Panic Shopping and Shortages and Kindness

[sk8pics]

Well, I had a nice experience this afternoon. I have already cancelled my rental car, tours, and rescheduled my flight to late June (hoping that is late enough). I still had the hotel to cancel, a Best Western, and my reservation was "nonrefundable" at this point. I have gotten emails from other hotel chains when I am a rewards member with them, saying they would adjust their cancellation policies due to Covid-19, but Best Western had been silent. And I was reading pretty angry comments on their Facebook page about not being able to cancel without a penalty even in severe cases; one person is stuck on a base in Afghanistan, he said, and they would not cancel his reservation.

So, I called the hotel directly, figuring since I stay there pretty often they might give me a break. The manager happened to answer the phone, and right away he told me he would cancel without any penalty, mentioning he knows I am a regular guest. I thanked him very much. So it pays to have an ongoing personal relationship with staff at a business; many of them at least recognize me when I walk in the door and some greet me by name. I will definitely stay there next time I am in Kentucky. This is the Best Western Plus in Georgetown.

 

[Aceon6]

There’s a new thing circulating in the US. If you see someone paying with their EBT, SNAP or WIC card, ask if they need any bulk rice or beans. The system isn’t set up for people to stock up and we’re past the middle of the month so people may not have that much money left.

 

[MacMadame]

There is also a group organizing shopping angels for seniors. They have people in all 50 states.

Nevada student starts group to shop for citizens at high risk for coronavirus: 'The client list is growing'

A University of Nevada pre-med student has founded a volunteer organization aimed at helping elderly and at-risk Americans get the food and supplies they need as the coronavirus pandemic drags on.

www.foxnews.com

 

[Vash01]

Joann etc. Store has published a tutorial to make face masks at home, to help hospitals that are experiencing shortages of those. I don’t know if hospitals will accept such nonsterile masks though.

 

[MacMadame]

Joann etc. Store has published a tutorial to make face masks at home, to help hospitals that are experiencing shortages of those. I don’t know if hospitals will accept such nonsterile masks though.

It's not clear. I think it would be better to use the homemade masks for people who are hoarding other masks. So we wear the makeshift ones and give all our other masks to hospitals and doctor's offices.

 

[Barbara Manatee]

Some hospitals are asking for masks but they want specific designs - there are patterns with a pouch to hold a filter, or ones that go over other masks. But if your local hospitals haven't asked yet, you could definitely make some of the Joann's designs for yourself and the people around you.

 

[Kruss]

I stopped at Walgreens this morning and when checking out, thanked the person working behind the counter. She was very appreciative and said they'd been open since 6am and I was the first to think her all day (it was around 1:30pm at the time). I confess I wouldn't have thought to actually say "thank you" if I hadn't seen someone mention it on FB.

 

[PRlady]

I stopped at Walgreens this morning and when checking out, thanked the person working behind the counter. She was very appreciative and said they'd been open since 6am and I was the first to think her all day (it was around 1:30pm at the time). I confess I wouldn't have thought to actually say "thank you" if I hadn't seen someone mention it on FB.

I’ve thanked many grocery cashiers in the last two weeks. One said she’s lucky to be getting all this overtime, her husband is a bartender and they need the money. Another said that all the young people were buying was wine, beer and prepared foods and we had a Boomer moment. And one started crying. I’m not so good in those situations and just said I’m sorry it’s all so hard and she nodded and apologized.

Everyone is under such strain.

 

[A.H.Black]

A local vodka maker has switched to making sanitizer. 80% alcohol.

A few days ago I went into a supermarket to pick up a few things. Of course it was like Thanksgiving on speed. I picked up 4 items. First, the man in front of me insisted I go ahead of him. Then I waited for the couple in front of me and at the end she insisted on buying my items for me - she felt badly that I had to wait so long. I almost insisted on paying and then realized it would be ungracious of me to not accept her gesture.

 

[Buzz]

I always try to remember to thank bus drivers, cashiers, waiters etc. Especially now. But these days I prefer to use the self checkouts. That said, saw a supermarket yesterday with a long lineup outside because they were limiting the amount of people allowed inside at the same time. Another one was crowded early in the morning with people buying anything they could get their hands on. I’ve been looking for my kitties brand of cat food which is getting harder and harder to find.

