panic buying

As others have also mentioned, the devastating hurricane that hit the east coast may have something to do with it too, especially in that part of the country.

For me personally, I don’t need to panic buy it. Because it’s one of those things I hate paying full price for, I get it when I can stack the discounts whether I need it or not throughout the year so I always have some in every bathroom at our house and lake cabin.

I haven't read all of the responses, but wanted to add that the dock workers strike is only on the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico ports. Not California.

This. The local mom's group on FB immediately had women freaking out and asking where everyone was getting their TP and how much they were buying. Similar questions about milk, bread, and other things that most definitely are made in the USA.

It's not hurricane anxiety here. The Texas hurricane season is pretty much over. Just people who enjoy drama and enjoy hyping it up in others.

ETA: for those who may be concerned about hurricanes, The Eyewall is an excellent source of no-hype information about tropical systems. It's run by two independent meteorologists here in Houston but they cover any and all tropical developments that may affect the US. It appears Florida may get hit again next week but with a much weaker storm, and it's forecasted to cross the peninsula and go out to sea rather than up into the Appalachian states. Other storms currently in the Atlantic are no threat to land. 

^^^  THIS.  My sister and her DH were vacationing in Colorado with their camper... and just decided to go home due to the 'chaos' going on right now.  I KNOW it's because of crap her husband reads on Facebook and other places.  Her text got a HUGE eye roll from me, but I bit my tongue and didn't respond. 

I’m west coast so hopefully won’t be terribly affected by panic buying. On a whim I went to Amazon to check the price of the seventh generation TP that I buy if I run out of the Costco brand (don’t have a membership but go with a friend a couple times a year). Last time I bought seventh generation from Amazon the price was $19.95. The price today? $51 and change. And NOT by a 3rd party seller. #craziness

I have been unable to get toilet paper, eggs, sandwich bread probably due to all of the caravans and truck loads of items bought up to take to cities and states near me that have been devastated by the hurricane and storms. I understand other items are in short supply here like dog and cat food, garbage bags, diapers, feminine products, water also for the same reason.

I have an unopened 24 pack of tp in my car (I buy one every time I go to Target) and live on the west coast, so if people are hoarding toilet paper here it won't affect me for a while. If there is a chocolate shortage though...

I went to Target today so dd could get some make up and nail polish and I could get some grocery items I buy there as they are cheaper.

Anyways water was well stocked and was toilet paper and paper toweling. No gaps, no low stock, no empty shelving. Even with food items.

Then went to Staters Bros and same thing.

I wonder if part of it was a mix of first if the month shoppers (I always go to Costco on either 30th, 31st, or 1st for monthly restock) and preppers, and panic buyers so stocks went down fast than normal.

When I was at my Costco, carts were normal looking to me.

I think people posting those videos triggered others to run out and stock up when they normally don't that day/week.

I have seen videos on TT and comments are "that's a normal Costco haul." "That's a totally normal first of the month Costco day."

The photo I posted last night was taken by my friend at Sams. So when I went to Target this morning, I was expecting to see empty shelves. While the TP and Paper Towels were fully-ish stocked (it looked like any other day), our veggies shelves and coffee shelves were almost empty.

Yes people are panic buying. I hope Costco refuses their returns of toilet paper and paper towels. There is no need to hoard this stuff when it's made in the US.

A true prepper wouldn't need to because they should be ready for this. 

I am by no means close to a prepper, however, there are certain items that if it came down to it I would make substitutions but I would rather not.  For those items I always keep a back stock on.  My backstock during covid and after covid has not changed.  TP is one of those items for me. Unfortunately I live in a small town and we hadn't made our monthly trip to get our groceries and supplies so my tp is not at my normal level. Thankfully most of my other items like flour and sugar I had just recently bought so I am not too far into my 25# bags. 

I did grocery delivery today and ordered TP, paper towels, and Kleenex but not because I was “nervous or scared” but just down to a roll of each and a half a box. These products are made in the US so there shouldn’t be any problems.

I’m hoping people figure it out and I can grab a pack next week. People that have posted online here are saying people are buying 3-4 packs so I assume not the normal 1st of the month thing - this is Costco so big packs.

I was at Target last night and the TP situation seemed fine.