilet paper for sale in weeks.  All I see are empty shelves in every store.

It was exactly 1 week ago I last saw TP in the store, and it was fairly plentiful at the time.  I didn't need any, but I went ahead and bought extra because I heard of shortages elsewhere.  So, I now have 300 rolls (regular equivalent). 

It was exactly 2 weeks ago I last saw hand sanitizer in the store.  I bought two large bottles of it.  I wish I had bought a couple more.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Kyle Schuant on March 15, 2020, 06:44:04 PM
They had stacks of soap, though. And that works better (https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/show-me-the-science-hand-sanitizer.html).
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: American GenX on March 15, 2020, 07:05:26 PM
They had stacks of soap, though. And that works better (https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/show-me-the-science-hand-sanitizer.html).

That's great at home and in restrooms.  Not so great when I return to my car or office.  But my stock should last a while.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: BDWW on March 15, 2020, 08:02:01 PM
I definitely keep a bit more than just 3-4 rolls, but I am now below my normal level.  And I can't get any more.  I haven't seen a roll of toilet paper for sale in weeks.  All I see are empty shelves in every store.

It was exactly 1 week ago I last saw TP in the store, and it was fairly plentiful at the time.  I didn't need any, but I went ahead and bought extra because I heard of shortages elsewhere.  So, I now have 300 rolls (regular equivalent)

It was exactly 2 weeks ago I last saw hand sanitizer in the store.  I bought two large bottles of it.  I wish I had bought a couple more.

Wow, that's like 3 years worth for our family of four.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: American GenX on March 15, 2020, 08:32:53 PM
I definitely keep a bit more than just 3-4 rolls, but I am now below my normal level.  And I can't get any more.  I haven't seen a roll of toilet paper for sale in weeks.  All I see are empty shelves in every store.

It was exactly 1 week ago I last saw TP in the store, and it was fairly plentiful at the time.  I didn't need any, but I went ahead and bought extra because I heard of shortages elsewhere.  So, I now have 300 rolls (regular equivalent)

It was exactly 2 weeks ago I last saw hand sanitizer in the store.  I bought two large bottles of it.  I wish I had bought a couple more.

Wow, that's like 3 years worth for our family of four.

That's the regular roll equivalent.  Each package of 6 says it is equal to 32 rolls.  Anyway, that's for only one butt, so it should last a long time.  I bought most of it before there was ever any clue that there was going to be a TP shortage on shelves.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: marble_faun on March 15, 2020, 08:58:59 PM
Yesterday I went to the grocery store.  As I walked in, I passed a lady coming out in a daze, with packages of toilet paper stacked in her cart.   Most products in the store were still fairly well stocked, except the toilet paper, which had almost disappeared!  (And spinach for some reason. Gone!)

I thought about our tall stack of cloth wipes -- soft, freshly laundered, ready for use should the need arise.  I smiled a smug smile and congratulated myself for being a sensible hygienius.

Seriously, we are supposed to be Mustachians, not people who join a herd mentality consumerist frenzy!

Save money. Save the environment. Save yourself the stress of the great Toilet Paper Panic of 2020.

Cloth wipes!
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Roland of Gilead on March 15, 2020, 09:01:30 PM
So, uhm....how does that cloth wipe thing work when you have, er....street tacos?   Do you just toss the completed wipe job in the laundry machine or do you have to sort of rinse it first?
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: marble_faun on March 15, 2020, 09:09:27 PM
So, uhm....how does that cloth wipe thing work when you have, er....street tacos?   Do you just toss the completed wipe job in the laundry machine or do you have to sort of rinse it first?

So glad you asked!

We throw all the soiled cloths in the washing machine, do a rinse cycle on cold without detergent (using a high water level to make sure it can rinse well), then wash as usual.

So far we have used the wipes only for our baby's cloth diapering, but the TP panic is giving me the idea that we could use them for ourselves as well.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: frugalnacho on March 15, 2020, 09:12:34 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/JEpHDGQ.gif)
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: OtherJen on March 15, 2020, 09:16:50 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/JEpHDGQ.gif)

Oh lord, I miss that show.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Hirondelle on March 16, 2020, 05:51:41 AM
I guess I just don't get it.  Why toilet paper? Why the run on toilet paper? All these people panicked about coronavirus - did they not anticipate needing toilet paper before this virus? What have they been using literally every day of their life? 
When I was a kid there were some fuel shortages. This led to lines around the block at petrol stations. In fact there wasn't really a great shortage. But because people worried about a shortage, instead of filling up when the tank was empty, they filled up whenever they saw a petrol station. Suddenly the places needed 50-100% more fuel, and the places which could get by with a weekly tanker delivery now needed one every 3-4 days. But before they could arrange it they'd run out of fuel and put a sign up saying so. Seeing this sign, drivers would rush to the next petrol station and line up, and...

This is consumer behaviour. A slight perception of a possible shortage in the stores actually creates a shortage in the stores. Meanwhile, exactly nobody has their car putter out with an empty tank and have to be left on the side of the road, exactly nobody is sitting at home on the toilet looking at the empty roll and wondering what to do. It's just that instead of being content with having 3-4 rolls sitting there waiting by the toilet, they want to see a 24 pack.

A run on the banks can happen the same way, history shows. If a rumour goes around that your bank will be limiting cash withdrawals soon, some people will rush to withdraw all their money, the branch will run out of cash, news that it's run out of cash will get around, so then more people will rush to other branches to withdraw their cash, and then the fractional reserve laws will kick in, and the bank will have to call in some of its debts, and - then the bank executive or the government steps in and limits cash withdrawals.


If it weren't bog rolls it'd be something else. Pasta and rice are getting wiped out here. Which is funny, really: even in refugee camps people get rice and beans. There's plenty of tinned fruit and vegies, stacks of fresh fruit and vegies. Do people think they will live on pasta and rice? No, they're just not thinking.

As they said in Men in Black, a person is smart, people are stupid.

Last night my country announced at 5.30 PM that the coffeeshops (the ones that sell marijuana) would shut at 6 PM. So what did people do?

Around-the-corner lines of people waiting in front of the coffee shops to stock up on a 4-week stock of marijuana ofcourse!
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Moonwaves on March 16, 2020, 06:23:38 AM
So this is how Demolition Man's 3 seashells is implemented... the great TP shortage of 2020.
Love it. LOL

But seriously people, just consider a switch to cloth. After years of using my own homemade stuff (by which I mean an old towel cut up into squares) I splurged last year on a set from Cheeky Wipes (https://www.cheekywipes.com/). No connection to them other than being a satisfied customer. I heard of them because my sister got a set when she had her twins a couple of years ago and she heard of them because a good friend got them when she had a baby. When my set arrived there was damage to part of the container and they sent me a replacement part immediately. I think it took the owner less than an hour to reply to my email.

If you cut up an old towel, do you need to sew the edges so it won't unravel when washed?
I think for old T-shirts the answer is "no"? I seem to recall reading somewhere that one could use old T-shirt squares for nose-blowing.
Also, what about old bedsheets? Need to sew edges?
You're supposed to but I never got around to it. The edges got a bit frayed on some but the frayed bits got tangled in the washing machine, which kept them from fraying more.
I did try the same with t-shirt material but it rolled up really badly and I preferred the smaller but thicker squares of towel. Even using a pinking shears, which is supposed to stop that kind of rolling up of the edges from happening.
Basically if you have the skills and patience to sew edges, it's probably a good idea. But it's not the end of the world if you don't - worst thing that will happen is they won't last as long as you might have wanted. Or if you have access to a serger, that would be ideal.

So, uhm....how does that cloth wipe thing work when you have, er....street tacos?   Do you just toss the completed wipe job in the laundry machine or do you have to sort of rinse it first?

So glad you asked!

We throw all the soiled cloths in the washing machine, do a rinse cycle on cold without detergent (using a high water level to make sure it can rinse well), then wash as usual.

So far we have used the wipes only for our baby's cloth diapering, but the TP panic is giving me the idea that we could use them for ourselves as well.
Setting this in spoiler tags because it's likely TMI/far too graphic talk about poo for some.
Spoiler: show
I've never had street tacos so I'm assuming this is the kind of situation where you have the runs or something similar. Excuse the very explicit language here but I have no idea how to get this across delicately.
In general, I find cloth smears far less than paper. There's much less of that having to go back multiple times with more paper until you're done. I generally wipe once, fold the square over and wipe again to make sure I didn't miss anything. One wipe is usually enough - there may be people who manage to do that with paper, but I almost never have. And the cloth is softer, too.

For diarrhoea-type situations it depends on the severity. It may be you end up with, er, substantially quantities of poo on your wipe. That has only happened to me once or twice but I just used ordinary paper (I always do have ordinary toilet roll because I'm not cruel enough to force any guests to use cloth) to essentially scrape off the excess and flush it. I don't have kids myself but I do have a lot of nieces and nehpews and friends with kids - I got a lot less squeamish about poo having spent time around babies, especially ones that are being weaned. So this didn't seem as gross to me as it might have when I was a teenager. I do wash my cloths on a 60C wash with a prewash of baking soda. It's so long ago that I can't remember what exactly the reasoning behind that was but I know I read a good bit around it at the time and decided that was what I was comfortable with from a hygiene point of view.

For the more severe, explosive diarrhoea situations, well, nothing is going to help in those situations anyway and over the years I have learned to be kind to my bum. So I strip off before I get up off the toilet and just get straight into the shower and rinse off properly. After I've made sure anything in the bath/shower has been rinsed down the plughole, I'll take off my glasses (which I need to keep on until then to, well, basically make sure I'm not standing in poo) and shower properly using plenty of soap. 'Cos diarrhoea is horrible and having a shower helps you feel a little less grotty anyway.

So there you go. More than anyone ever wanted to know about my bathrooms habits and chances of me ever going to any real-life MMM meet-ups just went down to about zero. :-)
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on March 16, 2020, 07:21:57 AM
I strip off before I get up off the toilet and just get straight into the shower and rinse off properly.

*hi-5*
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: ender on March 16, 2020, 07:25:32 AM
I definitely keep a bit more than just 3-4 rolls, but I am now below my normal level.  And I can't get any more.  I haven't seen a roll of toilet paper for sale in weeks.  All I see are empty shelves in every store.

It was exactly 1 week ago I last saw TP in the store, and it was fairly plentiful at the time.  I didn't need any, but I went ahead and bought extra because I heard of shortages elsewhere.  So, I now have 300 rolls (regular equivalent)

It was exactly 2 weeks ago I last saw hand sanitizer in the store.  I bought two large bottles of it.  I wish I had bought a couple more.

Wow, that's like 3 years worth for our family of four.

That's the regular roll equivalent.  Each package of 6 says it is equal to 32 rolls.  Anyway, that's for only one butt, so it should last a long time.  I bought most of it before there was ever any clue that there was going to be a TP shortage on shelves.

Oh, so you only have 56 rolls of TP for one person. That's definitely better... lolwut. That'd still last us probably 6 months as a family of 4.

It's amazing to me how people justify irrational hoarding.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: DadJokes on March 16, 2020, 07:33:24 AM
I definitely keep a bit more than just 3-4 rolls, but I am now below my normal level.  And I can't get any more.  I haven't seen a roll of toilet paper for sale in weeks.  All I see are empty shelves in every store.

It was exactly 1 week ago I last saw TP in the store, and it was fairly plentiful at the time.  I didn't need any, but I went ahead and bought extra because I heard of shortages elsewhere.  So, I now have 300 rolls (regular equivalent). 

It was exactly 2 weeks ago I last saw hand sanitizer in the store.  I bought two large bottles of it.  I wish I had bought a couple more.

Congratulations on being part of the problem.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Moonwaves on March 16, 2020, 07:51:49 AM
@GuitarStv You should spoiler that quote for those who really don't want to know. :-)
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: FIRE Artist on March 16, 2020, 09:48:58 AM
The more I think about it I don't think the panic buying and hoarding is a psychological response to help people feel in control. That may be true for a small minority, but I think the rest of it is a perfectly rational response to others.  I certainly don't think the situation required hoarding (obviously as I created this thread), but in retrospect I should have panicked and hoarded goods I need just in response to other people's panic. By trying to be responsible and not panic I have now put myself at a disadvantage compared to everyone else that did panic.  Hopefully the situation doesn't get any worse and I am able to find some toilet paper in the next couple of weeks.  If see anything useful that I fear will be panic bought en mass I will be snatching it for sure and adding to panic buying

Personally, I wish i had some face masks and another bottle of hand sanitizer.  I have never had masks, but now am mildly worried if I caught this, I wouldn’t have one to wear if I needed to go to the doctor.  I have half a small pump bottle of hand sanitizer, and I realize it isn’t going to last very long.  I keep baby wipes in my purse, as I am a compulsive hand washer in general, and always preferred a good scrub to using sanitizer but think I should be adding the hand sanitizer to the mix, but alas, the hoarders have ensure that I don’t have access to those things. 

I am only mildly concerned about those two things, but it makes me angry that I can’t just have them. 
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on March 16, 2020, 09:51:53 AM
The more I think about it I don't think the panic buying and hoarding is a psychological response to help people feel in control. That may be true for a small minority, but I think the rest of it is a perfectly rational response to others.  I certainly don't think the situation required hoarding (obviously as I created this thread), but in retrospect I should have panicked and hoarded goods I need just in response to other people's panic. By trying to be responsible and not panic I have now put myself at a disadvantage compared to everyone else that did panic.  Hopefully the situation doesn't get any worse and I am able to find some toilet paper in the next couple of weeks.  If see anything useful that I fear will be panic bought en mass I will be snatching it for sure and adding to panic buying

Personally, I wish i had some face masks and another bottle of hand sanitizer.  I have never had masks, but now am mildly worried if I caught this, I wouldn’t have one to wear if I needed to go to the doctor.  I have half a small pump bottle of hand sanitizer, and I realize it isn’t going to last very long.  I keep baby wipes in my purse, as I am a compulsive hand washer in general, and always preferred a good scrub to using sanitizer but think I should be adding the hand sanitizer to the mix, but alas, the hoarders have ensure that I don’t have access to those things.

You don't need an official face mask.  Just wearing a scarf/buff kind of thing will help prevent droplets of infection from spraying everywhere when you cough and sneeze.  Probably not as effective as the n95 masks, but should help a fair bit.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Freedomin5 on March 16, 2020, 11:58:00 AM
The more I think about it I don't think the panic buying and hoarding is a psychological response to help people feel in control. That may be true for a small minority, but I think the rest of it is a perfectly rational response to others.  I certainly don't think the situation required hoarding (obviously as I created this thread), but in retrospect I should have panicked and hoarded goods I need just in response to other people's panic. By trying to be responsible and not panic I have now put myself at a disadvantage compared to everyone else that did panic.  Hopefully the situation doesn't get any worse and I am able to find some toilet paper in the next couple of weeks.  If see anything useful that I fear will be panic bought en mass I will be snatching it for sure and adding to panic buying

Personally, I wish i had some face masks and another bottle of hand sanitizer.  I have never had masks, but now am mildly worried if I caught this, I wouldn’t have one to wear if I needed to go to the doctor.  I have half a small pump bottle of hand sanitizer, and I realize it isn’t going to last very long.  I keep baby wipes in my purse, as I am a compulsive hand washer in general, and always preferred a good scrub to using sanitizer but think I should be adding the hand sanitizer to the mix, but alas, the hoarders have ensure that I don’t have access to those things. 

I am only mildly concerned about those two things, but it makes me angry that I can’t just have them.

If you have a sewing machine, you can just make your own. You can also handset them, but it would take a lot longer. There are some great tutorials online. The one I used was from a Singaporean lady who uses the masks on high pollution days.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: familyandfarming on March 16, 2020, 07:53:51 PM
I went to our small town Walmart today and bought my three daughters empty condiment squeeze bottles to use in the bathroom. Only 93 cents. They had 12 on the bottom shelf under the small kitchen gadget shelves. Sent them in the mail as a special present. This Walmart had nothing left in the store. Good thing the squeeze bottles were the only thing I wanted. Like a portable bidet! (Of course, I’ve been using one for years.)

They live in very large cities and have encountered massive shortages everywhere they’ve turned. Because they are home cooks, they do have enough food in their pantries.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Roland of Gilead on March 16, 2020, 08:51:10 PM
Not coming over to your house for a cookout
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: American GenX on March 16, 2020, 08:59:53 PM
I definitely keep a bit more than just 3-4 rolls, but I am now below my normal level.  And I can't get any more.  I haven't seen a roll of toilet paper for sale in weeks.  All I see are empty shelves in every store.

It was exactly 1 week ago I last saw TP in the store, and it was fairly plentiful at the time.  I didn't need any, but I went ahead and bought extra because I heard of shortages elsewhere.  So, I now have 300 rolls (regular equivalent). 

