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26 Photos Of Americans Panic Buying Things That Got Others Confused About What They Were Thinking
People are emptying shelves as fears grow over the spread of coronavirus. However, many buy more than they need, leaving others without everyday essentials.
And while retailers are asking the public to support each other and make sure everyone can get access to the products they need, their pleas remain largely unheard. Over the past few weeks, sales of rice in America have increased more than 50 percent, canned meat is up more than 40 percent, while sales of beans, pasta, peanut butter, and bottled water have also risen substantially.
So while some are stockpiling on gallons and gallons of milk, hundreds of condoms, entire carts of toilet paper, and pretty much everything else you can imagine, those who are too late to get these goods are taking photos of the panic buyers and uploading the images on the Internet, questioning whether they're really making the best shopping decisions.
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Personal finance expert John Herington said that the coronavirus outbreak is going to be especially hard for people who may lose their income during it. "I would highly recommend the people whose incomes are affected to really cut down on their spending and sacrifice a lot during this time," Herington told Bored Panda. The tricky part is that we can't be sure when things will go back to normal. "They really need to take a hard look at their budget, cut down on unnecessary spending, pick up side hustles, or sell stuff they don’t need to keep themselves afloat. It's a big mistake someone starts spending money they don’t have on things they don’t need."
According to a recent survey, the coronavirus has already significantly or somewhat impacted the purchase decisions of about fifty-four percent of millennials. For comparison, the same applies to 33% of baby boomers, 42% of Gen X, and 49% of Gen Z.
The same study also showed some differences between how men and women are responding to the crisis. For example, even though more women (71 percent) than men (60 percent) reported being “worried about the coronavirus,” nearly half of the men surveyed (47 percent) said it has impacted their purchase decisions, versus 41 percent of women. Furthermore, 38 percent of men agreed that it had also impacted where and how they shop compared to 33 percent of women.
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When asked about what products the respondents were purchasing more, a higher number of men reported buying more grocery products (22%), personal care items (14%), health and household products (13%) and beauty products (7%) compared to women, who are buying more in smaller numbers: grocery products (17%), personal care items and household products (13%), health (11%), and beauty products (6%).
However, guns and ammunition soar amid coronavirus panic buying, too. There have been reports of long lines and 'massive rush' at gun stores all across America. On the west coast, people were queueing up to stock up on deadly materials. For example, at the Martin B Retting gun shop in Culver City, California, the queues throughout the weekend were so long, they stretched around the block.
Larry Hyatt owns one of the largest gun shops in the country, Hyatt Guns in Charlotte, North Carolina. He said that the scenes of mass buying at his store were virtually unprecedented. “This is only the second time in my 61 years of business that we’ve seen anything like this,” he told The Guardian, clarifying that the first occasion was the aftermath of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school in 2012.
So there you have it, folks. We're safe. The Americans will shoot the coronavirus dead.
#6
Patrick McKemie 5 years ago
I bought mine during the Brittany Spears meltdown panic of 2007. Been prepared ever since.
#7
Steve Allday 5 years ago
Maybe over the top but "Lockdown" means no bins collected either.................. :/
#8
Tim Fischer 5 years ago
In my country (Austria) it wouldn´t be allowed to that many of an item (in general)
#9
#11
Patrick McKemie 5 years ago
That's just my Mom with her usual Tuesday groceries. We eat a lot of cereal.
Sinkvenice 5 years ago
If I remember correctly, I froze milk once and when I defrosted it, it was incredibly watery. I can't be sure though, so it either didn't happen, or the experience was so traumatising I blocked it out.
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Brenda Lawrence 5 years ago
What about the lady behind her Waiting in line with at least 4 jars of Olay Regenerist? What’s her plan?
The Girl on Fire 5 years ago
You can freeze milk. It tastes a little weird thawed, but it keeps alright.
Slytherin_blood 4 years ago
you can freeze it but is a pain if you don't let it melt all of the way
Leesa DeAndrea 5 years ago (edited)
You can freeze milk. I frequently do it with buttermilk. Keep it in the freezer & then put it in the fridge to thaw & place it back in the freezer when done with it.
Katherine Warren 5 years ago
Unless this woman is buying this for a business, she is going to be very angry when it all goes sour...
Patricia Brown 5 years ago
some folks by lots of milk for schools, nursing homes, halfway houses, group homes.
Steve Cruz 5 years ago
This photo was debunked: it was taken at Costco in Arvada, CO, and the woman was taking all of this to the food closet at the Denver Indian Center in West Denver.
