Gumtree bans the sale of toilet paper, hand sanitiser and face masks due to coronavirus

Gumtree has banned the sale of products which have been in high demand due to panic-buying during the coronavirus pandemic. 

The marketplace website has banned its users from selling toilet paper, hand sanitiser, disinfecting wipes and face masks.

Supermarket shelves have been stripped bare from products as people purchased items in bulk and hoarding essentials if they were to isolate. 

Some of these people then go to Gumtree and advertise these items for a lucrative price. 

Shoppers who hoarded toilet paper are listing the item for a lucrative price on Gumtree

Gumtree updated their policy on Friday saying they will ban people selling items that are in high demand

Gumtree updated their policy on Friday saying they will ban people selling items that are in high demand 

The website updated their policy on Friday to reflect the changes stating it was of ‘huge importance’ for their users to be respected. 

‘To curb pricing practices that run counter to the community-minded spirit of Gumtree, from Friday March 20, Gumtree will temporarily ban listings for health care masks, including N95/N100 and surgical masks, hand sanitiser/gel, disinfecting wipes and toilet paper,’ they wrote.

Coles grocery limits 

Eggs – two packs per person.

Chilled pasta – two packs per person.

Frozen vegetables- two packs per person.

Frozen dessert – two packs per person.

Mince includes Beef, Pork, Lamb, Chicken & Turkey – two packs per person.

Flour – two packs per person.

Dried rice – two packs per person.

Paper towels/tissues – two packs per person.

Hand sanitisers – two packs per person.

‘Gumtree operates a report and take down process and we encourage users to use the ‘Report Ad’ function to flag any concerning ads that breach our policies, terms of use, or believed to be unlawful.’

Coles, Woolworths and Aldi supermarkets have been closing earlier and team members have been working around the clock to restock shelves.

They have placed restrictions on almost all products as they work to meet the demand of the Australian population.  

‘We’re really focused on the essentials that customers are asking for,’ Coles Chief Operations Officer, Matthew Swindells said. 

‘When you see that immediate lift in demand across the network, it punches a huge stock hole in our supply lines and it takes time to recover and that’s why we are wholeheartedly supporting the prime minister’s comments. 

‘Please, do not hoard products, there’s no need to panic, don’t stockpile and give us the time to turn all the dials that we’ve turned and get all the stock back on the shelves but it will take time and it will need cooperation between the Australian public and the retailers to work together on this.’ 

A shopper is seen at Coles after staff closed the stores early to restock shelves

A shopper is seen at Coles after staff closed the stores early to restock shelves 

Empty shelves of Toilet Rolls at Coles Supermarket, Parramatta in Sydney, Friday, March 13, 2020

Empty shelves of Toilet Rolls at Coles Supermarket, Parramatta in Sydney, Friday, March 13, 2020

The supermarket limited customers to two packs per person of eggs, chilled pasta, frozen vegetables and frozen dessert on Tuesday.

Coles has already imposed limits on mince meat, toilet paper and hand sanitiser after shelves were left bare. 

‘As the situation around coronavirus continues to develop, we want to ensure you have the most up to date information on product availability,’ Coles said in a statement on Sunday.

‘The purchase of mince, pasta, flour, dry rice, paper towels, paper tissues and hand sanitisers is limited to 2 items per customer.’

Elderly shoppers are seen waiting outside Woolworths in Sunbury for the dedicated shopping hour

Elderly shoppers are seen waiting outside Woolworths in Sunbury for the dedicated shopping hour

Woolworths grocery limits 

Dry Pasta – 2 pack limit per shop.

Flour – 2 pack limit per shop.

Tissues – 2 pack limit per shop.

Paper towel, serviettes and wipes – 1 pack limit per shop.

Toilet paper – 1 pack limit per shop.

Hand sanitiser – 2 unit limit per shop.

Bulk rice (2kg+) – 1 pack limit per shop.

Coles also announced they won’t offer refunds on any additional items that were purchased as a result of panic buying. 

Woolworths has also placed restrictions on items as they work to restock shelves around the country. 

Woolworths fresh food director Paul Harker said the elderly hour which launched on Tuesday had proved very popular.

He insists there weren’t food shortages despite reports of widespread of empty shelves.

‘There is no shortage of goods here in Australia,’ he told the Nine Network on Tuesday.

‘It is a logistics exercise of moving the product to get it back into stores with the pace and demand we’re seeing.’     

Prime Minister Scott Morrison called on Australians to 'stop hoarding' products

Prime Minister Scott Morrison called on Australians to ‘stop hoarding’ products

In a press conference to the nation on Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Scott Morrison begged Australians to ‘stop hoarding’ in fear of a lockdown as supermarket stores will remain open. 

‘I can’t be more blunt about it. Stop it. It’s ridiculous. It’s un-Australian, and it must stop. It is not sensible and it is not helpful,’ Mr Morrison said.

‘It has been one of the most disappointing things I have seen in Australian behaviour in response to this crisis. That is not who we are as a people. It is not necessary.

‘There is no reason for people to be hoarding supplies in fear of a lockdown or anything like this. It is not something that people should be doing.’ 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk