ECON Report food and grocery price increases/shortages here - UPDATE, new runs on the stores

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Shooter

Veteran Member

rafter

Since 1999
My house guests are gone for the weekend, so figured that I'd better get some errands run, even if it WAS Saturday. Ugh. Stopped at the liquor store for more beer and actually got to see the little gals behind the counter bark at a guy for coming in the door without a mask. Ha. Ha.

The grocery store was good. Not really any holes, but I did notice that the selection of bottled salad dressing was sorta limited. Took up about half the space it usually does. That could be a container problem....who knows.

Finally dawned on me the ONE advantage to wearing a mask at the grocery store. When I grumble at the dickhead who's parked his car right in front of the door - then proceeds to roll backwards, then forwards half a dozen times before he figures out which direction he's going so I can't walk either behind OR in front of his car - I can say "What in the actual EFF are you doing?" - and he can't see my mouth move. Also, the tard who parks their motorized ass-cart DIAGONALLY blocking the grocery store aisle, then proceeds to waddle off somewhere 50 feet away so nobody else can get through....well...I won't even quote my somewhat salty words...just wear an innocent face above the mask, and nobody is the wiser. Sweet.
Yep I've been enjoying that perk for quite some time. :)
 

pauldingbabe

The Great Cat

Look, I don’t care
Posted July 30, 2020 By Ruth

I don’t care if you think everyone should be wearing masks.
I don’t care if you think masks are useless.
I don’t care if you think the pandemic is going to kill us all.
I don’t care if you think it’s all a hoax.

You know what I care about?

The lowly retail employee who went from being vilified as a minimum wage drone to applauded as an essential worker in the space of a week. The cashier who got told they were putting their life on the line so that people could buy something. The sales floor employee who got told they were probably going to get sick so that people could buy something. The retail employee who spent 4 months getting a minimum “hazard bonus” for working double shifts to try to keep the store open while the rest of the world lost their collective brains.
The slightly simple greeter who gets assholes yelling at him because we dare to have signs up spelling out the states facial covering mandate.

The service desk worker who has assholes yelling at her because we don’t kick out someone who’s not wearing a mask.

The sales floor employee who’s getting yelled at multiple times a days because “why the **** aren’t you carrying bird seed any more?!” (seriously, bird seed, I’ve had more pissed off people over the lack of bird seed than anything else this past week)
The specialty department supervisor who’s almost old enough to be MY mother who’s been doing this her whole life who walked off the sales floor in tears after dealing with that one last asshole on the sales floor last week.

It’s not the fault of anyone in the store that we’re out of what you want to buy. We’re stocking out onto the shelves every single god damned thing we can find that even kinda sorta fits. And the company is using every bit of their pretty massive buying power to try to get us stuff to put onto the shelves.

It’s not the fault of anyone in the store that the state not only wrote up a facial covering mandate but has started fining stores for each unmasked person they find in the store.

I suppose it might be our fault for not turning away people who aren’t wearing masks, but since we carry some pretty essential supplies the company has decided they’re not going to do that. And frankly if you want to come stand at our door and try to stop that big ass angry dude from coming in without a mask then feel free. Frankly I’m not paid enough, and neither is anyone else in the store.

If you want to bitch about something the company might actually be able to control feel free to take it up with the corporate office.

If you want to bitch about the politics of it feel free to take it up with your local politicians.

Don’t take it out on the people who’re way to massively overworked and underpaid and who don’t have any control over it anyway.

(and yes, all the described incidents of asshole customers have all happened, either to me personally, or where I could see them happen to a co-worker. I seriously have no idea how in hell this country made it through the last few months without some kid working their first retail job losing it completely and going postal on customers, I really don’t.)

Thank you!

you just succinctly described every single day of work for my Husband.

EVERY DAY!
 

IJT

Veteran Member
My wife went to Walmart to pick up some items, almost the entire wall of tomatoes, diced, stewed whole, and sauce was empty as was the soup shelves. There were only a few packages of TP and napkins, lots of paper towels. What I found the most unusual was UPS drove over our sprinkler so I asked her to pick up a new one, not one in the store or stock room, she was told they sold out back in April. food and TP I understand, but lawn sprinklers?
 

Grouchy Granny

Deceased
My wife went to Walmart to pick up some items, almost the entire wall of tomatoes, diced, stewed whole, and sauce was empty as was the soup shelves. There were only a few packages of TP and napkins, lots of paper towels. What I found the most unusual was UPS drove over our sprinkler so I asked her to pick up a new one, not one in the store or stock room, she was told they sold out back in April. food and TP I understand, but lawn sprinklers?

The small Walmart I go to had #10 cans of stewed, diced, whole tomatoes and other assorted vegs in the aisle across from the coffee. Guess that was the only place they had room for all those cans? The vegetable aisle was about decimated. Clothing is minimal - could not find any pants to fit my 93 year old mother on a bet.
 

Cyclonemom

Veteran Member
Local small town IGA grocer in NE WI was extremely well stocked.Even canning jars and lids.

Only thing missing was disinfecting wipes, which I haven't seen there since March.

Soups, veggies, and fruits were stacked 4 layers deep. THAT was the only unusual thing. Normally never more than 2 deep.
 

WalknTrot

Veteran Member
Local small town IGA grocer in NE WI was extremely well stocked.Even canning jars and lids.

Only thing missing was disinfecting wipes, which I haven't seen there since March.

Soups, veggies, and fruits were stacked 4 layers deep. THAT was the only unusual thing. Normally never more than 2 deep.
Yup. I agree. The small town and rural stores are doing OK stock-wise, but I think it's because their demand has been staying pretty normal. In my little local store (really a very nice store and good sized - but it services a rural and "summer lake" clientele) I saw tons of canning supplies, bread/baking was back to complete normal. Canned veg. fruit, soup, tomatoes good. I just think they always had a lot of the basics on regular order, and they haven't had a lot of change happen or serious panic buying.

IGA makes me think of the IGA in Solon. ;)
 

DragonBurrow

Contributing Member
SAFEWAY in Colorado is having a sale 25% off all canning supplies! We were able to get several cases of jars today. We had to hunt and get help because they were on top of the freezer cases, but it felt like winning the lottery after hunting high and low for even one case lately. They said the stock has been getting moved around a lot so don’t be shy.

We used the standby answer of making food for medically fragile kids and everyone just gets uncomfortable and stops asking questions. Been working for years :) and it’s even kinda true, though those kids are getting awfully big. These days if you say medical anything people back away.
 

marsh

On TB every waking moment
I used Target's "drive-through" service yesterday. I was restocking the pantry with canned goods and pasta/rice. It was relatively painless. They were low on canned green beans. Order was ready within 4 hours. They were short on the bagged cat food I ordered.

You go online, order, pay and have 4 choices. Some items can be mailed. You can choose a home delivery service, but that has a joining fee of $99. You can "pick-up" by going into the store to get your order or use the drive though lane. (You let them know you are there on your cell and they bring the order out and load it.) [Home Depot also has this for many items. I have gotten pavers, bagged soil, wire fencing in their online and outside pick up service.)

I tried Amazon pantry where they send your order by UPS, but they lost it and it never made it to me.

WalMart has home delivery over a certain amount ordered and that worked out great.

I usually buy my "wet" groceries online at Costco and have them delivered. [With tip.] Quantities are large, but you can get things like chicken thighs that are wrapped in groups of 6 that you can cut apart the packages and freeze to take out as needed. Of course you have to join Costco.
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
I heard a rumor last night that the local Save-A-Lot is closing. Last time I was in there, a couple of weeks ago, I managed to get a package of wipes. I went with my sister and we commented to each other that we couldn't find wipes anywhere. A stocker on the next aisle heard us, went to the back and got them for us. She said that they kept them in the back because they were disappering so often. I think that wasn't the only thing.

Not a rumor, they will be replaced with a HyVee.
 

Grounded Idealist

Hope Always
If you want to bitch about something the company might actually be able to control feel free to take it up with the corporate office.

If you want to bitch about the politics of it feel free to take it up with your local politicians.

I’m one of these employees that hears just bout everything from crazy customers. Thankfully, I haven’t dealt with as many a$$holes as you’ve described, however, I’ve had my fill.

I implore every customer who brings up any complaint to take it up with the corporate office and I show them where to find the contact info to do so. That often stops the conversation right there. The ball is then in their court to take action.

I do the same with mask rules—write or call the County Board who issued the proclamation. Most of the employees in this store aren't able to just quit their jobs, so we follow company rules so we can keep working. How about you, Mr/Ms customer? What do you do at your job??

I’ve shut some people off pretty quick and some even apologize. Many people are super stressed out for a whole slew of reasons—many of which they’re not even aware of. I’m happy for the opportunity to talk some of these folks “off the ledge” but it all sure takes an emotional toll.
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
If you need paint brushes of any kind, be it for crafts, fine art, or painting your house, you best be getting them while they are still available. I had to go to several stores today to get what would work for me in my studio for painting with oil paints. I wound up with some 2 inch Purdy natural bristle brushes (the kind one uses for varnish) and a couple of off brand brushes in a couple of other sizes from some other stores. Last time I was at Hobby Lobby they had HUGE holes in their paint brush section.
 

workhorse

Veteran Member
Our local Wally World is getting a lot of weird named items not to mention off name number 10 cans of vegetables. Spoke to the person who is responsible for the end caps and was told we used to get paid to put peoples stuff on them but know one can guarantee enough inventory to cover them for a week or so. He was putting up some pasta from Italy that he had never seen or heard of before. Said I don’t have any idea where they are getting this stuff, I think they are just getting what ever they can find and shipping it in to keep stuff on the shelves. We were told today not to condense things but spread them out to look fuller.
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
Our local Wally World is getting a lot of weird named items not to mention off name number 10 cans of vegetables. Spoke to the person who is responsible for the end caps and was told we used to get paid to put peoples stuff on them but know one can guarantee enough inventory to cover them for a week or so. He was putting up some pasta from Italy that he had never seen or heard of before. Said I don’t have any idea where they are getting this stuff, I think they are just getting what ever they can find and shipping it in to keep stuff on the shelves. We were told today not to condense things but spread them out to look fuller.

There’s @ shortage of tomato based items right now, paste being th3 hardest to find.
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
I know that HyVee is a grocery store, but that's all I know about them. Plus, personally, I think you'd have to be crazy to open a business in that town. Then again, it could be some kind of package deal and they get stuck with West Memphis, sight unseen.

HyVee will probably bulldoze the store front and put in a gas station with a C-store, like they done in numerous places now. It’s called HyVee Fresh, so you can get the absolute basics, like milk, bread, formula, tp, diapers, some fruit, some veggies, some meat and canned colds and a lot of precooked food. Think small town grocery store, twice the size as a Casey’s or Kum and Go.
 
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dioptase

Veteran Member
This has got nothing to do with food, but I thought I would throw it out there as maybe an indicator of supply chain issues. (Then again, I could simply be misinterpreting the situation.)

The local gopher population here has exploded so I went onto Amazon today to buy more of a certain kind of (box) gopher trap, and the price (for the exact same item) was at least 3x what I paid a year ago! I went searching elsewhere and every place seemed to be either completely sold out of that same gopher trap, or else also wanted jacked-up prices. Several pages down the Google search list I finally found a place that had it at a reasonable price.

(Fwiw, one of the pages I searched was that of the company that makes this trap, and they were sold out, too. Nothing was said about the item being discontinued (in fact there was a button to click to have them let you know when it was back in stock), so I doubt that is the case. Trap Gophers: Victor® Black Box Gopher Trap 6-Pack )

Just another one of those odd items that you expect to be available always (at a reasonable price), until maybe it isn't....
 

workhorse

Veteran Member
Paint brushes canning anything in short supply. At Walmart along with vegetables wal mart brand .49 stuff brought in to fill shelf .68 many people are buying the higher cost stuff just to have something. When regular wal mart veggies come in they don’t buy 3-4 they take flats of 12 more often than not 2-3 flats. They are having associates from other departments come over 2-3 times a day just to get rid of all the empty cardboard and fluff the areas to look full
 

abby normal

insert appropriate adjective here
Our little boy had a sleepover at grandma's Friday night so DH and I got to enjoy a rare date night. We head over to Kroger to get some surf and turf to grill at home... we enjoy doing that more than going to a resuraunt.

