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A Voyage To The Market

mark christianmark christian Member Posts: 24,443 ✭✭✭✭
edited March 2020 in General Discussion
I had sufficient supplies, but I've been in the house for several days, but felt the need to get outside of our gated committee gate and decided to go to Aldi's.

The first thing I noticed was the complete lack of local traffic. I caught a glance at I-4 and saw that traffic was moving at speed; something which never happens during the day. It would have been a great day to get on the freeway...if there was anywhere to go. The parking lot at Aldi's seemed a bit more crowded than was usual for 1115. I found a parking space, put on disposable plastic gloves, grabbed a shopping cart, and began my shopping odyssey. The store was more crowded than normal, but not ridiculously so. Several people were wearing masks, and many more were wearing gloves; as was I.

There was plenty of fresh produce, so I grabbed some Lettuce and the makings for a green salad. There was some good looking asparagus and avocados (ripe), so I snapped some of them up. There was plenty of bread, as well as ample cookies, chips, and other snack foods. Although I didn't need paper products, I looked for toilet paper and there was none, just a big empty spot of the floor where two pallets of TP should have been. No paper towels either. There was a decent amount of liquid hand soap (limit of one bottle per customer), but no hand sanitizer, at least none that I saw. There was almost no bottle water except for Fiji "natural water". I've never seen artificial water, so isn't all water natural?. At a buck a bottle, I'll drink the swill from the tap. 

There was plenty of lunch meat and cheese, so I grabbed the makings for a week or two's worth of sandwiches. The meat section had been hit hard, especially the chicken, which is my favorite. The only chicken available were packages of legs, but I like drumsticks so I was good to go. There were a few packages of salmon filets remaining, so I took one. The beef was gone, except for chuck roasts. I don't each much beef, so I passed. There was plenty of pork. I guess there must be a lot more Jews, Muslims and Seventh Day Adventists in the area than I'd suspected! I grabbed some center cut chops and moved on.

There was no rice (again) and I'm running low. Frozen foods were decimated. I really wanted a pizza, but all that was left was vegetarian pizza. I'd have to get pretty hungry before I'll eat that! Plenty of eggs, with a limit of two dozen, so I grabbed a dozen. There seemed to be ample milk, but I don't drink it. All sorts of soda and plenty of beer, all with no limits, so I helped myself.

Three check out lanes were open, so the lines moved quickly. The cashier wasn't especially friendly, but I doubt I'd be in her situation. All and all, people were friendly and going about there business. I saw many instances of customers with full carts allowing those with two or three items to go ahead of them. The 6 foot social interval was complied with, at least as much as possible, but you can't keep that much distance between dozens of people in the narrow isles. All and all; not a bad experience, and I'm good for another 10 days. 

Comments

  • WarbirdsWarbirds Member Posts: 16,937 ✭✭✭✭

    Mark- if you need some TP or paper towels I can meet up and give you some.


    I havent bought any since all this started but do have those items on amazon subscription so I think I am fairly set. With my next shipment scheduled for 4/12.

  • BrookwoodBrookwood Member, Moderator Posts: 13,771 ******
    Mark, you could have bought yourself a couple of those veggy pizzas and doctored them up with meat and extra cheese!    It takes a bit of innovation to make things we like out of stuff we'd never buy otherwise.  

    I hit the seniors early AM supermarket yesterday. A very BIG crowd and it seemed busier than if I were to just have gone during regular hours.   Even though it was early with stock put out, a lot of things not available here. No eggs, chunk cheese, TP, PT, and only the bottom line hot dogs and lunch meat.  The stuff that sells for a buck a pound.  I wanted to stock up on my dogs favorite brand of dog good and bought the last 40 LB. bag of Purina One Lamb & Rice.  Was glad to get it!  Unfortunately, the cats favorite food was not there.  He is getting low so I bought something that I hope he will eat.  He is a very fussy cat!  Won't even eat people food, meat\fish of any kind!    


  • mark christianmark christian Member Posts: 24,443 ✭✭✭✭
    Brookwood said:
    Mark, you could have bought yourself a couple of those veggy pizzas and doctored them up with meat and extra cheese! 

    That is so obvious that I'm embarrassed not to have thought of it. Next trip I'll do it. 
  • Mr. PerfectMr. Perfect Member, Moderator Posts: 66,437 ******
    Mark, that is exactly the situation here. They have not one thing in stock of stuff I don't need, and plenty of what I am looking for, it seems. I always come out good anyway.

