A friend took me grocery shopping at Wegmans today.

[smirkymonkey]

It was packed! We went at around noon and there were tons of people there. There was a lot of prepared food, produce, meats, dairy, gourmet items, specialty goods, however the grocery aisles were pretty picked over and some categories were completely wiped out.

For instance there was a lot of meat, but no chicken. A lot of vegetables, but no celery. No plain rice. Very few cleaning items or disinfectants. There was Wegmans brand toilet paper (pack of 6 - 400 sheets) but only 1 per customer. The frozen food section was almost obliterated. Deli was in good shape. Very little pasta left.

I was actually surprised to see how much there was available, as I had heard about so many stores having hardly anything, but at least I got enough to get me through another few weeks.

Upon checkout, they made me stand behind a black line while they packed my groceries and only let me approach the cashier once everything had been rung up. It was the first time I had really gone out in public in a week.

What are other people experiencing in your grocery stores? Are they stocked? Crowded? Can you find what you need?

[Throck]

1. I thought the objective was to avoid people?

I go early morning, full parking lot and I don't go in.

[smirkymonkey]

7. I have been, but my usual delivery services have not been able to deliver, at

least not for another week or longer and some have shut down altogether. I can't afford to eat takeout from a restaurant every night so I had to go get groceries and other supplies.

[hlthe2b]

2. Can't speak to crowding since I go right upon opening at 7:00AM, though more people than usual

I normally shop very early in the morning or late at night, but restricted hours now.

Staff trying hard to restock, but lots of empty areas on the shelves of EVERY aisle. There is product there, but lots of "voids." I find it alarming. Popular items (peanut butter, bread, soups, beans, and other staples have a few items but no selection. Freezer aisles are pretty sparse. Eggs were gone at two grocery stores, but Walmart had some.

I worked overseas for some time, including some developing countries. The empty shelves are reminiscent and disturbing. I hope we get into some kind of "rhythm" that lets us know what to expect and maybe the desperate urge to hoard will subside.

[cbdo2007]

3. Wife went to Target in KC area and it was almost empty...

She went to two grocery stores first that were like a disaster movie with panic buyers...then went to Target and said it was empty and super clean so she got all of our groceries there and was done in like 20 minutes.

[sunnybrook]

11. Had the same experience at Target

After hitting the Hy Vee went next door to Target and they weren't packed like the Hy Vee. Should have grocery shopped there!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

4. I'm about to head out to weggies now.

Haven’t been out in a week either. It’s a little anxiety producing, going out!

[smirkymonkey]

8. I felt the same way, but I didn't really have any other options.

It was either go or starve. They are delivering takeout in Boston - no contact delivery - but most of the grocery delivery services are booked out over a week in advance or have stopped delivering completely. I live in a studio with a tiny kitchen so I can only store so much food and it runs out quickly.

I guess I was a little more afraid of being stranded without food than I was of catching the virus.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

71. I wore my winter gloves. Felt pretty safe.

There were lots of full aisles and some cleaned out. But butters are in high demand, apparently.

Stay safe and sane!

[True Blue American]

26. I went once

Store was full but produce freshly stocked. Meat was too. No TP or bread.

I was pretty well stocked. A young friend and neighbor stopped to see if I needed groceries.

[Kaleva]

5. I'm pretty well stocked and when I have gone, it's when the store opens at 7 a.m.

[wishstar]

6. I went to Ingles at 10:00 ( the NC equivalent of Wegmans) and it was so packed I left ASAP

I had to pick up my mail at the nearby post office and then wanted to just grab a bag of apples and bunch of bananas and do self-checker and I was able to get those 2 items, but the store was getting so busy and lines starting to form, that I just checked my stuff and then held my breath as I got out into fresh air. So from now on for my weekly trip, I will only go early morning at 7 or 8.

Ingles' massive central warehouse for entire chain is just down the road off interstate, so I'm not worried about having plenty of inventory, only worried about catching the virus but at least they have automatic doors and self checker machines to minimize contact with others.

[smirkymonkey]

9. Is the 7am thing just for seniors?

I thought I heard that it was.

