I just want to add that this comment makes the bizarre claim that a shoplifter drained the store's supply so that they're the only source. Now, even presuming this is literally the only store in town that sells baby formula, in which case there will be another town half an hour down the road, how did they get all of the baby formula out of the door? How do you shoplift the kind of volume you need for a scheme like this without getting caught?

And further, how in the everliving fuck do you sell it? You have to be visible enough to sell the formula, to people you're ripping off, in a small town where the only grocery store just got all of its baby formula lifted. They're going to fucking expose you.

This would be a scandal. It would be a news story. Please, give a link to a single time this has ever happened, because of all the things that never happened, this happened the least.

25 people thought this story was good enough to upvote. Where the shit are you getting this garbage? What the fuck is happening?

Edit: is there a "shit conservatives say" community? This is such rank bullshit I need somewhere to process it.

[–] damnedfurry@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

This would be a scandal. It would be a news story. Please, give a link to a single time this has ever happened, because of all the things that never happened, this happened the least.

I'll do you two better. Only took 15 seconds of Googling, after all:

https://abcnews.go.com/US/baby-formula-targeted-organized-retail-theft-rings/story?id=13293485 https://www.wate.com/news/knox-county-news/three-accused-of-stealing-12000-worth-of-baby-formula-from-across-knox-county/ https://www.newsflare.com/video/635785/thieves-steal-7k-of-baby-formula-from-supermarket-in-just-20-minutes

Time to find out if you'll admit you're wrong, or if the smug ignorance continues.

[–] Excrubulent@slrpnk.net 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

I have already looked up the information for myself and admitted I was wrong about the fact that the theft rings exist, it's in this thread if you read just a couple of comments deeper. That's not the only thing you said though.

As for your claim that "nobody" steals for their baby, which you didn't reply about, that also took two seconds of searching to debunk:

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/the-desperate-reality-of-stealing-baby-formula-because-you-cant-afford-it_uk_64635704e4b09eef8308cfc6

Also, the idea that the theft is responsible for the store being out, or that they charge an enormous markup, are both still completely unsubstantiated.

This isn't the cut and dried issue you seem to think it is, and I'm still definitely not about to ruin a parent's life for stealing food because they might be part of some theft ring. I also am not going to narc on the theft ring. That's not my business.

[–] damnedfurry@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

As for your claim that “nobody” steals for their baby

Congrats on contradicting the absolute literal interpretation of what was obviously hyperbole, I guess.

[–] Excrubulent@slrpnk.net 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Cool, so glad you're happy to erase the existence of the poor and desperate for the sake of what, exactly?

See, in this context, we were literally talking about people doing that, and they literally do that, so to say "nobody" does it is just a false claim.

If you weren't trying to minimise the struggle of poor people, you fucked up, because that's what your comment did.

Nice work trying to find an angle where you were only literally wrong and not in the privacy of your own head.

What about the rest of your claims, were they hyperbole as well, or something else? You've just dropped them.

[–] PlutoParty@programming.dev 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

Holy naivete, my sweet summer child. This has nothing to do with conservatives. This is a well-known scheme that is problematic in many areas.

[–] Excrubulent@slrpnk.net 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

"Well-known scheme"?

So I must have something seriously wrong with my understanding of what's being said here, because I made it pretty clear how absolutely balls to the wall insane it sounds. Just the concept falls apart the moment you think about it.

Maybe you can explain it? Or again, just show me where it's happened, even one fucking time.

[–] PlutoParty@programming.dev 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

There's really not much to it. I don't understand why you're so dumbfounded such a thing is possible. People steal or buy up formula. Those who steal it make a profit no matter what price they sell it at. Those who live in an area where it sells out have the ability to mark it up big time. Paying 10 extra bucks is better than driving hours away with the hope they have it in stock there. People will sell it on offerup, craigslist, facebook, etc. Search for "formula" offerup if you're in the US and you'll likely see it. This was especially a problem during Covid and we saw the same scheme extend to many other products. In 2022, there was a massive shortage for the better part of a year. Any that came around got bought up immediately - by some that were lucky enough to get it at the right time and the rest by scalpers. This is not a new thing and I find it surprising that you're so surprised. I often see them locked up and purchase limits at the store because of this.

[–] Excrubulent@slrpnk.net 2 points 5 months ago

Huh.

https://7news.com.au/news/court-justice/woman-who-made-thousands-onselling-stolen-baby-formula-to-chinese-buyers-learns-fate-c-1123762

Whelp, nothing to do but admit I was wrong about this.