It was exactly 2 weeks ago I last saw hand sanitizer in the store.  I bought two large bottles of it.  I wish I had bought a couple more.

Congratulations on being part of the problem.

I bought all but one of the packages back in January, not during the time when people were reporting TP shortages at stores.

2 bottles of sanitizer is reasonable - I keep one at home and one in the car.  Hopefully my employer will keep providing it at work.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: ender on March 16, 2020, 09:02:22 PM
I definitely keep a bit more than just 3-4 rolls, but I am now below my normal level.  And I can't get any more.  I haven't seen a roll of toilet paper for sale in weeks.  All I see are empty shelves in every store.

It was exactly 1 week ago I last saw TP in the store, and it was fairly plentiful at the time.  I didn't need any, but I went ahead and bought extra because I heard of shortages elsewhere.  So, I now have 300 rolls (regular equivalent). 

It was exactly 2 weeks ago I last saw hand sanitizer in the store.  I bought two large bottles of it.  I wish I had bought a couple more.

Congratulations on being part of the problem.

I bought all but one of the packages back in January, not during the time when people were reporting TP shortages at stores.

I mean, you are the textbook definition of why this is a problem.

Someone who has zero immediate need or even near term need to buy something buying it "just in case."

No wonder all the stores are out of TP.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: American GenX on March 16, 2020, 09:06:10 PM
I definitely keep a bit more than just 3-4 rolls, but I am now below my normal level.  And I can't get any more.  I haven't seen a roll of toilet paper for sale in weeks.  All I see are empty shelves in every store.

It was exactly 1 week ago I last saw TP in the store, and it was fairly plentiful at the time.  I didn't need any, but I went ahead and bought extra because I heard of shortages elsewhere.  So, I now have 300 rolls (regular equivalent). 

It was exactly 2 weeks ago I last saw hand sanitizer in the store.  I bought two large bottles of it.  I wish I had bought a couple more.

Congratulations on being part of the problem.

I bought all but one of the packages back in January, not during the time when people were reporting TP shortages at stores.

I mean, you are the textbook definition of why this is a problem.

Someone who has zero immediate need or even near term need to buy something buying it "just in case."

No wonder all the stores are out of TP.

I don't think so considering I last bought one package of TP over 2 weeks ago when there was still plenty in stock and nothing since.

I know a guy that went around buying TP and hand sanitizer and was selling it on eBay, until he received a warning.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: ender on March 16, 2020, 09:10:17 PM
I don't think so considering I last bought one package of TP over 2 weeks ago when there was still plenty in stock and nothing since.

I know a guy that went around buying TP and hand sanitizer and was selling it on eBay, until he received a warning.

Huh, TIL that 8 days (exactly 1 week from yesterday) is "over 2 weeks ago."

It was exactly 1 week ago I last saw TP in the store, and it was fairly plentiful at the time.  I didn't need any, but I went ahead and bought extra because I heard of shortages elsewhere.  So, I now have 300 rolls (regular equivalent). 

It was exactly 2 weeks ago I last saw hand sanitizer in the store.  I bought two large bottles of it.  I wish I had bought a couple more.

Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: familyandfarming on March 16, 2020, 09:15:45 PM
@Roland of Gilead,
That was funny! :)
On the note in the padded envelope, I wrote, "If you don't use this for TP replacement, you can always store homemade BBQ sauce!"
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Mrbeardedbigbucks on March 17, 2020, 07:25:15 AM
My wife and I were about to go on a trip to New Zealand but we didn't find out about their two week mandatory self isolation until a couple days before we were supposed to leave. We canceled the trip. We had two rolls of TP and enough food to feed us for a few days. We didn't want to have a lot of fresh food on hand since we were going to be gone for a month. We figured we could stock up when we got back, on food and TP.

We ran out of TP, paper towels and our one box of tissues and now we can't find any in our area. I went to six different places yesterday and they're all out. I just went this morning when a couple stores first opened and they haven't re-stocked yet. We're down to using a bag full of rags (old t-shirts and socks with holes) that I use for working on my car. Of course we washed them first. We have some friends that offered to give us a roll but we feel bad because they all have kids, we don't. Certain types of food is also increasingly difficult to find.

So if there are any people actually hoarding toilet paper, please stop. If I find out who you are, I'm dumping our used rags on your lawn.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on March 17, 2020, 07:32:22 AM
TP update - operation shower head bidet is fully underway in our house!


Not even out of toilet paper yet, just feels cleaner.  :P
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: American GenX on March 17, 2020, 08:35:29 PM
I don't think so considering I last bought one package of TP over 2 weeks ago when there was still plenty in stock and nothing since.

I know a guy that went around buying TP and hand sanitizer and was selling it on eBay, until he received a warning.

Huh, TIL that 8 days (exactly 1 week from yesterday) is "over 2 weeks ago."

I went and checked my receipt.  I was thinking I picked up the TP during the trip I got the hand sanitizer, so I must have picked it up the following weekend.  Oh well, there was still plenty in stock.  I actually used less of the local supply in the last couple months than I have in years, though, because January was the first time I ever bought TP off of Amazon, and I only bought that one package over a week ago.  So I'm helping out the local supply.  :D
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: HPstache on March 18, 2020, 12:19:55 AM
Preppers must be so happy right now.... their time has finally come!
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Alternatepriorities on March 18, 2020, 12:53:07 AM
TP update - operation shower head bidet is fully underway in our house!


