What I Saw Today: It Has Begun

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I had planned that I would pick up a few items, using Thanksgiving as my cover, for foods that are seasonal etc., Another Y2Ker was with me and we went forth to a local grocery store with myself wearing cheap Christmas earrings.

Now mind you all, I am saying this while in a slight state of shock, it hasn't really sunk in yet...okay, you got that?

Aproximately 6.25 oz sized of minced onion was selling for 10 dollars. Garlic powder was the same. "Normal" cheap grocery store spice brand.

The canned vegatables ON SALE were about .79 cents each.

There was absolutely no bottled classic coke. There was not one fruitcake in the store. Not one can of baby corn and I don't mean "sold out."

Classic coke in the bottle is piled high at my K-Mart. It's not like it's totally out in my area. K-mart is also under cutting all the prices in cans of Planters peanuts with its "gift packs." For the price of one at a store one can get 3 cans of nuts. It also had some canned vegetables still one earth not out in the Twilight Zone.

What I saw on some products at the grocery store was hyperinflation. Prices tripling.

I haven't compared it yet to other stores in the area. The person with me is going to see if she can spot the same happening in L.A. County. She did say she has seen fruitcake and I know some canned baby corn is available in L.A. County.

Tripling. Prices tripling. Literally and factually tripling.

Now that isn't all to this eye witness account. Okay, so we're walking along faking out as people celebrating Thanksgiving, and of course, I am assuming the others were real people celebrating real Thanksgiving. We checked out and went to my car to load the purchases, and one of the real people celebrating real Thanksgiving wheeled her cart up to her trunk, she opened it, and that trunk was full, she had been going around to all the other stores stockpiling.

Were we all out there today wearing cheap "holiday" jewelry?

Then, remember what I had seen at one of the dairies? The containers all lined up? Another dairy which is gigantic in size, always has these vast stretches of shelters over endless skyscraping stacked bales of hay, was in an obvious massive stockpiling. There wasn't room left in any of those seemingly endless shelters, it was being piled way out and beyond, and by god another semi-truck load was pulling up!

Y2K isn't something trickling in so slowly anymore one doesn't really notice it. It's pretty much like a jack-in-the box leaping out into ones face in my area.

-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), November 23, 1999

Answers

I get it now, chowbabe is a polly! She's the one who lives in the trailer park who is "NOT" Y2K ready. She's the one who lives across the street from the dairy farm. (I can smell it now) Well Paula, I'm a doomer, and have been for over 2 years. You must not be shopping in the right places. Albertson's chicken/beef broth are 2/88 cents. Gold Medal Flour 69 cents for 5 lbs. What's with the baby corn? Corn, green beans at Lucky's with a pull top lid - 3 for $1.00. Dollar Tree, toffee covered peanuts $1.00 a can. Lady, I think your shopping in all the wrong places, and looking for signs of Y2K in all the wrong places. Doesn't matter whether your wearing cheap jewlery or not, a bargain is a bargain and your paying too much!

-- now babe (nowbabe@nowbabee.xcom), November 24, 1999.

Thanks for the info, Paula. I've noticed no price or availability changes here, however.

-- Mori-Nu (silkenet@yahoo.com), November 24, 1999.

They build haysheds to store hay. Winter, ya know.

-- Carlos (riffraff1@cybertime.net), November 24, 1999.

I just got in from shopping all evening. Sam's Club still piled to the heavens (same prices they've been at for the past month), Walmart had no holes on the shelves, crowds were sparse, even though it''s only 2 days before Thanksgiving. Only thing I couldn't get was chestnuts, hardly surprising giventhe holiday. Went across the street to Hannafords and found them there. Hannafords is the Maine-based chain (formerly Shop and Save) that has gotten in hot water for supposedly encouraging panic due to their little signs suggesting that some items like paper plates and batteries would be good to have onhand for Y2k or winter storms. I didn't see anyone with full carts like mine. ANYWHERE.

AS far as demographics go, we're an area where 50 people usually turned out for the County Y2k Taskforce community conversations, but we actually got 20 people to come to a meeting out of our rural township of 2400.

-- Firemouse (firemouse@fcmail.com), November 24, 1999.


Paula,

I think you could use some time off.

Why would you go to a store using Thanksgiving as a cover? Multi millions are and will be going to the store to prepare for Thanksgiving.

Chill chowbabe. Take an aspirin and get some sleep. It's going to be ok.

-- Mr. Anon (anon8433732@anon.com), November 24, 1999.



