Amazon suspends Prime Pantry orders

[procon]

During these days of grocery shortages, I've found what I needed in Amazon's Prime Pantry with no problems. I stocked up on basic staples, flour, sugar, mayo, coffee, cornmeal, etc., even a huge pack of TP. No shortages, everything I needed was shipped out and I got it two days.

Then last night I was going to order some last minute stuff, but instead of the regular Prime Pantry website there was a notice that read:
"Pantry is temporarily closed. We are busy restocking." It's not accepting new orders because of high order volume."

It's not clear when Amazon will reopen the service. This food shortage scare is getting serious.

[jimfields33]

1. Thankfully even in places on lock downs grocery stores are still open

[TwilightZone]

2. It's not a shortage. It's because people are hoarding and the system can't keep up.

Ditto grocery stores -- that's why they're cutting hours.

There were a couple of recent articles that said if people just bought like they normally do, there's plenty for everyone and we wouldn't be seeing closing and lines. Of course, try convincing the panic buyers of that.

[hlthe2b]

3. And because a large proportion of people (esp younger) accustomed to eating out constantly

are all of a sudden facing the need to eat at home and prepare/store food.
Given the number of people I know who previously scarcely kept a loaf of bread in the house, that has to be significant.

[TwilightZone]

4. Excellent point.

[CousinIT]

5. [phone]

"if people just bought like they normally do, there's plenty for everyone and we wouldn't be seeing closing and lines"

If the supply chain is negatively affected, the cause will be HOARDERS, not COVID-19!

[pnwest]

6. May I rebut?

So - this meme has popped up in my FB feed a couple of times now, and I have to say it feels a bit insensitive and 1%-ish. For my family, a “normal amount” of buying doesn’t cover 14-30 days in the event of a sudden lockdown. I don’t have an extra freezer, lots of pantry space or a large grocery budget - I typically buy about a week’s worth at a time, especially since I use a lot of fresh vegetables. So it’s not a matter of “calming down”. In fact, I was quite calm when I decided to spend some extra money and build up our stores to a 30-day supply, so we don’t HAVE to panic later. I didn’t buy 18 packs of toilet paper, but I damn sure bought enough to cover my ass (pun intended) for a month.

[CousinIT]

7. You are misinformed. "lockdown" does not mean you can not visit a store to shop.

weekly or bi-weekly to get tp or anything else. You don't need a month's supply. EVEN for a "lockdown"

Experts (should you choose to listen to them) have said the supply chain is fine, even in a lockdown, people ARE allowed out to get supplies, food, gas, go to dr. appointments. You don't NEED a month's supply.

All you're doing is keeping OTHERS who need those same supplies too, from getting them.

As I said, if the supply chain gets broken, it will be because of misinformed people needlessly HOARDING, not the virus.

STOP.

[pnwest]

8. But I don't want to go to the store

every week, either.

[moonscape]

10. This. There are lots of folks (raising hand) who

have multiple risk factors and don't want to risk a store visit.

[Roland99]

9. It's more of a labor shortage. Not enough workers to fill the orders

[lostnfound]

11. Not just "hoarding" -- have everything you need for 2-3 weeks was the advice

Not everyone does their own shopping. People who get help from others can’t depend on tnat help when shelter in place goes into effect.