Summary
This Coles supermarket customer notice limiting the sale of toilet paper was issued on 8th March 2020 during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic in Melbourne.
This notice references the toilet paper panic buying that was happening around the world in early 2020, and which began in Melbourne during February. Coles supermarkets introduced a 1 pack limit for toilet paper on 8th March to control supply and to try to provide equitable availability of product to all customers. Unfortunately, despite this restriction, toilet paper remained in short supply until mid-late April.
From Australia to Asia, and Europe to the USA, consumers stockpiled toilet paper in response to the fear and uncertainty about the impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic would bring. The panic buying blitz led to widespread stock shortages, leaving many consumers without this household staple for several months and manufacturers working around the clock to keep up with demand.
Physical Description
Rectangular yellow printed paper notice with black text, and a red and white circle on the left side.
More Information
-
Collection Names
-
Collecting Areas
-
Issued By
Coles, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 March 2020
Coles media release on their website states that the 1 pack of toilet paper limit was introduced on 8 March 2020. It is unclear when exactly this notice dates from and may have been in use between this date and mid-late April when limits were removed. -
Inscriptions
Front, left, printed: White circle and red ring encircling the words in black text, 'Customer / Notice' Front, right, printed, black text: "Due to the current high demand for Toilet / Paper we have introduced a temporary limit / of 1 pack per transaction. This will help to / maintain availability for all our customers. / Thank you for your patience, we apologise / for any inconvenience caused."
-
Classification
-
Category
-
Discipline
-
Type of item
-
Overall Dimensions
210 mm (Length), 74 mm (Width)
-
References
[Link 1] - accessed 13 May 2020.
-
Keywords
Retail Sales, Epidemics, Public Health, Consumerism, Toilet Paper, Infectious Diseases, Supermarkets, Panic Buying, COVID-19 Pandemic, Pandemics