Paula, I also look lately for "signs" IT may have begun. I think you are simply being aware. Maybe a little too much so. I have caught myself thinking and almost acting on such observations. Then I slow down. I don't want to run yet, I don't want to run at all! I fear we may have to. I am sure from what I have read of you for 6 mos. you are prepared to met your familys needs to the best of your ability. I also think you are shopping in the wrong store. I "belive" we are up against an 8 and have preped as such. Don't be so quick to respond (quick post Paula) you need to the right stores. This sounds nasty but I don't mean it that way. I have lurked here 6 mos. Sometimes I learn more keeping my mouth shut and observing.

Not to be intrusive, Hatti

-- Hatti (klavine@tco.com), November 24, 1999.


Thanks for the on-site report. Some information for the logistically challenged. Sams Club restock continuously, How would one know if they were selling half, quarter, or twenty times the normal rate. If you are not working at their master control center (from people who have toured say it puts NASA to shame). There is a point that increased sells mean increased stocking and quicker re-ordering.

Here in central Ohio I have just returned from some more can food runs. Selected canned vegetables and fruit were on sale 4 for $2.00. Everybody behind me with their pop and slim jims looked kinda pissed. Anyway, The guy was working on restocking (didn't think to ask) a lot of empty shelf space.

My guess there is no run yet. Walmart is buying heavy volumes of certain items this I know for a fact, could be the season or the holiday but I'll try to report any changes. The stores are so into this JIT thing that to survive they react very fast. Ask the guy or gal stocking the shelf at 2:00 am. how busy they are.

Just like the stock market, when the herd bolts it is too late. I have a Sam's Club run tomorrow let ya know.

-- squid (Itsdark@down.here), November 24, 1999.


Hatti,

I've been shopping at this store for five years. It is the cheapest in my area and so good a Y2Ker I know comes up to my area from Los Angeles County, and to it, for some items. We just stood there with our mouths hanging open. We had been there about 10 days ago and it was "normal." 10 dollars for dry minced onion?

We debated several different scenarios, the store controlling stockpiling? Illegal gouging starting up? Spot shortages on some brand name particulars or a delay somewhere in the pipe chain?

No offense, but I think some are in instant denial. This is coming your way dears. I've been with this store for 5 years. I know its prices and its products.

If you're not going to read carefully what I wrote, which some did not do, and take this seriously, well, I guess you're in for one heck of a jolt.

-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), November 24, 1999.


Paula, you may be right!!!! Where do you shop??

Thank you, Hatti

-- Hatti (klavine @tco.com), November 24, 1999.


No offense taken.

-- Hatti (klavine@tco.com), November 24, 1999.


Went to the store today,normal Thanksgiving day shopping,things on sale,fully stocked.Good buys on flour,cranberry sauce,turkey,coffee,etc.The five and dime was filled with their normal things and all the extra Christmas goodies.Not sure if I want the long drive to Sams,I need to do it soon if I'm going.I won't be renewing my membership.

-- Maggie (aaa@aaa.com), November 24, 1999.

As a matter of fact I bought 12 caned hams at $5.00 ea. Food 4 Less, N. Calif. This is not to dispute what you say. $10.00 for 6.5 is remarkable. What store did you shope at? S&IT I hate to post.

Hatti

-- Hatti (klavine@tco.com), November 24, 1999.


How many chickens do you have?? what kind?? Hatti

-- Hatti (klavine@ tco.com), November 24, 1999.

No change in prices except for normal sales on Kaua'i. Gas prices were (down to!) $1.89 today on Molokai.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), November 24, 1999.

Paula, I have grown to respect you. This is not a put down. Where do you shop???

Hatti

-- Hatti (klavine@tco.com), November 24, 1999.



I don't mean to be a bitch! (well maybe), but, where do you shop Paula?? Insistant Hatti

-- Hatti (klavine@tco.com), November 24, 1999.

There's a big difference between Los Angeles and Northern California. I don't doubt that things could get out of control very quickly in a city the size of L.A.

Maybe Michael Taylor or someone else in L.A. could check it out and let us know?

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), November 24, 1999.


Wow! Canned veggies at 0.79 cents per can!!! Where? Where! How do they sell them - 126 for $1.00?

-- Y2KGardener (govegan@aloha.net), November 24, 1999.

No increased prices noted at Albertsons in LA - shopped yesterday.

-- 5R2K (fiver2000@yahoo.com), November 24, 1999.

NOW I AM POSTING!! I know how much to pay in my area. In So, Calif, of course the price of groceries is more!!! Paula, I am not picking a fight. Where did you shop?? Do you pay more because of your area?

