Subject: A Special Food Offer for Y2K Discussion Group Date: Sun, 3 Oct 1999 23:52:27 -0400 (EDT) From: feedback@michaelhyatt.com.subject=Y2K.Prep.Discussion.Group To: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

You may be aware of my association with Y2K Prep. Over the last year-and-a-half, we have supplied hundreds of families with long-term, dehydrated food packages. Because of the large volume of business we have generated for several food canneries -- and because of some unique circumstances -- David Dunham, my business partner, has been able to negotiate the lowest prices I am seen for dehydrated food.

If you haven't yet purchased a long-term food storage program, or if you've been thinking about adding to your existing program, now may be the perfect time. Here's why.

The Impact of Government-Orchestrated Spin Control

As you may know, during the fourth quarter of 1998 and the first quarter of this year, the demand for dehydrated food surged to unprecedented levels. As a result, food suppliers fell 12-16 weeks behind in their normal delivery schedules. One of the country's largest suppliers -- the one I recommended in my first book, THE MILLENNIUM BUG -- fell almost a year behind.

In the second quarter of this year, the Senate released its long-awaited report on Y2K. As you may recall, the picture they painted was grim -- in some parts, it was very grim. Frankly, I expected this to fuel the fires and create even a greater demand for preparedness products. But I was wrong.

In response to the report, the Clinton Administration became worried about the prospect of public panic. To combat this, they launched a *massive* program of Y2K optimism, consisting of self-reported data, spin control, and outright disinformation.

With one voice the government and the mainstream media set out to convince the American public that Y2K would be no worse than the equivalent of a three-day, winter snow-storm. The public bought the story, hook, line, and sinker.

What Has Happened to the Dehydrated Food Industry?

Predictably, sales of Y2K supplies, including food storage units, plummeted. Unfortunately, based on the demand from the previous two quarters, most canneries had purchased huge inventories, thinking that food orders would only increase as we approached the century rollover.

With most of their capital tied up in inventory, many of these suppliers found themselves overextended, unable to meet their financial obligations. Sadly, some of the smaller suppliers went out of business. Others are now selling off a portion of their inventories at radically- reduced prices in order to generate cash flow. They are doing their best to hang on, believing that sales will pick up dramatically in the next 30 to 60 days.

Their Problem May Be Your Opportunity

Because of this situation, David has been able to negotiate an extremely economical, one-year, one- person food package that includes 33 different food items in 72 cans (12 cases) at an unheard of price: The total package is just $549.00 (plus shipping). This translates to less than $.51 per meal. To put this into perspective . . . when I was writing THE Y2K PERSONAL SURVIVAL GUIDE, dehydrated food was selling for about $1.25 per meal per person.

Please understand that the special package we've negotiated with our suppliers normally sells for $900 to $1,200. This product is in perfectly good condition. It is already packaged and available for immediate shipment.

With your order you will also receive a copy of my most recent book, THE Y2K PERSONAL SURVIVAL GUIDE and the JUST ADD WATER cookbook, which will tell you everything you need to know about cooking with dehydrated food. We are providing both books free of charge.

I know you've heard this before, but trust me: this is a limited time offer. As I mentioned, the canneries only want to move a *limited amount* of their inventory at reduced prices. They are still hoping that they can move most of it later this year at their normal prices.

The only other offer that we are aware of that has come close to this one was from a small California supplier who decided to get out of the dehydrated food business altogether. Three weeks ago they made an exclusive offer to Y2K Newswire members and moved their entire inventory of 550 one-year units in less than 8 hours. David and I thought we'd never see an offer like that again.

Our Strategy in Letting Our Contacts Know

Currently, we have a commitment for 600 of these one- year, one-person units. At $549.00, we expect them to sell out quickly -- within a few days, if not hours.

We are offering this package to the 2,300 or so members of the Y2K Prep Discussion Group first -- that's you. On Wednesday morning, I will send the same offer to the 25,000 subscribers of my e-mail newsletter list. If they're still not gone by next Monday, we are going to send a conventional letter to the 50,000 people on our mailing list.

How to Place Your Order

If you want to take advantage of this special, limited-time offer, send a confidential e-mail to David Dunham at tndavid@compuserve.com. Alternatively, you can send a fax directly to the Y2K Prep office at (615) 794-8860 (please send it to David's attention).

We accept VISA, MasterCard. American Express, Discover, and personal checks. However, if you intend to pay by check, we will not reserve your unit(s) until we have your check in-hand. Therefore, I would strongly urge you to overnight your check to Y2K Prep, Attn: David Dunham, 251 Second Avenue South, Franklin, TN 37064.

Your order must include the following information:

1. Your e-mail address or Discussion Group username.

2. The number of units you wish to purchase.

3. Your shipping address.

4. Your method of payment.

If you are paying by credit card, we need your card number, your expiration date, and the cardholder's name, *exactly* as it is printed in the card.

Note: This Is a Limited Offer

This offer will only be available exclusively to members of the Y2K Prep Discussion Group for the next 48 hours. If your e-mail address is not in our database, we will not allow you to order until Wednesday. I want to give the faithful members of our on-line preparedness community first dibs on these units.

Also, we are limiting this offer to four units per member. (Because these prices are less than our usual wholesale price, we do not want someone buying up a block of units and trying to re-sell them later. These units are for end consumers only. You are welcome to order for other family members or for friends, but the order must come directly from you.)

Thank you for your interest in Y2K and your willingness to take responsibility for your own Y2K readiness. Every family who is prepared is one less family someone else has to provide for.

Answers to Further Questions

Q: What specific items are included in the package?

