Serious question - is this normal? In Washington State

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Starlight_Alchemy@reddit

I live in central Illinois and our local Aldi has been out of gallon drinking water for a few weeks now. Could be a coincidence but definitely not the usual.

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That’s a small sample size. It could be a store that’s lazy at stocking. Or it could be one small event bought up all of a certain brand. Was there a small concert? A high school football game? I don’t think I’d worry yet but I’d continue to monitor it and stay prepared yourself.

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lucifer2990@reddit

Most waters are stocked by the soda vendor, not the store. They only come to the store maybe once a day.

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PoorClassWarRoom@reddit

Just one pushback. The clerks aren't lazy, they're just not paid enough for the shit they deal with nor are they given enough time off to recuperate. Who wants Monday Wednesday as their possible 2 days off?

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mentalhealthabets@reddit

Idk but me as a full time working parent wouldn't mind

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itsavibe-@reddit

Always stay prepared.

Don’t follow the herd

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br8indr8in@reddit

My kid went to the Safeway today and the front cooler where all the single sodas, coffees, teas, waters, etc was all empty too. Also Washington state. I understand the concept of restocking but I've never seen it so empty, it definitely stood out.

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ccarriecc@reddit

Also Washington State. I noticed super empty shelves at the gas station I always stop at in Leavenworth - I couldn't even find Fritos - but it had just been Labor Day Weekend and tons of people came to town and the restock trucks hadn't come yet on Tuesday. I wasn't worried.

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Rada_Ionesco@reddit

That looks like every Walmart near me on the east coast, every day. They can't keep the water stocked, ever. Can you tell I hate that store? They also charge outrageous money for water.

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Main-Perception-3332@reddit

Completely normal in the walmart near me. They are terrible at keeping shelves stocked.

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DwarvenRedshirt@reddit

If every store is like that, I'd be wondering if there was something in the weather forecast. If it's just one, then I would assume it's just timing on their water shipment.

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AutomaticPain3532@reddit

Pretty common in probably any city.

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bostonmic317@reddit

A sale on a specific brand of water? That seems normal.

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TK_4Two1@reddit

gif

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north_coast_nomad@reddit

I'm not your guy, pal

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bmoEZnyc@reddit

I'm not your pal, friend.

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Sunandsipcups@reddit

Wildfire season. I know a lot of people buy out bottled water cases, and jugs like this, to donate to fire stations.

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Safe_Mix_515@reddit

Perhaps People of Walmart be thirsty ....now what's soda section look like?

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WeeklySoup4065@reddit

No, it's not. Get in your bomb shelter and hug your canned beans. We're all about to die

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Safe_Mix_515@reddit

Beans and a lighter and you'll have your very own personal flamethrower

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Beneficial_Fuel1579@reddit (OP)

Redditors 😭

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Lainpilled-Loser-GF@reddit

bud, as someone that worked at a Walmart, water is always gone. People buy that shit up always, it's not an indicator of anything. within a 2-day period, my Walmart would run completely out if nobody was there to restock it and that happened semi-frequently

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Nearby_Hall_1318@reddit

I was kind of feeling the same thing here lately, I'm over here in Bentonville Arkansas, (Walmart was founded here and we usually never EVER have empty spaces because of the amt of distribution centers and Walmarts in close proximity(over 30 supercenter / neighborhood market locations in just our metro area) but here lately..)

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Abject-Bar-3370@reddit

summer at walmart

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Scottamemnon@reddit

That’s not a shortage… look up stock pictures of a hurricane coming in Florida if you want to know what to look for.

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Spare-Can-8219@reddit

Every week in my Walmart the shelves are bare. I notice a lot of people that are from other countries that came to America I’ve been more frequently than Americans born here.

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Which-Membership144@reddit

Paranoia will destroy ya, and I got a lot maybe too much for ya

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GrouchyAnnual2810@reddit

Stockers lazy

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AgateDragon@reddit

I see empty slots like that all the time in my local Appalachian Walmart, especially in the water area.

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The_Dreadlord@reddit

There are shortages here in TX. So far its mostly just coffee.