Not even out of toilet paper yet, just feels cleaner.  :P

Another option.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: ministashy on March 18, 2020, 03:28:30 AM
One of my local stores has this sign up:  'Out Of TP, Still Have Cat Litter. U Know What To Do'
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on March 18, 2020, 07:51:43 AM
One of my local stores has this sign up:  'Out Of TP, Still Have Cat Litter. U Know What To Do'

Use the cat to wipe?  :P
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: SunnyDays on March 18, 2020, 05:45:07 PM
One of my local stores has this sign up:  'Out Of TP, Still Have Cat Litter. U Know What To Do'

Use the cat to wipe?  :P

You want MORE holes in your butt?
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: the_fixer on March 18, 2020, 06:01:38 PM
Cats did someone say cats?

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200319/5c93b2b4566aab76601fd9058d009ee8.jpg)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: OtherJen on March 18, 2020, 08:13:31 PM
Meanwhile, over in Canton, MI: Person caught selling cases of toilet paper for $60 in Canton (https://www.wxyz.com/news/person-caught-selling-cases-of-toilet-paper-for-60-in-canton)
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Glenstache on March 18, 2020, 08:56:14 PM
Preppers must be so happy right now.... their time has finally come!
Except that their go-bags are useless when you are supposed to stay. But yes, they can finally rotate their lentil stock.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: NotJen on March 20, 2020, 07:24:08 AM
I'm seeing news articles this morning stating that half of coronavirus patients have digestive symptoms.  So perhaps the toilet paper people were on to something...
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Alternatepriorities on March 25, 2020, 12:20:59 AM
https://www.yahoo.com/news/states-doctors-stockpiling-trial-coronavirus-190038095.html

Well that’s much worse than toilet paper...
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Linea_Norway on March 27, 2020, 07:00:47 AM
Our local grocery store today had two enormous mounts of toilet paper. This is one of them.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on March 27, 2020, 08:17:07 AM
159$ for TP seems a bit steep.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: rantk81 on March 27, 2020, 08:21:14 AM
I'm assuming the price is not USD or CAD, given the username of the poster...

159 Norwegian Krone is about $15 USD.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: lthenderson on March 27, 2020, 08:22:17 AM
Used the downstairs bathroom last night for the first time in probably six months. Out of curiosity, opened the closet door and found what you see below. Suddenly I feel very wealthy.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: zinnie on March 27, 2020, 09:10:29 AM
All of the smaller markets near me have been well stocked. Only when I went to a big/chain grocery store last weekend did I see this issue. Maybe try your local corner market/bodega/ethnic grocery?
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: OtherJen on March 30, 2020, 09:43:44 AM
Hey everyone, you're doing it wrong! Your TP rolls will multiply if you just have enough faith. (Also, watch this Florida congregation for an outbreak source over the next 2 weeks.)

Conservative Pastor Who Refused to Close Church amid Coronavirus Pandemic Suggests God Will Help By Multiplying Toilet Rolls (https://www.newsweek.com/conservative-pastor-who-refused-close-church-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-suggests-god-will-help-1494903)
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: RetiredAt63 on March 30, 2020, 12:25:05 PM
Hey everyone, you're doing it wrong! Your TP rolls will multiply if you just have enough faith. (Also, watch this Florida congregation for an outbreak source over the next 2 weeks.)

Conservative Pastor Who Refused to Close Church amid Coronavirus Pandemic Suggests God Will Help By Multiplying Toilet Rolls (https://www.newsweek.com/conservative-pastor-who-refused-close-church-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-suggests-god-will-help-1494903)

Oh my there are no words.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on March 30, 2020, 12:40:33 PM
Hey everyone, you're doing it wrong! Your TP rolls will multiply if you just have enough faith. (Also, watch this Florida congregation for an outbreak source over the next 2 weeks.)

Conservative Pastor Who Refused to Close Church amid Coronavirus Pandemic Suggests God Will Help By Multiplying Toilet Rolls (https://www.newsweek.com/conservative-pastor-who-refused-close-church-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-suggests-god-will-help-1494903)

Oh my there are no words.

I don't see this as unexpected or unusual at all.

The bible says that Jesus fed 5000 people with a couple loaves of bread and two fish.  If you can accept that as truth, why wouldn't he help a few thousand wipe their asses in the same way?
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Cranky on March 30, 2020, 01:11:01 PM
I went to the larger grocery store this morning at 6 AM for Old People Hour, and noticed that there is STILL no tp. We have plenty, but I’m surprised that the supply hasn’t recovered yet.

The store was pretty well stocked but not much in the way of canned soup and no peanut butter at all. I did get flour and there was finally some chicken!

Honestly, I regret that we didn’t make a Giant Sams Club run at the beginning of the month, because at this point I hate venturing into the store.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: frugalnacho on March 30, 2020, 02:07:28 PM
I think the problem with no stock is that it was all bought up and we don't have enough to replace it.  No one has large volumes of toilet paper sitting in warehouses, because why would you ever pay to do that when you can just make more on demand? TP manufactures crank it out 24/7, and people buy it 24/7, and the stock remains relatively stable.  Manufacturing is adjusted to meet demand, and just runs in equilibrium producing it as needed, and by this point they know what production capacity is needed to supply the population.  All stores we all shop at likely gets at least 2-3 shipments of goods in per week, including toilet paper, but they never get their entire inventory worth of toilet paper, they are likely getting a few days to one week's worth of TP, which is just enough to replace what is normally bought because it is produced at the same rate it is consumed.  So when there is a panic and small portion of the population buys the entire available supply of TP, it's going to take awhile to fully restock it.  If the store shelves held a 1 month supply of TP, it would take a month of production to replace all the TP (and that's if no one continues buying it).  If the store shelves hold a 2 month supply then it will take 2 months, etc.  I have no idea what the baseline amount of TP on store shelves is though (whether it's a week, a month, 3 months, etc), but it's going to take at least that long to fully restock it.

