topic Re: CVS Shelves Low or Empty For First Time In Long Time.. in Community Chat

CVS Shelves Low or Empty For First Time In Long Time..

amyb — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 22:33:07 GMT

CVS is usually where I buy household paper goods, cleaning products, some vitamins, batteries, some makeup.

I'm there often at least once a week or every two wks. Haven't really had any shortages most of 2021.

But today, I couldn't get toilet paper (they had a few of the cheap rolls left, not worth it; I'll find the brand I want somewhere, and I still have some in the meantime.) No kleenex, except a few boxes of the "soothing kind" (I don't like more chemicals/additives than I need in my kleenex, so I passed on those too.)

I've been wanting to get Zinc...they had BOGO...but only 1 bottle left, which I got.

And on other items, particularly in food and candy aisle, products I don't buy, but noticed rows, and whole sections of empty hooks that were full last time I was in.

It's just the first time in ages I wasn't able to get the staples I go in for. My local Fresh Market has had missing products each time I'm in there too. Many of my favorite products never came back since 2020.

Combination of reasons again, I suppose, but really don't know...still supply chain? No help? Not enough delivery drivers? Recent snow storm? etc etc. All of the above and more? 🤷‍♀️

Could be worse I suppose, just hope it doesn't get to be...worse.

Re: CVS Shelves Low or Empty For First Time In Long Time..

kaydee50 — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 22:40:15 GMT

The last time I was in CVS--a couple of weeks ago--the shelves were quite empty. Haven't seen the same situation at Walgreens or any other store I've been in recently.

Re: CVS Shelves Low or Empty For First Time In Long Time..

NEvans2 — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 22:43:20 GMT

I've noticed over the last couple weeks that certain shelves at various stores are nearly empty or empty. And it's really random what you can't find. Today I went to the grocery store to get chicken to make chicken soup and there was hardly any chicken. At the beginning of the pandemic it was hard to find jam and jelly. A lot of times I can't find dog food. It's a ****** shoot of what you can and cannot find.

Re: CVS Shelves Low or Empty For First Time In Long Time..

Kachina624 — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 22:44:26 GMT

I've heard "experts" on the news say it's going to get worse and prices will continue to rise.

Re: CVS Shelves Low or Empty For First Time In Long Time..

tansy — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 22:46:17 GMT

Today the frozen chicken products like wings, nuggets and patties were wiped out.

Re: CVS Shelves Low or Empty For First Time In Long Time..

Foxxee — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 23:41:03 GMT

"still supply chain? No help? Not enough delivery drivers?"

Just read an article about our trading with Canada. Their vaccine mandate is about to go into effect for all truck drivers. The Canadian Trucking Assn warns many truckers may quit when it does. Canada is our largest trading partner. 70%!

Re: CVS Shelves Low or Empty For First Time In Long Time..

gidgetgh — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 23:07:23 GMT

I was at CVS today also. Really low stock and many outages.

I also went to Target for the first time since Christmas. The aisle with Dixie cups, paper, plates, etc? Almost totally empty. Lots of zero stock there also.

Re: CVS Shelves Low or Empty For First Time In Long Time..

gertrudecloset — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 23:07:35 GMT

@amyb wrote:
CVS is usually where I buy household paper goods, cleaning products, some vitamins, batteries, some makeup.

I'm there often at least once a week or every two wks. Haven't really had any shortages most of 2021.

But today, I couldn't get toilet paper (they had a few of the cheap rolls left, not worth it; I'll find the brand I want somewhere, and I still have some in the meantime.) No kleenex, except a few boxes of the "soothing kind" (I don't like more chemicals/additives than I need in my kleenex, so I passed on those too.)
I've been wanting to get Zinc...they had BOGO...but only 1 bottle left, which I got.
And on other items, particularly in food and candy aisle, products I don't buy, but noticed rows, and whole sections of empty hooks that were full last time I was in.

It's just the first time in ages I wasn't able to get the staples I go in for. My local Fresh Market has had missing products each time I'm in there too. Many of my favorite products never came back since 2020.

Combination of reasons again, I suppose, but really don't know...still supply chain? No help? Not enough delivery drivers? Recent snow storm? etc etc. All of the above and more? 🤷‍♀️

Could be worse I suppose, just hope it doesn't get to be...worse.

