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This is because this is not an actual shortage. This is people panic-buying things they don't really need, and then of course they can't justify spending that m

by summm 7y ago

This is because this is not an actual shortage. This is people panic-buying things they don't really need, and then of course they can't justify spending that much...

wegs 7y ago
And the coronavirus was just a flu. And there's pent-up demand in out economy which will just explode when we get out of this. No. This is not panic-buying or hoarding. There are actual supply chain disruptions, shifting demands, fewer workers going to work, and things just aren't keeping up with major disruptions to economic structures based on low margins, having just enough capacity, and doing everything just-in-time. They're addressable, but we're not addressing them. Instead everyone tells themselves pretty stories about how the problems aren't real, and everyone else seems to believe it. As far as I can tell, no one actually keeps an eye on these things either. We have no idea if we will have too much or not enough food in 6 months, and my guess is not enough (B2C producers aren't scaling up due to pretty stories, while B2B ones are shutting down due to lack-of-demand).
- wayoutthere 7y ago
  > As far as I can tell, no one actually keeps an eye on these things either. Our current political system is invested in manipulating the truth to poke your political rivals in the eye; and there's no way you can keep an eye on things if you fire everyone who doesn't tell you what you want to hear...
wayoutthere 7y ago
It's not even panic buying; the demand mix literally shifted overnight across the entire economy. Instead of eating out every meal, I've been cooking just to give myself something to do. That means my food is coming from a grocery store rather than 50 lb bags from Sysco. The more expensive options are just another form of demand lever: some people will be unwilling to buy a $5 carton of eggs even if it means walking away with no eggs. I suspect a lot of people are just buying the expensive eggs -- which is likely a huge boon for "premium" food vendors as they typically have to account for a larger % of unsold product loss.

by summm 7y ago

This is because this is not an actual shortage. This is people panic-buying things they don't really need, and then of course they can't justify spending that much...

wegs 7y ago

And the coronavirus was just a flu. And there's pent-up demand in out economy which will just explode when we get out of this. No. This is not panic-buying or hoarding. There are actual supply chain disruptions, shifting demands, fewer workers going to work, and things just aren't keeping up with major disruptions to economic structures based on low margins, having just enough capacity, and doing everything just-in-time. They're addressable, but we're not addressing them. Instead everyone tells themselves pretty stories about how the problems aren't real, and everyone else seems to believe it. As far as I can tell, no one actually keeps an eye on these things either. We have no idea if we will have too much or not enough food in 6 months, and my guess is not enough (B2C producers aren't scaling up due to pretty stories, while B2B ones are shutting down due to lack-of-demand).

wayoutthere 7y ago
> As far as I can tell, no one actually keeps an eye on these things either. Our current political system is invested in manipulating the truth to poke your political rivals in the eye; and there's no way you can keep an eye on things if you fire everyone who doesn't tell you what you want to hear...

wayoutthere 7y ago

It's not even panic buying; the demand mix literally shifted overnight across the entire economy. Instead of eating out every meal, I've been cooking just to give myself something to do. That means my food is coming from a grocery store rather than 50 lb bags from Sysco. The more expensive options are just another form of demand lever: some people will be unwilling to buy a $5 carton of eggs even if it means walking away with no eggs. I suspect a lot of people are just buying the expensive eggs -- which is likely a huge boon for "premium" food vendors as they typically have to account for a larger % of unsold product loss.