topic Re: WalMart in Community Chat

WalMart

QVCkitty1 — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 15:03:21 GMT

Well I just got back from Walmart, and it was interesting. I was able to get most of what I wanted, but it was strange to see some shelves wiped out. Apparently folks intend to do some baking, because I couldn't get yeast. The flour was gone too. They had plenty of meat, but frozen veggies were all but gone. Pasta was also almost completely gone. But basically there was lots of food , no toilet paper or cleaning supplies. I order dry cat food, thank goodness, because it was completely gone. Anyway that's my report from the front lines, it was better than I expected.

Re: WalMart

Laura14 — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 15:07:03 GMT

People finally discovered the baking aisles? I was wondering when they would figure that one out.

Re: WalMart

SilleeMee — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 15:30:42 GMT

I don't have high hopes for finding the things I need at my WM. I live in a boomtown and there isn't enough of anything...supplies, food, clothing, roads, doctors...for everyone here. I've never seen anything like this in my life.

Even before the pandemic hit, shopping for stuff was a challenge. Many times things were out of stock for days and weeks. Now it's a more than challenge...it's a real problem.

Re: WalMart

wildcat fan — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 15:10:14 GMT

I went in for a quick shopping trip yesterday at our Walmart Neighborhood Market which is smaller than the supercenter. They were out of milk, eggs, toilet paper, meat (except for a few prepackaged frozen chicken breasts, frozen fish fillets, and giant Butterball turkeys), potatoes, bacon, sausage, canned soup, apples, our fave brands of cereal, bleach, and bottled water (I wasn't planning to purchase H2O anyway). Even though most shelves were empty, there were long lines and lots of people shopping. One thing I noticed is that Great Value brands are prominent. I wondered if they are intentionally just putting their brand on the shelves or if they're having a hard time getting in other brands?

Re: WalMart

momtochloe — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 15:51:42 GMT

@QVCkitty1 I was at WM very early this morning and was able to get pretty much everything I wanted including:

TP (not their usual amount and it was going fast)
Sugar
Instant coffee (I know, gross)
Frozen veggies
Incidentals I use every day like low dose aspirin and peroxide

Meat counter was much more sparse than usual but they did have some thing. Didn't look over by the dairy aisle but the produce area looked ok.

Just a reminder for folks that are looking for TP, you may want to check your local Home Depot as they carry that and other household items and have the buying power of say a Costco and may have supplies on hand.

eta: For reference, I live in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Re: WalMart

Laura14 — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 15:13:44 GMT

The office supply stores like Staples and Office Depot also carry paper/cleaning supplies for bathrooms too. A couple people have lucked out there.

Re: WalMart

FlyersGirl — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 15:16:08 GMT

@wildcat fan I guess since Walmart is competing with other retailers for the supply of name brand goods (Amazon, Target, Grocery stores etc), those goods are not as readily available to Walmart as their own brand is.

I use a lot of Great Value products and have been pleased with the quality.

Re: WalMart

KingstonsMom — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 15:16:35 GMT

For super Walmart store shoppers, all Walmart 24 hour stores are all now closing at 11PM, nationwide.

Re: WalMart

Spurt — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 15:20:30 GMT

@Laura14 wrote:
The office supply stores like Staples and Office Depot also carry paper/cleaning supplies for bathrooms too. A couple people have lucked out there.

@Laura14

Thats what I told my sister....to check at those 2 places ....she wont listen....

Re: WalMart

Spurt — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 15:42:00 GMT

Just an update on how that went at least in my town in Texas...at our local grocery store, HEB..The deli and bakery area are closed!!!

I pre-ordered on Sunday for a delivery this morning, Wednesday....I didnt really have much hope since my sister tried curbside and Shipt shopped and only had one item on her list so she canceled it....She also went back and checked several stores but shelves were empty

When my shopper started to put my order together, I told him if the named brands in the store werent available just get anything remotely similar to what I requested ---And if the stock was empty, I understood.....I had to replace a few items---brand of bread, cat food and treats and a meat item, couple others---They were totally out of milk except for soy milk and coconut milk.... The shopper was mad because he saw people hoarding toilet paper and cleaning products, but he said they should be stopped at the register so he'd circle back....but no luck!!!

He did an outstanding job and there were only a few he couldnt get....But he said these HOARDERS MADE HIM MAD!!! I gave him an extra in his tip because he really tried hard and offered several suggestions for substitues for me to chose from.......

So my advice on delivery---order ahead and request early times....they re-stock at night and open at 8am in the morning...but the hoarders are there too..... And I heard people say that people arent just hoarding for themselves, they are re-selling items to make some money....GGGRRRRRRR

Re: WalMart

Pook — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 15:52:57 GMT

I went to a local grocery store yesterday about 4:00. There was no TP but plenty of cleaning supplies and paper towels. No fresh produce but plenty of eggs and cheese. Dairy products and Almond and Soy types of milk nearly all gone. No bread, etc except for their bakery bread - they had it at special prices. What surprised me was that there was plenty of cereal and that is what I would have thought would have been gone. Their butchers kept fresh meat stocked well all day I heard. Frozen fries, ice cream pretty well gone as well as the mashed potatoes and mac and cheese like Bob Evans and all brands that have these were gone. From talking with friends who shopped at other stores, the only common thing that was gone everywhere was TP.

