Code Red: o.b. Tampon Shortage Continues (Allegedly!)

Photo by Jen Carlson/Gothamist

As we enter Day Whatever of this non-applicator tampon drought, things are turning ugly. According to the Daily News there are bidding wars on eBay, turning o.b. brand loyalists against each other. As we noted yesterday, Johnson & Johnson had a "temporary supply interruption" (whatever that means) which has led to their product being out of stock in many places... though we found a few boxes at Bridge Apothecary in DUMBO this week.

Currently there are 278 auctions on eBay, some with starting prices of $45 for one (40-count) box... albeit these are for the "NEW" and "unopened" boxes! However, Drugstore.com has 40-count boxes for just $6.99 each (also, presumably, new and unopened boxes). That hot tip comes from Penthouse editor Barbara Rice, who Tweeted, "Still no OB tampons in stores, so I just ordered many boxes from drugstore.com. This might get me through till menopause!"

Johnson & Johnson still hasn't elaborated, and are saying to expect the product back on shelves "soon" (which they've been saying for months now). Over at Bridge Apothecary, the tampons are "on back order... the problem will be all corrected soon hopefully." But is there really a problem? We've spotted them in several places in the city. Homework assignment: send us photos of your drugstores o.b. tampon section (be it empty or full). Yes, for real—maybe this is all some marketing scheme to counter the bad press Johnson & Johnson has been having!

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on January 20, 2011 10:46 AM

Comments [rss]

heyhohey

oops double post.

heyhohey

Ladies, say hello to the diva cup. Your life will improve by a thousand times and you'll never need another tampon ever again.

Rocknrope

Colonel Jessup, did you order the Code Red?

You can't handle the douche!

That's all I got.

Professor Von Nostren

This has been going on for a few months - it's only coming to light now because store shelves ar completely empty. The more J&J remains silent on the issue, the more offended I am and am not likely to use their products. What is the big secret? If there really was a manufacturing/supply issue, why don't they come out and give us details? Withholding info makes me think they're hiding something and, as tampons are a major part of women's health, we deserve an explanation.

Trustafarian

why are women so fussy with what they shove in their vaginas?

robingee

We're not. Have you a rolled-up copy of the Sunday Times?

Just Me

Wrong way for me to find out who are the female posters here on Gothamist.
:/

smittygothamist

They had them at the CVS on Columbus & 58th St yesterday.

Kate Bryant

For ladies who are looking for an alternative, may I recommend the Diva cup (lasts TEN years--super enviro-conscious choice)? Or Instead cups (disposable)?

nicemarmot

I would describe what using Diva/Instead cups is like, but I think all the male commenters' heads would explode. So instead I'll just say that the only thing worse than OB is the Diva cup. And the only thing worse than the Diva cup is the Instead cup (ouch ouch ouch!)

heyhohey

you're using it wrong.

robingee

How about a Big Gulp cup?

nicemarmot

Big Gulps would be a definite improvement on Instead cups.

robingee

What if your flow is like the raging torrent of the mighty Mississipp?

Kate Bryant

I hear ya Robin, and I can't believe I'm talking about this publicly, haha. But I used to have to change even the super duper every 1.5~2 hours. The cup actually holds more than the supers and once I figured it out (admittedly a fairly steep learning curve), I feel much more human and less like a monster than I did with other fem products. I mean, I get to actually FORGET I'm having my period, yay!