I still don't understand the initial run on TP, but I do understand how panic buying begot more panic buying, and as I've recently stated, I wish I would have gotten in on the ground floor of that panic buying and bought more TP the last time I saw it available, because I am starting to get low.  Not desperately low, but enough that it has me concerned.  What if I don't see any in my next 2 weekly shopping trips? Do I take off work and risk getting/spreading infection by going to all the local stores trying to find TP?  Or will I just adopt this strategy?:

(https://media1.giphy.com/media/XoVPJAIW2VANFT9Gvm/giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e4783ec5ade5f763cac99bafe67f532bea5ce1bec04&rid=giphy.gif)

Anyway, after really thinking it through it makes perfect sense why there is still a shortage of TP.  It's being bought up at at least the normal rate, which probably matches our capacity to produce it, thus empty shelves remain empty.  Due to the initial hoarding I suspect TP is still high in demand and is actually getting purchased (or would be if it was available) at a higher rate than normal demand. 
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: lthenderson on March 30, 2020, 02:19:20 PM
I still don't understand the initial run on TP,

I don't either but I suspect it had something to do with a fake Facebook account created by a Russian hacker in the basement of the Kremlin. They are probably laughing hysterically at our panicked toilet paper buying and wondering how they can apply that to something more meaningful in the future.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: BDWW on March 30, 2020, 02:25:42 PM
All of the smaller markets near me have been well stocked. Only when I went to a big/chain grocery store last weekend did I see this issue. Maybe try your local corner market/bodega/ethnic grocery?

IGAs or similar stores(they are cooperatives rather than corporations) are more likely to have it than big chains. The big chains inventory is largely set by corporate, but independent groceries have more control over their inventory, and can quickly update/change their ordering.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: the_fixer on March 30, 2020, 02:27:26 PM
Ok so here is my question.....


So does freshly made TP feel / work better than old stale TP...

Or is aged vintage TP better like a fine wine

I think we need to have a TP showdown vintage aged TP VS week old TP straight from the factory.

Inquiring bums want to know


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on March 30, 2020, 02:32:00 PM
Our family of three used 1/3 of a roll of TP last week due to some sweeping bathroom changes that have been made.

:P
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Metalcat on March 30, 2020, 02:51:59 PM
Our family of three used 1/3 of a roll of TP last week due to some sweeping bathroom changes that have been made.

:P

I guess your whole "jump directly into the shower" routine had worked out well for you guys then?
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on March 30, 2020, 02:56:50 PM
Our family of three used 1/3 of a roll of TP last week due to some sweeping bathroom changes that have been made.

:P

I guess your whole "jump directly into the shower" routine had worked out well for you guys then?

We've modified it to a single wipe first.  But yeah.  Working well.  Still no TP in stores around here.

:P
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: the_fixer on March 30, 2020, 03:03:48 PM
Our family of three used 1/3 of a roll of TP last week due to some sweeping bathroom changes that have been made.

:P
Seems wasteful to sweep the bathroom with TP not to mention the dust it would leave BEHIND...  BUTT I guess that is your choice.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on March 30, 2020, 03:07:43 PM
Our family of three used 1/3 of a roll of TP last week due to some sweeping bathroom changes that have been made.

:P
Seems wasteful to sweep the bathroom with TP not to mention the dust it would leave BEHIND...  BUTT I guess that is your choice.

:D
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: SunnyDays on March 30, 2020, 03:48:49 PM
Hey everyone, you're doing it wrong! Your TP rolls will multiply if you just have enough faith. (Also, watch this Florida congregation for an outbreak source over the next 2 weeks.)

Conservative Pastor Who Refused to Close Church amid Coronavirus Pandemic Suggests God Will Help By Multiplying Toilet Rolls (https://www.newsweek.com/conservative-pastor-who-refused-close-church-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-suggests-god-will-help-1494903)

I read that he has been arrested for refusing to stop services.

Frugalnacho, that dog video cracked me up because my ex-roommates GR did that all the damn time.  Drove me nuts, but maybe he was onto something.  I will suggest it to the roommate because she’s very wasteful and will likely soon run out of TP!
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on March 30, 2020, 06:46:46 PM
Hey everyone, you're doing it wrong! Your TP rolls will multiply if you just have enough faith. (Also, watch this Florida congregation for an outbreak source over the next 2 weeks.)

Conservative Pastor Who Refused to Close Church amid Coronavirus Pandemic Suggests God Will Help By Multiplying Toilet Rolls (https://www.newsweek.com/conservative-pastor-who-refused-close-church-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-suggests-god-will-help-1494903)

I read that he has been arrested for refusing to stop services.

Frugalnacho, that dog video cracked me up because my ex-roommates GR did that all the damn time.  Drove me nuts, but maybe he was onto something.  I will suggest it to the roommate because she’s very wasteful and will likely soon run out of TP!

Usually dogs do that when they need their anal glands expressed.  If your dog is doing that (and you're not in the middle of the covid apocalypse) take it to the vet.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: OtherJen on March 30, 2020, 07:00:36 PM
I still don't understand the initial run on TP,

I don't either but I suspect it had something to do with a fake Facebook account created by a Russian hacker in the basement of the Kremlin. They are probably laughing hysterically at our panicked toilet paper buying and wondering how they can apply that to something more meaningful in the future.

My husband said the same thing this afternoon.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: SunnyDays on March 30, 2020, 09:25:47 PM
Hey everyone, you're doing it wrong! Your TP rolls will multiply if you just have enough faith. (Also, watch this Florida congregation for an outbreak source over the next 2 weeks.)

Conservative Pastor Who Refused to Close Church amid Coronavirus Pandemic Suggests God Will Help By Multiplying Toilet Rolls (https://www.newsweek.com/conservative-pastor-who-refused-close-church-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-suggests-god-will-help-1494903)

I read that he has been arrested for refusing to stop services.

