Panic buying. Sensible or incredibly selfish?

[sue11]

I went into my local supermarket (Tesco) on Thursday to pick up a few items. I noticed it was very quiet and asked the cashier if this was usual or down to the weather. She said that she thought it may have been down to everyone panic buying on Tuesday when the weather warning came out. She said it was ridiculous, as bad as just before Christmas and the store ran out of all veg and other staples. When I went in the store, it was fully stocked so deliveries had got through as normal.
Panic buying may have been more understandable if I lived in a hard hit area, but I live in Bournemouth right on the south coast!
The weather warning on Tuesday morning spoke of heavy snow to hit our area, but by Tuesday afternoon they had changed it and said it was going to miss us, which it did mostly, we had a centimetre or so of snowfall the next day. I know that it is difficult for those that live a long way from any shops to manage bad weather and may have to stock up, but I feel it is a selfish act for those us that live within walking distance of local shops to do. If we stock up, then others will suffer. I feel there is no real need for those of us living in large towns to panic buy as the main roads are kept clear to get the delivery lorries through to restock the supermarkets. What do others think?

[B00]

Yeah, i work for the co op and I got a call on Tuesday (my day off) to come in as folk were queueing round t'corner in our place panic buying- mental isn't it?

[ChuckFickens]

I've not been able to buy bread or milk in any of the village shops where I live for about 4 days now.

It's stupid, just because there is a little bit of snow people seem to think they are suddenly going to use 16 pints of milk and 4 loafs of bread a day!!

[B00]

That being said Chuck- I did buy dry milk and ingedients for the (almost redundant) breadmaker, ya know, justincase ;-)

[marval]

My local shop the other day had no milk, the next day it had no bread. People obviously need food, but they should be limited so everyone can have some.

[jno]

seems sensible enough to me: plan for the worst and if it doesn't happen, no harm done. Sure, lorries can get in and out of Tescos, but my car can't get out of my driveway at the moment - the road round the corner is gritted, it's just the 50 yards getting that far that's the problem - which means the only way to go shopping is to walk on icy pavements carrying as much as I can, which is usually only enough for one day. Makes more sense to get several days' worth of supplies by car, before the snow arrives.

[brenda]

In my village the local shop has limited milk to 1 litre per customer and 1 loaf at a time . The local garage has done the same , seems to be working O.k so far.

[Robinia]

I'm with you on this sue...I shop locally & while we're not down to one store many of the shops have closed due to dwindling custom. Miraculously at times like this they all reappear (mostly on foot) & clear the shelves, especially of bread, leaving little for the regulars. I appreciate people don't have time to shop in small quantities & need better prices but If they'd remained as customers there'd still be the choice we had a few years ago.

[sue11]

Yes I understand that it is difficult for us all as the residential roads are very icy and pavements difficult and dangerious to walk on. But there is a difference between buying an extra pint and a loaf and loading up your trolley for the siege ahead, especially if you live in Costa Del Bournemouth!!

[sue11]

Hi Robinia, I think a lot of us are guilty of taking the easy option and buying from the large shops where we can get it all under one roof. The things we are missing though is the friendlier service and the possibly better quality. I love shopping in towns where you can find the small quirky shops selling the unusual merchandise, it would be great to see more of those springing up. Cheers Sue

[cazzz1975]

they over dramatise the weather on the news, its no wonder people are out panic buying, even the outside broadcasts make sure that they film standing at the worst possible area for dramatic effect. I went shopping the other day and there were crowds of people buying all the milk and bread and there were masses of people buying tins and tins of soup as if the snow was going to last 6 months! totally bizarre!

[theonlyone]

Out local Tesco was manic on Friday , trollies piled high
with milk and bread ,and sold out of tinned soup .They had no
bread or milk left last night when my friend went to buy some.
People are selfish , all take and no give.