1 bottle of hand sanitizer, $4; due bottles, $95: what one supermarket is doing to keep people from panic-buying
After a month of mandatory quarantine, we're probably pretty used to seeing the disinfectant and medical supply aisles at pharmacies and supermarkets completely empty. Clearly, people don't handle health epidemics very well and their panic-buying shows it.
After seeing their costumers buy unnecessary amounts of sanitary products, like hand sanitizer, preventive masks, and rubber gloves, one supermarket decided to take action. Their way of preventing people from panic-buying may seem a bit unorthodox, but it turned out to be a rather effective tactic.
via Metro UK
Rotunden, a popular supermarket chain in Denmark, is known for going over and beyond for their costumers. Their goal is to supply their costumers with whatever they need, including selling certain items in larger numbers. Selling items in larger quantities, however, doesn't mean let one costumer take what's in stock and leave nothing for the rest.
That's when Rotunden decided to change they way they sold their health crisis items, like hand sanitizer and facemasks. Now, if their costumers want to buy more than one bottle of hand sanitizer, it will cost them dearly. While one bottle costs roughly $4, 2 bottles will cost a costumer $95!
Rotunden's decision is a bit unorthodox, but they were tired of seeing costumer's think only about themselves. In an open letter posted on their Facebook page, the supermarket chain wrote:
"Dear costumers,
We are charged with the responsability of keeping our doors open during the health crisis and we can only do so with the help an cooperation of everyone. We ask for your help in the following ways:
- Practice social distancing, mainting 6ft between not only yourselves but also our employees.
- Disinfect your hands upon entry and wear gloves at all times.
- If you are a family, choose one person from the family to do the shopping, if possible.
There may be moments in which we limit the number of costumers who can enter the store at one time. We will keep you updated if changes in our hours of operation occur. For now, take care of yourselves and thank you for your cooperation."
Some of these requests may seem a bit unusual, but desperate times call for desperate measures!
