Buying in Bulk Due to Coronavirus

Since the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in America and the recent stay-at-home orders, many Americans have been trying to stock up on supplies. This has made it very difficult for some to obtain necessary items. According to the San Francisco Bay Guardian, a Costco Wholesale store ran out of water and toilet paper two hours after opening. Stocking up on groceries began when the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced in early March that Americans should have enough food at their homes to last for at least 30 days. While this statement was necessary for the CDC to have made, it resulted in chaos amongst the population, as shoppers also began buying more supplies than they actually needed, making it harder for others to get the bare minimum. Although it is important during this time to get enough supplies for an extended time period, overbuying can hurt customers such as the elderly and disabled — thus, more stores should monitor the number of supplies their customers buy.  

At first, the main issue was that people would not be able to buy enough supplies for their homes. People also began to worry about seniors and disabled people having access to food.  For those who are disabled or elderly, going to the grocery store can be a very difficult task already. This task becomes even more difficult when people are rushing around, fighting for food and buying everything in sight. There have been many instances where senior citizens have been unable to buy the food they need because, by the time they get to the store, most shelves are empty.  

“People should be respectful of older people and be aware of others when they are shopping,” junior Michelle Jeong said. “I remember going to the store in early March before the stay-at-home order was issued, and seeing people [stockpiling food excessively]. I had never seen so many people in one store buying so much food.”

To help seniors and people with disabilities, stores such as Costco and Vons have decided to open an hour early. Opening early is a great way to ensure that all U.S. citizens are able to purchase the food they need in an orderly way. Also, to make it easier to get food many grocery stores such as Costco and Whole Foods now offer online food delivery services. These stores offer 2-day delivery services to get food to people very quickly.  However, since stores remain open they are beginning to take more precautions. For example, Whole Foods makes sure that only 10 people are inside at a time and these people must stand at least six feet away from each other at all times. Stores also limit the amount of items customers can purchase to make sure that others can buy items they need. 

“I think it is a very good idea to limit the amount of items one can buy,” junior Alexis Ferguson said. “Although people might want to purchase multiple items, putting restrictions on this will ultimately help the entire community which is vital right now.” 

Now that stores have had the opportunity to restock their supplies and come up with new shopping rules it has become easier for people to go to the store. Buying in bulk is no longer an option at most stores. However, that does not mean all stores have set up these limitations. With large companies such as Whole Foods and Costco leading the way smaller stores must follow along and instate safety measures. It is vital for all stores to create safety measures to make sure all customers are able to purchase necessary items and to protect both customers and employees from COVID-19.   

“The most important thing we can do right now is to help others,” junior Sam Hyman said. “Whether that means shopping online or staying home, we need to do [the best we can]. Now is the time to stop being selfish and to start being considerate of [those who need supplies the most].”