Lorrie Finley 5 years ago
If you have teenage boys, it's easy to go through a gallon of milk in no time. Especially if feeding them 3 times a day plus snacks.
Mystery Egg 5 years ago
Could just put it in the freezer if you have one big enough. It freezes perfectly fine.
#12
Caleb Crotinger 5 years ago
Even if there's no lockdown, you still don't have to buy toilet paper the next 12 months... It's an investment!
#13
#14
Laura Maeflower 5 years ago
Other than buying a ton of toilet paper, what's wrong with buying rice?
#18
Becca Gizmo the Squirrel 5 years ago
When the tornadoes came through here in 2011 we didn't have electricity for a week. Corn dogs on the grill were a lifesaver.
#20
#22
Becca Gizmo the Squirrel 5 years ago (edited)
Never know. Maybe they are going to give one to each of their neighbors. My mom was at work the other day and called me to come get money from her to buy toilet paper for her house my house and my daughter's house. I had 3 12 packs but it was for 3 houses, 8 people.
#23
Kaspar Kristiansen 5 years ago
But there's plenty of ice? Where'd you see panic ice buying in this picture?
#24
Patrick McKemie 5 years ago
Day 3 of the Pandemic: I've drank 70 gallons of water and there's still no end in sight. Is it safe to pee now?
Add New Image
What do you think ?
ZombieGirl 5 years ago
All the stores in my area are out of water, but no one has touched water filters. We grabbed a filter for the faucet and one for the fridge like a pitcher, and grabbed a pack of 3 refill filters. People are acting like the water is going to suddenly become poisoned through all this. Maybe it will, who knows lol also...no toilet paper anywhere!!! BUT the shelves still have bidets you can attach to your toilet ;)
ZombieGirl 5 years ago
(like 30-40 bucks for that bidet...same price you are spending buying 5 huge packs of toilet paper)
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DKS 001 5 years ago
I am extremely frustrated about all this. All I've been wanting the past 2 weeks are what I need - I'm running out of trash bags, and I would like to get what i need to cook this week ... sometime in this life time. Damn horder pigs take everything so no one else can get what they need. All they said was "buy for 2 weeks, maybe 3" ... not YEARS!
Karen Johnston 5 years ago
I work at a water plant. We're not closing down. None of them are. So why buy bottled water? Idiots
Fairsher 5 years ago
Water is the very last thing on my mind. If need be fill bathtub and every empty container and use what's in the hot water tank cooled down. Lots of ways to get water. Not to mention where I live creeks and lakes are clean enough to drink.
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Randy van Veen 5 years ago
In the Netherlands, stores where you can buy weed got told to close down last Sunday, after 6 pm. You wouldn't want to see the queues as a result of this announcement!
Doug Kirk 5 years ago
Profiteering during crisis is about the lowest of the low. I sincerely hope when the dust settles every DA and Prosecutor in America prosecutes every single one of them to the fullest extent of the law.
Pretty Pangolin 5 years ago
Yes, it's down there with illegally taking a Handicapped spot, or breaking into a house while everybody's at a funeral. Bottom feeders.
Load More Replies... Ben Smith 5 years ago
I think people need to remember that while I’m sure some of these people are hoarders - or worse, resellers - many of these people are buying for family and friends that can’t leave their residences. I’m the case of milk especially, many of those gallons are being taken to daycares and other care facilities. As for people buying tons of frozen food and whatnot, they’re preparing to not leave their house for a month or more. For the most part, I don’t see the issue with these pictures.
Blarrg 5 years ago
Curious to me that the article is titled "Americans panic buying." When you look through the photos, there are several that clearly are not in the US. ("Tyre Centre" for example.) Certainly Americans are panic buying, and clearly it's going on elsewhere too. I just wonder why the title would specify that it's Americans.
Cassie 5 years ago
Some people are just buying what they usually buy and it looks like something else to others suddenly being hyper-vigilant about what people are buying. I buy for seven people once every two weeks. Normally, my shopping looks like a lot. Now people assume I'm panic buying. Some people have small businesses to run and always buy a lot of certain things. That's literally what the warehouse stores were designed for. Be careful how you judge people. It may not be what you think.
Spring Fisk 5 years ago
I saw a lady in Aldi with about 40 heads of lettuce in her cart. WHAT??
Geoffrey Holland 5 years ago
It may have been the only place she could find lettuce for her restaurant for all you know. There is usually a logical explanation for these things.