[handmade34]

15. here in Northern Vermont

the senior hours are 6am-7am... but I like to pretend I'm not old and go whenever...

[wishstar]

20. Our Ingles hasn't started the senior hour yet, but Walmart, Target and Dollar General have

[True Blue American]

27. Some stores are doing that. Dollar General.

[mnhtnbb]

10. I was able to stock my freezer and pantry before I left for Bonaire on March 2nd

and after I came home a week early on March 9th. Was able to get a dozen library books before the libraries were closed.

So, I've been staying at home--except to go out to walk the dog several times/day--for almost a week now. Last Friday was when I went to the library and pharmacy to refill a prescription and that was my last trip out.

I have a Dollar General store at the end of the block from my apartment building in downtown Raleigh. DG announced they would have preferred hours for seniors, 7-8 am every morning, so I decided to try it out today after I walked the dog. Went and got milk, grapes (which I freeze for a low cal snack), an avocado, a couple of potatoes, a head of iceberg lettuce, and CHOCOLATE! They actually had some packs of TP on the shelves, but not many. No one else was in the store--except people who were stocking shelves--and there was no line at the cashier. Took less than 10 minutes to get in and out. Didn't hear anyone coughing.

I can do the DG run once/week and get by for at least another 2-3 weeks on what I have in my freezer and on my shelves. I did forget to look and see if they had eggs, because I have a dozen and didn't need them yet. Probably will hope to find them there next week.

[smirkymonkey]

16. Damn! You just reminded me that I forgot to get chocolate!

I'm going to be needing some treats soon!

[mnhtnbb]

17. Oh, noze!

DG has these big milk chocolate bars for $1/each. The Hershey's big chocolate bars are twice that. I bought four!

[cilla4progress]

33. Just picked up 8 bars of gourmet chocolate

at a nearby local whole foods store! Along with several hundred dollars more of special, locally made and grown food. It was a huge treat - a dream come true! It's SO overpriced, I usually limit myself. But I thought, dammit - it's small and nearby (and it was almost empty, clean, well-stocked) AND I consider it a donation to small business... the store and the producers whose wares they sell.

[Baclava]

12. I hit opening bell in the morning, first time ever standing in a line to get in 0900

Fruit and veggies well stocked but burger and chicken totally empty, no milk, but plenty of eggs, coffee going fast so I targeted that, lol, no paper towels or tp

canned veggies wiped out but 2 cans of mustard greens, scooped them up, butter gone but got last of the light stuff, after that I just wanted the hell out so got bread, pizza and frozen veggies, my main target, those almost gone, some lunch meat and hot dogs and buns, deli stuff, juices and was done and out in 30 min, good for a couple weeks, at least, funny, convenience stores stocked up on milk, go figure, gas, $1.89

Yay, scored the last boxes of instant oatmeal on the way, 0930, washed hands, several times, many times, still washing, lol

[smirkymonkey]

18. I was kind of bummed about the lack of frozen veggies.

I like fresh produce, but I am one person and can only eat so much so I need to buy things that can last. I bought onions, peppers, vine-ripened tomatoes and a few other things, but if I don't eat them within a week I have to throw them out.

Washed my hands w/ Clorox spray bleach and soap when I got home. I don't know if that is the best thing to do, but it kills 99.9% of all germs and I don't have hand sanitizer.

[Lars39]

21. Got storage bags? Freeze some produce.

[smirkymonkey]

32. Oh, that's an idea! The only problem is that I have a studio size fridge and freezer and

can't fit much in there. I could jam a few more bags of veggies in though. Didn't even think of that. Thanks!

[Lars39]

47. Jars might work, too.

Peanut butter jars or some drink containers.

[Baclava]

23. Frozen veggie mixes over rice, I can last months, was already well stocked with rice and pasta

Store employees all masked and gloved up, none of the customers I saw, felt so motivated after surviving that I went to local shop and got my oil changed, nobody busy there, zip another 15 min job done. Yay, who knows what gets shut down next, filled up truck and gas for mower, let the storm come, I'm ready

[smirkymonkey]

35. I love to make big rice skillets w/ veggies, rice, beans or lentils and sometimes I throw some

chicken or cheese in or make a sauce - made a Stroganoff sauce last weekend w/ egg noodles instead of rice. There are so many combinations you can do and it's fun to make things up.

