hurricane supply and demand

i now know why there is such a rush and feeding frenzy for supplies before a storm or disaster is looming...people return things. i suppose i get it, if the thought process is that "well, i don't need it, maybe someone else can" but i believe the motivation is not so selfless. you come in looking for flashlights, D batteries, radios and water. you're willing to wipe the shelf out. nevermind the ten other people around you that want those D batteries as well, you're gonna buy all 10 packages. i'm not sure how many flashlights you must have that require that many batteries, but i am pretty certain you can light up your neighborhood now. and the radios. i was sold out 2 days before the storm hit, but the day after i was restocked, by all the people that didn't lose power and returned them. let's be realistic. batteries last for years. (i still have batteries i bought for hurricane irene last year that do not expire until 2016) don't you think that if you needed them now, you may need them at some point in the future? so save them, then you won't have to be part of the chaos next time. and if you really don't need 5 to 10 packages, then don't buy them! it's almost as bad as returning the bags of halloween candy after halloween because you didn't have as many trick or treaters as you anticipated.