Costco Is Facing Major Shortages of Essential Items—Here's What We Know
If you’re going to Costco to buy food in bulk, you might have trouble finding everything you need. Some Costco shoppers have said they can’t find things like toilet paper, paper towels, eggs, and bottled water because more people are shopping there. People are talking about this on social media.
Ongoing Shortages
Recent reports indicate that Costco stores in various locations are running out of key products, especially paper products like toilet paper and paper towels.
One shopper noted on a Reddit discussion: “I went today. I am legit down to three rolls of toilet paper and completely out of paper towels. There was none. Also no bottled water except for Pellegrino and no eggs.”
In some cases, shortages are even extending to other essentials like flour, sugar, and rice. “I went to Costco last night for my once-a-month trip and there was no paper towels, toilet paper, sugar, rice, or flour,” another Redditor said, comparing the situation to the mass panic buying at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Potential Causes of Shortages
Some shoppers believe that Costco’s current stock issues may be linked to panic buying in response to a major port strike that began on the East Coast.
The strike is expected to disrupt the supply of imported items such as bananas, alcohol, and cherries. Although toilet paper production is predominantly based in North America and is unlikely to be directly affected by the strike, many customers are still purchasing it in large quantities as a precaution.
“They didn’t have any Kirkland TP at my store yesterday. The guy who was working back there said that people came in yesterday and panic bought it all,” shared one Reddit user, suggesting that shoppers are anticipating future shortages.
Impact of Panic Buying
Panic buying, which became widespread during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, appears to be a driving force behind the current stock issues at Costco.
As shoppers rush to stock up on essentials, particularly toilet paper and paper towels, the increased demand has left shelves empty in many locations.
It’s essential to note that product availability may vary across Costco locations, so some stores may still have stock of the affected items. However, reports of shortages are becoming increasingly common, making it clear that the issue is not isolated to just a few stores.
What To Expect Going Forward
Costco has yet to issue an official statement addressing the current shortages or the potential impact of the East Coast port strike.
While toilet paper production is unlikely to be affected directly by the strike, other imported items could see supply disruptions in the coming weeks.
As a result, customers may continue to see certain products, including toilet paper, paper towels, and food staples like eggs and bottled water, in short supply at their local Costco.
We don’t know yet if the company will do anything to fix these shortages or get more items in stock faster in the next few weeks.
How To Navigate The Shortages
If you’re going to Costco soon & are worried about finding important things, call ahead or check online for updates.
You can also try buying different brands of paper towels or using filtered water pitchers instead of bottled water. Stay calm and don’t panic buy, as this makes things worse.
With some planning, you can still get what you need, even when things are busy. Costco shoppers in different areas are having trouble finding things like paper products and food.
The combination of increased demand, panic buying, and potential supply chain disruptions from the ongoing port strike may continue to affect product availability in the coming weeks.
For now, shoppers should plan their trips carefully and be flexible with their grocery lists to navigate the ongoing shortages effectively.
