Been going to my local Walmart in Charlotte, NC for some time now. I usually pick up a bottle of lamp oil when I'm there, so I pretty much know what the usual stock looks like. Usually they have around 10-20 lamps and slightly more oil.

Today, I wnt backto get 2 more lamps. The spot where they normally are was jammed with them and lined up along the top as well. I turned the corner and there was another huge pallet along with a pallet of oil prominantly facing the center aisle. I was VERY surprised.

When I was checking out, I happened to look at the wall at the front of the store that normally displays charcoal, and big stock items. There, on the wall, were approximately 150 - 200 more oil lamps and oil.

This store has gone from stocking around 20 lamps to around 300+ in the last month. The price has also risen from 5.97 to 6.97 in that same time frame.

What gives? Are people here starting to take note?

R.

-- Roland (nottelling@nowhere.com), March 26, 1999

Answers

WalMart has excellent IT systems. It would appear that the demand trend has generated significant jump in size of re-orders, just as has been predicted. This is good news, as it will improve people's chances of acquiring necessary supplies between now and year end.

-- Mac (sneak@lurk.com), March 26, 1999.

Roland,

See

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000R0j

for a very informative article, "Wal-Mart knows what you bought last Christmas."

-- Old Git Loves and Fears Wal-Mart (anon@spamproblems.com), March 26, 1999.

JIT can do a lot to save itself if government and industry would promptly and accurately inform consumers of the status of remediation.

-- Puddintame (dit@dot.com), March 26, 1999.

yeah ya frigging bonehead, people ARE starting to take note. The people who stock Wal-Marts and Home Depots are starting to realize that there is a great deal of money to be had when panicky, paranoid Y2K cult freaks think there is a shortage of survival gear.

-- (Go to Hell Ed @ Yourdon . Com), March 26, 1999.

It seems like this thread struck a nerve with 'Go to Hell..."

-- Deary (struck@nerve.com), March 26, 1999.

twinkle toe GoTo, have you noticed we're at war? there are other things worth preparing for. sorry the world isn't a fluffly little downy bed fer ya. go snuggle with yer blankee and watch sesame street and you'll feel all better. googoogoogoogoo

-- nanny (baby@troll.byebye), March 26, 1999.

lol, I liked the googoogoo embelishment....

Don't forget to get many, many wick replacements. I've bought the last two display boxes out completely at our WM.

Mr. K
****has increased WalMarts bottom line significantly****

-- Mr. Kennedy (y2kPCfixes@MotivatedSeller.com), March 26, 1999.

Roland, I'll try to remember to find this thread the next time I go to the Wal-mart on Glenwood Ave. Last month they had about a four foot wide section of shelving devoted to lamps and oil. There were about a dozen liters or so of oil and about six or eight lamps with a few replacement parts.

This is certainly not the time of year to find that stuff stocked in quantity in this part of the country.

-- Puddintame (dit@dot.com), March 26, 1999.

True Puddintame, it's not the season. I also noticed "replacement" parts such as the metal wick frame in profusion, whereas you would be hard pressed to find one at all just a year ago.

Mr. K

-- Mr. Kennedy (searching@wal.mart), March 26, 1999.

Just goes to show you, when it comes to making a buck, no-one is immune.

Got Profit?

-- pink possum (hanging@tree.woods), March 26, 1999.

There's a sucker born every minute:

lol, I liked the googoogoo embelishment....

Don't forget to get many, many wick replacements. I've bought the last two display boxes out completely at our WM.

Mr. K ****has increased WalMarts bottom line significantly****

-- Mr. Kennedy (y2kPCfixes@MotivatedSeller.com), March 26, 1999.

-- Mr. K (y2kbuyer@hoarding.com), March 26, 1999.

Go back to sleep Go to Hell. Actually, go to hell Go to Hell. Your posts serve no purpose. Please enlighten us with your vast experience. Why should anyone listen to your impotent little rant, when there is good, documented info to read? I really want to know what is going through your tiny little mind when you hit the submit button.

-- d (d@dgi.old), March 26, 1999.

Puddintame and Mr. K -- do you need shelving, metal type, used in grocery stores? Wouldn't be good for your public rooms but would be great for basement, shed or garage for Y2K storage. If it's still there (and I think it is), there's a grocery store doing a lot of remodeling near my house. I think you both might know my real e-mail address--send me a note if you want me to grab some shelving for you or if you want to come over to Durham and check it out this weekend. They've just had a large dumpster delivered so I guess they'll be disposing of it soon.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), March 26, 1999.

I stopped at an "alternative" home and garden type store called "Down To Earth" in Eugene, OR. a couple of days ago and they sell wicks and little wire holders that supposedly can be placed inside all kinds of vessels and will burn any kind of vegetable oil, they said olive burns the best (most cleanburning). This store also has a large y2k section. Interesting.