I can't speak for other stores, but what you are not finding at CVS could be a direct result of them closing many of their stores in the U.S. Who knows though @amyb

Re: CVS Shelves Low or Empty For First Time In Long Time..

ScrapHappy — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 23:17:03 GMT

The CVS near me is very low on cold/flu medicines. Shelves practically empty. But thankfully the Walgreens down the road is nicely stocked. At least for now.

Re: CVS Shelves Low or Empty For First Time In Long Time..

Luvsmyfam — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 23:19:06 GMT

@kaydee50 I find CVS quite pricey,more so than Walgreens.I usually buy all my paper products at Aldis

Re: CVS Shelves Low or Empty For First Time In Long Time..

Bhvbum — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 23:19:12 GMT

Apparently people are ordering a lot of the stuff online, including toilet paper, and stuff they never did before. I buy it from Costco and it gets delivered a day later, a 34 roll pack of really good toilet paper. I never thought I would buy a fair amount of my groceries online and have COSTCO deliver them the next day.

I think that's part of the reason stores are keeping their inventory low.

Re: CVS Shelves Low or Empty For First Time In Long Time..

ECBG — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 23:23:05 GMT

Our prescriptions have gone through CVS since before I was pregnant with our first child. I rarely go in unless I need OTC allergy meds.

Re: CVS Shelves Low or Empty For First Time In Long Time..

ValuSkr — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 23:29:29 GMT

CVS stores in my area have been poorly stocked on grocery-type items for a few months. Maybe CVS should revert to being just a drug store / pharmacy pure-play instead of what it is now - a convenience store.

Re: CVS Shelves Low or Empty For First Time In Long Time..

songbird — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 23:56:45 GMT

Winter and COVID is the major problem. Precooked chicken is very hard to find. Meat packers need people to work there and if they get sick, the problem starts to snow ball. Because the demand is high, it pushes up the cost. We are also in runaway inflation. COVId has changed the way we eat. We no longer go out to east as much. So more cooking at home. More demand for food.

Re: CVS Shelves Low or Empty For First Time In Long Time..

gertrudecloset — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 23:59:58 GMT

@songbird wrote:
Winter and COVID is the major problem. Precooked chicken is very hard to find. Meat packers need people to work there and if they get sick, the problem starts to snow ball. Because the demand is high, it pushes up the cost. We are also in runaway inflation. COVId has changed the way we eat. We no longer go out to east as much. So more cooking at home. More demand for food.

There ya go @songbird ! That's it.

Re: CVS Shelves Low or Empty For First Time In Long Time..

CatsyCline — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 01:04:28 GMT

was in CVS today. no shortages to speak of and our town has no other stores but a Dollar General, Walgreens, Stop&Shop and Job Lot.

Re: CVS Shelves Low or Empty For First Time In Long Time..

Duckncover — Sat, 15 Jan 2022 17:19:57 GMT

I have not been in a CVS in about two years. They are one of the most expensive places here to buy just about anything. Guess it depends on where you live. I did go there once to get something that was supposed to be on sale that I needed. Couldn't find it on the shelf and the manager said they had plenty of it...out it was still on the big truck in the parking lot and it would be a few days before the person in charge of the truck would come back and unload it. I just bought it elsewhere.

Re: CVS Shelves Low or Empty For First Time In Long Time..

Porcelain — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 01:14:51 GMT

I try to stay out of drug stores unless there is no other option. That's where all the sick people go. Mingling with them in a small enclosed space like a CVS seems a bit risky with the current Covid rates. I'd rather spend my risk chips on something more personally rewarding.

I prefer the drive through window for picking up any medications.

I'm about to purchase another gigantoid order of Amazon TP. I really like getting bulk orders of the paper goods from online.

Re: CVS Shelves Low or Empty For First Time In Long Time..

bonnielu — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 01:24:45 GMT

I guess so far I am lucky. Don't know where everyone lives but being more rural our shelves seem stocked. And as we shop the shelves are being stocked around us. North central MD on the WV border....

Re: CVS Shelves Low or Empty For First Time In Long Time..

Lucky Charm — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 01:44:18 GMT

The CVSes around here are HUGE, not little stores, not crowded either.

Two self checkouts and a cashier or two. I always do self checkout.

About once a week I get a 40% off coupon one (regular priced) item. I put that coupon to good use.