Did some needed online shopping
By Lena Kovadlo
@lovebuglena (44537)
Staten Island, New York
September 13, 2021 8:34pm CST
I went to Target yesterday to get toilet paper, and soap. The soap aisle was pretty much empty shelves, save for a few bottles of something I never used. The toilet paper/paper towel aisle was pretty empty as well. My brand of toilet paper (Quilted Northern) was not available and I didn't want to get anything else. I wonder if it's people panic buying again or if there is a supply shortage.
I tried the Target website but it didn't even show up in the search results. Tried Amazon. It was much cheaper there than what I usually buy it for at Target but it said "coming soon." I have no idea when it would actually become available so didn't buy it, especially since we are running low on it.
Decided to try going to my supermarket to see if the toilet paper I use is there. And it was. It was actually on sale. Not as cheap as Amazon and a dollar more than at Target but at least it was there. I took the last one.
I ended up finding the soap at the Target website. Unfortunately, to buy it there I had to get $35 or more of items. I ended up getting two of the soap refills, a book I wanted to get, and two packs of pantiliners I needed. With that I was able to place the order and even got free shipping.
Since I was already buying stuff I need I decided to look at Bounty paper towels. Still have some at home, but as there were none at Target or my supermarket decided to stock up, if possible.
I ended up getting Bounty paper towels on Amazon. They were cheaper than at the Target website. I was a few bucks shy of qualifying for free shipping so I also got a book I wanted. That gave me free shipping, though only after I double checked and selected it. It didn't automatically apply free shipping to the order. I had around $27 in my Amazon gift card balance and 18 cents in Capital One rewards so I paid only about $17 for the order, instead of in the low $40s.
5 people like this
4 responses
@DaddyEvil (137259)
• United States
14 Sep 21
The Wall Street Journal claims that people are stocking up on toilet paper and paper towels because the Delta variant is causing so much sickness around the US... But it doesn't explain why that would cause normally sane(r) people to start hoarding toilet paper or paper towels.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (44537)
• Staten Island, New York
14 Sep 21
It never made sense when we were at the height of the pandemic last year either. People are probably worried there will be a shortage of toilet paper, paper towels, and soap again.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137259)
• United States
14 Sep 21
@lovebuglena That's what I thought, too... We always have two bundles of toilet paper here. (We buy a 24 roll pack.) When we open the second bundle, I buy a new one.
The neighbors across the street came into the Walmart where I worked and asked when we were getting more toilet paper... He didn't recognize me. I told him when he saw his neighbor across the street get home from work, to go knock on his door and he'd give him some toilet paper. When he came over, I gave him a four pack... I had changed clothes so he still didn't recognize me as the person he talked to in Walmart... It was funny.
@lovebuglena (44537)
• Staten Island, New York
14 Sep 21
@DaddyEvil 
He should've been able to recognize you. It's not like you were wearing a Halloween costume.
He should've been able to recognize you. It's not like you were wearing a Halloween costume.1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (89882)
• Arvada, Colorado
14 Sep 21
I think the supply chain is failing Lena that is the reason. They have really done a number on this country for everything with all this propaganda.
@RebeccasFarm (89882)
• Arvada, Colorado
14 Sep 21
@lovebuglena Yeah that paying for shipping is for the birds
@lovebuglena (44537)
• Staten Island, New York
14 Sep 21
@RebeccasFarm You get all excited when you find what you need cheaper elsewhere but then when you learn you have to pay for shipping it makes no sense to get it there. Might as well get it elsewhere for a higher price, assuming you get free shipping there.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (44537)
• Staten Island, New York
14 Sep 21
Well, I am glad I was able to get what I need online. And I think what I ordered at Target I didn't really overpay. The price was good. Yes, I could've gotten the pantiliners cheaper at Walgreens, however, I'd have to pay for shipping so didn't make sense to get them there. The shipping would cost more than the difference in price for the pantiliners.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
14 Sep 21
The convenience of online shopping.
Curious as to why people are stocking up on toilet paper. I thought we got over that phase already.
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
15 Sep 21
@lovebuglena maybe it is all three but most likely the third one.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (44537)
• Staten Island, New York
14 Sep 21
Either there is a production shortage, issues with truck deliveries, or people are panicking again.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (178568)
• United States
14 Sep 21
Very cool that you got what you needed plus you could use Amazon and Capital One credits.
@lovebuglena (44537)
• Staten Island, New York
14 Sep 21
Aside from the $2 I got for that Amazon survey, the rest of the Amazon gift card balance was meant for books only, as someone gifted me that for books. But I decided to use it anyway. If I had ordered the book by itself I'd have to pay for shipping and it would amount to that gift card balance probably anyway.
1 person likes this