    Most of the stores around here have limited their hours. I'm not exactly sure what that accomplishes, but I guess it makes them feel like they're doing something. I suppose where employees would normally be exposed to folks for a few more hours than they would this way, their exposure is reduced?  I'm not entirely sure what difference two hours or so makes.
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    And fiery auto crashes
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    While sifting through my ashes
    Some will fall in love with life
    And drink it from a fountain
    That is pouring like an avalanche
    Coming down the mountain
  • BrookwoodBrookwood Member, Moderator Posts: 13,771 ******
    They have said the reduced store hours gives them more time for cleaning and disinfecting.  Hope they are doing a REAL good job with that!
  • GrasshopperGrasshopper Member Posts: 17,041 ✭✭✭✭
     My Kroger update, had bath tissue (a pallet), towels, no Germ X ect. Some meat, bread. Moderate traffic. 
  • mark christianmark christian Member Posts: 24,443 ✭✭✭✭

    Most of the stores around here have limited their hours. I'm not exactly sure what that accomplishes, but I guess it makes them feel like they're doing something. 
     I feel sorry for the workers in the stores who aren't paid much money to begin with, and have to put up with a lot of BS from customers, including those who feel that purchase limits don't apply to them because they are somehow "special".


  • Mr. PerfectMr. Perfect Member, Moderator Posts: 66,437 ******

    Most of the stores around here have limited their hours. I'm not exactly sure what that accomplishes, but I guess it makes them feel like they're doing something. 
     I feel sorry for the workers in the stores who aren't paid much money to begin with, and have to put up with a lot of BS from customers, including those who feel that purchase limits don't apply to them because they are somehow "special".



    Me too Mark. One of my daughters is working as a cashier at a local Safeway. She's says it's been really weird. The customers that act nuts are in the rare minority according to her.
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    And fiery auto crashes
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    While sifting through my ashes
    Some will fall in love with life
    And drink it from a fountain
    That is pouring like an avalanche
    Coming down the mountain
  • mogley98mogley98 Member Posts: 18,291 ✭✭✭✭
    I went by BJ's in Summerville SC and they had a wall of Charmin TP limit to one package each (32 rolls) I picked one up more out of impulse than anything else, the only thing they didn't have was spray Lysol and vitamin C all the other items looked very well stocked. Plenty of fresh meat, packages stuff Etc. I picked up a 12 pack of Albacore Tuna and a 8 pack of Baked Beans, didn't need either but I was there. Gas was 1.59 so I topped off.
    Why don't we go to school and work on the weekends and take the week off!
  • SCOUT5SCOUT5 Member Posts: 16,181 ✭✭✭✭
    This is funny, a bunch of old guys on a gun forum sharing grocery shopping experiences.  I got back from the grocery just a little bit ago.   Went for milk and orange juice but ended up with $156 worth of stuff.   I did get a 12 pack of beer and topped off the tank in my car, premium fuel for $1.73 after fuel points discount ahoooo.   Eggs were limited to three packages, I only got one but it was a five dozen family pack.  Bread was limited to three loaves and ice cream was in short supply.   No toilet paper, but face tissues were available.  Only two pound bags of flour, I got the last box of yellow corn meal.  

    People were polite and generally in a good mood.
  • hillbillehillbille Member Posts: 14,459 ✭✭✭✭
    couldn't find any frozen pizza the other day myself, went few aisles over and the shelf was full of the chef boardi??? pizza kit in a box, got 3 of them instead and big pack of pepperoni....
  • Butchdog2Butchdog2 Member Posts: 3,834 ✭✭✭✭
    Grocery stores around here are altering their schedules and opening earlier, say 7am and only letting seniors in for the first hour.
    Seems like everything that is open for business are closing at 8:30 pm.
    I drop in on about once a day around 10am just for entertainment. Most anything will show up on one day or another. But the rump dressing isle is a disaster. Groaner, speaking of a disaster, did you hear about the lady who walked backwards in to the running airplane propeller?
  • Locust ForkLocust Fork Member Posts: 32,080 ✭✭✭✭
    I've had to go out for supplies a couple times.      A couple weeks ago when this all started, we were out looking at lawn mowers and tried to do a quick stop by the grocery store on the way home.    The way everyone was darting around the store and seeing the shelves bare in a lot of places gave a slight hint at what was coming.     The second trip I made out I got as much as I could in an attempt to not have to go out again.    So, hopefully that will be the last time I have to go to the store until things get back to normal.......exactly when is that supposed to happen????     I never have understood what the long term plan is for this mess?
    LOCUST FORK CURRENT AUCTIONS: https://www.gunbroker.com/All/search?Sort=13&IncludeSellers=618902&PageSize=48 Listings added every Thursday! We do consignments, contact us at mckaygunsales@gmail.com
  • mark christianmark christian Member Posts: 24,443 ✭✭✭✭
    The long term plan seems to be that when people see that the shelves are full, they will feel confident and stop the panic buying. The problem is that as soon as people see that the shelves are full, their buying kicks up a notch! If it keeps up for months on end, even I'm going to run out of toilet paper and soap- along with a lot of other people who had a large supply of consumables on hand before the virus. 
  • MobuckMobuck Member Posts: 14,163 ✭✭✭✭
    I;ve only been to town once in over a week and that trip stopped at the John Deere store. No idea what's going on at Wallie or anywhere else.
  • susiesusie Member Posts: 7,675 ✭✭✭✭
    edited March 2020
    I haven't shopped at walmart since they took up their asinine stance on firearms.  Kroger and Harps typically for consumables and they have been out of TP for a bit.  Popped into Menards today for red coated heat lamp bulbs.  Have 18 chicks in my bathtub that need to vacate the premises.  I digress.  Menards had Charmin and Bounty.  Funny thing is that grocery stores are fully stocked with loads of fresh produce which is what we should all be consuming to boost our health.  I loaded up on green veggies and fresh fruits.  Outside chickens keep me in eggs an  freezer still has plenty of venison.  People were maintaining advised distance and no grumpy faces.
  • NeoBlackdogNeoBlackdog Member Posts: 17,275 ✭✭✭✭
    "I haven't shopped at walmart since they took up their asinine stance on firearms."
    Same here.   Hate that place. 
  • Toolman286Toolman286 Member Posts: 3,251 ✭✭✭✭
    I was speaking with a friend who is a cashier at a super market. She said that management is very appreciative that they are working. They are hiring more, partly to replace the seniors who can't come in due to high risk situations. She set a store record with a customer who spent $1,463.83, a lot of high end cuts of meat. A manager had to ok the sale. Customers are getting better, but she learned not to ask if they found everything they wanted. Most just want to know when the truck deliveries are, specially the TP. She can actually joke with a few and tells them, "they come in at different times, it's really a crap shoot.".
  • kannoneerkannoneer Member Posts: 3,402 ✭✭✭✭
    I concur about the frozen veggie pizzas. Who actually eats them like that? When they are half cooked, I yank them out of the oven and layer on meat and more cheese, and then maybe a little more meat. Eventually I end up with a pretty good pizza!
  • drobsdrobs Member Posts: 22,620 ✭✭✭✭
    Went to our local Cash Saver grocery store in town for a few things - milk, eggs, distilled water.
    They had limit 1 on just about everything. Eggs, milk, water, cleaning supplies. They were out of TP.
    Went to get a gallon of milk and all they had was 2%. The Horror!

