If you’re running low on a critical household item, you may be in trouble. The toilet tissue aisles are empty like it was the pandemic!
You may have heard about two big stories that have happened recently. One is Hurricane Helene, which caused a line of damage through several southeastern states. The other is a strike at East Coast ports. If you haven’t heard about them, your fellow shoppers have, and they’re emptying toilet tissue aisles in record speed.
The biggest reason for the run on toilet tissue seems to be the strike, which involves International Longshoremen Association workers who are demanding more pay and protection from automation.
People seem to think that buying up toilet paper will protect them if the strike goes on too long. That way, whenever the merchandise headed into the nation’s ports can’t be unloaded, they’ll still have their toilet tissue.
The problem should be clear, however. If not, let me give you a little spoiler alert: America doesn’t import toilet tissue! I’m sure there are some people out there — the kind with more dollars than sense — who might like the idea of importing some ritzy toilet paper from some exotic location. I’m far too cheap for anything like that.
A ports strike isn’t going to affect the nation’s supply of Charmin, Scott or whatever your brand of preference happens to be. It doesn’t have to be shipped in; it’s already here. Made in America!
Could it be hurricane relief? I’m not betting on it
Some people have suggested that at least part of the reason toilet tissue aisle may have been cleared out is the hurricane. Lots of people are trying to gather supplies that victims will need. So I suppose it’s possible some of that toilet tissue is actually being purchased to be donated.
Maybe. But on the other hand, some stores are reporting being out of milk, too. Shipping toilet tissue somewhere as part of a relief kit is one thing. No one is sending milk they purchase from a grocery store unrefrigerated.
After seeing people hoarding the stuff during the pandemic when the old “supply chain” excuse seemed to apply to everything, I have my doubts about that level of charity.
In my case, I merely browsed the toilet tissue aisle out of curiosity. That’s one of those things I only buy when it’s on sale because when it isn’t, the price is outrageous. And since two different retailers I shop with recently had 12-packs on sale for a somewhat reasonable price, I already stocked up. I can wait quite a while before I need any additional supply.
So I don’t have a dog in that particular hunt.
Except to say that if you’re worried about your overseas toilet tissue not being able to get to port, you’re probably barking up the wrong tree.