I have completely searched the aisles in Sams, Wal-mart and all my local grocery stores....I CANNOT FIND the old style "strike anywhere" matches...the ones with the white sulphur tip (that you could strike on the zipper of your jeans!) Any suggestions of where to look?

-- jeanne (jeanne@hurry.now), October 17, 1999

Answers

Around the PNW, my area, they are in all the grocery stores. I did notice them for sale on Ebay. If they are unavailable in your area, perhaps a short trip to another county would turn some up in a grocery store. Might check to see if they have the long 'fireplace' matches instead, could be useful in a pinch. Good Luck

-- Sammie (sammiex0@hotmail.com), October 17, 1999.

Most "small town" grocery stores still have them. Also there were THOUSANDS (literally 3 'pallets' - 6 feet high by about 4 feet by four feet) at Menards specifically labeled as "Be Y2K Ready". Have heard "Home Depot" also has them (if thats in your area).

Sometimes you just need to look in the right place.

-- usa.net (narnia4@usa.net), October 17, 1999.

If you live in the Midwest, find a MENARD's (like a Home Depot)

I just bought 10 2-packs. they had a huge pile of them, for some reason, right where all the fireplace stuff was in the back.

-- plonk! (realaddress@hotmail.com), October 17, 1999.

A universal place I have found for these is your local Ace hardware store. They order them from a central location and they are supplied with the strike on the box type. They also can order Aladdin lamps from their central catalog as well, even if they do not carry them in the store. smfdoc

-- smfdoc (smfdoc@aol.com), October 17, 1999.

Our Wal-Mart carries them on the aisle with kitchen knives and salt shakers. I had to ask an associate to help me find them.

-- helen (sstaten@fullnet.net), October 17, 1999.

Thanks to all!!!! I do have a local ACE hardware and will check there this week. You guys are the BEST!!

-- jeanne (jeanne@hurry.now), October 17, 1999.

I had to be suggesting something so hi-tech as a bic lighter in the face of Y2K -- but you can usually find these onsale for 33 cents ea, and they'll give you hundreds of steady, sustained lights from one. It's like an adjustable flame on a non-burning stick .... Why NOT? Also recommend a fire-starter type: a comparable disposable lighter for the barbecue or hearth: they look like a small dagger, with a 10- 12 inch snout for reaching the flame back into your firebox, etc. Don't overlook the value of a REFILLABLE BUTANE lighter. You can find these -- along with extra butane -- in or near the cigarette section of your local CHAIN grocery store.

KEROMAN

-- Roch Steinbach (rochsteinbach@excite.com), October 18, 1999.

Zippo.

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), October 18, 1999.

Greybear!!!!! Good to hear from you again! Have you been totally uninspired by the lack of meaningful content on the classic forum? Glad to see you still check in here once in awhile. Hope all is going well with you and yours.

-- jeanne (jeanne@hurry.now), October 18, 1999.

10 Jeanne - I resemble that remark.

2) People, LOOK CAREFULLY at the boxes you are buying. I THOUGHT I had picked up strike anywhere matches as they were in the traditional Ohio Blue Tip boxes. DAMN if they weren't missing the blue tips and said so RIGHT ON THE EFFING BOX!

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), October 19, 1999.

We own & operate an Old Timey Hardware & Sporting Goods Store in NC and sell these matches for 1.89 per box of 2.50, don't be fooled by the Wal-Mart ones that do not strike anywhere, they have to have the box to strike them, would be glad to ship to anyone who can't find any in there area, Charles

-- C. Tomberlin (shot@perigee.net), October 19, 1999.

250 MATCHES PER BOX We own & operate an Old Timey Hardware & Sporting Goods Store in NC and sell these matches for 1.89 per box of 250 matches, don't be fooled by the Wal-Mart ones that do not strike anywhere, they have to have the box to strike them, would be glad to ship to anyone who can't find any in there area, Charles

-- C. Tomberlin (shot@perigee.net), October 19, 1999.

I couldn't find them locally either. It was driving me nutz. Then I had to go to Honolulu on business .. .

Well, being the cheapskate that I am, I go to the local Safeway for food to eat out of the motel room. Well, right there in front of me is a nice shelf section just FULL of strike-anywheres! I totally freak out and buy the whole shelf. Now what?

OK - to the drugstore next door I go. Buy a smallish shipping box, garbage bags & plutonium-enriched packing tape. Build the box, double line with bags and pack with matches. Perfect fit!!!! Now - seal the bags, shut the box and tape that sucker industrially after labeling with flight info, final destination, etc.

Departing at Honolulu airport, everthing goes through the x-ray. Ooops! Please open your bag. Seems they had to see my jar of peanut butter, make sure it's safe. Everythings cool, its on the plane and off to LA. Now we're loading LA to Cincinnati. Watching out the window, I notice all my bags are being loaded, but I don't see my box of matches. I ask the stewardess because I'm afraid the handlers have lost 'em. . . Next thing I know, I'm hustled to the back of the plane to be interrogated. "Don't you know you can't ...##@#!#!!???" After MUCH groveling and mewing, I grateful not to be cuffed and hustled off the plane, but the matches are confiscated. I am very apologetic.

Now I've left Baltimore, got my bags and the fresh pinapples to give away to friends and family, but no matches. I don't even wanna SEE another match as long as I live. I get home (3 hrs away) and guess what? BWI baggage has called ahead of me. "You forgot you box!" Yep - that's right. M

-- Magnolia (magnooliaa@yahoo.com), October 19, 1999.

Give em your credit card number and have em shipped to you by messenger!!!

LOVELY story!

LOL ROFL ROFLTIPMP!!

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), October 20, 1999.