IrishTxAggie said:

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Boo Weekley said:

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I am not a supply-chain guy, but could the grocery store water shortages be a lagging result from the run on water last week after the water main bust?

Are people really panic-buying water over a virus in its infant stages?

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This is a big part of it. The water run happened last week after the boil notice before the Corona started putting everyone into panic mode in Houston.

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I didn't buy bottled water, but the water boil made me realize that I was probably not prepared enough for hurricane season which will follow coronavirus "season".

So, yesterday, on my Normal grocery trip, I made sure to stock up some nonperishable food and bought more frozen food as an extra buffer if for some reason I am unable to leave my home for 2 weeks due to a self-quarantine. My HEB was pretty well stocked except for bottled water and canned soups. I generally only eat perishable foods, so it was good to stock up on stuff that won't go bad.

I would hate to have to break quarantine just to buy food, or have someone deliver food to me and then be the idiot that spread the infection.

It's not just the water main break. People are in full freakout mode. I stopped into an HEB yesterday to grab groceries and, anecdotally, you can tell people are "stocking up" for the pandemic. Crap that usually never sells is sold out. They had zero white vinegar, very little bleach, and stocks of stuff like rice/beans/tuna were fairly depleted. Guy checking out behind me had a cart with about 8 cases of water in it. And the hand sanitizer section...well you can see that below.

I think some HEBs started rationing. I saw lots of signs at Bunker Hill limiting to say "4 total cases of water" and "3 things of hand sanitizer".

Grocery in my hood has bottled water pallets everywhere, but they limit it to 3 cases per transaction.

rangerdanger said:

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rilloaggie said:

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It's not just the water main break. People are in full freakout mode. I stopped into an HEB yesterday to grab groceries and, anecdotally, you can tell people are "stocking up" for the pandemic. Crap that usually never sells is sold out. They had zero white vinegar, very little bleach, and stocks of stuff like rice/beans/tuna were fairly depleted. Guy checking out behind me had a cart with about 8 cases of water in it. And the hand sanitizer section...well you can see that below.

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Hope those hand soaps on the left were just stocked. You know your business is in trouble when people still don't buy your **** outta fear like they did the other guys.

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I saw the same thing at HEB yesterday. Its easy to tell which ones aren't labeled "antibacterial"

Open tweet.
Read replies.
Die of laughter before you get Corona Virus.

My favorite:

Just got back to the Tine from Seattle. The news there was going nuts over the local cases there.

Amazon and Microsoft are having folks work at home over the next several weeks.

SXSW is cancelled

That was one of the concerns I had about Rodeo. All of the secondary market ticket sales that would have to be refunded. Not just from ticket sites but person to person too.

Good luck on the P2P refunds if it gets to that point. I don't think Rodeo will be cancelled. SXSW was due to be attended by everyone in the hotspots on the West Coast before the cancellations came in. SXSW would've kept the show going if all the big names didn't pull out. This wasn't about safety to them. It was about all the money they lost coming in

2 more in Ft. Bend that went on that Egypt tour.

First deaths in US outside of the Pacific NW.

Ag_07 said:

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I really don't get the water run. Do people expect their faucets won't be working?

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I don't know but was talking tonight to a neighbor who manages a large box store and it's ridiculous. They're getting three shipments a day and can't keep the shelves stocked. Can't keep hand sanitizer stocked either.

Body By Fisher said:

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Ag_07 said:

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I really don't get the water run. Do people expect their faucets won't be working?

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I don't know but was talking tonight to a neighbor who manages a large box store and it's ridiculous. They're getting three shipments a day and can't keep the shelves stocked. Can't keep hand sanitizer stocked either.

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I kinda get hand sanitizer, but toilet paper is by far the strangest thing that is getting bought up. I went to pick up a few things from Kroger in Cinco Ranch on my home from work today and this was the TP aisle....

The run on ass paper didn't make any sense to me either until a coworker had a theory. People are buying up TP in case they have to be quarantined for 14 days.

Silky Johnston said:

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The run on ass paper didn't make any sense to me either until a coworker had a theory. People are buying up TP in case they have to be quarantined for 14 days.

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Instacart exists... no personal contact is required for that.

It kinda sucks for people who need stuff for their regular uses, like working outdoors or construction. While I was talking to my friend for a couple minutes, 3 different people came up asking him where the hand sanitizer is (and I normally never even see him out in the store). All he could tell them was to check back tomorrow because they're getting shipments throughout the day but he doesn't know when they're coming. One girl calmly said "OK, it's just something I need...it's not for...you know..."

We can get all that crap delivered, but not everyone has Amazon Prime or whatever and are just trying to make their regular store runs. Has been a tremendous boost to sales numbers, though.

Amazon is sold out of hand sanitizer too.

Silky Johnston said:

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The run on ass paper didn't make any sense to me either until a coworker had a theory. People are buying up TP in case they have to be quarantined for 14 days.

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I thought it was obvious that was the reason.

get things you need in case you can't leave the house for 14 days

I will just Amazon prime a bidet if I get locked up for two weeks. And, I believe HEB will deliver beer now. Bring it on corona.

Total Wine in The Heights has delivery. I e gone entire weekends without leaving my house except to walk the dog.

BMX Bandit said:

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Silky Johnston said:

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The run on ass paper didn't make any sense to me either until a coworker had a theory. People are buying up TP in case they have to be quarantined for 14 days.

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I thought it was obvious that was the reason.

get things you need in case you can't leave the house for 14 days

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Right but does internet or phones stop working?

Dp

Mikeyshooter said:

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BMX Bandit said:

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Silky Johnston said:

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The run on ass paper didn't make any sense to me either until a coworker had a theory. People are buying up TP in case they have to be quarantined for 14 days.

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I thought it was obvious that was the reason.

get things you need in case you can't leave the house for 14 days

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Right but does internet or phones stop working?

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My internet and cable was down yesterday morning for about an hour as I was getting ready for work. Can't imagine 2 weeks of that.

We would probably have a population surge to replace all the ones we lose though.

So I already have my first employee ask in front of everyone. "So, Amazon and Microsoft are having their people work from home. Are we?"

I said if you feel like you have the Coronavirus then you go ahead and stay home.

Then I see Frito and another big company in Plano are doing the same?

Mikeyshooter said:

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BMX Bandit said:

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Silky Johnston said:

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The run on ass paper didn't make any sense to me either until a coworker had a theory. People are buying up TP in case they have to be quarantined for 14 days.

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I thought it was obvious that was the reason.

get things you need in case you can't leave the house for 14 days

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Right but does internet or phones stop working?

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of course not.

but the reason people are stocking up on TP shouldn't be a mystery.

despite that most of us and most we know using internet delivery regularly, many many people don't.