This is likely to go on for months. Can you go that long without paper goods?

[CousinIT]

Because as long as the big box stores, big chain stores and even local stores allow ONE CUSTOMER to buy ALL the toilet paper, paper towels, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, etc.....you may have to.

WE (that means all American consumers) will need to DEMAND that CEOs and store managers SET. LIMITS. on paper goods, sanitizers, bleach ie: 2 / customer.

OR....plan on using....something else.

1. go to their websites.
2. find them on twitter and facebook
3. DEMAND that they set limits. NOW.
4. Cite the stories like that asshole in Tennessee who bought 17,700 bottles of hand sanitizer and wanted to sell them on Amazon (at a jacked up price of course) until they told him he couldn't.
5. Make sure they KNOW you'll remember their actions (or lack thereof) during this pandemic in regards to critical items. It is BAD community service, immoral, unethical, selfish and greedy to let one or two customers buy ALL the supplies. What of elderly and very vulnerable people who really need them? Old folks most affected by COVID-19 can't scurry to a store and by 5,736,574,999 canisters of disinfecting wipes or a damn case of bleach - they only need one or two containers. But by the time the poor things hobble into the local grocery, the goddamned local Martin Shkrelis have bought them all up so Grandpa and Grandma with asthma and COPD are left without.

Fuck that.

RAISE HELL with these retailers people!

Or....learn to use "other things" for your sanitary needs. And...your health.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. The hoarding is ridiculous and contemptible, but there will be more TP, probably very soon.

It's not like the hoarders and scalpers have bought all the TP that will ever exist in the world. The paper product manufacturers will make more and the stores will be restocked. And maybe as soon as that happens the stores will place limits on purchases so it can't happen again.

[FreeState]

4. What happens if paper mills close?

That’s really my worry. I’m getting a bidet regardless - probably better for the environment anyway.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/earth-talks-bidets/

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. If the paper mills close it would be because everybody is sick

and there's nobody left to operate them. And if that happens we are all fucked in many ways.

[CousinIT]

9. Paper is made from trees....the environmental impact is heartbreaking.

I use recycled and bamboo -- but even that is sold out!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

17. Paper companies now actually grow trees like food crops, and replant.

They don't clear natural forests to make paper anymore like in the old days.

[meadowlander]

20. It's not like TP expires.

The extra bag someone buys this month is a bag they don't buy next month.

[Demovictory9]

2. they are putting limits now.. check out youtube videos of shopping trips

pics of signs ...limit two for family.

[C_U_L8R]

3. WWII style rationing?

I'm curious to see if the supply chain fills store back up soon. I suspect this first weekend will be the worst of the panic buying and people will figure out how to cope and manage. Plus some folks might realized that they're never gonna use all that stuff they hoarded. Maybe even feel a little foolish for being so selfish.

[gldstwmn]

5. I saw a post on social media showing

a Costco where they are rationing toilet paper and have guards standing nearby.

[Beakybird]

8. With the toilet paper shortage, I'm even more afraid to shake someone's hand.

😨😨😨

[Codeine]

10. All of our local stores set limits over a week ago.

Water, TP, pasta, and a few other items limited to 2-4 units per customer depending on the store. Even then everything is blown out.

[crickets]

11. Agreed! It's not just about convenience; it's a health issue. K&R

[Takket]

12. most stores are limiting the purchases now

and people are invariably going to stop buying it when they realize they have enough for a year, and the shelves will restock

[Funtatlaguy]

13. Buy a bidet.

[Indykatie]

16. I Ordered 2 Hand Spray Bidets After DU Member Made Recommendation. They're Great.

I still use TP to dry off but use much less than before. Amazon has wide selection with 100s of reviews. I paid less than $40 each and bought 2 different brands to compare.

[drray23]

14. We have bidets installed on all toilets.

So I don't have to worry about TP. My wife is using dish cloths that she knitted for cleaning surfaces. We launder them.

