Sent to me by a friend in Wichita Kansas. > I went to Sams today and prices are starting to rise! 20lbs of rice 2 weeks ago was 2.97, it is now 5.97. Tang orange drink 2 weeks ago was 4,39 it is now 6.00, 50 lbs of sugar was aboout 9.97, (ithink) it is now 17.97! Spices are going up too. Went to the gold store 1 ounce GAE coin is 333.00 and 1/10 is 41.99, bought all he had in stock of 1/10, he said he is supposed to be getting some more (if he gets it he said) in a couple of weeks. The guy told me the mint is> allocating how much is shipped to each dealer. He told me if I could get gold cheaper elsewhere to buy it, but I probably wouldn't get it anytime soon. So I took a crap shoot and bought it anyway.

Here's one posting all of you can check for accuracy without getting out of your chair. Use the phone. While it still works!

-- GIJoe (Lastdays@the.party), February 12, 1999

Answers

GI, I think your friend in Wichita is making some poor deals. Of all he wrote, the only thing that is accurate is the short supply of 1/10 ounce gold American Eagles, they are in fact beginning to command a premium as a barter good for y2k, but he's still paying way too much. I mean way too much.

Commodity prices are generally at or near historic lows. Look at the newspaper. You mentioned sugar, the bottom dropped out of the sugar futures market yesterday. The world is awash with food, feed, fiber and metals. That's one reason that I feel the government's denial state is approaching the criminal; because we could affordably lay up national reserves now while everything is available and shippable.

-- Puddintame (dit@dot.com), February 12, 1999.

I just checked out Affordable Jewelry & Precious Metals (www.ajpm.com). They're currently offering 1 oz. Gold Eagles & Swiss ingots for $304.00, and 1/10 oz. at $35.56. If you buy a bunch they give you free postage.

I don't know what their availability is, but still, if you're paying $333.00 for an ounce of gold, you must have some kinda metal between your ears. At the very least, stop scaring people.

-- give (them@a.call), February 12, 1999.

Sams has never sold 20 lbs of rice for 2.97. Your friend is full of beans.

Also, some of you may be interested in knowing that on most stuff Sam's sells, their prices are only slightly better than Kmart or Food Lion.

-- a (a@a.a), February 12, 1999.

Went to Sams yesterday and the prices have not changed from 2 months ago. People were buying and the shelves were stocked. Went to WalMart also. I reported that they were out of oil lamp wicks, they have now restocked. If I go back in a couple days and the wicks are gone, then that is a sure indicator that more people are preparing. Army Surplus store is doing a brisk business.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), February 12, 1999.

GIJoe does make an important point. Any Girl Scout will tell you: Be Prepared. Any Yourdonite should know that EVENTUALLY there is high probability that vital supplies WILL become more expensive and/or more scarce.

So, don't put off today what you are able to put away ahead of time. It will help others, the DGIY's (Don't Get It Yet's), when they finally realize what they need to do. You will be handled already, so there will be more available for them at a late date.

-- Sara Nealy (saran@ptd.net), February 12, 1999.

Sam's vs Wallmart

And in the blue corner....oh, wait, differrent thread, sorry.

Last fall the Bear buch spent several weekends doing some "basic" research on prices. We recorded a prices ona broad variety of things we (or anyone else) might srock up on - food, medicinals, paper products.

We have a spreadsheet of about 125 items with prices from Sam, WalMart and Dollar General chain in TX) with only 1 or 2 exceptions everything was cheaper on a per oz. basis at WalMart. Yes, that's what I said, WalMart.

Several of the bulk items were significantly more expensive at Sams. Anywhere from %5-14%. We were suprised. But the research paid off. We have some rough numbers that show we have saved around 200 bucks.

Also, a few items were cheaper at Dollar General that either of the others.

The Bear bunch is very happy we took the time to do the research then. We would NOT be wasting time doing research now. Now things are a LOT busier with other preps.

BTW, all prices were based on regular prices (no "sales" prices were used). Having a pretty long list of what we could expect to pay has allowed us to scoup a buch when we found anything on sale knowing we were gettin the beat but. (Don't you just hate buying a buch of stuff because it's "on sale" only to find it later somewhere else as a regular price - cheaper?)

These comments are provide here only to share the trends we have experienced NOT to advise anyone to spend much time comparrison shopping. The Bear bunch hereby SHOUTS OUTLOUD to you - GO PREPARE NOW. Do what ever you think is necessary, but don't tarry.

-- Greybear

- Got time? (Hint: NO!)

Past preformance is not a indication of future ... yada, yada...

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), February 12, 1999.

Gary...Gary...izzat you?

Hey man, you may have saved my life. I'll kiss your hairy butt in Times Square for that, a big smackeroo!

Please don't overdo it though, give the borderline GI/newbies a chance ta stock up before ya scare the masses willya?

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), February 12, 1999.

Greybear, We, too, did some comparising and found that Wal-Mart is the cheapest in our area. We have Dollar General here in SE Kansas, too. I was actually pretty surpised that DG wasn't the cheapest. We didn't do as in-depth of a study as the bears, but we paid attention for several weeks and made mental notes. Anyway, glad to know that our research is supported by yours.

-- gina (gngdecker@ckt.net), February 13, 1999.