A: There are 72 #10 cans in total. They break down as follows:

ABC Soup Mix (2 cans) All Purpose Flour (3 cans) Bacon TVP (1 can) Banana Slices (3 cans) Beef TVP (2 cans) Bell Peppers (1 can) Bread Roll Mix (4 cans) Broccoli (1 can) Chicken TVP (2 cans) Cornmeal (3 cans) Cracked Wheat (2 cans) Diced Carrots (1 can) Elbow Macaroni (1 can) Germade (i.e., Cream of Wheat ) (1 can) Hash Brown Potatoes (2 cans) Honey Powder (2 cans) Instant Chocolate Milk (1 can) Instant Potatoes (2 cans) Lentils (3 cans) Long Grain White Rice (3 cans) Margarine (2 cans) Non-fat Milk (2 cans) Pancake Mix (3 cans) Pinto Beans (2 cans) Popcorn (3 cans) Potato Slices (2 cans) Quick Rolled Oats (4 cans) Refried Beans (1 can) Split Peas (3 cans) Sugar (2 cans) Veggie Stew Blend (1 can) Whole Corn (4 cans) Whole Egg (2 cans)

Q: What's a #10 can?

A: It's a double-enameled, metal can that is 7/8 of a gallon in size. It looks a little smaller than a one-gallon paint can.

Q: How long will dehydrated food last?

A: At least ten years, probably longer, depending on where you store it. For maximum shelf-life, it is best to store your food at room temperature or cooler. The temperature should not be susceptible to extreme fluctuations.

Q: Once I open the can, how long will the food last?

A: Using the re-sealable, snap-on plastic lids (included with the package), it will last approximately 12-18 months.

Q: What is "TVP"?

A: "TVP" stands for "textured vegetable protein." It is a soy-based, meat substitute. When it is used in dishes such as casseroles, mixes, and sauces, you will probably not be able to tell TVP from the real thing.

Q: Is shipping included in the cost?

A: No. Shipping anywhere within the 48 states is $150.00. Please call for shipping costs elsewhere.

-- H.H. (dontscrewme_2000@yahoo.com), January 09, 2000

Answers

In the interests of full disclosure of Y2k profiteering, I am prepared to reveal that the e-commerce division of Mountain Y2k has made a grand total of seventy-five cents through the Affinia e-store program.

-- Firemouse (firemouse@fcmail.com), January 09, 2000.

On the one hand, I can understand your skepticism towards Michael Hyatt and others who warned about Y2K and were also offering products related to Y2K.

On the other hand, I think you underestimate the intelligence of those of us who chose to prepare. Anyone who took Y2K seriously and chose to prepare did their research and made up their own mind. Surely we realized Hyatt and others may have been selling a book or food or whatever. We took that into account.

Please don't baby us anymore. You have a problem, not us.

While I never would have been motivated to organize a Super-Pantry before Y2K, now that I have one, I am thrilled. Anyone who bought dehyd. food from Hyatt or wherever probably is glad they have it for the next disaster.

You just don't understand how we preparers think. I guess we don't understand you, either.

-- J Wheel (motherof5@wellprepared.noregrets), January 09, 2000.

After reading H.H. I no longer wonder why some animal species eat their young.

-- justwondering (justwondering@giveitabreak.com), January 09, 2000.

One of the biggest chimeras being tossed around, is this inference that htere are just thousands of people who have been plunged into finacial and social ruin, by this experience. I'd seriously like to see a show of hands of who is actually facing ruin, because of this situation> Then I'd like to see a show of hands of who is about dead even, with where they would have been anyway, followed by the folks who are actually ahead of the game, as a result of their Y2K experience.

Count me in the dead even group. My wife and I got started late. We began preparing, in April of 1999. We watched for sales, and Mabes went into research mode (something she excels at) and quickly learned what are the items that we regularly eat, that had long shelf lifes.

In 9 months time, we managed to pull together food and water for 6 months, plus an alternative source of heat (propane furnace), plus building and buying a few solar items, plus a few other items, like a Berkey, in case our stored water ran out. We did this without incurring anything in the way of debt. In fact, we paid off the debt we already had. The only reason I count us as even, instead of ahead, is that the above pretty well precluded anything in the way of savings. But then again, perhaps I'm being to hard on myself. Paying off a 17% credit card, instead of putting money into a 5% savings account, probably DOES put us ahead(G).

Yes, there probably are a few people who went overboard, and spent the wad, because they thought death was imminent, and now are devastated. I suspect, however, most people who cashed in everything and moved to some out of the way place, probably have always wanted to do something that extreme, and have just been waiting for the right excuse.

To quote the old commercial, "Where's the beef?". Show me these hordes of people who have had their lives destroyed by these "evil Y2K profiteers".

-- Bokonon (bok0non@my-Deja.com), January 09, 2000.

I must put myself in the way ahead category, everything considered. We love the wood heat, target shooting has become a damn enjoyable hobby (but bullets add up fast), grocery bills are down to nearly nothing, credit cards are paid off for the first time in forever, nearly all the "I'll get to it someday" backburner chores are out of the way, and the only downside is the space we can't reclaim faster than we can eat.

But is this really the point? I can't say. I know some people were really badly frightened. Some wasted their money. Some marriages were broken or weakened. How many I don't know. And who knows how much more I might have enjoyed what I'd bought otherwise? Yes, y2k handed us a lemon and we made lemonade. It's just a good thing we enjoy lemonade.

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), January 09, 2000.

H.H., Who's money is it anyway? Is it your money? If someone else buys a product you don't like, do you have the right to jump in and stop the sale? These are adults making important decisions about security and protecting themselves and their families from uncertainties. You have no vital interest in how anybody else spends their money on this issue. Put a sock in it and go back to the golf course and hit a bucket of balls. Maybe you'll feel better or at least you'll be further from your keyboard.

-- snooze button (alarmclock_2000@yahoo.com), January 10, 2000.