Dr. North is warning re: Diamond "Strike Anywhere" Match shortage. Has anyone experienced this yet ? Everytime I go to the grocery store, there are abundant supplies on the shelf, just whispering "hoard me, big boy".

Is this going to be a test case for Dr. North, to stimulate the first true "you were too late" scenario ? There is another one, actually, Lehman's says well hand-pumps order running 9 months behind now.

(Don't get me wrong, I respect Dr. North, he's saving lives. I'm just wondering what's the tactical situation here).

-RC

-- Runway Cat (runway_cat@hotmail.com), December 08, 1998

Answers

I thought that was an interesting post on North's site also...and I wondered...is this how it begins? a run on matches? will that create the preconditions for a run on charcoal? and then a run on barbeques? and then winter clothes next spring? followed by a run on potting soil and eventually a run on the banks? Is that "self-fulfilling prophesy" being manipulated?

-- pshannon (pshannon@inch.com), December 08, 1998.

The run is on for dehydrated and freeze-dried food packages and plans. Haven't you heard?

An anecdote: In late summer, the wife and I went to Home Depot to get a spare propane tank for the gas grill. After searching unsuccessfully, we asked a clerk, who commented that someone had just bought 37 tanks.

-- Elbow Grease (Elbow_Grease@AutoShop.com), December 08, 1998.

37 tanks? Must have thrown one humdinger of a BBQ :)

pshannon: ROFL.

BTW, Gary also had a follow-up post - something about the company asking him to pull the link or some info he had posted about them. Wasn't he also making a distinction between strike anywhere type matches and matches that you need to strike on a box?

-- Rob Michaels (sonofdust@net.com), December 08, 1998.

I wonder if Gary has stock in the company? Maybe he's making his last fast buck before AHBL. There's matches in every store I go to.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), December 08, 1998.

From what I read of Gary North's posts re the matches, it seemed like a snooty harried phone receptionist lit into him for advertising the # and rubbed a little sulphur-provocation onto him. He's after a bit of revenge and tattling on her job performance. He wants ppl to have the matches and is "sticking" it to the company.

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), December 08, 1998.

Any company that turns down a buck would be one that I wouldn't invest in. I'd like to see what Diamond Matches next move is.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), December 09, 1998.

There's a good Documentary about match-making that's worth seeing. I think it's called 'Fiddler on the Roof'.

-- Craig (craig@ccinet.ab.ca), December 09, 1998.

"Dr. North is warning re: Diamond "Strike Anywhere" Match shortage"

Has he tried to go look further than his local store? Maybe that one store ran out and didn't re-order on time. Plenty of Diamond Matches here.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), December 09, 1998.

I called Diamond Match Company and the receptionist treated me very nicely. She asked whether I had an account with them. When I said no she responded that they weren't taking orders from individuals right now, but to call back on Friday, December 11. They might have a system in place by then to handle the orders.

-- Walt Longyear (longyear@shentel.net), December 09, 1998.