@mam98031 wrote:
I'm unsure of why you ask this question. You do realize this is a worldwide issue, not a you issue, right? It's probably just how you asked the question to be sure. But I just found it odd.
It is reasonable to believe that as people stay home instead of getting out in public, there might be a influx on online shopping. It give these people something to do. As time goes on and more and more people are home without pay, this will lessen their shopping of course.
This could be a long recovery for many of us. We just don't know the scope of the problem yet and aren't likely to until we get more tests and get them to the areas in need. Stay informed and do what the CDC is suggesting to help keep yourself and your families safe.
I'd like to interject with my two cents on the coronavirus issue...
I have a tenant in my basement who works for a machining shop. People who sell things contract his shop to make them. Those people are not having enough sales to keep stocking up inventory, so the work is slowing down at his shop as there is less and less that needs to be made. Last week his 44 hour week became 32 hours (which is a $800 monthly pay cut, when he was already living hand to mouth). Today he told me that they're running out of work and have been warned that people will be let go soon if there's nothing that needs to be done. (This sort of thing has happened before, and they generally call in previous employees to come back when the work picks up, that is, if they haven't already moved on).
I was also told today by a friend who works at a garage that people are coming in off the street and begging to have some of their masks because they can't buy them anywhere. (I would have loved to be working there when I got asked that, to which I would reply our staff need the masks to keep from breathing noxious fumes while doing their job).
As for sales being low... I'm not really noticing much of a difference on the selling side. I suspect that the majority of my customers are pensioners who collect things and aren't worried about losing income from staying home. In fact, it might be fair to say some shopping has picked up as a result of my retired customers needing something to do indoors instead of heading outside.
On the buying side, I've noticed I'm getting some pretty decent deals on stamps and I've decided to start collecting again, so this will give me something to do.
I'm not sure what would happen if I were quarantined for 14 days from work (which work is imposing on an as needed basis, and we do have COVID-19 in our city, but the news report says it was immediately isolated, she arrived from Italy and got transported from the airport to our local hospital). The good news is, as long as people are injured and there are lawsuits, I think my job is pretty safe. Someone has to process all that legal paperwork.
C.
mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999