DH never goes to the grocery store as it's a mom job (he has dad jobs I'm excused from doing so it all balances out)

This time he came with, was his first time seeing what a grocery store looks like with the mask orders. We did not wear masks, big store and lots of room to distance. Plus we just don't do masks.

He was AMAZED how we were the only 2 unmasked people in the store. He said, this creeps me out, let's get our stuff and get the heck out of here.

So we go to the meat counter and the employee says he was GLAD to see us not wearing masks. I gave him a big smile... I gave everyone I saw a big smile because I sure do miss that. So much humanity is lost when the faces are covered.

We got our little basket of goodies and left, no one gave us any trouble. When we got outside the store DH said that was the weirdest thing he ever saw, it was like being in a horror movie. It took him a while to shake it off.

I said you think that was bad, you should try doing it at a store where they constantly play the messages over the loudspeaker to mask up, socially distance, etc. Creepy doesn't begin to describe it. Was quite the shocker for my DH
 

psychgirl

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Our Kroger was pretty full except for the usuals ( cleaning supplies, toilet paper yada yada ) but I did notice canned tomatoes looked really low and beef, of course.

But the main thing is either I’ve gotten used to seeing them but I “think” they’ve put up new limit signs like in the beginning of the Chinese disease (?)
They apply to meats and the usual suspects. There’s one on the laundry soap aisle too!
 

Meemur

Voice on the Prairie / FJB!
I think I posted this already, but worth a reminder: wool socks! If you need them, get them as they come in. The type I like is in short supply. It took almost two weeks of scrounging to come up with 8 pairs.

I wear a wool blend because cotton socks can cause blisters if you walk any distance.
 

TxGal

Day by day
I did a shopping run this morning to HEB, Kroger, and Target down in Huntsville.

HEB was really well-stocked, except for vitamins - many types/varieties are simply not there. I actually was able to buy Del Monte canned peach slices, they had several cases but I just picked up a few cans. HEB seems to really have a good supply chain, at least most of the time.

Kroger was not nearly as well-stocked. Big holes in canned fruit and canned tomato products (especially paste/sauce). Vitamins short here, as well.

Target I just ran in for a few items (ice cream and to check the vitamin section). The main floor area seemed a little sparse as I walked by - ladies clothes, costume jewelry, etc. Seemed to be more floor space in between display racks, and plenty of empty space in the jewelry displays. I've already started our Christmas shopping. If the stock levels at Target are any indication, waiting until closer to the season may not be a great idea.
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
I think I posted this already, but worth a reminder: wool socks! If you need them, get them as they come in. The type I like is in short supply. It took almost two weeks of scrounging to come up with 8 pairs.

I wear a wool blend because cotton socks can cause blisters if you walk any distance.

I looked at Sam's Club on Friday for their wool-blend socks, they had slippers and winter jammies but no wool socks. Thanks for the reminder.
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
I did a shopping run this morning to HEB, Kroger, and Target down in Huntsville.

HEB was really well-stocked, except for vitamins - many types/varieties are simply not there. I actually was able to buy Del Monte canned peach slices, they had several cases but I just picked up a few cans. HEB seems to really have a good supply chain, at least most of the time.

Kroger was not nearly as well-stocked. Big holes in canned fruit and canned tomato products (especially paste/sauce). Vitamins short here, as well.

Target I just ran in for a few items (ice cream and to check the vitamin section). The main floor area seemed a little sparse as I walked by - ladies clothes, costume jewelry, etc. Seemed to be more floor space in between display racks, and plenty of empty space in the jewelry displays. I've already started our Christmas shopping. If the stock levels at Target are any indication, waiting until closer to the season may not be a great idea.

I should pop in there and see what they have for sheets, I have a few cotton fitted sheets that need to be replaced, top sheets are fine.
 

Terrwyn

Veteran Member
I think I posted this already, but worth a reminder: wool socks! If you need them, get them as they come in. The type I like is in short supply. It took almost two weeks of scrounging to come up with 8 pairs.

I wear a wool blend because cotton socks can cause blisters if you walk any distance.
I gave the Mission over 20 pairs of expensive hiking socks last year because I no longer can wear them due to a swollen leg. Who knew?
 

rlm

Contributing Member
I think I posted this already, but worth a reminder: wool socks! If you need them, get them as they come in. The type I like is in short supply. It took almost two weeks of scrounging to come up with 8 pairs.

I wear a wool blend because cotton socks can cause blisters if you walk any distance.
We only wear wool socks most of the year and I decided to try a new, made in America brand. After several weeks I still didn't have my order so I gave them a call. She said at least one type of wool comes from Germany (disappointing - we don't have sheep here in the USA?) and they haven't been able to get it due to the virus. Costco didn't have their usual bundles either. If you need good quality socks don't wait.
 
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Digger

Veteran Member
We stopped at our local Harps. North Central Arkansas. Meat seemed a little low, but they were putting more out while we were there. Noodles were a bit low. They have not had our favorite flavor of Pasta Roni in awhile. I did get a can of Hormel Beef Tamales to go with the chicken ones I bought last week. I plan to try them this week. If we like them I will get a few cans.

Paper towels were very low. The toilet paper aisle looked fairly normal. But I didn't go down it. There are cleaning supplies so long as you are not picky. Not much canning supplies, some vinegar, fruit fresh, and storage lids. Very little lunch meat in the cooler.

There is plenty of food in the store. You just have to be flexible.
 

SackLunch

Dirt roads take me home
Our wally world was out of ramen, low on canned soup, and canned vegetables.

Soda aisle looked freshly restocked as were cereals.

Picnic products were low.

Hand sanitizer endcaps everywhere at high prices.

Back to school section stocked. Local schools are opening in person, but parents can choose online options.
 

workhorse

Veteran Member
Don’t look now but my wall mart is putting out Halloween candy to fill up empty spots in action alley and noticed insulated shirts starting to show up I know we do that early but usually not till second week of august.
 

Pinecone

Has No Life - Lives on TB
This has got nothing to do with food, but I thought I would throw it out there as maybe an indicator of supply chain issues. (Then again, I could simply be misinterpreting the situation.)

The local gopher population here has exploded so I went onto Amazon today to buy more of a certain kind of (box) gopher trap, and the price (for the exact same item) was at least 3x what I paid a year ago! I went searching elsewhere and every place seemed to be either completely sold out of that same gopher trap, or else also wanted jacked-up prices. Several pages down the Google search list I finally found a place that had it at a reasonable price.

(Fwiw, one of the pages I searched was that of the company that makes this trap, and they were sold out, too. Nothing was said about the item being discontinued (in fact there was a button to click to have them let you know when it was back in stock), so I doubt that is the case. Trap Gophers: Victor® Black Box Gopher Trap 6-Pack )

Just another one of those odd items that you expect to be available always (at a reasonable price), until maybe it isn't....
Gopher gassers are impossible to find in local stores. Had to go to the next town over to get them. DH shot several. Never seen anything like it. They are eating peas, beans, ONIONS, and turnips so far. I think their warrens are too extensive now to allow the gassers to work. I guess I'll have to sit out there early in the morning and wait for them to come up. This is ridiculous!
 

Esto Perpetua

Veteran Member
I wandered around my local wally world today. There was almost NO thread. Maybe about three spools? All the sewing machines were gone. Maybe about a half dozen bias tapes left..

The men's department was really depleted of jeans. No plants in the garden department. Fertilizer was gutted.

Vitamins and supplements were still available but bar soap variety was limited.

Canning supplies pretty much gone. :(
 
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