-- Hatti (klavine@tco.com), November 24, 1999.

Do you yard sale??? Don't go in the wrong place and post as an alarmist "it has begun", kind of stuff. It is the same as being a programier and saying ALL CODE IS BROKEN!! The store is a place all women have a place to market! Be very carful about how you do it!!

The price you see is not all there is. Haggle a little, Paula!!

-- Hatti (klavine@tco.com), November 24, 1999.


I don't doubt the veracity of any reports, but remember that any shopping results might a little skewed by it being two days (okay, now one day) before Thanksgiving. I was in the local supermarket here, and, other than being run over by a few people with four-hundred-pound turkeys in their carts (and by a few four-hundred-pound turkeys with turkeys IN their carts), nothing seemed to be TOO far out of the ordinary. Perhaps next Tuesday or so might be a better indicator.

-- I'm Here, I'm There (I'm Everywhere@so.beware), November 24, 1999.

Please consider also that many people who consider themselves "upscale" would not be caught dead shopping at Sams or Cosco, or going to thrift stores. I have relatives like this. So I can maybe see how Paula could see something like this at one of the the more expensive supermarkets, but yet it doesn't appear at places like Walmarts.

Just a thought. Oh, also having read many of Paula's posts, I would believe that she did see this occuring.

-- nothing (better@to.do), November 24, 1999.


Two questions: One, what else were the "real" people up to? And Two: what would you say it is that distinguishes yourself from the "real" people?

-- Spidey (free@last.Amen), November 24, 1999.

No shortages here on the east coast. Went yesterday, all Thanksgiving items on sale.. lots of can goods every where. Lots of fruit cake. Paula do you live in Beverly Hills, seems your prices are high. Baby corn is not on my Y2k List. And I never wear my Diamonds when I grocery shop, wow LA sure is different from the East Coast, well for a country gal, glad I am here! At my local Aldis, can vegetables very cheap, 3 for a dollar always. Heck I get looks from people with my costume jewlery! I live in a poor county..lots of elderly on low low incomes, jobs low paying, so use to finding the cheap items, most can't afford .79 cents for 1 can of vetables, and minced onions are not on their list..10 dollars can go far at Aldis.

-- cassandra (american_storm@usa.net), November 24, 1999.

Paula,

I do believe you are one Taco short of a value meal.

-- (Polly@troll.com), November 24, 1999.


Take some cash & some boxes & go to Aldi's (they don't take checks or credit cards & they don't bag your stuff). Best prices around on canned veggies.

My last trip to Sam's, they still had mountains of rice, at less than $5.00 for a 20 lb bag. Think of it -- You can still get a hundred pounds of rice for around $25. How long would a hundred pounds of rice last at your house...?

-- you gotta know (where@to.shop), November 24, 1999.


Paula...

Answer Hatti's question please. WHERE are you shopping?

gp

-- georgia peach (the.patch@worldnet.att.net), November 24, 1999.


"There was not one fruitcake in the store." Was this a lob pitch or what?!

To all those screaming at Paul to answer, you've got to remember that this is a chat room. She may not be re-reading her post.

-- Dave (aaa@aaa.com), November 24, 1999.


Hey squid...we seem to be in the same geographic area. Give me a shout..the addy is real.

-- Jeff (jdevore@prodigy.net), November 24, 1999.

Paula... Get with it. You are way too PARNOID. Y2k may very well have lies and deceits about it, but not EVERY high price, shortage, action or boogie behind the corner is there because of Y2K. You have become increasingly parnoid the last month. Take a deep breath and chill. After all... you are not Paula Revere.

-- Hey You (aguy@parnoid.com), November 24, 1999.

One of the true blessings of Cascadia is the frumpy universal comfort factor. From the grocery outlets to the Nordstroms, sweats 'n Nikes, wrinkles 'n Birks. Dress down is an art form ;^)

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), November 24, 1999.

Hatti,

Last night I sent you an e-mail giving the details. Is that your real e-mail address? If you had responded I wouldn't know right at this exact moment due to PBI having a minor problem with e-mail. I can send e-mail out but I can't retrieve any mail.

Paula

-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), November 24, 1999.


Paula, I think you're in the area serviced by Mountain People's or Tucson Co-op Warehouse. They carry Frontier Herbs products of the type you are looking for at the least expensive prices I've ever found. They sell them in one-pound sealed bags. You might even be able to find a website for TCW--I believe they've just started one up--and buy from them directly, rather than looking for a co-op near you. They sell a lot of things besides spices, too, in bulk.