I think tomorrow I will do an onion, lentil, rice, tomato, feta and spinach wok casserole. It's one of my favorites. Hearty and delicious.

[Baclava]

49. I have a pasta cooker, rice cooker, bread machine, I let my brave little appliances do the work, lol

Tons of big egg noodles, can do so much with them, pretty much anything like sauces that dont work with rice do with egg noodles, chili, ground beef over noodles is good

[wishstar]

25. Diluted bleach is fine, my dermatologist even recommends it for stubborn folliculitis

Just told spouse at next Ingles run I will grab frozen veggies and our favorite Michaelangelo's Eggplant Parm and Veggie Lasagnas for quick meals. Found a frozen 7 lb turkey breast earlier this week for $1.28/lb so will bake it tomorrow and it will last us about 5 days.

[smirkymonkey]

37. Oh, that's good to know. I thought it would be the next best thing to hand sanitizer.

It's very drying so I have to use lotion after I clean my hands, but I feel like it probably does the job.

Love eggplant parm and veggie lasagne! I make my own, but haven't in a while since I moved and have such a small kitchen. Now that I am wfh, I have a lot more energy and inspiration to cook. It's amazing how being in an office drains me so much.

I feel like I am coming back to life just by not having to be there.

[True Blue American]

28. I have found

Boston Bibb lettuce is the best for singles. Small head and lasts. Usually $1.49 a lb. small head 70,80 cents!

[smirkymonkey]

40. Actually, they were out of most head lettuce as well, but had a lot of bagged

salad greens.

[cilla4progress]

36. I know -

I have to up my food-preservation game! We have layer hens, which is how we normally recycle old produce, but since they decided to stop laying (most are 5+ years old; you are supposed to dispatch them before then!), I don't know that they deserve it.

I wore a mask and gloves, and repeatedly sprayed and sanitized while shopping. Then I stripped off my clothes and sprayed everything down before putting it away at home!

Don't let your hands get too dry...germs can get in the cracks, I've read!

[smirkymonkey]

41. Thanks! Just put on some more lotion!

Good reminder!

[MontanaMama]

55. I have backyard chickens too.

I could never dispatch them after their laying days are over! Off topic, but I just lost a hen that was 12 years old....her name was Squirt. She spent her last days in hospice care wrapped in a blanket in my bathtub. She couldn’t walk but loved to be hand fed while sitting on a lap.

Good tip to keep hands from cracking. Would that be ironic to keep your hands so clean that they cracked and germs got in that way anyway? Damn.

[cilla4progress]

61. Hey

[mercuryblues]

67. You can chop or slice the onions and peppers and freeze them

Lay them on a cookie sheet until frozen then put in a freezer bag.

[Tarc]

13. Those are pretty much the exact things we're out of here

Got a nice steak for tomorrow, but no chicken. Lots of fresh vegs but frozen's obliterated, etc...

[handmade34]

14. no bread!

we don't eat bread in our house but I buy the leftover for my chickens... the "used bread" store is closed until further notice... my chickens are so unhappy

so... there were lots of potatoes at the store today so I bought 10lbs to cook up for them... they are very spoiled chickens: I keep a full self-feed bucket of pellets for them and a grain block but they are so used to the bread

would be interesting to compare geographic shortages at grocery stores... here in Northern rural Vermont

shortages:
bread
toilet paper / cleaning supplies
flour
frozen vegetables
frozen fruit
milk and butter

lots of:
potatoes
apples
edited to add lots of corned beef

[smirkymonkey]

19. That would make an interesting study.

Where in northern VT are you? My brother and his family live in Burlington so I go up to visit sometimes. I love Vermont. It's such a beautiful state.

Are you guys very hard-hit yet? Here in MA we had the Biogen conference so that really help to spread the virus in the state. It just gets worse and worse by the day.

