If an item isn’t available, retailers typically offer
a field to input your email address. You’ll get
notified when the item is restocked and can
jump on it right away.
Expand your search, too, advises Charles Lindsey,
associate professor of marketing at the University
at Buffalo School of Management in New York. He
says the first wipes he was able to score were off
the beaten path, not at a chain store.
“Diversify your consideration set in terms of the
stores where you shop,” he says. That may mean
going to mom-and-pop shops or pharmacies
instead of grocery stores.
And consult with others. Lindsey says social
media networks can provide localized
information. Check online sources such as
Nextdoor or Facebook to see if any of your
neighbors have posted about seeing delivery
trucks outside of the warehouse club on a
specific day of the week or restocked shelves at
a certain time of the day.
AVOID EXTRA FEES
It’s also important to avoid overpaying for
items, especially as many former in-store
shoppers face added expenses, like delivery
fees and shipping costs.
If you’re shopping for groceries, avoid delivery
to save money, Lindsey advises. Opting for
contactless curbside pickup will circumvent
some of the fees and tips associated with home
deliveries, while still eliminating your time in a
physical store.
And there’s no need to overly stockpile, says
Andrew Ching, a professor in the Carey Business
School at Johns Hopkins University.