Shoppers wait in long queues and stock up massive packs of toilet paper at Costco grand opening

And the panic-buying continues: Shoppers camp OVERNIGHT to be the first in line for groceries at a fully-stocked Costco

  • Costco frenzy as warehouse giant opened its first Western Australia in Perth
  • Excited shoppers camped outside overnight to avoid huge queues that followed 
  • Store fully-stocked and Toilet paper and wipes, which have been in low supply
  • Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?

Panic-buying shoppers camped overnight to be the first in line to grab highly sought-after necessities at a brand new and fully stocked Costco as the coronavirus chaos continues.

There were extraordinary scenes as hundreds of eager shoppers patiently queued for hours for the giant warehouse’s grand opening at Perth Airport on Thursday. 

Many well-prepared shoppers donned face masks and hazmat suits to protect themselves from the deadly virus while others bought their own deck chairs to sit out the wait for Western Australia’s first Costco to open.

A woman who brought her dog along with the shopping trip checks out the fully-stocked fridges in Western Australia’s first Costco, which opened in Perth on Thursday

Costco shoppers teamed up to stock up on jumbo packs of toilet paper, which were limited to one pack per customer to ensure stocks didn't run out

Costco shoppers teamed up to stock up on jumbo packs of toilet paper, which were limited to one pack per customer to ensure stocks didn’t run out 

Well-prepared shoppers donning face masks were geared up for their first trip to Costco

Well-prepared shoppers donning face masks were geared up for their first trip to Costco

Shoppers were lined up with empty trolleys, ready to hit the Costco aisles for the first time

Shoppers were lined up with empty trolleys, ready to hit the Costco aisles for the first time

Police were called in to help staff control the massive crowds as long queues snaked around the store and into the car park, forcing Costco opted to open the doors at 7.30am- half an hour earlier than scheduled.

Almost everyone had highly sought-after toilet paper on their shopping list.

They were in luck with shelves packed with jumbo packs of the basic necessity that’s been missing from supermarket shelves for the last three weeks. 

Customers were restricted to one pack of 24 rolls per person to ensure stocks didn’t run low.

Mince was also a popular item on the shopping lists as were boxes of surface wipes and iced doughnut cakes.

Maree Strika came to the grand opening to buy toilet paper and walked out with a $299 bear

Maree Strika came to the grand opening to buy toilet paper and walked out with a $299 bear

This shopper couldn't believe her luck when she came across  the boxes of surface wipes

This shopper couldn’t believe her luck when she came across  the boxes of surface wipes

Police were at the new Perth Airport store opening to help control the massive crowds

Police were at the new Perth Airport store opening to help control the massive crowds

There were no scenes of the usual stampedes for toilet paper at the fully-stocked Costco

There were no scenes of the usual stampedes for toilet paper at the fully-stocked Costco 

Costco shoppers stocked up on mince, which have been in low supply on supermarket shelves

Costco shoppers stocked up on mince, which have been in low supply on supermarket shelves

The Costco Perth Fans Facebook page has racked up more than 1000 likes since it was established three weeks ago.

The Costco chaos in Perth was a repeat of similar scenes on the other side of the country in Sydney on Wednesday, where staff used megaphones and back-up from police to control queues at Casula in the city’s south

Costco now has 12 stores across Australia following Thursday’s opening in Perth.

It costs Costco members $60 per year to shop at the multinational wholesaler, which established in 1976 in the US.

With supermarket stocks in short supply recent, mince was on everyone's shopping list

With supermarket stocks in short supply recent, mince was on everyone’s shopping list

The new store at Perth opened half an hour early due to the growing crowds (pictured)

The new store at Perth opened half an hour early due to the growing crowds (pictured)

Shoppers continue to ignore Prime Minister Scott Morrison calls for calm as they continued their panic-buying sprees across the nation on Thursday.

He described the widespread panic-buying craze as ‘unAustralian’.  

‘Stop hoarding. I can’t be more blunt about it. Stop it,’ he said when he addressed the nation on Wednesday

It’s not sensible, it’s not helpful and I’ve got to say it’s been one of the most disappointing things I’ve seen in Australian behaviour in response to this crisis. 

‘That is not who we are as a people. It is not necessary. It is not something that people should be doing. 

Forget toilet paper, this Costo Perth customer was delighted to find an iced doughnut cake

Forget toilet paper, this Costo Perth customer was delighted to find an iced doughnut cake

Some Perth shoppers brought their own deck chairs after arriving before dawn on Thursday

Some Perth shoppers brought their own deck chairs after arriving before dawn on Thursday

This shopper was happy to find boxes of wipes to help kill germs amid the coronavirus

This shopper was happy to find boxes of wipes to help kill germs amid the coronavirus

 

 

 

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