Panic buying of toilet paper hits U.S. stores again with new pandemic restrictions
Source: Reuters
NOVEMBER 20, 2020 5:22 PM UPDATED 17 HOURS AGO
Panic buying of toilet paper hits U.S. stores again with new pandemic restrictions
By Lisa Baertlein, Melissa Fares
3 MIN READ
LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Toilet paper aisles are emptying again as COVID-19 curfews and shutdowns in states from California to New York send pandemic-weary shoppers on a new scramble for essentials.
Walmart on Friday said it was “seeing pockets of lower than normal availability” for toilet paper and cleaning supplies in some communities as infections rage virtually unchecked across most of the United States.
As of Friday afternoon, 22 states have imposed restrictions aimed at decreasing spread of the virus - giving rise to a new round of panic buying from shoppers and purchase limits from retailers including Target and Kroger, the nation’s largest supermarket chain.
Shoppers in a half dozen cities around the United States told Reuters that disinfecting wipes were sold out at discount retailers like Walmart and Costco, as well as at Cerberus Capital-owned grocery chains Albertsons and Vons.
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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-toiletpaper/panic-buying-of-toilet-paper-hits-u-s-stores-again-with-new-pandemic-restrictions-idUSKBN2802W3
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I did the same thing. 1 large Aldi package (I think 30 large rolls) each time I made a food run, usually once per month while stores were fully stocked.
I probably have enough for a small country for about 6 months. Lol
Was this not easy to foresee? I keep thinking of what I learned about the course of the 1918-19 epidemic. 
I don't know anything about the commercial supply chain, but I had hoped they would adjust it, given the circumstances of the past several months.
The toilet paper shortages haven't personally affected me yet, so I'm calling it a hoax! 
It took FOUR HOURS to get the TP and groceries during that most recent pick-up order, though!
The store clearly wasn't even busy! Many empty parking spots everywhere, but I had to wait in a line of cars as soon as I arrived there (a little early as usual).
Were they severely short-handed? Maybe, but I also saw numerous young employees repeatedly retrieving one or two carts while NOBODY was helping with the pick-up orders for over an hour after I finally got one of their six parking spots designated for pick-up. I asked one of their employees if I could PLEASE go inside and get my order myself since nobody was helping, and he replied in a Spicoli-voice -- a reference to "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" -- that it wasn't allowed. Then he acted surprised to see the long line of cars despite how I'd repeatedly seen him walk through the area to unnecessarily bring back a couple carts from outside.
It seemed more like some kind of employee strike against pick-up orders to me. Calling customer service just resulted in immediate placement on hold and then disconnection.
When I finally got my (pre-paid) stuff that kept me hostage, and I left their parking lot, there was about 40 cars still waiting in line and they were partially blocking the main entrance to the parking lot!
I've ordered pick-up with them since March, and it was never remotely like that previously!
Edit: That happened at a local Kroger, btw.
We produce our own meat, eggs, vegetables, etc. We make our own rum and beer.
We have apples, oranges, bananas etc.
And we make our own paper products. We mostly import TOURISTS, that’s about it.
I think we are going to stay put. Am sorry for family in the US that is struggling now. We are heartbroken.
My daughter hasn’t seen her child in almost two years, because COVID and COLLEGE.
It is what it is. 