    Told the older lady working the Cash Register that I'd check Dollar General across the street for Whole Milk. She said, DG gets their milk from the same delivery and they're probably out too. I grabbed a 2% gallon.

    Went over to Dollar General for Ice Cream - and they still had Whole Milk. Oh well - I'll use 2% for my cereal. It's better than any of the boxed long shelf life milk I had overseas for the last 10 years.

  • Horse Plains DrifterHorse Plains Drifter Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 40,239 ***** Forums Admin
    "I haven't shopped at walmart since they took up their asinine stance on firearms."
    Same here.   Hate that place. 
    Yep, same here. I have went into Walmart about three times in the last 10-12 years. I do not like how they treat their employees, and do not like their stance on firearms, no their firearm sales procedure. 
  • spasmcreeksrunspasmcreeksrun Member Posts: 1,755 ✭✭✭
    wife went in to early senior hour at grocery and dollar general...NO bread  or TP products.....only 2 or more in the store when when was there......she wiped all down before into our house......the curve is rising here in kansas and if i get it with my recent med issues i am toast......
  • Grunt2Grunt2 Member Posts: 2,524 ✭✭✭✭
    Walmart is 100 miles away ...We live in a very small community with two ma and pa grocery stores and a Dollar store...The problem here is folks are coming from out of state and buying everything up...We are well stocked so no problem...
    Retired LEO
    Combat Vet VN
    D.A.V Life Member
  • Mr. PerfectMr. Perfect Member, Moderator Posts: 66,437 ******
    The long term plan seems to be that when people see that the shelves are full, they will feel confident and stop the panic buying. The problem is that as soon as people see that the shelves are full, their buying kicks up a notch! If it keeps up for months on end, even I'm going to run out of toilet paper and soap- along with a lot of other people who had a large supply of consumables on hand before the virus. 

    Mark, that's when being armed comes in handy. ;)
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    And fiery auto crashes
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    While sifting through my ashes
    Some will fall in love with life
    And drink it from a fountain
    That is pouring like an avalanche
    Coming down the mountain
  • pulsarncpulsarnc Member Posts: 6,559 ✭✭✭✭

    Did a grocery run yesterday . We have a food lion and a Walmart grocery within 4 miles of the house . No toilet paper either place . Sandwich meats were slim as were supplies of bread and chicken and pork and soup . Did manage to get most of what I was looking for . Will do another run tonight or Friday .

    cry Havoc and let slip  the dogs of war..... 
  • yoshmysteryoshmyster Member Posts: 22,059 ✭✭✭✭
    Last week Safeway had placed an ad for C&H 10 pound sugar for $5.99 none to be had. Checked two stores couple times and no joy. Not that I go through much but it was at good price than 4 pound bags and I learnt how to make Agua Fresca Jamaica. Regular white sugar is the way. So this week I went in looking for whole Foster Farms chicken at .88 cents a pound. Nope. I'm kind a at why bother looking at the sales ad other than keeping them for emergency toilet paper. They're still printed on regular pulp unlike the Mexican store's slicks.
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