At what point did you / will you take the coronavirus epidemic seriously?

[Eddie]

My wife sent me a photo today of some jerk in the Costco lot with an entire pickup full of bottled water. And cases of baby wipes. What is wrong with people?

I've got a neighbor who posted to Facebook yesterday that if people are going to buy stockpiles of water, toilet paper, etc from Costco, they need to have the decency to use it or donate it to a good cause instead of just returning it in 6 months when they no longer need it and leaving Costco with a bunch of stuff that they can't sell due to an overabundance and/or some of it coming up on its expiration date.

Initially I just laughed, until a Costco employee friend of his came on and mentioned that it's pretty common for people to pick up stuff there and return it either used or after it's expired. She mentioned stuff for weddings in particular - people picking up outdoor lighting or popup tents, using them for the weekend, and returning them when they're done. What is wrong with these people?

[Jeff Lebowski]

I've got a neighbor who posted to Facebook yesterday that if people are going to buy stockpiles of water, toilet paper, etc from Costco, they need to have the decency to use it or donate it to a good cause instead of just returning it in 6 months when they no longer need it and leaving Costco with a bunch of stuff that they can't sell due to an overabundance and/or some of it coming up on its expiration date.

Initially I just laughed, until a Costco employee friend of his came on and mentioned that it's pretty common for people to pick up stuff there and return it either used or after it's expired. She mentioned stuff for weddings in particular - people picking up outdoor lighting or popup tents, using them for the weekend, and returning them when they're done. What is wrong with these people?

Yeah, if someone is a big enough jerk to hoard like that, they are very likely shameless enough to return it later. smdh.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Costco needs to tell these assholes they're no longer accepting returns on baby wipes, toilet paper or bottled water. It seems like when I still had kids in diapers, a single box of those baby wipes would last for months.

There are people who actually presently NEED baby wipes because they're a pack away from running out, just like there are people that need TP because they only have one six pack of the Costco stuff left in the house. These idiots are buying multi-year supplies of the stuff for no good reason.

[Bo Diddley]

California plates.

[BigFatMeanie]

I can see why someone would want to have bottled water in the event of an earthquake or tornado or something that would threaten the water supply, but why do people think they need bottled water for a virus? Does the virus really have a chance of affecting the water supply?

[Jeff Lebowski]

I can see why someone would want to have bottled water in the event of an earthquake or tornado or something that would threaten the water supply, but why do people think they need bottled water for a virus? Does the virus really have a chance of affecting the water supply?

My wife was talking to a worker at Macey's who was telling her stories about the hoarders. He said he asks people why they are buying bottled water and they say, "If everybody has to stay home then there won't be anyone to work at the water treatment plants so the water supply will be cut off."

Idiots.

[myboynoah]

My wife was talking to a worker at Macey's who was telling her stories about the hoarders. He said he asks people why they are buying bottled water and they say, "If everybody has to stay home then there won't be anyone to work at the water treatment plants so the water supply will be cut off."

Idiots.

Yeah, that will not happen. Life will go on.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Yeah, that will not happen. Life will go on.

Honestly, I think people are buying water, TP, etc. because they see other people doing it. We are experiencing mass hysteria.

[myboynoah]

It would help if the governments, federal, state, and local, would come out with some clear guidelines and suggestions on how to proceed. Korea has done that.

Speak against the hysteria, but publicize clear, reasonable precautions people should take. The U.S. may not be there yet, but recommendations like limiting gatherings and in-person meetings, no handshaking, stay home if you are sick, wash your damn hands often, etc. No need to hoard stuff. Stores will remain open.

Also, they need to set up some clear testing protocols for people to follow if they think they have COVID-19. Establish centers to which people can come.

Korea IMO has been a model on how to manage this situation. There is certainly some disruption for a few months, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

But lack of clear guidance leaves people to their own imaginations.

[PaloAltoCougar]

California plates.

Yeah, sorry, but they were all out of the stuff in the Bay Area so I had no choice.


Actually, I'm not sure what would be more unlikely: me stockpiling baby wipes and toilet paper or me owning a pickup truck.

[Bo Diddley]

Yeah, sorry, but they were all out of the stuff in the Bay Area so I had no choice.


Actually, I'm not sure what would be more unlikely: me stockpiling baby wipes and toilet paper or me owning a pickup truck.

I would not be surprised to learn that people are actually driving that far for supplies.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

At the Albertsons a few hundred yards from the Costco, they had plenty of toilet paper.

[myboynoah]

At the Albertsons a few hundred yards from the Costco, they had plenty of toilet paper.

That's only for amateur doomsday preppers.

[Uncle Ted]

I would not be surprised to learn that people are actually driving that far for supplies.

Yeah, when they can just order the stuff off Amazon...

$400 for Purell? U.S. lawmaker urges Amazon to tamp down price gouging
[...]
A box of small Purell bottles that usually sells for $10 was listed online for $400, he said. One third-party seller listed a bottle for $600 on Wednesday afternoon.
[...]

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-amazon-com/400-for-purell-u-s-lawmaker-urges-amazon-to-tamp-down-price-gouging-idUSKBN20R384

[LiveCoug]

My local San Antonio Costco was cleaned out of TP and water bottles. So crazy.

Also, they accidentally released a positive coronavirus patient into the wild her in town a couple of days ago. She went straight to the mall and spent 2 hours in the food court. They had to shut down the mall for 24 hours to disinfect the whole place.

Madness.