 

[icecat]

Freida B in Framingham, MA who has been making skating apparel for many years has switched gears to make the masks mentioned that have the pocket between 2 layers to insert the additional filter. They have donated many to local hospitals and organizations. If you know of someplace or someone in need, here is her info:
508-872-1750
[email protected]

 

[Cachoo]

My local grocery store looks picked over and that is by design: They only bring so much stock from the warehouse and put limits on the things that people tend to hoard. I think they learned a lesson with the hand sanitizer and tp.

 

[nimi]

panic shopping: Costco Is Refusing To Accept Returns For Toilet Paper Which Is Bad News For Panic-Buying Hoarders

shortages: Amazon suspends almost 4,000 seller accounts for ‘unfairly priced’ products during v*rus p*ndemic

kindness: Sikhs prepare over 30,000 free meal packets for Americans in self-isolation

 

[MacMadame]

People are trying to have fun while sheltering in place:

Neighbors organize a social distance dinosaur parade during coronavirus

Residents of the Bay View neighborhood organized a social distance dinosaur parade with several inflatable dinosaurs as a break from coronavirus.

tinyurl.com

I wonder where they got all the costumes from.

 

[Susan1]

panic shopping: Costco Is Refusing To Accept Returns For Toilet Paper Which Is Bad News For Panic-Buying Hoarders

I don't get why people would try to return toilet paper. It's not like it's something you'll never need again when this is over with.

So - kindness - on my nextdoor page, people have been putting out tables of items, like canned goods and things they have too many of for anybody to take, and posting where the table is. I hope no one takes advantage of or destroys this good deed.

 

[MacMadame]

I don't get why people would try to return toilet paper. It's not like it's something you'll never need again when this is over with.

Some of these people bought hundreds of rolls to re-sell on Amazon and eBay. Maybe thousands. So they have way more than they can ever use in their own lifetime and now they are stuck with it and I say . Serves them right.

 

[Anemone]

A lot of areas in my city are participating in neighbourhood "window walks" or "window scavenger hunts".

Canadian Neighbourhoods Figure Out How To Spice Up Walks For Kids

These crafts are great for both indoor AND outdoor time.

www.huffingtonpost.ca

 

[once_upon]

Some elementary teachers did drive by visits of the students homes, just to wave hi and connect to them

 

[MacMadame]

A lot of areas in my city are participating in neighbourhood "window walks" or "window scavenger hunts".

Canadian Neighbourhoods Figure Out How To Spice Up Walks For Kids

These crafts are great for both indoor AND outdoor time.

www.huffingtonpost.ca

My neighborhood is doing teddy bear hunts.

 

[Susan1]

Some of these people bought hundreds of rolls to re-sell on Amazon and eBay. Maybe thousands. So they have way more than they can ever use in their own lifetime and now they are stuck with it and I say . Serves them right.

Yeah, I didn't think of that. Like the hand sanitizer guys. I was just thinking of people in stores stocking up. I guess I don't have a devious mind. ha ha

 

[rfisher]

Some of these people bought hundreds of rolls to re-sell on Amazon and eBay. Maybe thousands. So they have way more than they can ever use in their own lifetime and now they are stuck with it and I say . Serves them right.

Locally, they'll show up in the flea markets.

 

[hanca]

Locally, they'll show up in the flea markets.

They will need a lot of flea markets then. My guess is that it may be the most frequently given present as secret Santa for the next 10 years.

 

[Cachoo]

Joann etc. Store has published a tutorial to make face masks at home, to help hospitals that are experiencing shortages of those. I don’t know if hospitals will accept such nonsterile masks though.

They are effin awesome...they are regular contributors to our United Way Give Center that we have here locally. Shop at JOANN!

 

[MacMadame]

Locally, they'll show up in the flea markets.

But at reasonable prices. No one goes to the flea market to pay $7 for a roll of toilet paper.