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JoplinSC742@reddit

In the event of supply chain shocks like we saw in 2020, people will clear entire aisles. There won't be anything left, name brand or otherwise.

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Fragrant_Lobster_917@reddit

Yes, hot days call for more water drank

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Worldly_Butterfly_21@reddit

This is my level of anxiety 😆 I feel for you ❤️

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adoptagreyhound@reddit

This is "just in time" inventory at work. The store has enough to fill the case for that day's sales, or maybe a few days depending on the truck schedule. If there's a run on anything for any reason, expect empty shelves until the next truck.

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Old_lifter_65@reddit

Water?

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cottoncandymandy@reddit

Yes. I worked in a grocery store for years and years. People buy a lot of water. Sometimes, there's no time to restock when it's empty. Sometimes deliveries are late. Sometimes, there are just not enough people to stock. Anytime there's bad weather, hot weather, any type of snow storm you'll see shelves like this. Bread and milk also.

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yingele@reddit

It's not normal. Drinkable tap water is.

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Upstairs-Parsley3151@reddit

The tap water is bad in Washington

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SeattleHighlander@reddit

False.

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Upstairs-Parsley3151@reddit

https://www.thestranger.com/news/2017/05/02/25119763/washington-ranks-high-on-list-of-states-with-safe-drinking-water-violations

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SeattleHighlander@reddit

You read the entire article right?

I ran a water system in Washington state in a rural area. Washington has some of the toughest water regulations in the country.

What Washington does have is high levels of arsenic in groundwater. What isn't mentioned is that Washington state has the lowest level of tolerance for contamination.

I stand by my statement with fifteen years of experience. If a seattle public utility is crying fake news, you might want to take a look.

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Upstairs-Parsley3151@reddit

I read a fake article and didn't realize it was bad information.

But yes, self reporting yourself for violations shouldn't be penalized.

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ControlledVoltage@reddit

Summer time. Hot. Yeah. Very normal..

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ControlledVoltage@reddit

I live there. Damn.

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Ra_a_@reddit

Yes it is normal

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Dream-Ambassador@reddit

Normal for summertime weekends especially since it’s some of the last few good camping weekends.

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Hungry_Bandicoot_776@reddit

If tin foil is also sold out it might be a sign something is coming. Buy some of those and make your own handle out of duct tape. Outsmart them all

gif

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BigNastyBoil@reddit

There's water RIGHT THERE this is a normal stocking level near me. Stay out of walmart.

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bftrollin402@reddit

This is what the walmart neighborhood market looks like by me all the time

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its_endogenous@reddit

Somebody had a case of the sips

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Substantial_Gate_197@reddit

There are so many gallons of water in this picture alone lmao crazy sub

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bracewithnomeaning@reddit

It's a sign of the water Nazis, Walter.

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boneappletv@reddit

It’s Sunday night. Lots of areas of grocery stores run low at this time.

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dingleberry_sorbet@reddit

as a former stocker of milk and water at an often understaffed Walmart, this happened like every Sunday. Every day even at the right time. Gallon slinging is a tough job and my wrists paid for it.

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Nomadnetic@reddit

They might have been out of stock in the warehouse, or the department head didn't order enough for when the truck came in. It happens.

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DRKMSTR@reddit

More people from other countries rely on store drinking water because tap water is not safe where the come from - even in the EU.

So you're just seeing that you have more immigrants in your area, that's all.

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Bastilleinstructor@reddit

In my state, clear across the country, its like this all the time. Sometimes I have to go to several stores for distilled water, sometimes they are out of bottled water. Its hit and miss. Ita been this way for three or 4 years now, and I couldn't even guess as to why.

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CalligrapherMinute68@reddit

So not to fear monger - I live in south Florida & this is exactly how my local Walmart looks. Some worse than others.

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DizzyObject78@reddit

Lol wut

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Frandapie@reddit

Was common, in Washington state, when I regularly got those jugs for my own drinking water up to 2019. So if say it's pretty normal if you're stopping by in the evening

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TheLocalMusketeer@reddit

Happens all the time in my local area (Pa). Low on stock, will likely be refilled in the next day or two.