Re: WalMart

momtochloe — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 16:03:38 GMT

Oh bless you @Spurt my friend as those folks that pull items for orders are working under incredibly tough circumstances! I was watching a young woman filling an unbelievable amount of orders at one time and she was so calm and professional while I saw other shoppers behave so poorly. And thank you for remembering his good, conscience work with an extra tip. Good on you my friend (as I know you would be)!

Re: WalMart

Snowpuppy — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 16:07:58 GMT

@Laura14 wrote:
People finally discovered the baking aisles? I was wondering when they would figure that one out.

They're not. This will be the new toilet paper and beans run. They read it on some preparedness site, no doubt.

Our local grocery was out of packaged store bread.

Re: WalMart

lovescats — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 16:08:08 GMT

how do shoppers know that other shoppers are hoarders when they don't know how many other people they are shopping for?

Some people might be shopping for 2 or 3 families? or small community homes? some people buy for small local businesses

Plus people have always resold stuff and there should be limits on how much you can buy

People used to resell the free government cheese but did that mean they shouldn't have given it to the people who didn't.

Re: WalMart

lovescats — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 16:10:43 GMT

@Snowpuppy wrote:
@Laura14 wrote:
People finally discovered the baking aisles? I was wondering when they would figure that one out.
They're not. This will be the new toilet paper and beans run. They read it on some preparedness site, no doubt.

Our local grocery was out of packaged store bread.

usually bread isn't delivered on Wednesdays and sundays

Re: WalMart

Witchy Woman — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 16:16:25 GMT

@QVCkitty1

I am a frequent Walmart shopper, but I've probably made my last trip for awhile.

However, I visited my local Food Lion this morning and they were busy, but not a madhouse. I found everything I wanted.

Even a bottle of 90% alcohol. The woman next to me was taking multiple bottles of the 70% and asked me, "is there a limit." I said, "there should be." She eyed my bottle and noted I had the 90% while her's was lower.

I left without saying anything further. I had NONE in the house and wanted at least one bottle for any cuts my husband might get. He is a builder and frequently has cuts he does not notice.

Also stopped at the Tractor Supply for cat food for the rescue I help...they had most of what I wanted, and the man that brought some food from the top shelves for me said, "and, we have toilet paper!"

It made me laugh, but I've got enough for now.

Re: WalMart

Financialgrl — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 16:18:02 GMT

ETA: Went to Walmart and after looking at the parking lot I turned around. Just walked in from Giant Food. Not crowded and the shelves were beingwen restocked or already had been. Tons of TP/paper towels, ground beef area was beginning to look low but saw NO panic buying at all. Other meats were well stocked. I bought a rotisserie chicken and tonight I'm having some of that and a baked potato and whatever is left will be made of into a soup.

The huge shortage at Giant was frozen veggies. Little to none in the frozen foods. No corn, no peas, green beans, etc. but canned veggies were pretty plentiful. Soup aisles had been restocked.

I stopped at Lidl's on the way home for frozen veggies and they had just about everything - I saw a shortage of bags of potatoes.

Our area seems to be getting more back to normal.

Re: WalMart

Witchy Woman — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 16:20:58 GMT

@Financialgrl

Yes, I noticed that frozen vegetables were sparse, but I got what I needed and there were lots of certain things left.

They had a sale of $1 per bag on many items, so I suspect that was part of the problem.

ETA: About Walmart....even on a NORMAL day, I would not go to my Walmart after 8 a.m. Too many people just shuffling around on any given day. I hate crowds to begin with.

This time of day it is like a bee hive!

Re: WalMart

Mindy D — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 17:15:47 GMT

@QVCkitty1 wrote:
Well I just got back from Walmart, and it was interesting. I was able to get most of what I wanted, but it was strange to see some shelves wiped out. Apparently folks intend to do some baking, because I couldn't get yeast. The flour was gone too. They had plenty of meat, but frozen veggies were all but gone. Pasta was also almost completely gone. But basically there was lots of food , no toilet paper or cleaning supplies. I order dry cat food, thank goodness, because it was completely gone. Anyway that's my report from the front lines, it was better than I expected.

People might be making moonshine with the yeast!

Re: WalMart

Mindy D — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 17:16:55 GMT

they are emptying the warehouse

@wildcat fan wrote:
I went in for a quick shopping trip yesterday at our Walmart Neighborhood Market which is smaller than the supercenter. They were out of milk, eggs, toilet paper, meat (except for a few prepackaged frozen chicken breasts, frozen fish fillets, and giant Butterball turkeys), potatoes, bacon, sausage, canned soup, apples, our fave brands of cereal, bleach, and bottled water (I wasn't planning to purchase H2O anyway). Even though most shelves were empty, there were long lines and lots of people shopping. One thing I noticed is that Great Value brands are prominent. I wondered if they are intentionally just putting their brand on the shelves or if they're having a hard time getting in other brands?