I got a text message yesterday from someone I know who wanted to let me know that the local CostCo was out of paper products.
:::dramatic music::::
Apparently the TP hoarding cycle has begun anew. I find that interesting because didnt everyone buy a lifetime supply of TP back in March? I’m guessing the current wave is from people who didn’t hoard in March, got left out, and are now stacking it in their basements going “Remember when we couldn’t find any in March? Well, not this time!”
I’ve heard this music before, ain’t gonna dance to it.
I’ve been (mostly) diligently shopping and laying back stuff since March. Other than my current magazine buying frenzy, I’m not seeing a need for me to do anything differently. Hopefully you don’t either.
Hows that magazine buying thing going, you may ask? FedEx just dropped another case of Magpul Glock mags at the door so….pretty well, actually.
I’m right where you are.
I buy tings weekly just to keep treading water and top off, without disturbing the reserve cushion.
Like everyone should do, 24/7/365.
I’m sitting on (you should pardon the pun) more than enough to see me through 2021. It doesn’t take much when you’re solo. I pity the guy with a family of four or five. And if this lasts longer than a year, lack of toilet paper won’t make the Top 100 list of Most Important Problems In Society.
But anyone who didn’t solve that problem when they had the chance wasn’t paying attention.
For some people, Life is hard.
It’s harder when they’re stupid.
Better luck to them when they’re sadder but wiser.
Went to our Publix today to buy some weekly items, almost all tp is gone except for some house brand 2 ply, paper towels mostly gone.
The stock of everything else is pretty good.
Think you are correct that folks caught short last go round are stocking up.
I went to a Publix in Lake County, Fl. yesterday, all paper goods were sold out, TP and paper towels, the shelves were full three days before,
Yep, never even got out of the ready stores in the garage before it was available in stores again. Took the respite to add even more to the stack in deep storage.
Been adding to my protein stores, bought two more freezers.
Since my garden still isn’t growing, despite 5 years of trying, I keep adding canned veg.
In other categories, unpapered tools, 80% parts and completion kits, plates and carriers, web gear. Good boots. No molle, no camo unless that’s everyday wear in your AO, but patterned shirts almost as good, heavy duty laptop backpacks, and a black hoodie seems to be de rigueur. Camo mosquito net headgear might be the exception, especially if you add random bits that are opaque to IR light….
Clothing and coats bigger than normal so they fit over the gear…
Simple things like needle and thread, super glue, velcro, replacement zippers, elastic, iron on clothing patches, plumbing repair, cleaning supplies- they can all be in short supply, or having them on hand might be the ‘stitch in time that saves nine…’
so many things, and it’s really fractal when you look closely.
nick
So… What you’re saying is that Costco is …wiped out… again?… Sorry… I had to…
Anyone who hasn’t gotten with the program by now, prep-wise, deserves the consequence. I reiterate; what the hell is it about the TP?… You can use any number of things to “complete the paperwork.” You CAN’T work-around when it comes to food and water… Yet those shelves are full…
Split and stacked firewood. Wholesaler sent various magazines for resupply in a Fruit By The Foot box for discretion which I enjoy. Reviewed the food storage situation to see where any holes are, we have been rotating and adding some new items we have found enjoyment in. Work is work, nothing but people around biting their nails about the election. Inventoried parts for various gun platforms and such. Another day down, another beautiful sunset.
I also read an AP article saying ~10% of workers in US paper plants are out with COVID. It has cut into their production, along with the fears as the rate of cases and deaths has been rising. I think the lack of food in food banks is of greater concern. Hungry people are the basis of most revolutions. They are doing major pushes where I live to get those better stocked.
” think the lack of food in food banks is of greater concern. Hungry people are the basis of most revolutions. They are doing major pushes where I live to get those better stocked.”
–thanks for sharing that, that is useful info. One of the orgs I volunteer with asked for help handing out food this Sat. at a monthly distribution. They only have 200 boxes and expect it to be gone in a couple of hours. I’m not feeling well, or I’d go just to see the process and turnout.
