OK, this thread has NOTHING to with detailing, but (no pun intended.. toilet tissue and "but"...yes, it's lame to have to explain the associated play on English words) we went to Costco and found not a bundle of toilet tissue rolls. Nothing, notta, zip, zero inventory. I asked an Costco associate where the toilet paper was, and he said its 15 pallets inventory of both Kirkland and Charmin brands sold out over the weekend. When asked when they expected a new shipment of either brand, he suggested I ask at the customer service desk because it was not his department responsibility to do know inventory ordering, which is understandable. Still, why the panic buying???
As it turns out, apparently the new executive order on new 50% tariffs on our neighboring country of Canada will raise the price on such a necessary home commodity because 30% of the raw paper tissue rolls used to make toilet tissue comes from our Canadian trading partner to the north (according to Google AI). AND news media outlets hype this information, making the (somewhat correct) announcement that toilet tissue will shortly become much more expensive OR in short supply, and this information is hyped even more on social media platforms or forums (like Captain Obvious is doing right now on Autopia!)
So this "news" and assumption has set off ANOTHER wave of panic buying on toilet tissue paper.
Should you or I buy the hype and panic???
Shortage, no; higher price, yes.
Having worked in the paper industry here in Wisconsin so important to this state's economy, I do know for a fact that since President Clinton's mid -1990's North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA has shifted raw paper pulp production to Canada for a number of economic and environmental issues and caused the closure of many pulp and paper production mills over time here in Wisconsin since NAFTA's inception. Many sit idle and are abandoned buildings with the pulping equipment sold and moved elsewhere or have been converted to making a different type of paper. Producing wood pulp and raw tissue paper again at Wisconsin mills to meet domestic demand is not something that will happen overnight or even in the immediate short term, hence my questioning of the validity of the executive ordered tariffs and the associated expected increase in this commodity cost. The raw paper tissue is still being produced in Canada, so I do not think there will be a shortage of tissue, unlike the 2020 COVID-19 epidemic which shut down many industries and inter-dependent supply chains and did cause a short-term shortage of toilet paper and ensuing panic buying.
So if you are concerned, I will let you decide if you are going to stock up on toilet paper at the current price. Just don't be surprised if you find less inventory at the places where you buy it from because you aren't the only one thinking this.
Edit: Today (Thur., September 3rd) went to buy weekly groceries at Woodman's Markets (larger Wisconsin -based chain) and they had TONS of toilet tissue, some of their generic brand (Fiona) was on sale. So, NO, there was no shortage of toilet paper at the grocery store I shop at. Now if they were anticipating a panic buy of this commonly used and necessary commodity OR if they were getting a larger-than-normal shipment to lock in a current market price in anticipation of near-future price increase, I don't know because I did not talk to store manager. But based on their current inventory of toilet paper, they are well-positioned on both accounts, at least for the short term. I say short term because Woodman's has a very large customer base and all it takes is a social media blitz & panic to quickly deplete a large inventory.
As it turns out, apparently the new executive order on new 50% tariffs on our neighboring country of Canada will raise the price on such a necessary home commodity because 30% of the raw paper tissue rolls used to make toilet tissue comes from our Canadian trading partner to the north (according to Google AI). AND news media outlets hype this information, making the (somewhat correct) announcement that toilet tissue will shortly become much more expensive OR in short supply, and this information is hyped even more on social media platforms or forums (like Captain Obvious is doing right now on Autopia!)
So this "news" and assumption has set off ANOTHER wave of panic buying on toilet tissue paper.
Should you or I buy the hype and panic???
Shortage, no; higher price, yes.
Having worked in the paper industry here in Wisconsin so important to this state's economy, I do know for a fact that since President Clinton's mid -1990's North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA has shifted raw paper pulp production to Canada for a number of economic and environmental issues and caused the closure of many pulp and paper production mills over time here in Wisconsin since NAFTA's inception. Many sit idle and are abandoned buildings with the pulping equipment sold and moved elsewhere or have been converted to making a different type of paper. Producing wood pulp and raw tissue paper again at Wisconsin mills to meet domestic demand is not something that will happen overnight or even in the immediate short term, hence my questioning of the validity of the executive ordered tariffs and the associated expected increase in this commodity cost. The raw paper tissue is still being produced in Canada, so I do not think there will be a shortage of tissue, unlike the 2020 COVID-19 epidemic which shut down many industries and inter-dependent supply chains and did cause a short-term shortage of toilet paper and ensuing panic buying.
So if you are concerned, I will let you decide if you are going to stock up on toilet paper at the current price. Just don't be surprised if you find less inventory at the places where you buy it from because you aren't the only one thinking this.
Edit: Today (Thur., September 3rd) went to buy weekly groceries at Woodman's Markets (larger Wisconsin -based chain) and they had TONS of toilet tissue, some of their generic brand (Fiona) was on sale. So, NO, there was no shortage of toilet paper at the grocery store I shop at. Now if they were anticipating a panic buy of this commonly used and necessary commodity OR if they were getting a larger-than-normal shipment to lock in a current market price in anticipation of near-future price increase, I don't know because I did not talk to store manager. But based on their current inventory of toilet paper, they are well-positioned on both accounts, at least for the short term. I say short term because Woodman's has a very large customer base and all it takes is a social media blitz & panic to quickly deplete a large inventory.
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