 

[Susan1]

I keep forgetting about this thread because it is not with the other virus threads. This was on my Nextdoor page, and just one of the comments underneath:

"Kroger in Miamisburg opens at 7:00 AM and reserves the hours from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM for the elderly and others who have challenges doing their shopping ----- or so I am told --- I arrived at the store at 8:15 AM (An hour and Fifteen Minutes after opening) and the massive wave of shoppers had already descended on the place and had all the paper products cleaned out by the time I got there. (Plus a lot of the canned goods and pasta ... (What is this pasta thing all of a sudden?) I was told that the early shoppers massed pretty much together at the doors at opening time, swooped into the place in a large group, ignored all social distance rules and panic emptied certain of the shelves in record time."
and
"I tried Kroger pickup in Miamisburg first time last week. I got 15 of the 30 items I ordered. I didn't opt for the substitutions because I wasn't sure what I would end up with."

 

[skatesindreams]

(What is this pasta thing all of a sudden?) I

Dried pasta will keep for a long time.
It also stretches small amounts of protein, toppings, and sauces.

 

[Susan1]

Dried pasta will keep for a long time.
It also stretches small amounts of protein, toppings, and sauces.

That was the poster's question, not mine. When I read it, I was thinking "duh".

 

[Susan1]

Nothing since I posted Friday?

I think the hoarding might have slowed down. The little Kroger was o.k. today. Not crowded, well stocked. Except for the Kroger chocolate donut holes. And that's not the first time they were out of them ever.

They were unpacking milk, which I didn't need. I'll probably go to the big Kroger Thursday. I forgot cottage cheese because I didn't take my list.

They didn't have guards around the cashiers, but they did have blue squares on the floor that said "wait here". I was just behind one person who was buying a year's worth of food, but whatever.

I took my own wipe for the cart. There was a guy, maybe the same one as the last time, spraying the cart handles and then wiping them to dry them. I thought the last time, you aren't supposed to wipe them off. You are just wiping off the disinfectant - and with the same towel every time. Aren't you supposed to wait 4 minutes before touching something that has been disinfected.

And I used my wipe on the buttons. I got a piece of red velvet cake from the bakery in a plastic square, which I will leave in the Kroger bag for 24 hours. I don't want to put disinfectant on it cause it's not completely sealed.

p.s. I did see people buying normal sized packages of toilet paper.
p.s.2 My left nose is burning. That happened before. It must be the wipe.

 

[misskarne]

The big supermarkets here are back to home deliveries for vulnerable and/or self-isolating folks. They also have early openings on special days for vulnerable/elderly/disabled folks, and on other days, for emergency workers/nurses/doctors etc.

There is a lot of stickering on the floor to tell you where to stand, and plexiglass guards up for the cashiers. Still no toilet paper unless you get down at the right time - and I must have just missed it on Sunday when I went for milk, there were people walking around with it in their trolleys but none on the shelf.

Inevitably, plumbers are starting to get call-outs...for things being flushed down the toilet that shouldn't. Strong paper, rags, sponges...

 

[Susan1]

The big supermarkets here are back to home deliveries for vulnerable and/or self-isolating folks. They also have early openings on special days for vulnerable/elderly/disabled folks, and on other days, for emergency workers/nurses/doctors etc.

There is a lot of stickering on the floor to tell you where to stand, and plexiglass guards up for the cashiers. Still no toilet paper unless you get down at the right time - and I must have just missed it on Sunday when I went for milk, there were people walking around with it in their trolleys but none on the shelf.

Inevitably, plumbers are starting to get call-outs...for things being flushed down the toilet that shouldn't. Strong paper, rags, sponges...

The first day people were hoarding toilet paper and complaining about none in the stores, our city's FB page put up a notice not to flush other things.

Yesterday, I noticed some of the stock people wearing masks, and a couple of older customers. I saw something about whether everybody should start wearing masks all the time. Where would I get one? I can't make one. Last year when I had to blow the snow when it was really cold, I wrapped an old nightgown around my face (under my hood so you couldn't tell it was a nightgown). I can't be going to the store with a nightgown on my face. Sheesh.