This week's shopping adventures:
On Wednesday, DW and I visited the local butcher shop for the first time since the stay-at-home order hit. They have senior shopping at the beginning of the day, but do not have a large retail space and permitted a maximum of 5 customers at a time the store. To not hold up anyone else DW went in and I stayed safe far away outside
. They did not have any shortages. They told DW they actually had a backlog of meat to process, and were getting calls from all over the place from those who had animals ready to slaughter. They were setting limits on items (but very high ones), not out of fear of running out, but to ensure everyone was best able to get what they desired. They have been in the community a long time and want to serve everyone.
Today I went to the Costco Old Folks Social Time and Shopping Hour (COFSTASH). Moving in back an hour meant a lot more people showing up. I arrived at 8:30 and counted over 100 already there. They did open early and I was inside well before 9. PT in stock, but the usual in-demand items (other than industrial TP) were out. A lot of the more expensive cuts of fresh beef but out of a lot of the cheaper cuts and pork. No shortage of processed meats, chicken, and fish, but package quantity limitations were in place. Observed a few shoppers being taken to task for being under 60.
Then onto Walmart, where they had dust masks in stock. I bought a couple of packs.(we will use them when out in areas where odds of viruses floating about are very, very low, thus preserving our N95 makes for serious use). They had fresh pork/beef/chicken, at probably 80% normal stocking levels. a little TP, lots of PT and flushable wipes. Anti-bacterial soap was more in stock than in previous weeks.
Finally, the local supermarket had very few fresh vegetables - perhaps due to my timing and they had not yet restocked. Baking items levels were better than a week before.