4 ms·

This doesn’t explain why the effect is so obvious with toilet paper. I think it’s clear it was an irrational panic (the virus doesn’t make you shit yourself to

This doesn’t explain why the effect is so obvious with toilet paper. I think it’s clear it was an irrational panic (the virus doesn’t make you shit yourself to death) and is now a “it’s rare so I must buy some!” Which is keeping it out of stock. The same thing happened with 22lr ammo on 2015/2016. It made NO DAMN SENSE that people were stocking up on the weakest round you can buy, but it was out everywhere for years. Some idiots started a panic, then otherwise rational people were buying any amount or brand they saw at high prices because they didn’t want to be out.... it was extreme irrational self-caused situation, I see nothing but similarity here.

beart 7y ago
Wasn't this also partially driven by the military buying up a ton of ammo? I know they don't use 22, but I thought it put a lot of pressure on the suppliers.
- SlowRobotAhead 7y ago
  The US mil gets its ammo mostly from Lake City and Federal. The latter does make 22, but basically a separate company. It was election panic at first; the irrational buy-up. Everyone was out from European to Russian suppliers.
AnotherGoodName 7y ago
I think the cheapness is actually part of the reason certain things end up being targeted. You can spend a $100 on frozen meals at a supermarket and have 10 of them. They're a lot more practical for a 2 week quarantine but you're not going to make a dent in supermarket supply unless you're spending 1000's. So these things aren't targeted by hoarders. If you spent $100 on toilet paper however you've just wiped out a big chunk of the shelf stock. Others then see that the shelf is almost empty and you get a chain reaction.
FrojoS 7y ago
Part of the reason is apparently, that it is bulky, so industry tries to limit storage.
- SlowRobotAhead 7y ago
  Round for round there is nothing more compact than 22lr. Maybe you are right; but having worked at a range, we used to buy pallets at a time of it. The demand was definitely more than production supply.

beart 7y ago

Wasn't this also partially driven by the military buying up a ton of ammo? I know they don't use 22, but I thought it put a lot of pressure on the suppliers.

SlowRobotAhead 7y ago
The US mil gets its ammo mostly from Lake City and Federal. The latter does make 22, but basically a separate company. It was election panic at first; the irrational buy-up. Everyone was out from European to Russian suppliers.

AnotherGoodName 7y ago

I think the cheapness is actually part of the reason certain things end up being targeted. You can spend a $100 on frozen meals at a supermarket and have 10 of them. They're a lot more practical for a 2 week quarantine but you're not going to make a dent in supermarket supply unless you're spending 1000's. So these things aren't targeted by hoarders. If you spent $100 on toilet paper however you've just wiped out a big chunk of the shelf stock. Others then see that the shelf is almost empty and you get a chain reaction.

FrojoS 7y ago

Part of the reason is apparently, that it is bulky, so industry tries to limit storage.

SlowRobotAhead 7y ago
Round for round there is nothing more compact than 22lr. Maybe you are right; but having worked at a range, we used to buy pallets at a time of it. The demand was definitely more than production supply.