The great toilet paper shortage of 2020 - one year later

[ScottyP]

I had some discussions with my co-workers yesterday that one year ago, we began to have issues trying to get toilet paper. I remember getting low on supply and the stores were completely wiped out (pun intented). It is crazy to think that when this pandemic started, toilet paper was going to be in such high demand.

 

[jsb]

Hell it’s just in the last few months that I’ve been able to find my preferred brand in the packaging I want.

And I still don’t constantly find Clorox wipes.

 

[Clonefan32]

I had some discussions with my co-workers yesterday that one year ago, we began to have issues trying to get toilet paper. I remember getting low on supply and the stores were completely wiped out (pun intented). It is crazy to think that when this pandemic started, toilet paper was going to be in such high demand.

What's more crazy is to think about how long ago that feels, at least to me. I was thinking about sitting down and watching Tiger King at the very beginning of all this and my goodness that feels like a long time ago.

 

[matclone]

I had some discussions with my co-workers yesterday that one year ago, we began to have issues trying to get toilet paper. I remember getting low on supply and the stores were completely wiped out (pun intented). It is crazy to think that when this pandemic started, toilet paper was going to be in such high demand.

I'm not sure this is a tissue worth discussing.

 

[CtownCyclone]

Last year in mid-February, a co-worker mentioned that they were rationing toilet paper in Hawaii or some such place. At lunch that day, I went to Costco and grabbed 2 packages of toilet paper and paper towels.

Looked like a genius move on my part!

 

[cmjh10]

And just think, there are how many ******** (pun intended) that havent bought any on a year because they loaded up back then.

 

[Cycsk]

I love American ingenuity.

 

[VeloClone]

I never really worry about TP at our house even when things like this happen. Mrs. Velo always has two giant cases of TP in our house. When we start to get low on one of them she resupplies. I'm talking about the Costco 30 roll cases. This was how she operated long before the pandemic.

When the zombie apocalypse comes our asses will be covered.

 

[oldman]

I've been stocking up on TP and PT for several years now. We had 225 rolls of TP in the laundry room when the shortage started.

 

[MeanDean]

I never really worry about TP at our house even when things like this happen. Mrs. Velo always has two giant cases of TP in our house. When we start to get low on one of them she resupplies. I'm talking about the Costco 24 roll cases. This was how she operated long before the pandemic.

When the zombie apocalypse comes our asses will be covered.

I also have a sort of unreasonable quest to keep more than adequate supply of toilet tissue in the house. I mean it's not like it's going to spoil - I have yet to see an expiration or best if used by date on the packaging.

I had actually started backing down on my habit a year or two before this. But like someone else, I had heard rumblings of toilet paper shortages on the East coast so while at the store a week or so before the unwiped **** hit the fan, I picked up a small bale of my favorite variety.

When that ran out I had a connection at the local Publix and was able to get a couple 8 packs to get through the crack crisis.

 

[JP4CY]

Hell it’s just in the last few months that I’ve been able to find my preferred brand in the packaging I want.

And I still don’t constantly find Clorox wipes.

You can't find Clorox wipes? I've seen those pretty much everywhere now.

 

[CapnCy]

Hell it’s just in the last few months that I’ve been able to find my preferred brand in the packaging I want.

And I still don’t constantly find Clorox wipes.

Yeah, I was just sharing this was the first week that the isle truly was filled out as "normal." It was only probably about a month ago my preferred brand was available. Fascinating how the supply chain works, can be impacted, and then can stabilize.

It's wild, some places do have TONS of sanitizer...and it feels like i should swoop it up...but it's not as much of a commodity now, lol.

Somewhat related, but i was telling a colleague it will be fascinating to see data points in a couple years and the impact on other areas.....like seeing auto deaths, work place accidents/deaths, etc. and see how that data falls on a 5 years data table (meaning, overall impact of COVID beyond public health, etc).

 

[jsb]

Yeah, I was just sharing this was the first week that the isle truly was filled out as "normal." It was only probably about a month ago my preferred brand was available. Fascinating how the supply chain works, can be impacted, and then can stabilize.

It's wild, some places do have TONS of sanitizer...and it feels like i should swoop it up...but it's not as much of a commodity now, lol.

Somewhat related, but i was telling a colleague it will be fascinating to see data points in a couple years and the impact on other areas.....like seeing auto deaths, work place accidents/deaths, etc. and see how that data falls on a 5 years data table (meaning, overall impact of COVID beyond public health, etc).

My last two times at target dishwasher detergent has been low. So weird.

 

[jsb]

You can't find Clorox wipes? I've seen those pretty much everywhere now.

I don’t spend a lot of time shopping. I think I’ve been to target twice since January. Target had the weird sanitizing wipes this summer. But I just started noticing the target brand in last few times I’ve gone. And they were still limited.

 

[Isualum13]

When this whole thing was going on, I noticed most gas stations I would stop in had some in stock. Just the small sinle roll 4 packs and some individual rolls. Apparently noone thought to go to a gas station if they need toilet paper. Granted I live in a small town and the stations I would actually enter were mostly in small towns but the grocery stores and dollar generals were completely out. Also I checked the camping section at Walmart when everything was gone and there was some of the toilet paper made to break down faster on the shelf.

 

[cyfan92]

I can still see at least 6 Costco sized bundles of TP in my neighbors garage when his garage door opens. I could easily overpower him in the event we needed some. SO I'm holding off on stocking up

 

[AllInForISU]

I invested in a bidet when this happened, and since then only one of the kids sprayed themselves in the face by accident.

 

[Clonedogg]

Yeah, I was just sharing this was the first week that the isle truly was filled out as "normal." It was only probably about a month ago my preferred brand was available. Fascinating how the supply chain works, can be impacted, and then can stabilize.

It's wild, some places do have TONS of sanitizer...and it feels like i should swoop it up...but it's not as much of a commodity now, lol.

Somewhat related, but i was telling a colleague it will be fascinating to see data points in a couple years and the impact on other areas.....like seeing auto deaths, work place accidents/deaths, etc. and see how that data falls on a 5 years data table (meaning, overall impact of COVID beyond public health, etc).

I was reading something about this but from the opposite perspective. How many diseases will have missed the early detection window during the last year, because everyone was missing normal appointments. We'll see if that actually plays out.

 

[CapnCy]

I was reading something about this but from the opposite perspective. How many diseases will have missed the early detection window during the last year, because everyone was missing normal appointments. We'll see if that actually plays out.

Oh, for sure.....i remember hearing about that too....especially in the early time folks not going to ER with health issues out of fear of COVID, etc.

 

[Mr Janny]

My wife already was a toilet paper hoarder before the pandemic, so we had plenty through the initial shortage. Then, as supply became more consistent, she went full tilt. I don't want to share exactly how much she's stockpiled, because frankly it's kind of embarrassing. Suffice to say, we will not be running out any time soon.