Toilet paper hoarding

[xhomerx10]

 Costco is refusing to accept returns on items that were most likely to be hoarded.


 I would like to point out that friends, relatives and even neighbours offered to pick up grocery items for us when we were in a 14 day mandatory self-isolation.  Several of my parents neighbours have offered to pick up grocery items for them as well.  There is good in the world and not everyone with multiple items is necessarily a hoarder.

[Spendulus]

There was another Run On Toilet Paper in 1973 similar to that of today.

It's hard to imagine such an even without internet.

https://priceonomics.com/the-great-toilet-paper-scare-of-1973/

[bones261]

Well, I went out to the grocery store today. It appears that toilet paper is now actually available, although the selection was only one brand. Unfortunately, the only ramen that was available was a box of 10 chicken ramen's. I personally hate chicken flavor. Still can't find hand sanitizer or thermometers.

[suchmoon]

Still can't find hand sanitizer or thermometers.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the thermometer shortage - did people not have thermometers at all before this? Or is there some reason to hoard them? It's not like these things are consumable or break easily.

You might be able to find some on Amazon that are... marketed somewhat specifically but still work well for general purposes:

https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Basal-Body-Thermometer-Temperature/dp/B07ZRL44D1

[bones261]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the thermometer shortage - did people not have thermometers at all before this? Or is there some reason to hoard them? It's not like these things are consumable or break easily.

You might be able to find some on Amazon that are... marketed somewhat specifically but still work well for general purposes:

https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Basal-Body-Thermometer-Temperature/dp/B07ZRL44D1

I think it is just a supply side problem. Since the items are not consumable, not many were probably manufactured. also, I can see where some people may not have a working thermometer at home since they have been healthy and have no children. I already have a digital thermometer, but it is over a decade old and I wanted to update to one that you can put in your ear and get a reading a few seconds rather than a few minutes. I'll just wait. It is not urgent for me.

[suchmoon]

I wanted to update to one that you can put in your ear and get a reading a few seconds rather than a few minutes.

I had a cheap infrared one from Harbor Freight that I used to measure furnace exhaust temperature and stuff like that around the house... turned out to be surprisingly accurate for body temperature. Unsurprisingly sold out too LOL. I hope people aren't using it on their kids, it's got a laser pointer.

[Alamgirsony]

Signs warning of one package of toilet paper per customer during the coronavirus pandemic are not an indication of supply chain figure. It is more a mark of an event that no one could have predicted.

Toilet paper is a product that is in the "Just-in-time" supply chain. Responsive and integrated, just-in-time supply networks ensure items arrive when they are needed to keep shelves stocked.

This is important not just for perishables, which might first come to mind when we think of timely delivery.
Packages of toilet paper are big and bulky. No one wants to pay to stockpile warehouse supplies just in case of an event like a global pandemic-not manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers or consumers, to whom the cost would be passed onto.

But when world of COVID-19 spread, consumers became willing to stockpile this item in their homes, both disrupting the supply chain system and creating living spaces crammed with paper products.

Just in time supply chains are what helps to keep costs low through the system. But that means these networks are more easily distracted than "just in case" supply chains.

Some traditional manufacturers use just-in-case production and distribution, keeping raw materials and stock on hand in the event of emergencies or disasters. These networks are more costly but also better prepared to respond to surging demand, as we have seen recently.

[BADecker]

The biggest hoarder of TP is the sanitation district.