-- shopper (buying@thoseplaces.com), November 24, 1999.

You're a GI and you still live in Los Angeles???Sounds like an oxymoron!!!Sort of like a Jew in Berlin in 38 preparing to ride out the coming storm!!!Never underestimate the power of denial!!

-- Ralph Kramden (and@AwayWeGo.com), November 24, 1999.

I wear sweat pants and a sweatshirt when I go shopping in coordinated colors. Walgreens: Canned Hams $1.50 each, Dawn soap w/coupon 69 cents each, Raley's Supermarket Golden Grain pasta 1 lb. 69 cents, S&W stewed tomatoes 50 cents ea. Last week Lucky's had turkeys, buy one get one free (69 cents lb), canned olives 69 cents ea., Pet canned milk 50 cents ea., Swanson's chicken broth 2 for 88 cents. No shortages here of anything. WalMart had plenty of everything including Hershey's chocolate candy, they were very low on bottled water. Paula, maybe you need to get the ads to all the supermarkets in your area and compare shopping. Hatti - I'm in N. CA too.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), November 24, 1999.

Aha!

Thanks for the heads-up! Pay close attention all you TB2K old timers.

"Were we all out there today wearing cheap "holiday" jewelry?"

Remember when the 'mark' was a simple badge of duct tape?

{The monkey squawks at midnight}

-- flora (***@__._), November 24, 1999.


Squid, before you go calling people logisitically-challenged, try actually reading what I wrote. The store was almost empty, and I was the only one who had a full cart. If those carts aren't getting filled and taking things away, the pallets will just sit there full.

The people with carts were not taking things away. That's how it was in my area, even two days before Thanksgiving. It's a reminder that much of what happens will be determined by local factors.

My local electric has long claimed compliancy. Sunday at the game another parent who knows a couple of engineers at the electric company says they are a little worried about some of their compliancy work. I have been awakened 3 times in the past two nights with the alarm on my UPS bleating momentarily. I do not think these things are unrelated.

-- Firemouse (firemouse@fcmail.com), November 24, 1999.


I have an anecdote to offer, but it does not mean that it is indicative of any movement of the so called herd. I was picking up a few last minute things for Thanksgiving dinner late last night (after midnight) and I overheard a conversation between the guys doing restocking. They were complaining that all the Y2K buying has made more work for them. While they didn't want to discuss it with me (they didn't want to talk Y2K with me), I did notice that in the past... there is only one or two people doing the restocking in the early hours, now there seems to be a half dozen people loading shelves up. Of course, this might only be due to the Thanksgiving rush.

Sincerely,
Stan Faryna

Ready for Y2K? Got 14 days of water, food, way to keep warm and cook?
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-- Stan Faryna (faryna@groupmail.com), November 24, 1999.

Outside of DC in Virginia, we have plenty of everything overflowing the shelves and heaped up in baskets in the aisles of Super Fresh, Shoppers Food Warehouse, Safeway and Giant, as well as at Price/Costco. Also, in CVS and Rite Aid, as well as KMart,food shelves full. The prices are still good, although there has been a slight rise in the last two months in SOME products, i.e., canned carrots went from .34 to .38 and canned new potatoes from .38 to .43. But still lots and lots of "3-for" sales and other GREAT specials.

On Saturday two of us GIs made our monthly "pilgrimage" an hour and a half's drive to farm country to a Mennonite Country Market, a lovely store with fresh, clean products and courteous service. They have come to know us, and they told me Saturday that the reason they were no longer carrying powdered egg and would soon cease the wheat in the white 5-gal. buckets was because "early in the year we had lots of people preparing for Y2K and we ordered all these items they wanted. Then the demand just died, and we were stuck with 50 lb. bags of items, like powdered egg. Now there is no more demand for these things."

Paula, your posts DO seem to be growing more and more frequent and frantic. Try to let go of some of the intensity, take a break from the forum, and get some pleasure from the remaining days, all the while continuing to prepare.

You are indeed fortunate if your worst problem is the high prices where you shop...some of us cannot even finish necessary preps because we lack the means with which to do so. WE have real worries!

-- Elaine Seavey (Gods1sheep@aol.com), November 24, 1999.


Paula,

Were you with your spiritualist? Maybe your chakras our messing with your third eye or something? The fruitcake comment was hilarious!

This forum can always use comic relief, but since I posted Firewood in No. Va. was going for $250.00a cord and most suppliers are out of wood, with the resulting comments I received I decided it best to let others find out about shortages in there own communities. Otherwise Fruitcake is the response. We are all looking for showstoppers which may be a HUGE mistake. Death by a thousand cuts...

