Why is everyone buying TP

[AAM2012]

www.cnn.com/2020/03/09/health/toilet-paper-shortages-novel-coronavirus-trnd/index.html


For those here who are hoarding TP...

[alleinesein]

We actually did need paper towels this weekend and it sucked that Costco was out. We are good on TP for now but if the TP hoarding is still going on in a few weeks when we need to restock, I will shank someone if I cant find it.

I can think of better things to hoard than TP; if I am going to be stuck in my house for 2-3 weeks, I am getting a big ass chocolate cake at Costco and lots of booze.

[suburbanzookeeper]

Our grocery stores, Costco, Sams, and Target are out of TP. I actually NEED it (I have Crohns disease, good TP is important). My Amazon order was canceled.

[expatjen]

I grew up in Hawaii and it’s the norm to buy TP when any sort of emergency is upon us (hurricane season, shipping company woes, etc) and my grandma always had 3-4 Costco size bags of TP stored behind her bedroom door.
But, now that I live in india, where TP is not the norm and I’m used to using a bum-washer in the toilet, I find it funny how TP is such a hot commodity. One uses a lot less TP if you first spray with water.

We actually installed Toto-like bum washing seats at our condo in Hawaii and at my parents house, too. My sister purchased a spray attachment at Home Depot for her toilets and it’s worked out well for them.

[sonrisa]

Honestly? Because I knew this would happen.

Back when Italy first quarantined a city, I realized we had one extra roll left in the house. So I bought a 14 day supply that I'm not letting dip below 5-7 days worth except as shortages require. (Not a full Costco size pack, but still larger than a six pack)

I knew when the panic hit, some supplies would be gone and I'm not willing to go without TP. 

[hamster]

Now the problem is that you can't buy a normal person amount of TP, so if you find it, non preppers are going to start stockpiling because who knows when you will find more.

[redredwine]

Mar 10, 2020 4:59:36 GMT -5 hamster said:

Now the problem is that you can't buy a normal person amount of TP, so if you find it, non preppers are going to start stockpiling because who knows when you will find more.

This is my problem - we didn't stock up (because HI it's not a snow storm, which paralyzes our city) but now we're out. Luckily our neighbor manages a costco and said he'll make sure we get some if we need it (he has more than enough, but he always has) 

[Patsy Baloney]

So, I have a contact allergy to bleached sanitary products - TP, pads, etc.

In our house, there's the normal, soft, white TP for guests and those residents without the temperamental bits, and then there's the unbleached, scratchy, mean TP for the less-fortunate among us. They make fun of me and call it sandpaper, but it's better than a wildfire reaction situation. I'm only 1 person, and the unbleached stuff comes in a case of, like, 60 rolls.

I'm imagining a long-term quarantine scenario where I become their queen due to my overabundance of sandpaper and there is no fluffy white stuff left.

[pugz]

I think sometimes people don't know WHAT to do to prepare so they default to things like TP and water. Makes them feel better even though it's not really smart

[rubytue]

Mar 10, 2020 15:09:04 GMT -5 Patsy Baloney said:

So, I have a contact allergy to bleached sanitary products - TP, pads, etc.

In our house, there's the normal, soft, white TP for guests and those residents without the temperamental bits, and then there's the unbleached, scratchy, mean TP for the less-fortunate among us. They make fun of me and call it sandpaper, but it's better than a wildfire reaction situation. I'm only 1 person, and the unbleached stuff comes in a case of, like, 60 rolls.

I'm imagining a long-term quarantine scenario where I become their queen due to my overabundance of sandpaper and there is no fluffy white stuff left.

I went by the TP aisle at Costco over the weekend, out of curiosity. There were only two tps. Scott and Charmin. I grew up with Scott. i went ahead and picked up the pack of charmin, as we were running low at home. 

One thing I've learned since we started shopping at Costco more. You get so use to always having some in the basement (or wherever), that when you actually run out, it’s really weird.

[eddy]

We always buy the big thing at Costco. It is more cost effective and then we don't have to worry about running out. I am happy we bought it in February so I wouldn't be judge lol.

[goldengirlz]

Many people I talk to here are using this as an excuse to prepare for any emergency, ever. Like people are realizing just how under-prepared they are for things like earthquakes, which are an ever-present risk.

So I do think it’s also created some level of awareness around just general preparedness.

And then panic buying begets panic buying. Like we bought a 12-pack of TP after the first community-spread case, which was local(ish) to us. I saw the writing on the wall. That should be more than fine EXCEPT I feel like we should buy more because otherwise we might not be able to when we need it. It’s craziness.

[isabel]

Mar 10, 2020 15:38:03 GMT -5 eddy said:

We always buy the big thing at Costco. It is more cost effective and then we don't have to worry about running out. I am happy we bought it in February so I wouldn't be judge lol.

I had a credit from Grove and decided to try their bamboo paper (which is more environmentally friendly than standard TP and is packed without any plastic), so I bought like 4 big boxes of it a couple of months ago. Given I'm the only woman in my house, it is going to take us probably 6+ months to get through this stuff. We good. But, like you, I am silently pleased that I don't have to buy toilet paper so I won't be judged.

[pixy0stix]

Mar 10, 2020 2:10:35 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Honestly? Because I knew this would happen.

Back when Italy first quarantined a city, I realized we had one extra roll left in the house. So I bought a 14 day supply that I'm not letting dip below 5-7 days worth except as shortages require. (Not a full Costco size pack, but still larger than a six pack)

I knew when the panic hit, some supplies would be gone and I'm not willing to go without TP. 

This is where I am. I saw what was happening in other places in the world, and know how the basic person acts here with a minor snowstorm... and stocked up early.

[taratru]

Stocking up because other people are stocking up is just...not logical to me.

In the meantime, like normal people who just buy a big package every couple of months, we are going to run out. I mean, even if you are locked in your house for 2 full weeks, how much damn TP does one family need?!?!

[pixy0stix]

I want to clarify that by "stocked up" I just got one extra big thing of toilet paper. If we run out, I think I'm one of the handful on the board that would be perfectly fine with family cloth. So there's that.

[sonrisa]

Mar 10, 2020 16:19:09 GMT -5 taratru said:

Stocking up because other people are stocking up is just...not logical to me.

In the meantime, like normal people who just buy a big package every couple of months, we are going to run out. I mean, even if you are locked in your house for 2 full weeks, how much damn TP does one family need?!?!

I think you are imagining people buying 60 or 80 rolls at a time. It doesn't take that for the stores to run out. Just everyone making sure they have an extra 6 to 10 rolls on hand.

Expecting and being prepared for that may seem illogical to you. 

[InBetweenDays]

We always buy our TP at Costco so we bought it a few weeks ago like we normally would. I will say I went to the grocery store today and there was plenty of TP on the shelves.

[CloudBee]

I'm just coming in here to say that this epidemic is what finally prompted me to break down and order period underwear.

[pixy0stix]

Yes! Everyone needs to get a bidet attachment.

[bears]

Mar 10, 2020 18:03:07 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Yes! Everyone needs to get a bidet attachment.

Can you please send out the link to the one you bought? I was very impressed with toilets in Japan and would like to recreate that magic at home.

[pixy0stix]

Mar 10, 2020 18:11:35 GMT -5 bears said:

Mar 10, 2020 18:03:07 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Yes! Everyone needs to get a bidet attachment.

Can you please send out the link to the one you bought? I was very impressed with toilets in Japan and would like to recreate that magic at home.

www.amazon.com/Luxe-Bidet-Neo-120-Non-Electric/dp/B00A0RHSJO/ref=sr_1_2

It doesn't have warm water, but it's fantastic.

[mbcdefg]

This is what made me realize that a Simpsons Meme account I follow on Instagram must be based in Australia, because every single meme for about two weeks has been about toilet paper.

I bought a big pack at Costco a couple weeks ago, but that’s what I normally buy anyway so that I can buy it less frequently. It just happened to be around the same time we were down to our last couple rolls. They were completely sold out of my usual Kirkland brand so I bought Scott instead.

[BlondeSpiders]

Mar 10, 2020 17:46:12 GMT -5 Catlawdy said:

Mar 10, 2020 15:09:04 GMT -5 Patsy Baloney said:

So, I have a contact allergy to bleached sanitary products - TP, pads, etc.