Given that one of my good buddies is hitting his local for supplemental groceries, the problems are widespread. He says that they get totally random items. 40 pounds of frozen chicken nuggets. 8 gallons of milk. He’s breaking down bulk and sharing with his neighbors. Also making cheese. The POD he’s going to just hands out whatever they get, so he’s doing what he can to make it work.
nick
Last week my local to work (in a larger local city) was out of regular AP Flour again, but had the fancy stuff if you didn’t mind paying a bit more. Since I was just topping off my stash I passed. The same store had signs up limited sugar purchases. Dried cereal never really recovered here, they just adjusted the shelf spaces to make it look like it did. Peanut butter was only kinda recovered, but the shelves were never really as well stocked as they used to be, I expect that to be short again this week. Paper goods are definitely moving out.
Commander:
When it comes to panicking fools,
I really don’t know whether to laugh or cry!
Oh, wait – yes I do…
I should be “absolutely baffled” by all this, but I’m not. “When confused and in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout.” Or something.
Just how @*$%^& hard is it to add 5% to the cart each week? In 20 weeks you’ve doubled your stash, by year end you’ve added about 250%. Really concerned about the future? Then add 10% a week to get to 500% ahead in a year.
I just don’t get it.
@ceejay, that’s great, until they follow the sound of your gennie, or radio, or the smell of your cooking to your place and demand some of what you’ve got…
Everyone who takes any extra step is just a bit farther away from being part of the angry mob coming for you. We should be encouraging them, not mocking them. There are a LOT more of them, than there are of us, and no matter how many you shoot, who’s gonna put out that molotov fire while you’re shooting zombies?
n
Our local Wally’s TP has been fluctuating on which TP is actually stocked. Other things seems to be the same way. Fortunately, my Spouse has finally seen the light after the last mess. She gets a couple of repeated things each time she goes. Our supplies are setting much better. I do need another 5 gallon bucket or two for dehydrated food and long term staples. All is much better Commander Z.
I was out on Friday, shopping bigger stores out of my local area. I have a few consumables that I like that have been hard to get for the last 3-4 months, so I look for those. Our “warehouse” is in pretty good shape, I just kept topping off as we went along, filling the gaps in “A” when people were screaming about “B”.
BYW, why are people buying up all the long-term FD foods if they think this will be fixed in 6 months?
Currently selling off ammo I no longer shoot. And since there is only a limited supply around here, I’m doing well at shoring up our cash flow. After spending 20 years in the military, basically having to shoot up my ammo before a move, it was nice to be able to buy by the case once we bought out house. Never looked back.
I was talking about the current foolishness in politics with a friend. When he asked my who I though would win what, I invited him for coffee on Jan 25th and I’d tell him my “predictions”. Because at this point it really doesn’t matter.
Good on most items… a bit SOL on some of the mag hunt… but to be fair Mini-14 mags and current AR-10 mags are not the cheapest in normal times. Plenty of mags for the main rifles.
Dude….shoulda grabbed a pile of those Tapco Mini14 mags I suggested a while back. http://www.commanderzero.com/?p=6961
Didn’t know how much it was gonna cost to get them fixed by Ruger. The shipping alone was enough for a few mags. But yeup, should have jumped on that back then.
As an aside, have enough 10/22 mags from your group buys for four more rifles… might go that way instead… or a Charger PDW…
Got an email from CDNN last week, I think they had both those mag types on sale. You might check them out and see if they’ve still got what you want.
TP and paper towels are out in Northern Virginia. Everything else seems normal enough.
@Nick Flandrey –
Great point. It’s not a matter of having the last laugh.
The more people on the ready means more independent people, and thusly a better chance for any and all involved. Teach people how to pull their weight and make their own decisions.
Our former President Obama spoke a lot about a NEW NORMAL, and FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE. It’s here. Get used to it.
I was out today at Wallies and there were ample supplies of paper products. In our area of Michigan paper towels have been the object of shortages.
But today it was the usual Monday after weekend look to the store. Employees stocking after a normal weekend.