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Akula971 5 years ago
There are those that are prepared, those that think they are prepared and those that moan, whilst not being prepared. This virus was out of control in China in January, reported worldwide, and people didn't think it wouldn't spread? Cash will be useless, now how many sheets of double ply extra soft is that worth LOL. Lets hope it clears quick enough.
ivan bolitekurac 5 years ago
And then you have the a******s who must take pictures and share it online...Because,you know,people are panic buying and if it's not online,it didn't happen.
Sill Marien 5 years ago
Milk seems to be one of the themes here. So, how fast milk in gallons go bad? Cause I buy mine in boxes and it has months of best before to go
ZombieGirl 5 years ago
All the stores in my area are out of water, but no one has touched water filters. We grabbed a filter for the faucet and one for the fridge like a pitcher, and grabbed a pack of 3 refill filters. People are acting like the water is going to suddenly become poisoned through all this. Maybe it will, who knows lol also...no toilet paper anywhere!!! BUT the shelves still have bidets you can attach to your toilet ;)
ZombieGirl 5 years ago
(like 30-40 bucks for that bidet...same price you are spending buying 5 huge packs of toilet paper)
Load More Replies... DKS 001 5 years ago
I am extremely frustrated about all this. All I've been wanting the past 2 weeks are what I need - I'm running out of trash bags, and I would like to get what i need to cook this week ... sometime in this life time. Damn horder pigs take everything so no one else can get what they need. All they said was "buy for 2 weeks, maybe 3" ... not YEARS!
Karen Johnston 5 years ago
I work at a water plant. We're not closing down. None of them are. So why buy bottled water? Idiots
Fairsher 5 years ago
Water is the very last thing on my mind. If need be fill bathtub and every empty container and use what's in the hot water tank cooled down. Lots of ways to get water. Not to mention where I live creeks and lakes are clean enough to drink.
Load More Replies... Randy van Veen 5 years ago
In the Netherlands, stores where you can buy weed got told to close down last Sunday, after 6 pm. You wouldn't want to see the queues as a result of this announcement!
Doug Kirk 5 years ago
Profiteering during crisis is about the lowest of the low. I sincerely hope when the dust settles every DA and Prosecutor in America prosecutes every single one of them to the fullest extent of the law.
Pretty Pangolin 5 years ago
Yes, it's down there with illegally taking a Handicapped spot, or breaking into a house while everybody's at a funeral. Bottom feeders.
Load More Replies... Ben Smith 5 years ago
I think people need to remember that while I’m sure some of these people are hoarders - or worse, resellers - many of these people are buying for family and friends that can’t leave their residences. I’m the case of milk especially, many of those gallons are being taken to daycares and other care facilities. As for people buying tons of frozen food and whatnot, they’re preparing to not leave their house for a month or more. For the most part, I don’t see the issue with these pictures.
Blarrg 5 years ago
Curious to me that the article is titled "Americans panic buying." When you look through the photos, there are several that clearly are not in the US. ("Tyre Centre" for example.) Certainly Americans are panic buying, and clearly it's going on elsewhere too. I just wonder why the title would specify that it's Americans.
Cassie 5 years ago
Some people are just buying what they usually buy and it looks like something else to others suddenly being hyper-vigilant about what people are buying. I buy for seven people once every two weeks. Normally, my shopping looks like a lot. Now people assume I'm panic buying. Some people have small businesses to run and always buy a lot of certain things. That's literally what the warehouse stores were designed for. Be careful how you judge people. It may not be what you think.
Spring Fisk 5 years ago
I saw a lady in Aldi with about 40 heads of lettuce in her cart. WHAT??
Geoffrey Holland 5 years ago
It may have been the only place she could find lettuce for her restaurant for all you know. There is usually a logical explanation for these things.
Load More Replies... Akula971 5 years ago
There are those that are prepared, those that think they are prepared and those that moan, whilst not being prepared. This virus was out of control in China in January, reported worldwide, and people didn't think it wouldn't spread? Cash will be useless, now how many sheets of double ply extra soft is that worth LOL. Lets hope it clears quick enough.
ivan bolitekurac 5 years ago
And then you have the a******s who must take pictures and share it online...Because,you know,people are panic buying and if it's not online,it didn't happen.
Sill Marien 5 years ago
Milk seems to be one of the themes here. So, how fast milk in gallons go bad? Cause I buy mine in boxes and it has months of best before to go
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