METAIRIE, La. — Shoppers may be asking themselves whether they need to start stocking up on supplies because of the strike happening at the ports. Well, experts say it's not necessary, you don't need to rush to the supermarket and stock up on water and toilet paper.
WWL Louisiana stopped by Sam's Club where shoppers were doing just that. Darrin Songy said, "Just stocking up, trying to at least, I came here and it's like Christmas time around here, it's craziness."
Port workers are on strike, demanding more money and protection from automation.
But when work at the port stops, the question is, will there be ripple effects? Tulane business associate Professor Daniel Mochon says, "In the short run there won't be much of an effect but if it lasts long enough we may see some shortages on the shelves."
Mochon said, what leads to shortages is irrational panic buying, saying, "People are buying things not because there are shortages, but because they're seeing other people panic."
Berrill Breaud said, "The people in there try to run over you and stuff like that just try and rush to get the next thing, it's just crazy. Like we always see, it's those necessary items consumers see flying off shelves when people panic buy."
Breaud said, "It was a madhouse they were out of toilet paper, and paper towels, and the store is just about empty."
Sam's Club shoppers like Songy say that was exactly the case at the outlet's Metairie location. "I was trying to buy toilet paper and paper towels but they're out."
Others like Joe Marino are concerned about the accessibility of fresh fruit, he said, "I came to Sam's because we were worried about the fruits, to stack up and be available, very curious on how the strike."
Tulane professor Gary Hoover says if the strike wraps up soon, we won't see any impacts, but if it drags on, supplies like the toilet paper and water you're panic buying will dissipate. Ultimately, the less of a product, the higher the price.
Songy said, "I'm sure prices are going to go up, they're already going up, that's not my concern, it's availability."
Professor Hoover says the impacts will only last as long as the strike itself.
Remember toilet paper is made in America, we aren't importing toilet paper. A Sam's Club spokesperson said, "We are seeing elevated demand for certain items – most of which are manufactured in the U.S. – in clubs across the country. Because of the health of our supply chain network, we remain confident in our ability to deliver for members."
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