[handmade34]

24. I'm on the other side of the state

they call this the "Northeast Kingdom" (The Northeast corner) really the redneck part of Vermont... Burlington is really a place unto itself

Vermont has 29 cases of Covid-19 and 2 deaths... my partner has health issues and is compromised and we are about as safe here as one can get... I wish I could invite everyone here to hang out until this is over I have a nice tent platform outback and it's good (unless the bears get frisky)

although, my daughter in Arizona lost her job and I will be flying down soon to drive back up with her... she will be staying here until this passes



this is out my back door in the midst of winter... the snow is beginning to melt this week

[smirkymonkey]

30. It looks so beautiful and peaceful!

I am so sorry about your daughter losing her job! I hope she will find something else when this crisis is over. At least she will be safe with you and your husband. I wish you all the best!

[cilla4progress]

38. Are you at all concerned about exposing your partner

to your daughter?

We are trying to navigate something similar.

[handmade34]

50. my partner has a seperate bedroom and bathroom

we keep all things cleaned and separate in the house right now... we are careful but also very pragmatic... he knows the realities and we do the best we can... my daughter has suggested she set up a temporary place in the garage for a couple of weeks but we will see what it feels like once she gets here...

I think all people have to do what's best for them... my partner has had so many health concerns over the past 2 years (tests, hospital, 8wks everyday of hyperbaric oxygen, procedures, treatments) and we lost his son last year and he has suffered so many setbacks that he is resolved to live the best he can, but would rather die living than live w/o really living

[mucifer]

51. I have started baking bread again. It's so yummy.

It's easier to find the yeast than the bread.

[handmade34]

53. I can't afford to do that

when I used to make bread for myself... it was always easy to eat 1/2 loaf warm out of the oven can't do that anymore and my partner is on strict keto

fresh bread is heavenly!

[csziggy]

70. Yeast was what was out at Publix the other day

Still some breads, the flour had been picked over but was not decimated. But a young man was looking for yeast and it was completely gone.

I have a bottle of yeast still good in the refrigerator and was prepared to make bread tomorrow but my husband found some at the store today. Even though neither of us like sough dough bread I may make a starter with the bottled yeast and learn to maintain it so I have that option if we are locked down.

[Aquaria]

60. Apparently

The local store can’t keep potatoes in stock. I’m allergic so it’s no loss for me.

Long gone:

Dried beans
Hand sanitizer
Rubbing alcohol
Hand wipes
Disinfectant wipes

Limited amounts/selections

Milk
Eggs
Frozen meals
Frozen veggies
Meat
Rice
Pasta
Pasta sauce
Peanut butter
TP
Paper towels
Hand soap
Pet food
Cat litter
Laundry soap
Dish soap

Rebounding:

Bread
Canned meats
Canned veggies
Flour
Masa
Cake mixes/frosting

Everything else seems to be holding up.

[blueinredohio]

22. No toilet paper, paper plates, limit 2 on meat, eggs and no bread.

Otherwise pretty well stocked.

[brewens]

29. I was there right after my supermarket opened. I was a little surprised how busy it was,

but not real bad. There must have been a line waiting, I bet about 20 people.

They were catching up but some stuff was out. You could probably find almost everything you needed, if not your favorite brand or package, a reasonable substitute. I had to buy a can of V8 instead of the usual store brand jug that is exactly the same. I would have liked a bottle of rubbing alcohol, but that was out. I'm not quite out yet. But that could last a week, or months.

I had to hunt for an old school can opener. the little ones with the sharp end for punching the triangle hole on one end and bottle cap popper on the other. I had to have one and there it was in my junk drawer. It may have been 40 years since I used it.

The place was full of vendors stocking. They went from 24/7 to closing midnight to seven. I know it sucks for those guys. They usually are done and out of there.

[smirkymonkey]

31. I actually kind of felt bad for the workers.

On one hand, they must be relieved to have jobs, but on the other hand they seemed very stressed and I am sure they realize they are taking a risk by being exposed to so many people all day every day they work. They are in between a rock and a hard place.

