@Niner wrote:

Where do you store a year's worth of toilet paper?

In the garage.

Room over the garage too.

@Tarantado wrote:

@Niner wrote:

Where do you store a year's worth of toilet paper?

In the garage.

Not everyone has a garage. I think only about 70% of Americans live in single family homes. I don't even have cupboards in my bathroom.

That said, for me, a years supply of TP is a pack of 12 double rolls, apparently. I've learned that it's everyone else who comes into my home who uses up the TP!

The area where you live in will greatly impact your lifestyle as for as the ability to store anything goes. I live in a very congested urban area, so for me, 2 or 3 trips to the grocery store each week is the norm. I can also walk to a grocery store from my house, as well as multiple clothing shops, pet stores, restaurants, Starbucks, pharmacies and banks, so I pay more for my products to have the stores keeping everything and only purchase when I'm low...or even out. When the last TP roll goes on the spindle, I put a replacement pack on my shopping list. When I exhaust the cat litter box, I go buy a new one.

I've been moving to the mode of grocery shopping once a week, which is a definite lifestyle change for me. It requires a lot of meal planning to not have waste. That said, in the past I was concerned about keeping too many perishables because plans would often change; I would be working late, or get invited to a last-minute show. Now...a weeks worth of food is exactly 7 of each meal.

When I saw the stay-at-home order on the horizon, I attempted to stock my house with 3 weeks of food, which really pushed the limits of my storage capacity.

@SteveSoCal wrote:

@Tarantado; Don't you think there will be a price drop to accompany the sales drop from the people who hoarded?

Pandemic or not, there's a finite amount of TP that people in the world use...and I would guess that use has gone down the past month. I've become much more aware of my use and no longer use it for things that don't involve the toilet! I'm using more facial tissue and paper towels now.

Oversupply (if we're actually nearing that) can still take time to play out and keep prices elevated.

We see that in commodities. Even after you have oversupply, prices don't just fall off of a cliff when demand isn't there immediately. It DOES at some point, but not necessarily immediately. There's some catch-up time.

Similarly, under-supply doesn't immediately raise prices either if there is tons of demand. It DOES eventually, but that can take a bit of time too.

I was thinking of investing in a copper producer recently, so have been reading up.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/23/2020 03:48PM by shoptastic.

^^^Maybe pandemics are different, though. The conditions could lead to more immediacy.

I think around 3AM I saw some Scott toilet paper. $24 for like 18 rolls. Amazon.

@shoptastic wrote:

I think around 3AM I saw some Scott toilet paper. $24 for like 18 rolls. Amazon.

Yikes. Scott's is as good as sandpaper, speaking as a toilet paper connoisseur, among other particular commodities.

What do Scott tissue and Thor have in common? They are both rough and tough and don't take chit off nobody.

Yes, years ago the joke used John Wayne as the comparison, but since he's long passed I tried to think of an actor who fit the bill for modern times. As far as actual actors go, none of them worked. Bruce Willis, Steven Segal, Tom Cruise, the Rock, none of them are true bad asses like John Wayne was. Oh well.

Long before this pandemic, some people simply chose to stock up on certain things and not have to buy them frequently. This was efficient if they had small cars, traveled far for groceries, or needed to bring kids to the store with them. It was not a big deal until TP went awol and became a thing, lol!

Now, I am getting my allotted one of whatever brands of TP, kleenex, and paper towels were available moments ago delivered to my house. I could fetch them when next I am near a club, but I need my car space for other things that are only for pick up and/or are at places near the club store. (I have an upcoming eye exam out of town which places me near club stores and other places for quality foods that we both can eat. I have to take advantage of travel time and small car space!)

This is an interesting conversation about prices of some of these supplies. Although I have seen price increases in the grocery stores around here they have been reasonable considering the circumstances of added costs the stores have to bear right now in my opinion, This includes paper towels when I have seen them and even toilet paper. The state has a rule against price gouging [oag.ca.gov] during a declared emergency so perhaps that is why, at least where I live the prices have not risen much. I do not know if these rules extend to things ordered online esp if the online company is not headquartered in this state.

@Tarantado wrote:

@shoptastic wrote:

I think around 3AM I saw some Scott toilet paper. $24 for like 18 rolls. Amazon.

Yikes. Scott's is as good as sandpaper, speaking as a toilet paper connoisseur, among other particular commodities.

Noted! Off my buy list.

