A MOUNT Gambier supermarket owner has called for the toilet paper buying frenzy to end amid growing concerns the shortfall is impacting on disabled and sick people in the community.
“I saw an older woman in a wheelchair crying in the toilet paper aisle because there was none left – that broke my heart,” Foodland Mount Gambier owner Raj Chauhan said.
Describing the hoarding of toilet paper as “disgusting”, he called on the wider community not to panic given there would be no shortage of toilet paper supplies if people acted rationally.
“This is not a supermarket responsibility. This is the time where we have to act sincerely and individually. Each person has to act responsibly,” the supermarket owner said.
Foreshadowing there could be some shortages on some supermarket items “down the track”, he said the coronavirus impact would not affect the supply of toilet paper.
As an interim measure, Mr Chauhan has quarantined some toilet paper to ensure people who were sick, disabled or elderly could access the product amid the toilet paper buying crisis sweeping Mount Gambier outlets.
The panic buying fuelled by coronavirus fears has seen toilet paper shelves – worth thousands of dollars – stripped across the Blue Lake city.
Some supermarkets have had not toilet paper on the shelves for days.
“I see people grabbing three or four packs and not even caring about other people. This is not who we are as a community,” Mr Chauhan told The Border Watch.
“As soon as I put toilet paper on the shelves, they are gone.”
Mr Chauhan said his supermarket had tried to put a limit on shoppers buying multiple packets but this policy was “not working”.
“Some people are putting one in a trolley and putting it in the car and coming back three to four times,” he said.
“This is very unethical to be honest – they should not be doing it. They are not thinking about disabled kids and people who are relying on it.”
He also condemned the practice of people attempting to sell toilet paper online for exorbitant amounts of money.
“They are buying three or four packets of toilet paper and putting them on Ebay for sale. This is not how we act as true Australians,” Mr Chauhan added.
“I am trying my best to help my community. Any person who is in need or is desperate, I have some stocks of toilet paper for people who are just out of hospital, sick kids or who are disabled.”
He said he had already given toilet paper to people recently discharged from hospital free of charge.
Fortunately, Mr Chauhan said a number of trucks carrying toilet paper would arrive today to restock the supermarket’s empty shelves.
But he said the supermarket would now not allow customers to purchase additional toilet paper if they come back into the store after already a purchasing pack.
“If they come back again, they will have to show us the receipt showing they did not buy toilet paper from here,” Mr Chauhan said.
While the supermarket did not want to take this measure, he said something needed to be done to protect supply for the wider community.
“Let’s see whether it works or not,” Mr Chauhan said.
With trucks coming today and last night, he said Foodland Mount Gambier had ordered a significant amount of toilet paper.
“On Sunday we sold seven pallets of toilet paper – one pallet is worth between $5000 and $6000,” Mr Chauhan revealed.
He said the company sold a staggering nine pallets on Saturday and 10 on Friday.
“I have seen a few people buying tissues and paper towel to try and replace toilet paper they cannot buy.”
Mr Chauhan also warned people not to panic buy other items and store them in the cupboard or fridge given they could expire.
He revealed there had been an upswing in demand for rice, pet food and infant formula.
“We already have a strict limitation already in place regarding infant formula,” the supermarket owner said.