[brewens]

34. A woma by me complained about not enough checkers. I told her they were probably having a tough time

giving them time off. I asked one of the stock crew supervisors if he'd given any though to who should play him in the movie? He got a good laugh out of that.

[handmade34]

52. this is a segment that our Public Radio station

did on my local grocery store... your post made me think of it...

https://www.vpr.org/post/late-night-visit-nek-grocery-store-hoarding-takes-hold

A Late Night Visit To A NEK Grocery Store As Hoarding Takes Hold

In the past couple weeks, there have been a lot of reports about stores selling out of toilet paper and working overtime to stay stocked. Erica Heilman stopped in at the Price Chopper in St. Johnsbury to see how supplies were lasting, and how shelf stockers and customers were feeling about the coronavirus.

Driving through downtown St. Johnsbury at 11 p.m. looks pretty much the same as it did a few weeks ago — dark and quiet, except for the light coming from Dunkin’ Donuts.

But a couple miles outside of town, past all the car dealerships, the Price Chopper’s still open......................

[eilen]

39. The frozen chicken was even wiped out at my Wegmans

I looked for fresh and the only chicken they had was that really expensive kind. I picked up shrimp instead (so no chicken riggies, it will be shrimp riggies).

Much the same -- little to no pasta except that horrible whole wheat stuff that tastes like cardboard.

I bought fresh fruit, fresh veggies, fresh bread, deli meat, some cheese, shrimp, and some junk food (candy & chips) oh, and the artisanal riggies. I was not aware of the taped line and was admonished by the clerk. I bagged my own stuff as usual. It was a stop on the way home and should hold us for the weekend.

[smirkymonkey]

42. Yes, I kind of got some attitude from the cashier about crossing the taped line.

She was very rude and I kind of snapped at her but later apologized. However none of the other cashiers were holding their customers back until cash out. Just one customer at a time. She wouldn't let me bag my own things. I thanked her and wished her a nice day and she wished me a nice day back.

I think people are just on edge these days. I wish I hadn't snapped - I wasn't very rude - I just said "Okay, just put the heavy stuff in my backpack then!" But she was really stressing me out. Sometimes, I think that staying home during this ordeal might be the best thing for everyone.

[Aquaria]

58. Some store chains have sent down policies

About customers needing to hold back until ready to pay, to protect you and the employees. In the stores, however, the local management is ignoring that and letting people do whatever.

So the cashier had no right to be rude, but I can provide some perspective on where she might be coming from: My husband said that a rival store with a similar situation had a cashier who was following the rules, but the lax mgmt wasn’t enforcing it. She apparently blew up because she was doing what the company called for, and management wasn’t following through or backing her up. Things apparently got testy then heated. Still waiting to hear if she quit or the manager fired her on the spot,but the hubby does know the store director chased her down, calmed her down and got her back in the register.

Some mgr at the husband’s store is a cousin or some such of the store director who was chasing down the cashier. He brought it up at a meeting, as a warning about everyone being on edge, and how important it was that everyone working on the front lines be on the same page about policies, communicating them clearly to employees, and then following through so that blowups like that wouldn’t happen.

In normal times, other people at the meeting would have rolled their eyes and acted like yeah, whatever. But these aren’t normal times. Smart store management knows they’re sitting on a powder keg if the queues and shortages go on too much longer. Americans simply aren’t used to doing without. Or not for long. Blowups from customers and employees are likely to increase and grow more heated or violent as frustrations and tensions mount. On both sides.

[smirkymonkey]

64. I understand. Which was why I apologized.

I just saw everyone else going through as normal and she was very testy. Initially, I was very put off by it, but I am one of those people who feels instantly guilty if I even raise my voice to someone and could instantly recognize that she was probably under a lot of stress and could find some compassion for her. I'm not proud of the way I behaved, but I was definitely not a "Karen" and things ended up ok.

It's hard for everyone and I think we all need to understand that and try to be as patient as we can if we do go out in public. Thank you for your post.

[smirkymonkey]

44. Chicken Riggies!

Are you from Upstate NY?

That is the only place I have ever heard of Chicken Riggies. My mother makes them and so does everyone in my family. I haven't made them yet but would love to!

