PREPAREDNESS SUPPLIES SHOW DRAMATIC DOWNTURN See http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/19991101/t000099238.html Link

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that many companies who specialized in Y2K or emergency preparedness supplies are already noticing a dramatic downturn in consumer demand. "When the firms first noticed the downturn in demand for goods in March of this year, most hoped that it represented a momentary negative blip. Instead, sales never recovered, signaling that most Americans planned to take the millennium rollover in stride."

Part of the change is attributed to the public confidence that the Y2K transition will not be as serious as originally anticipated. "More damaging for the preparedness industry, Sen. Robert F. Bennett changed his mind. The Utah Republican, who chairs the Senate special Y2K committee and whose Mormon upbringing gives him special credibility with survivalists, traded in his grim predictions in early March for more upbeat assessments."

-- walt (longyear@shentel.net), November 02, 1999

Answers

Well .... some things are getting harder to get.

I started making calls to get a 250 gal propane tank ... and they're on backorder at 3 places ... and won't arrive until mid-December! Fortunately, I found someone who could deliver next week - but, I'm paying a LOT more.

The paper shades for the Aladin lamps ... are on backorder ... for delivery in mid-January 2000!

Canning lids are off the shelves, because in many places they're seasonal items.

If anyone has plans on making preps - and hasn't started on specialized items .... you better do it NOW!!!

-- Cheryl (Transplant@Oregon.com), November 02, 1999.

Cheryl - where did you find that tank,and how much? I'm *very* interested in that size.

Thanks in advance,

Jolly

-- Jollyprez (jolly@prez.com), November 02, 1999.

JollyPrez,

Blue Star Gas (Merlin, OR): 1-888-953-7827

I'm embarrassed to say how much I paid, cause I know many on this forum can't afford to spend this kind of money. A 250 gal tank is a bit over a thousand bucks. $1.10/gal to fill tank 1st time. Plus $285 for installation.

This stuff is d*mn pricey. I sure wish I did this earlier in the year. I could have bought a reconditioned one for about $500.

-- Cheryl (Transplant@Oregon.com), November 02, 1999.

Thanks for the answer, yep that's out of my price range, too. *sigh*

Guess I'll have to make do with less propane. *sigh*

Jolly

-- Jollyprez (jolly@prez.com), November 03, 1999.

I had checked few months ago with a propane dealer where I live,I could rent the tank for about $60.00 per year and I don't believe there was a set up fee.I will check again today when they open for business.

I was and still am thinking of buying an inexpensive gas stove($299) that coverts to propane and a 250 or 500 gal propane tank put in the back yard.The thing that still concerns me about having one in the back yard would be saying to other people that I am y2k prepared (at least the best that I am able to do).I live in a small town in a rural area.

-- Maggie (aaa@aaa.com), November 03, 1999.

Maggie,

If you are going to get a propane stove, look for one made by Premier. They are the only brand that I know of that does not have a pilot light, but has an oven that will light without electricity. All of the other gas stoves without a pilot light (to the best of my knowledge, anyway) have something called a glowbar that ignites the oven, which will not operate without electricity. The burners will still operate, but baking goes out with the power.

-- Steve (oneday@a.time), November 03, 1999.

Steve,

The one I looked at sounds like the one your talking about,it needs a match to light the top burners and the oven.Thanks for the advice.

-- Maggie (aaa@aaa.com), November 03, 1999.

Maggie,

My Premier has electric ignition for the burners and oven. However, if the power is off, you can still use a match.

-- Steve (a@b.c), November 03, 1999.

Here's the deal on leasing propane tanks. Or at least what I ran into.

In order to lease, you have to have your appliances converted to propane. They want to know you're going to be an on-going customer who they'll be selling propane to monthly.

Besides changing out orifices, there's definitely some installation involved. It costs several hundred dollars. Propane company won't pay for conversion. You do. You can't be using natural gas and propane at the same time with this set-up. It's one or the other. If you want hot water - you need a propane specific water heater.

At first that's what I was going to do. Except for the water heater. Too pricey.

But what I ultimately opted for was an adequate supply of propane for my generator as a back-up if electricity is off.

As long as I have natural gas - my range, dryer and hot water heater are OK, without my tapping into the propane.

If no natural gas ... as long as I have electricity ... normal source OR provided by propane generator ... then I use my toaster oven, hot plate, hang my clothes, and boil water if I want it hot.

If all goes off - my neighbor has 2 wood-burning stoves and a pool filled with water.

Actually 4 of my immediate neighbors all have various generators, lanterns, wells, etc. We all garden. If things got bad, at it would appear that power would be out for a while - we're planning on spending time at each others homes if things get bad, so we can all extend fuel supply, etc.

This generator stuff was difficult to figure out. We all have different set-ups here.

-- Cheryl (Transplant@Oregon.com), November 03, 1999.

Just checked with a local propane dealer about the price to have a 250 gal propane tank installed.It would cost between $150 to $200 (depending if I would need a regulator),that price would include a years lease on the tank and the cost of delivery,set up and all materials except propane.The propane cost is 74.9 cents a gal.

The gal I spoke to knew I just wanted to use it for a stove and said that amount of propane should last me a long time.She is also getting ready for y2k.

-- Maggie (aaa@aaa.com), November 03, 1999.