I bought the largest quantities available and have free shipping. The price paid was higher than what I usually pay in a typical store but the cost per unit was low compared to typical stores. In a typical store, my one per customer ruling would yield smaller sizes and less of each product. Online, my one per customer regulation yielded larger sizes and more of each product. This method makes it possible to focus on finding the best food buys and making the most of them. It will not work for people who have no storage space or who buy a little of everything frequently. It's all good, really.

@sandyf wrote:

This is an interesting conversation about prices of some of these supplies. Although I have seen price increases in the grocery stores around here they have been reasonable considering the circumstances of added costs the stores have to bear right now in my opinion, This includes paper towels when I have seen them and even toilet paper. The state has a rule against price gouging [oag.ca.gov] during a declared emergency so perhaps that is why, at least where I live the prices have not risen much. I do not know if these rules extend to things ordered online esp if the online company is not headquartered in this state.

Raising prices due to increase marginal costs throughout the supply chain isn't price gouging, which is why prices for many commodities HAS indeed risen. How do I know? I personally track pricing on my own purposes like this personally for my own purposes and there indeed IS a price increase on many commodities right now, at least out here in my area of Colorado.

That is what I am saying. I see marginal increases in my neighborhood but I do not see price gouging. A pack a paper towels or tissues or even tp when they have it is essentially the same price as before. Perhaps 10% more. I have not seen outrageous prices on anything in the traditional stores I shop at like the ones reported on this site...Toilet paper is not being sold by the roll at huge prices, in fact some restaurants are giving away a roll of toilet paper with each take out or delivery order. The dollar store had some off brand 4 pack for $1. Costco right now has for delivery Charmin 30 pack 215 sheets extra soft for $26.99 including delivery. That is a decent price for the extra soft stuff which costs more. It does say you need to be a member but if you know one in your area they could order for you.

@Tarantado wrote:

@sandyf wrote:

This is an interesting conversation about prices of some of these supplies. Although I have seen price increases in the grocery stores around here they have been reasonable considering the circumstances of added costs the stores have to bear right now in my opinion, This includes paper towels when I have seen them and even toilet paper. The state has a rule against price gouging [oag.ca.gov] during a declared emergency so perhaps that is why, at least where I live the prices have not risen much. I do not know if these rules extend to things ordered online esp if the online company is not headquartered in this state.

Raising prices due to increase marginal costs throughout the supply chain isn't price gouging, which is why prices for many commodities HAS indeed risen. How do I know? I personally track pricing on my own purposes like this personally for my own purposes and there indeed IS a price increase on many commodities right now, at least out here in my area of Colorado.

@shoptastic wrote:

@Tarantado wrote:

@shoptastic wrote:

I think around 3AM I saw some Scott toilet paper. $24 for like 18 rolls. Amazon.

Yikes. Scott's is as good as sandpaper, speaking as a toilet paper connoisseur, among other particular commodities.

Noted! Off my buy list.

They could make good napkins. We're using TP and paper towels for napkins anyways right now.

@Shop-et-al wrote:

Now, I am getting my allotted one of whatever brands of TP, kleenex, and paper towels were available moments ago delivered to my house.

Remember to leave non-perishables out for 72 hours+ before bringing them in the house. We put our's in the garage for 3 days before brining them in. Same with mail.

@SteveSoCal wrote:

@Tarantado wrote:

@Niner wrote:

Where do you store a year's worth of toilet paper?

In the garage.

When the last TP roll goes on the spindle, I put a replacement pack on my shopping list. When I exhaust the cat litter box, I go buy a new one.

Hmmm. Toilet paper and a litter box. Good idea! This will make toilets obsolete and save on the water bill!

@SteveSoCal wrote:

@Tarantado wrote:

@Niner wrote:

Where do you store a year's worth of toilet paper?

In the garage.

Not everyone has a garage. I think only about 70% of Americans live in single family homes. I don't even have cupboards in my bathroom.

That said, for me, a years supply of TP is a pack of 12 double rolls, apparently. I've learned that it's everyone else who comes into my home who uses up the TP!

You can stuff them in various spots too: under the bed, under the dining room table (we do this), up against walls, etc. TP doesn't take up as much space as you'd think (esp. if one stacks high). A year's worth is very easy to store.

We keep the box of stuff that needs to be shredded under the dining room table. (small space) Aaaaanywaaaayyyy.. We have a closet that holds approximately: 25% coats; 25% kitchen appliances which greatly exceed the scarcely noticeable kitchen space; 25% stuff on a shelf that is a sorting project and will go away eventually; and 25% paper goods.