In our house, there's the normal, soft, white TP for guests and those residents without the temperamental bits, and then there's the unbleached, scratchy, mean TP for the less-fortunate among us. They make fun of me and call it sandpaper, but it's better than a wildfire reaction situation. I'm only 1 person, and the unbleached stuff comes in a case of, like, 60 rolls.

I'm imagining a long-term quarantine scenario where I become their queen due to my overabundance of sandpaper and there is no fluffy white stuff left.

I have a bidet attachment. Around 30 bucks on Amazon, and amazing.

We bought a fancy seat that dries, warms, and has front wash as well as rear wash. We've cut down so much on TP, and stopped using flushable (we never flushed them) wipes. That front wash really comes in handy during shark week.

ETA: www.lowes.com/pd/Brondell-Swash-CL510-Plastic-Round-Slow-Close-Heated-Bidet-Toilet-Seat/1000316905

[spindle92]

Mar 10, 2020 17:36:49 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Mar 10, 2020 16:19:09 GMT -5 taratru said:

Stocking up because other people are stocking up is just...not logical to me.

In the meantime, like normal people who just buy a big package every couple of months, we are going to run out. I mean, even if you are locked in your house for 2 full weeks, how much damn TP does one family need?!?!

I think you are imagining people buying 60 or 80 rolls at a time. It doesn't take that for the stores to run out. Just everyone making sure they have an extra 6 to 10 rolls on hand.

Expecting and being prepared for that may seem illogical to you. 

Up until yesterday, people were buying cart fulls of TP at my stores.

Our Corporate office finally issued a limit. 

[sonrisa]

Mar 10, 2020 19:07:52 GMT -5 spindle92 said:

Mar 10, 2020 17:36:49 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

I think you are imagining people buying 60 or 80 rolls at a time. It doesn't take that for the stores to run out. Just everyone making sure they have an extra 6 to 10 rolls on hand.

Expecting and being prepared for that may seem illogical to you. 

Up until yesterday, people were buying cart fulls of TP at my stores.

Our Corporate office finally issued a limit. 

I guess my neighbors are less crazy than I thought because I haven't seen that here

[taratru]

Mar 10, 2020 17:36:49 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Mar 10, 2020 16:19:09 GMT -5 taratru said:

Stocking up because other people are stocking up is just...not logical to me.

In the meantime, like normal people who just buy a big package every couple of months, we are going to run out. I mean, even if you are locked in your house for 2 full weeks, how much damn TP does one family need?!?!

I think you are imagining people buying 60 or 80 rolls at a time. It doesn't take that for the stores to run out. Just everyone making sure they have an extra 6 to 10 rolls on hand.

Expecting and being prepared for that may seem illogical to you. 

I'm not imagining it. Its happening, which is why it doesnt make sense to me.

[UMaineTeach]

Walmart was nearly out of TP today

A few bottles of bleach left.

I didn’t have time to go to many departments, so that’s about all I know of.

[basilosaurus]

Mar 10, 2020 17:27:44 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

I want to clarify that by "stocked up" I just got one extra big thing of toilet paper. If we run out, I think I'm one of the handful on the board that would be perfectly fine with family cloth. So there's that.

Like expatjen, I also have a bum gun; they're ubiquitous in this part of the world. I'd totally be fine with family cloth. I've even used one when I was too lazy to walk literally across the (busy PITA dangerous) street to 7-11 to buy a roll. 

[Patsy Baloney]

Mar 10, 2020 18:53:58 GMT -5 BlondeSpiders said:

Mar 10, 2020 17:46:12 GMT -5 Catlawdy said:

I have a bidet attachment. Around 30 bucks on Amazon, and amazing.

We bought a fancy seat that dries, warms, and has front wash as well as rear wash. We've cut down so much on TP, and stopped using flushable (we never flushed them) wipes. That front wash really comes in handy during shark week.

ETA: www.lowes.com/pd/Brondell-Swash-CL510-Plastic-Round-Slow-Close-Heated-Bidet-Toilet-Seat/1000316905

I clicked on this link almost 24 hours ago and cannot get this toilet seat out of my mind. It is basically a car wash for my undercarriage. 

I'm going to put this on my Christmas list this year and see what happens