-- d----- (dciinc@aol.com), November 24, 1999.


"There was not one fruitcake in the store"

Mmmmust rrrrrresist... temptation ssssssso strong...

Paula. Please. Take a picture. Scan it in or get a friend to do so. Get a reporter down there. Tell us the area and the store. Please. Show us some evidence.

-- Colin MacDonald (roborogerborg@yahoo.com), November 24, 1999.


Green peas 5 for $2. Other stuff 4 for $2. Plenty of everything, although people were buying turkeys. Winn Dixie will be open all night to serve Thanksgiving shoppers.

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), November 24, 1999.

Yes Paula, email is real. Didn,t get your message. Sorry about last night. It was late and I took out frustrations on you. No excuse.

Respectfully, Hatti

-- Hatti (klavine@tco.com), November 24, 1999.


Ashton and Leska: I should live in Cascadia, then (where in the world IS that, anyway? Always wanted to ask....) b/c I have the frump factor going BIG time. Sweat pants, long-sleeve pajama top with sweatshirt over it, hair up in a clip, zero makeup and don't care! (Hey, I am clean, that's all I'll say!) Anyway, just went to my local store that I have been shopping at for 2 plus yrs and the only thing I found alarming was the price of the small cans of sweetened condensed milk : $ 1.99!!!!!! Sheesh, I nearly fell over! But I am sure that is b/c of Thanksgiving....pumpkin pies, etc.

BTW, shopping story--I was trying to find canning jars at Wal-Mart-- none. Found them at my local grocery store, on the bottom shelf, totally dusty, 12 one quart jars w/rings and lids for $ 7.35, so I bought them. The cashier said "Oh, do you can?" KNowing the canning season is over, it might seem kinda weird, so I said "No, I use them for those Christmas gifts where you put all the dry ingredients for chocolate chip cookies in them, ...." And she said "OH, yeah, those are cute! Still, it's a good thing to have these things on hand, JUST IN CASE, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN..." (emphasis mine) She then winked at me. !!!!!!! WEIRD! I just mumbled, "yeah" and paid for my groceries. I have a feeling she was a GI.

Before I left, my wonderful daughter told the whole store in a really loud voice " MY MOMMY IS WEARING HER PAJAMA TOP UNDER HER SWEATSHIRT!" Thanks, kid.

-- preparing (preparing@home.com), November 24, 1999.


Firemouse:

I don't recall calling anyone logistically challenged. Sometimes I do use irony as a form of HUMOR. But back to my point. I have made many trips to stores over the last 4 odd months taking the time to note what other people where buying. I see possible prep buying in waves HERE IN CENTRAL OHIO. The US is a big place and this may be a local or regional condition. I am familiar with distribution in the midwest (Central Ohio has Loads of Warehouses, guess we'll just keep it all). On a later visit I noted on a different post on this topic that there Sam's Club wasn't out but looked low on items such as bulk toilet paper and paper towels.

I realize these are stressful times but shooting at the foxhole next to you doesn't win any prizes.

-- squid (Itsdark@down.here), November 25, 1999.


Paula:

Your point is unclear. I've kept an ACCESS database of purchases made since summer of 1998. In October of 1998, I purchased 6.25 oz. of minced onion for $4.19. I went to the same store today (11/25/1999) and that minced onion was $3.79.

Your story WAS humorous, however.

-- Anita (notgiving@anymore.com), November 25, 1999.


Hi Folks,

There's something odd here regarding these minced onions. $10.00 for 6.5 ounces!!!!

I *LOVE* onions, just couldn't live without them. BTW, I read that during WWII they were in such short supply in the UK that an onion was a popular prize in raffles and they were often removed from one stew to be re-used in another and not eaten until they literally fell apart! (Almost all of Britain's onions came from France and supplies almost totally dried up for a couple of years until UK production got going)

But I digress, I bought 2 Kilos of dried minced onions (that's nearly 4.5 pounds for the metrically challenged) for 30 Aussie Dollars, (that's about 20 of yours). I ordered them specially from a health food store and when they arrived I found they were "Product of the USA!" (but packaged under an Aussie Brand name)

Why are you guys paying so much!?

We have the overpriced little supermarket packets too, but if you shop around I'm sure you can find the Bulk Onions I bought!

Best of Luck

RonD

-- Ron Davis (rdavis@ozemail.com.au), November 25, 1999.


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