If so, are you also familiar with Utica Greens? Those are my favorite! I am going to have to make those soon as well!

[eilen]

74. Yes!

I live right outside Syracuse. They were developed in Utica (thus the name Utica Greens). Utica is about a 45 min drive. But many previous Utica Planet dwellers have relocated here and there are plenty of places to sample both dishes. Every year there is a Utica Green and a Chicken Riggi category for "The Best in Syracuse" restaurants.

Here is my Utica Greens recipe:

Utica Greens
1 large head escarole
2 tablespoons Olive oil
2 cloves Garlic ; chopped
4 thin slices Prosciutto ; chopped (I have made it without prosciutto, used salamis, chorizo, genoa, spicy ham, pepper bacon, even a spicy Italian sausage once etc.- it's sometimes just what you have on hand when there is fresh bright green escarole in the garden or farmer's market)
1/2 cup Bread crumbs
2 each Italian long hot peppers ; seeded and julienned (I've used the banana peppers for a less hot dish)
1/4 cup Pecorina Romano Cheese ; grated
1 cup Chicken broth
Salt and pepper ; to taste
4
Servings
INSTRUCTIONS
Clean and rinse the escarole twice; chop in large pieces. Boil in water for about 5 to 6 minutes or until escarole is tender and wilted.

Place olive oil in saute pan; heat. Add chopped garlic and prosciutto and cook 2 to 3 minutes, being careful not to burn the garlic. Add seeded peppers and cook another minute or so.

Add escarole and broth to the pan. Gradually add bread crumbs (reserving some for the top) and grated cheese, tossing gently until blended. Taste for final salt and pepper seasoning. Place in a casserole; sprinkle with a little more bread crumbs. Place under broiler for 3-4 minutes. Serve hot.

I make my chicken riggies differently depending on what I am having with it and who is going to be eating with us. Sometimes I hold the mushrooms or add milder peppers (the cherry peppers can be really spicy). I also sometimes add a sourcream + half-n-half or yogurt with ricotta whipped together instead of a whole cream to the sauce--depends what is in the fridge. I may or may not add some wine to the sauce as well. I always have the main components: chicken, (sometimes some spicy sausage too), red/green peppers, the vodka sauce, cheese, and garlic. It is one of those dishes that I enjoy changing the variables on.

[smirkymonkey]

75. Sounds delicious!

I will have to try some of your variations. I like the idea of yogurt and ricotta instead of cream. I also like to use Swiss Chard and Arugula mixed w/ escarole in the greens.

I'm originally from a small village north of Utica, but have lived in large cities since graduating from college. However there are some very unique foods out of that area that can't really be found anywhere else. Or at least in that particular style. Riggies, greens, tomato pie, half-moon cookies (the original), the best cannoli and pasticiotti, etc.

Nice to meet you, eilen!

[eilen]

76. Nice to meet you too!

And yes, half moon cookies (Harrison Bakery in Syracuse makes really good ones), tomato pie (best eaten at room temperature), and the cannoli/pasticiotti are amazing. The Italian cookies at Christmas time, our Italian bread --crusty on the outside, chewy on the inside, NY style pizza, and OMG, the Polish food too.

[rickford66]

43. I went to Wegmans 3 times and once for a sick friend

Over the week I was able to get almost everything. Different shortages on different days. I usually only buy small amounts normally when I'm in town, about three times a week. I did have to go to a Weis for my friends cat food and specific frozen dinners he wanted. Wegmans has had emptier shelves compared to four other stores I've been to lately. (Weis, Aldi's, Price Chopper, Maines) I figure more people shop there.

[meadowlander]

45. If you google the name of the store you can see its peak hours and how busy it is now.

I use this to avoid the peak crowds.

Also shops restock overnight so your best bet is first thing.

I got up at 5 this morning, got to the store as soon as it opened, got everything I wanted and didn't have to wait in line at the register. In the time it took me to unload my cart and have everything rung up, there were four people in line behind me. At 6:30 in the morning.

I can't even imagine what it looks like at the peak hours.