-- Pramada (pram108@yahoo.com), March 26, 1999.

Pramada! Another Cascadian! Welcome! Our ranks are growing ;-)
And your name ... Pramada108 ... greeting from pranayama108 ;-D

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), March 26, 1999.

Don't worry about "Go to Hell". About 12 months from now he'll be six foot under. His own dammed fault! He'll probably go to Hell! Tee Hee!

-- smitty (smitty@sandiego.com), March 26, 1999.

Yeh, Roland you bonehead! Your so stupid that you have to buy 1 bottle of lamp oil at a time! Tight budget eh? Got beans?

-- ~~ (~~@~~.com), March 27, 1999.

Easy there, dude. Some of us are buying 1 at a time for a couple reasons. Budget s one SPACE is another. Can ONLY get 5 pounds into that 3 pound bag.

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (reinzoo@en.com), March 27, 1999.

Go To.......with all your ramblings about a communist America shouldn't you be preparing as well?????

-- Michelle (not available@can'thave.com), March 27, 1999.

People should only prepare in what they believe in.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), March 27, 1999.

bardou Just what I mean......evidently Go to....does not buy the Y2k issue but in previous threads states that we should all be worried about America becoming a Communist State. I don't have a problem with a difference on opinion with the y2k issue and can see his reasonings on some executive and legislative issues with concern to Communist America, however; if this individual is serious about what America may be facing in the near future in regards to his Communist statement I would think that this individual would also be preparing......Not for a y2k bug but maybe just maybe the Gestapo will be at his door soon.

-- Michelle (not available@can'thave.com), March 27, 1999.

When I was at Walmart today, they had boxes of emergency candles, 4 in a box. They burn for 120 hours each. This Walmart never had anything except the decrative candles before. These were located on the end of an isle where you couldn't miss them. People in Calif. usually don't buy these kinds of things in the spring. This was ment for Y2K shoppers.

-- Homeschooing Grandma (Donna@glennet.com), March 27, 1999.

I was going to respond to "Go to Hell" but you all have done quite a nice job for me. Thank you.

So I will respond to ~~~~ instead. You have no idea about my preparations, and frankly it's none of your damn business. The fact is that I picked up more lamps and oil to supplement my already large supply.

Also, keep in mind that some of us ARE on a budget and don't have the luxery of writing out a check to the tune of 2000.00 in one fell swoop. Little things like the mortgage, daycare expenses, doctor visits, insurance and daily needs tend to get in the way.

R.

-- Roland (nottelling@nowhere.com), March 27, 1999.

There's a sucker born every minute: lol, I liked the googoogoo embelishment.... Don't forget to get many, many wick replacements. I've bought the last two display boxes out completely at our WM. Mr. K ****has increased WalMarts bottom line significantly**** -- Mr. Kennedy (y2kPCfixes@MotivatedSeller.com), March 26, 1999. -- Mr. K (y2kbuyer@hoarding.com), March 26, 1999.

Too bad you don't intimidate me. Takes the fun out of it, doesn't it?

You don't happen to know that there were only 3 or 4 wicks in each box both times I've checked. I got the pickin's from others. YOU were probably there first. Think before you speak (if that's possible) and do try to refrain from using my name in posting again. You show lack of originality and imagination.

Thanks for the offer of the shelves Old Git. I wouldn't possibly have any room for them, as dear Mrs. K went over a half a year ago to get metal shelving for this very purpose. Too, we use makeshift shelving using filled 3 litre cola bottles filled with treated water that support wide hardwood boards. After we do not need the extra shelving anymore (? - when?), I can use the boards for woodworking projects. It's a good practical use for them now, and later.

Thanks again. I hope someone will be able to take you up on the shelving. Something so useful hopefully won't go to waste.

Mr. K


-- Mr. Kennedy (shopping@wal.Mart), March 27, 1999.

Had to go back to Walmart today for a gift and decided to count the oil lamps. They totaled just over 700. I misjudged the number because the front display was stacked 3 deep.

I commented to the check out lady about the number and she just looked at me and said the weather service was forcasting snow. In late March. In North Carolina.

Yep, yep, yep.

R.

-- Roland (nottelling@nowhere.com), March 27, 1999.

Roland, On March 28 the Wal-Mart on Glenwood Ave. in Ral. showed no changes in the lamp and lamp oil section. Probably about 5 lamps for sale, about 12 half-gallons of oil, and a couple dozen replacement glass parts.

I wonder if people in Charlotte are that much ahead of Raleigh in preparation. I wouldn't be surprised.

-- Puddintame (dit@dot.com), March 28, 1999.