‘think of others’ warning to panic buyers DON’T STRIP OUR SHELVES
Shops place purchase limit on goods
Perth and Kinross shoppers are being urged to think about others after a second wave of panic buying.
Supermarkets in Perth have again started to run out of basics like toilet paper, leading to a reintroduction of rules on how many key items can be purchased.
The worry of another potential national lockdown - something First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she desperately would seek to avoid - has prompted the hoarding behaviour.
On Friday, Tesco branches on Edinburgh Road and South Street placed notices on shelves telling shoppers they could only buy three items at a time of flour, pasta, wipes and toilet roll. Morrisons is understood to also be limiting high-demand purchasing.
Perth City Centre councillor, Chris Ahern, has asked Perth consumers to stop and think of others first.
He, like many others, was unable to get toilet roll when he did his weekly shop at Asda on Saturday.
Cllr Ahern told the PA:“I just don’t understand the mentality. Please everybody, listen to what you are told and don’t strip the shelves.
“We have not been told there is another lockdown about to happen. Some people are spoiling things for everybody.
“When I found there was no toilet paper on the shelves in Asda on Saturday it made me worry. Staff there told me some people had come to the tills with nothing else in their trolleys, just multi-packs of toilet paper, but with no restrictions, they were powerless to say anything.
“This selfish mentality is going to cause lots of suffering.”
Fellow Perth city centre councillor Eric Drysdale said:“I would urge everyone not to stock up on household items unnecessarily. We saw back in March and April how well supply lines were maintained and supermarkets and shops were able to replenish shelves quite quickly.
“There is no need for any panic buying now, and I would remind those tempted to do so that they risk depriving the more vulnerable and less able in our community of the opportunity to buy essential supplies.”
Perth mum-of-three, Vicki Leaver, said:“This is so stressful. As a family who doesn’t drive, I don’t want to be traipsing around every store looking for items.
“I rely on Tesco for home deliveries. I’ve just tried to add items to my online basket and found that the majority are already sold out. This morning, I’ve actually just restarted a subscription service for loo rolls, nappies and wipes with independent companies.
“It will cost me double the price, but at least I won’t have to walk miles around stores trying to find these items. There is absolutely no need for panic buying.
“I don’t understand this stockpiling mentality, especially after the last lockdown.
“Surely people can remember the stress and the worry that empty shelves caused others.”
Mr Fowler (31) from Perth posted a stark image of the empty toilet paper aisle he found in Asda on Saturday on Coronavirus Support in Perthshire’s Facebook page.
He told the PA:“My thoughts are that the majority of people would have learned that panic buying can leave the vulnerable population without. My own personal feelings on the picture I captured on Saturday may not be suitable to share publicly. ”
A Tesco spokesperson said: “We have good availability, with plenty of stock to go round, and we would encourage our customers to shop as normal.
“To ensure that everyone can keep buying what they need, we have introduced bulk-buy limits on a small number of products.
“To help our customers shop safely, we will also have colleagues at the entrances of our larger stores to remind customers about the safety measures we have in place, including the legal requirement to wear a face covering.”