@shoptastic wrote:

@SteveSoCal wrote:

@Tarantado wrote:

@Niner wrote:

Where do you store a year's worth of toilet paper?

In the garage.

Not everyone has a garage. I think only about 70% of Americans live in single family homes. I don't even have cupboards in my bathroom.

That said, for me, a years supply of TP is a pack of 12 double rolls, apparently. I've learned that it's everyone else who comes into my home who uses up the TP!

You can stuff them in various spots too: under the bed, under the dining room table (we do this), up against walls, etc. TP doesn't take up as much space as you'd think (esp. if one stacks high). A year's worth is very easy to store.

What is considered a decent Amazon price for TP during COVID-19?

I'm seeing roughly $1.50 to $2.00 per roll on average from browsing.

eta: For reference, one roll of Amazon's Presto brand = 200 sheets.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/23/2020 07:53PM by shoptastic.

@shoptastic wrote:

What is considered a decent Amazon price for TP during COVID-19?

I'm seeing roughly $1.50 to $2.00 per roll on average from browsing.

Depends on the brand and type, as not all TP is created equal.

@Tarantado wrote:

@shoptastic wrote:

What is considered a decent Amazon price for TP during COVID-19?

I'm seeing roughly $1.50 to $2.00 per roll on average from browsing.

Depends on the brand and type, as not all TP is created equal.

How much DO YOU pay, as the resident TP connoisseur?

I'm seeing "used" Bounty paper towels on Amazon. That doesn't mean they're opened right? I'm assuming someone bought them from a store and is reselling them?

When I was growing up we had a rather "open" household and rarely closed the bathroom door all the way when going "#1". When I was about 9 or 10 years old, we got a new cat after my first kitty got ran over. He was very needy and always wanted to be with us, and he didn't like being excluded. If I shut my bedroom door he would howl to come in (Siamese cat, that howl is atrocious). Anyway, he would push the bathroom door open to see what was going on whenever someone went into the bathroom. After a few weeks, he decided he didn't want to use the litterbox anymore and started using the toilet. We never could get him to flush it, though. I will never forget the first time I walked in on him and saw him perched up on the toilet...I screamed for my mom to come quick! He was startled too and nearly fell in. But it was really nice not having to clean the litter box anymore.

I thought he was the bidet king.

@shoptastic wrote:

@Tarantado wrote:

@shoptastic wrote:

What is considered a decent Amazon price for TP during COVID-19?

I'm seeing roughly $1.50 to $2.00 per roll on average from browsing.

Depends on the brand and type, as not all TP is created equal.

How much DO YOU pay, as the resident TP connoisseur?

@JASFLALMT wrote:

I thought he was the bidet king.

Apparently, both!

@shoptastic wrote:

How much DO YOU pay, as the resident TP connoisseur?

Right now, I'm holding back from buying as long as I have enough in my own supply.

I'll consider only my personal 3 grades: A, B and C. F's, I won't even entertain....

The A Grade, The price for my all-time favorite toilet paper Charmin Ultra Strong, is pricing out to be a whopping ~$0.0037/sheet, which is waaaaay over my price point for this (originally at $0.0022/sheet or lower, post-tax and post-coupons). I would also add in Quilted Northern Ultra Plush Three-Ply in the A Grade, as this is one of the few quality toilet papers AND it's 3-ply!!!

B grade, I'd consider Charmin Ultra Soft, Kirkland Ultra Soft and Amazon's Brand Presto! At the moment, the price point is around ~$0.0037/sheet post-tax as well!

C-Grade, I'd throw in Cottonelle Ultra ComfortCare, Angel Soft and Quilted Northern Ultra Soft & Strong (DIFFERENT FROM THE Ultra Plush 3-Ply!!!). These are close to the $0.0022/sheet price point right now, but I'd rather ensure my guests and family who lives with me have the best TP possible!

Hope that helps!

I was thinking about the throne and all that...apparently he reigns supreme in the TP world, as I concur with his quality analysis, other than I think that the Northern Ultra Soft and Strong is a C+ and Angel Soft is a C-..

@shoptastic wrote:

@JASFLALMT wrote:

I thought he was the bidet king.

Apparently, both!

@shoptastic wrote:

Room over the garage too.

We have a walk up space over the garage (barn) that we have never used for anything. I suppose we could use it to store toilet paper.

As long as it is low humidity. I really think that the TP panic buying is almost over, though. People out in CA are finding it on the shelves regularly now. But, if you want to stay out of public, it does make sense to stock up on supplies so you don't have to leave the house.