[TwistedTinkerbelle]

15. HEB in Texas has already started purchase limits.

It begins tomorrow and will go until further notice. According to their news page there are no exceptions because of people buying and reselling stuff for crazy prices. The hours HEB operates are going from a 15 hour day to a 12 hour day to allow more time for truck deliveries. It probably won't be long before other stores do the same thing.

[misanthrope]

18. It's about to get easier to get toilet paper soon

Not only will manufacturers be eager to meet a hungry market but those who have hoarded it in the last weeks won't have a need for any more for a while.

[Iwasthere]

19. How many hands touch the product before it reaches the shelves?

Same with food. Production, manufacturing, shipping, trucking, stocking. Right now your odds at picking up covid 19 are far less than they will be in a few weeks from now, when many more workers are infected. So I did indeed buy a lot of everything. I am not reselling, I am avoiding shopping later. I have no intention of shopping g as normal.

[CousinIT]

24. You're also lowering stocks so others won't be able to get what they need.

Friday I saw numerous elderly hobbling into the stores. These folks can't zip around to 5 stores in one day to find what they need. And they are often not online -- and they are the most vulnerable to this virus.

Think of others, too. Take only what you need for a couple weeks.

[cwydro]

21. This is so silly.

TP sold out but one aisle away, there’re boxes and boxes of baby wipes, Kleenex, napkins, paper towels.

People are morons.

[dansolo]

33. Be prepared to call a plumber

None of the stuff you listed should ever be flushed down a toilet.

[cwydro]

34. I don't plan to flush any of that down a toilet, should I have to use it.

So, no worries.

[Withywindle]

22. Some genius I saw on Twitter said

Big box retail might be sold out of toilet paper but used bookstores still have lots of copies of Ayn Rand books for a quarter each.

[SammyWinstonJack]

23. I can't overstock or hoard anything having no room to do so in a 34 ft motorhome.

Space is limited to say the least. 🙃

[Drahthaardogs]

25. I hate to say anything positive about Bush, but

During the war, he publically threatened anyone price gouging gasoline with a crime.

If we had a leader, he would do the same.

[CousinIT]

27. ....and the corporations who allow it also.

Amazon stopped one jerk. But there are 1000 Martin Shkrelis out there for every one that gets caught.

They should be dealt with especially at a time like these.

And any retailer allowing hoarding by customers or gouging prices, the same.

It's criminal - and if it isn't, it should be.

[pwb]

26. Amazing everyone is worried about wiping their ass?

When humans have water they find a way to accomplish that mission.

[CousinIT]

28. I can't explain the obsession w/ toilet paper. But bleach, sanitizers, wipes...

...THOSE things are essential, potentially lifesaving stuff right now. And nobody ought to be hoarding them or jacking up the price of them.

[mindem]

29. Limits don't work,

there are always workarounds. Let's say you limit TP to two packs. I live in a small town with three markets - in the morning I go to all three markets and buy 2 packs at each market, I'm up to six. Then I go back in the evening with different staff working and repeat the process - up to twelve and I'm following the rules.

[Generic Brad]

32. And multiply that if you go with family members

If you go with your spouse and each do the same thing, double your haul to 12.

[CousinIT]

35. They do slow it down. One person can't go into one store and buy $100 worth of paper products.

It does slow it down to let others have a chance.

[bullwinkle428]

30. DUer MineralMan just mentioned in an OP that he was talking with a checker in his local

grocery store this morning, and she mentioned that they were expecting another big shipment of paper goods including toilet paper Wednesday of this week.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213100992

[beachbumbob]

31. many are setting limits, the problem will be food as the mere fact WE DON"T HAVE MONTHS of

food in the pipeline.................and can't make stuff grow faster combined with sick employees who can't harvest, package or drive trucks.


This aint even close to being REAL yet

[CousinIT]

36. I don't understand anyone hoarding produce. It's perishable.

Fresh produce only last a week or two at most. I guess they could be freezing it or something. But really? People are INSANE.

[beachbumbob]

37. I haven't seen that but any food will be hoarded in coming months