[smirkymonkey]

48. I was kind of dependent upon my friend's schedule since I don't have a car.

She has an elderly mother so she has to go according to her schedule and can't leave before 11am. The closest market to me is a Whole Foods, but they don't always have everything I need and are a bit more expensive. There are some small boutique markets near me, but they are even more ridiculously expensive and the selection is very limited, so I would only shop there in an emergency.

I usually order delivery from Roche Bros or Peapod, but they have cut off delivery entirely or suspended for a week, so I was kind of desperate.

[meadowlander]

54. Not a criticism at all.

Just a suggestion in case people weren't aware of the new Google features that let you track how busy different stores are and what the best times to visit them are. They use cell phone data to predict in real time where the crowds are going to be.

[Aquaria]

57. A bit more expensive?

There’s a reason Whole Foods has the nickname of Whole Paycheck in the grocery industry. Because that’s about what it takes to buy a standard weekly list of goods from there.

[smirkymonkey]

68. Actually, if you buy their private label brand, they aren't really any more expensive than

most other major grocery stores. I have also compared their produce prices to other grocery stores here in Boston and they are pretty much competitive. The one area I find them to be outrageous in is meat/fish/organics. However I don't buy those things at WF.

I have a short list at WF. There are certain things there that I like that I can't find in other stores and they are pretty reasonably priced. For the basics I shop elsewhere. I definitely would not do all my shopping there.

[LakeArenal]

46. We have to wash our hands or sanitize before entering any store

They have sinks outside.

[Aquaria]

56. I can't speak for all HEB store inventories

But it’s obvious that they are in disaster mode from what I saw on the website + what my husband says the reality is on the floor of his physical location.

The abundance of selections you’re used to? That’s a thing of the past. The TP selections are down to four: 2 store brand. Two national. That’s it. And they sadly occupy only their usual positions on the shelves. The spaces for the other dozens of brands and varieties are empty. Limit 1 pack per person. Thanks, scumbag hoarders!

There were Soviet style lines today to get milk and eggs. I told my husband that they need to stop jerking everyone around and move things like that to the now-abandoned floral shop to get queues by an entrance, rather than clogging up aisles. Or get rid of the now stupid and useless college sports apparel store. That now looks really stupid when people can’t get peanut butter.

Meat is arriving on alternate days: red meat one day, poultry the next. Unknown if Sundays are part of the alternation.

Canned goods and paper products are alternating which one dominates a truck load as well.

One of the factors stymying replenishment of stores is that so many of them are drained of inventory, but there are only so many trucks with so much space to get products to the shelves. If you have 30 pallets of canned goods and peanut butter, then you can only send 20 of paper towels and TP with it on that delivery run. It’s a constant battle to get the balance of products to shipping container right.

And even when you do get a “back to normal” shipment of some high-demand item (like pasta), then you need a bunch more people than usual to get it on the wiped-out shelves. Only to have those shelves get wiped out yet again, as happened to my husband’s store when they got their pasta section looking something like old times again. It was GONE within a few hours. He helped them stock it, and saw nothing but empty shelves again before he (finally) got to go home.

And that’s something I want to get off my chest here: Our grocery stores and their employees are working their asses off these days. My husband is working 10 or more hour days as a matter of routine now. Every full time employee is. They are doing their best with what they have, but they don’t control what the store has on the shelves. 99% of them never had a say, even before. Now it’s 100% of them who have nothing to do with it.

So don’t take out your frustrations about missing items or being allowed only limited quantities of them on these workers. They’re not hiding stuff from you to annoy you or price-gouge you. They don’t make the decisions about prices or inventory, and, with the limited quantities, will lose their jobs if they don’t abide by those policies.

So stop yelling at my husband and his colleagues when you’re having to stand in line for milk and eggs. He’s not the one responsible for that line.

YOU THE CONSUMERS ARE.

Your greed, your selfishness and your lack of consideration for others is why your local supermarket looks like something from a Third World Nation.