Frugalnacho, that dog video cracked me up because my ex-roommates GR did that all the damn time.  Drove me nuts, but maybe he was onto something.  I will suggest it to the roommate because she’s very wasteful and will likely soon run out of TP!

Usually dogs do that when they need their anal glands expressed.  If your dog is doing that (and you're not in the middle of the covid apocalypse) take it to the vet.

Yup, I know that.  It’s not my dog though, but the groomer he goes to does it for him every couple of months.  Either that’s not often enough or he’s just itchy.  Hard for a dog to scratch back there.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Morning Glory on March 31, 2020, 01:02:29 PM
I got a package of TP at Aldi this morning!!!!!! I went to Costco first and they were already out of all the "purple items". It was packed with people considering the time of day, but everyone was buying normal groceries.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Moonwaves on April 02, 2020, 12:09:47 AM
I saw a photo last night of someone (who I know) having chopped a roll of kitchen paper into toilet paper size rolls. Still haven't had a reply as to whether it was a joke or not (I wasn't on the zoom call that preceded the whatsapp message with the photo). But just in case anyone here needs reminding: kitchen paper will not dissolve in water the way toilet paper does so please do not flush it down the toilet. Same goes for newspaper and wipes. Lots of people seem to not know or not care about this because a couple of days ago we got a reminder from our state government that this was causing lots of problems in the sewer systems and not to do it.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: frugalnacho on April 04, 2020, 11:16:26 AM
Went to BJ's today right after they opened and managed to snag a big 36 roll package of toilet paper.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/ff/SuccessKid.jpg)
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on April 04, 2020, 12:03:21 PM
Black Sabbath's War Pigs lyrics seem appropriate here:

People huddled in their masses
No toilet paper for their asses
Death and hatred to hoarding kind
For some eggs I cannot find
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Jack0Life on April 04, 2020, 12:25:43 PM
Our local grocery store today had two enormous mounts of toilet paper. This is one of them.

159 for a package of TP ?? Must be Canadian currency.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: American GenX on April 04, 2020, 01:24:28 PM
Went to BJ's today right after they opened and managed to snag a big 36 roll package of toilet paper.


Congrats.  Good to hear you finally scored some TP!
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Goldendog777 on April 04, 2020, 02:30:29 PM
Still no toilet paper at our Target near where I live! 
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: AnnaGrowsAMustache on April 05, 2020, 03:33:12 AM
Black Sabbath's War Pigs lyrics seem appropriate here:

People huddled in their masses
No toilet paper for their asses
Death and hatred to hoarding kind
For some eggs I cannot find

Lol, you're nuts! That made me snort coffee, and it hurt quite a bit, just fyi.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: kanga1622 on April 05, 2020, 07:46:58 AM
Not sure what triggered the TP hoarding but think about how many families are all at home now. Instead of using the TP at work, school, restaurants, etc. we have to use all our TP at home. So perhaps people were thinking about making sure they had more on hand as they would be using it more than usual at home?

I know we have increased to something like 1.75 our normal usage rate. So my normal buying rate isn’t going to last as long and there is no TP in my town.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Schaefer Light on April 05, 2020, 08:13:36 AM
Thought this article was interesting.  The shortage may simply be due to so many people not using the bathroom at work.

https://marker.medium.com/what-everyones-getting-wrong-about-the-toilet-paper-shortage-c812e1358fe0 (https://marker.medium.com/what-everyones-getting-wrong-about-the-toilet-paper-shortage-c812e1358fe0)
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: frugalnacho on April 05, 2020, 08:21:18 AM
Thought this article was interesting.  The shortage may simply be due to so many people not using the bathroom at work.

https://marker.medium.com/what-everyones-getting-wrong-about-the-toilet-paper-shortage-c812e1358fe0 (https://marker.medium.com/what-everyones-getting-wrong-about-the-toilet-paper-shortage-c812e1358fe0)

Why aren't they selling the commercial toilet paper then? They are just letting the commercial TP pile up while stores across the country are consistently sold out and people legitimately don't have TP to the point they are using rags and old shirts and creating huge problems for water departments across the country? That makes no sense.

I know commercial TP exists and I've encountered it numerous times, but the overwhelming majority of businesses I've been in us the exact same TP as residential.

ETA: I would have purchased commercial rolls just to have some if it was available.  I went to 3 stores in 2 days during the middle of a pandemic when I'd prefer to go zero times all to try and find toilet paper.   
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: TomTX on April 05, 2020, 10:54:12 AM
Thought this article was interesting.  The shortage may simply be due to so many people not using the bathroom at work.

https://marker.medium.com/what-everyones-getting-wrong-about-the-toilet-paper-shortage-c812e1358fe0 (https://marker.medium.com/what-everyones-getting-wrong-about-the-toilet-paper-shortage-c812e1358fe0)

Why aren't they selling the commercial toilet paper then? They are just letting the commercial TP pile up while stores across the country are consistently sold out and people legitimately don't have TP to the point they are using rags and old shirts and creating huge problems for water departments across the country? That makes no sense.

I know commercial TP exists and I've encountered it numerous times, but the overwhelming majority of businesses I've been in us the exact same TP as residential.

ETA: I would have purchased commercial rolls just to have some if it was available.  I went to 3 stores in 2 days during the middle of a pandemic when I'd prefer to go zero times all to try and find toilet paper.

Around here commercial TP is about 16" in diameter. Not gonna fit on your household roll.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: NotJen on April 05, 2020, 11:16:07 AM
Around here commercial TP is about 16" in diameter. Not gonna fit on your household roll.

I don't think that matters to most people???  If I'm out of normal TP, a big commercial roll sitting on the back of the toilet will work just fine...

Around here, a couple of restaurants were giving out a roll of TP with to-go orders.  They were sharing what they would normally use in their restrooms for customers.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Metalcat on April 05, 2020, 11:18:48 AM
Thought this article was interesting.  The shortage may simply be due to so many people not using the bathroom at work.

https://marker.medium.com/what-everyones-getting-wrong-about-the-toilet-paper-shortage-c812e1358fe0 (https://marker.medium.com/what-everyones-getting-wrong-about-the-toilet-paper-shortage-c812e1358fe0)

Why aren't they selling the commercial toilet paper then? They are just letting the commercial TP pile up while stores across the country are consistently sold out and people legitimately don't have TP to the point they are using rags and old shirts and creating huge problems for water departments across the country? That makes no sense.

I know commercial TP exists and I've encountered it numerous times, but the overwhelming majority of businesses I've been in us the exact same TP as residential.

ETA: I would have purchased commercial rolls just to have some if it was available.  I went to 3 stores in 2 days during the middle of a pandemic when I'd prefer to go zero times all to try and find toilet paper.

Around here commercial TP is about 16" in diameter. Not gonna fit on your household roll.

People have talked about using rags and old t shirts, I'm pretty sure they'd be okay with not having their TP fit on a roll.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: frugalnacho on April 05, 2020, 11:46:22 AM
People not only talked about using rags and shirts but enough people had to resort to that that even the small fraction not knowing not to flush that stuff is causing major problems for some water treatment facilities.

I'm far more concerned with being able to wipe my butt than I am about the roll fitting nicely on my holder. They're missing out on profits by not selling the commercial stuff and they're creating more risk for everyone. I hadn't seen toilet paper for sale in over a month. I made multiple special trips putting myself and others at risk just to find toilet paper. I know im not the only one in that situation either.  They keep saying there is no toilet paper shortage, but a lot of people are so short they're using t shirts. How is that not a shortage?
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: terran on April 05, 2020, 12:55:08 PM
Thought this article was interesting.  The shortage may simply be due to so many people not using the bathroom at work.

https://marker.medium.com/what-everyones-getting-wrong-about-the-toilet-paper-shortage-c812e1358fe0 (https://marker.medium.com/what-everyones-getting-wrong-about-the-toilet-paper-shortage-c812e1358fe0)

Why aren't they selling the commercial toilet paper then? They are just letting the commercial TP pile up while stores across the country are consistently sold out and people legitimately don't have TP to the point they are using rags and old shirts and creating huge problems for water departments across the country? That makes no sense.

According to the article, the commercial TP producers would have to establish all new retail relationships and shipping logistic systems to get their product in to retail stores which would cost a lot of money for a low margin business.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: big_owl on April 05, 2020, 12:59:47 PM
If it get that bad then just do your business and take a shower to rinse off down there.  I'm looking pretty smart for my 90 roll purchase last month. But again, with IBS I'm using the toilet 3-5 times a day so having no TP is high anxiety.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Metalcat on April 05, 2020, 01:12:45 PM
If it get that bad then just do your business and take a shower to rinse off down there.  I'm looking pretty smart for my 90 roll purchase last month. But again, with IBS I'm using the toilet 3-5 times a day so having no TP is high anxiety.

I've now said this multiple times, but why not order a bidet?
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: Schaefer Light on April 05, 2020, 02:25:03 PM
Thought this article was interesting.  The shortage may simply be due to so many people not using the bathroom at work.

https://marker.medium.com/what-everyones-getting-wrong-about-the-toilet-paper-shortage-c812e1358fe0 (https://marker.medium.com/what-everyones-getting-wrong-about-the-toilet-paper-shortage-c812e1358fe0)

Why aren't they selling the commercial toilet paper then? They are just letting the commercial TP pile up while stores across the country are consistently sold out and people legitimately don't have TP to the point they are using rags and old shirts and creating huge problems for water departments across the country? That makes no sense.

According to the article, the commercial TP producers would have to establish all new retail relationships and shipping logistic systems to get their product in to retail stores which would cost a lot of money for a low margin business.
Yeah.  It's not so simple.  The article did a good job of explaining the difficulties.  I had never even thought about the fact that the demand for toilet paper is so inelastic that the producers have never had to worry about quickly increasing output.

If I need TP, I think I will go to my office and raid the company stockpile ;).
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: big_owl on April 05, 2020, 02:27:27 PM
If it get that bad then just do your business and take a shower to rinse off down there.  I'm looking pretty smart for my 90 roll purchase last month. But again, with IBS I'm using the toilet 3-5 times a day so having no TP is high anxiety.

I've now said this multiple times, but why not order a bidet?

Yes for sure, my comment was more along the lines for those who are stuck with whatever they already got. 
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: frogstomp81 on April 05, 2020, 02:38:04 PM
I know it's been mentioned several times already, but I got a bidet several years ago and I will never go back to TP. $40 on amazon and I've not been concerned about toilet paper at all. 10/10 would recommend. Might have to wait a few extra days to get one from amazon at this point but then no more TP worries or expense.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: GuitarStv on April 05, 2020, 03:54:19 PM
If it get that bad then just do your business and take a shower to rinse off down there.  I'm looking pretty smart for my 90 roll purchase last month. But again, with IBS I'm using the toilet 3-5 times a day so having no TP is high anxiety.

I've now said this multiple times, but why not order a bidet?

Yes for sure, my comment was more along the lines for those who are stuck with whatever they already got.

If they've got a shower head, they've got a bidet.
Title: Re: What is with the toilet paper hoarding?
Post by: marble_faun on April 05, 2020, 08:37:57 PM
cloth wipes