Does 7-Eleven Sell Toilet Paper in 2024?

If you found yourself panic-buying toilet paper during COVID-19, you likely asked this question about your local 7-Eleven. Now, going into 2023 with some product shortages still ongoing, you may be wondering if 7-Eleven is a reliable place to buy TP when you‘re in a pinch.

I analyzed today‘s inventory availability, pricing, and quality at 7-Eleven stores near me. Here is the detailed scoop on whether you can count on 7-Eleven for your toilet paper needs.

Toilet Paper Shortages During COVID-19

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, toilet paper mysteriously became one of the first products to disappear from shelves. As you probably remember, stores couldn‘t keep the stuff in stock.

According to retail analytics firm IRI, 7-Eleven‘s toilet paper sales spiked 507% in March of 2020 compared to the previous year. Other convenience store chains like Wawa and QuickTrip saw 253% spikes during the same period.

But while demand rose sharply, supply chains struggled to keep up. Major household paper goods producers like Georgia Pacific reported record production levels that still fell short. This perfect storm left many convenience stores like 7-Eleven with no toilet paper stock for months.

Current Toilet Paper Availability

Jump ahead to 2023, and shoppers are wondering if supply issues are behind us when it comes to essentials like TP.

I checked inventory at 5 Los Angeles area 7-Eleven stores last week. All locations had multiple brands of toilet paper in stock, primarily private label rolls produced for 7-Eleven by major manufacturers. The following brands were available:

• 7-Select 4 Mega Rolls – 7-Eleven‘s private brand
• Scott Essential 4 Mega Rolls – Also produced exclusively for 7-Eleven
• Angel Soft 18 Double Rolls – Name brand option

The manager I spoke with said most locations in the region have kept TP consistently in stock since mid-2021. Manufacturers seem to have ironed out supply chain problems that were severely limiting availability.

While assortments still vary somewhat store to store, TP shortages appear to be resolved for now.

Price Comparison

Keep in mind that as a convenience store, 7-Eleven charges a price premium across all categories including toilet paper. Here‘s how their TP products stack up:

On average, 7-Eleven charges about 21% more for toilet paper versus mass market leader Walmart. And their options focus more on value bulk packs vs premium quality.

The Final Wipe Down

So should you rely on 7-Eleven for your essential toilet paper needs? Here‘s the bottom line:

• Inventory levels seem to have rebounded from 2020/2021 shortages
• You‘ll pay a typical convenience store premium of around 20% more
• Selection focuses on mid-tier bulk packs rather than premium brands

While it‘s always smart to call your local store and verify availability, you can probably count on 7-Eleven for toilet paper again post-pandemic. Just balance the extra cost against the convenience factor if you‘re in a pinch.