Unexpected uptick in business activity

[no_hypocrisy]

I work as a cashier in a grocery emporium in NJ and I'm grateful that I can work, no matter the pay.

What caught my attention en route to my job yesterday were how many people were waiting on line at my bank. The parking lot was full. The lines were five to six customers deep. Not a run on the bank, but not the usual one to two customers at 3:30 in the afternoon.

[lark]

1. People are definitely getting cash for the crisis.

One ATM my husband went to was out of $$. However, he went down the street and was able to get out some cash from another place, so we were happy for that. Hopefully if this accelerates & we have to go to ordering groceries or medicines delivered they will be able to take credit cards.

[Silver Gaia]

2. We are ordering delivery of groceries already.

They don't want cash. They want you to do it online with plastic.

Target has delivery in many places (so does Walmart), and if you are lucky, there's Amazon Fresh, Prime Pantry, and Whole Foods. They all want a $35 minimum order for delivery.

The main problem right now is that they are all getting hammered, and they don't have enough delivery staff, so the orders are getting processed so slowly that what was in stock when you ordered is gone by the time they fill the order. Not ideal. But it should get better. I hope.

Some stores are offering a drive up service, too. You order online, drive to the store, and they bring it out to your car. That service has the same problem. Not enough staff to meet current demand, so orders are bogged down.

Most places are at least a week out on delivery or pickup, either one, so it's damn near impossible to do right now.

I'm worried about leaving my money in the bank, but for most things, cards seem better than cash right now. Safer and more sanitary, too.

[Snake Plissken]

3. People believe that our currency will some be contaminated with the coronavirus

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/who-we-did-not-say-that-cash-was-transmitting-coronavirus-2020-03-06

With no leadership in the White House people are panicking and believing all the rumors they come across on the internet.