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BurmeciaWillSurvive@reddit

My well went out on Friday and basically had to buy all of these to give to the neighbors my well goes to before we could get it fixed. I mean I'm in Idaho, not Washington, but sometimes there's a very benign answer

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Dissasociaties@reddit

Certainly panic buy the rest of it and don't get a bag to bag water filter with a membrane and extra activated carbon filter

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kreemerz@reddit

We have so many bottled waters nowadays. Too many, to be Hindus honest.

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SoupOfThe90z@reddit

In Arizona, a bunch of shelves were empty at the top. Turns out they’re just moving around products.

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revan12281996@reddit

If its the same on Tuesday then wirry6

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Reneeisme@reddit

On Sunday night? Yeah

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throwawayt44c@reddit

Bro says that while totally glossing over the powerhouse of flavor and value that is Crystal Geyser...

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Foe117@reddit

That bent water bottle isn't normal

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moretodolater@reddit

Bottled water supply should be one of the least of an actual preppers concerns vs actual food at the grocery store. If you’re concerned about water, buy some backpacking filters, tablets, and invest in bladders and poly tanks for your home if this is disturbing to you.

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thepvbrother@reddit

They're going to restock soon, or was there a power outage in your area lately, or a water main break? I've bought 10 at a time under those conditions

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Majestic-Bowler-6184@reddit

Doesn't look normal. May be just cos of the day and season, but...well, damn it, I dunno if I take much at face value these days. Just keep calm and prep on.

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dudinax@reddit

At Costco the other day, probably 3 out of 4 customers had two or more flats of bottled water. People have been stocking up.

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Babzibaum@reddit

I recall them having flats of water on sale. Probably wants to reduce inventory due to slower sales

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Throwawayconcern2023@reddit

Hows the pizza looking

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strings___@reddit

Hold on, I'll turn the tap on here in Canada. 🚰

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SamanathaTheGreat@reddit

Yes. Wire rack shelving is used all over the place. Not just in Washington State.

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MajesticImpress6967@reddit

When I was a stocker we stocked water overnight on Mondays around 3 am, so I wouldn't be concerned, it's the weekend

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FunCoffee4819@reddit

Anyone seriously stocking up on water isn’t buying 500ml bottles.

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makk73@reddit

Standard Sunday night at Walmart water wise , tbh.

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Johnny-Unitas@reddit

Post a picture tomorrow afternoon. It will be restocked.

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sagephoenix1139@reddit

I'm in Southern California and this is what my Walmart looked like on Friday...(In this same aisle).

It prompted me to take a position to notice other areas of the store...and that aisle was the only one reminiscent of COVID days. (Still plenty of toilet paper 😁).

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Benny-Vader@reddit

I wouldn't immediately be concerned. When I worked at a grocery store a few years back the water section would get cleaned out regularly, and we didn't order extra to back stock because its a pain to keep in the back compared to other product.

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justforTW@reddit

I noticed that those Crystal Geyser bottles are being dropped from 1.5 gallons to 1. So maybe the stock is clearing out too replace with the shrinkflation bottles.

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gofunkyourself69@reddit

That's just a normal day here. No cause for concern.

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New_pollution1086@reddit

Where abouts

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Kobethegoat420@reddit

As others have said they will restock, though, spring water is the better option in my opinion.

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Difituco@reddit

Lot of people were asking for water today… meh. Humans… but why?

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SubstantialPressure3@reddit

It's Sunday, all grocery stores are understaffed, and there's a night crew that comes in specifically to stock things after closing on grocery stores.

If it looks like that on Monday morning, yes, there's a problem.

But even things like weather, even if there's no bad weather in your area, can affect deliveries.

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SublimeApathy@reddit

I see quite a few jugs of drinking water.

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Equivalent-Buyer-841@reddit

Just a late truck or someone doing stocking called out sick. I also note my stores haven’t been getting orders. You order item X / it’s late. You have to leave the shelf empty for three days because the vendor has paid for the space.

It confuses customers more that item X is in a different place or item Y is where item X goes than it’s out of stock for two days with an empty shelf. Plus it confuses the stock boy.

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