Ultimately, that’s on you. Yeah, the Mango MAGAt’s lies and incompetence are what scared you to death so much that you aren’t sure if we’ll even have milk to buy soon. But he’s not the reason you have 4000 rolls of TP in your garage. That’s on you. If you’re the guy who doesn’t have the 4000 rolls of your favorite brand and are mad that all you can get is a 24 pack of store brand, that’s on the 4000 roll guy. Not the hapless store worker you’re screaming at.

/rant off

[Marrah_Goodman]

59. what's available really depends on where you live

[Steelrolled]

62. Except for TP and some cleaning supplies, it

was nearly normal. A little light on bread, but still more than enough choice.

[Luciferous]

63. I haven't had to go yet, probably not until next week.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

65. Our wegmans

Was packed. The line snaked through the store. Many things were out. Frozen,gone,soups were very few. I only had 70 bux I have to wait and hope something is left /restocked by next month.

[lunatica]

66. Were the employees wearing rubber gloves, changing them often

Last edited Sat Mar 21, 2020, 12:42 AM - Edit history (1)

Using hand sanitizers?

That’s an important thing to know.

[smirkymonkey]

69. I think so. They were all wearing rubber gloves.

I'm not sure how often they changed them. I'm sure it must be very stressful for them. I really feel sorry for them. They are on the front lines.

[Meowmee]

72. I have been going a lot

But then I slowed down after things got worse. I went today after a doctor app. Doc was doing routine bw and gave me a mask while I was there and I used it later too. I was worried due to coughing etc. cbc bw done immediately showed wbc is good so it is not covid. He said do not feel
bad about wearing a mask being high risk etc. For me it is harder to breath and my glasses fog up so hard to see as well.

There is no meat practically and they were rationing it to two packs, no mayo practically. No paper
products except a few smaller plates. Hardly any cleaners etc. I’m sure other areas were bad but I can’t remember now. I was able to get quite a few things anyway.

Most people are giving each other a wide berth, but some are not.

The supermarkets have been generally worse than places like bjs etc. But there are almost no paper products and frozen veggies anywhere. I am thinking about getting a freezer to store food in case it gets a lot worse.

I do self checkout and interact as little as possible. Wore gloves and did sterile stuff as needed. Change my clothes etc at home now as well.

[Blue_true]

73. I stopped at a Publix and then a Walmart near where I live on my way home today.

The fresh meats were wiped out, I think that I saw a couple packets of what looked like pig's feet at Walmart, there was maybe 30 packets of beef total, there were about 5 packets of Italuan sausages left. The frozen foods coolers were wiped out, a few packets scattered here and there. Now this Walmart was a super Walmart that normally have those area packed with merchandise. I was looking for bleach, garbage bags and subrolls after coming up empty at Publix (that later). There was not a drop of bleach in the places. There were no subrolls and hardly any bread at all. No garbage bags and very few gallon storage bags left. I did find pineapple and bought two the last packages left. Could not find seedless, or any, red grapes but noticed a Wally employee sticking seedless white grapes (which I don't like). So all in all, I came from Wally's with something.

At Publix, the massive meat freezer was wiped the hell out. There were maybe five packages of meat total. It looked like a guy from the meat department was standing around in shellshock, his hands on one of those supply carts, that was also empty. The bread section was wiped out, I wanted bagels, but only one pack of onion bagels and three of raisin-cinnamon bagels were left, I don't like raisin bagels, but I like onion bagels even less, I bought the raisin cinnamon bagels. The nut section was totally picked over, I could not find my desired brand of nut, but bought a Publix brand that I have tried before and which is decent. For some reason, there was lots of jellies, jams, ect. Not a drop of bleach in the place.

Will need to try CVS for bleach. Or keep trying multiple times next week.

Then I went to the health food store that I shop at. The chilled produce display was wiped out, except strangely for strawberries and broccoli, my guess is they had just gotten deliveries of those. Didn't check for bleach, but I don't look for bleach there. I know the place sells toilet paper, but I have enough of that for two-three weeks, so it isn't an urgency.

For anyone that read this post, maybe you can answer something that has bugged me. Why in the hell are people making a run on toilet paper? I can see a run on bleach, I just don't see why one is happening on toilet paper.