Thought I'd share my experiences this past week,when I went on a little shopping excursion - non-Y2K, just picking up a few odds and ends.

First stop was a club store. All the staples were well-stocked, lots and lots of rice and beans, plenty of canned goods. Had six Coleman 3000 watt gensets, and two Generac 5000 watt units. Skids of empty 20 lb. propane tanks.

Next, on a lark, stopped in the local Honda powertool and cycle dealer. He had plenty of generators in stock, even had one of the 10,000 watt diesel units. Had a chat with a slaeman, mentioned that some folks I know had trouble getting the generator they wanted... he said that the factory was swamped, but that he wished whoever was buying all of them would come to his store!

Next on the itinerary was Home depot. Had two Generacs, and a couple of genset/welder combo units. Plenty of propane tanks, including several 100 lb. tanks.

Last stop was another club store, similar to the first one I visited. Plenty of food, just like the first store, and generators! They had a skidfull (eight) Generac 5000 watters, next to *another* full skid of Coleman 3500 watt units (with Honda engines, no less)! All the propane tanks you could carry...

Either the stores are doing a marvelous job of restocking, or folks around here haven't GI yet.

-- sparks (wireless@home.com), March 20, 1999

Answers

sparks,

Thanks for current New Jersey insight.

-- Watchful (seethesea@msn.com), March 20, 1999.

Sparks....pack the dadblame things up and ship them to South Carolina. Can't get a generator here unless you are willing to be satisfied with the little Honda. At least in the Upstate. Northern Warehouse is backordered--will get you one--pay now--get it in August or Sept. Still plenty of food at Sams. Can't find a mantle for a Coleman at any of the Kmarts or Sporting stores (course, camping season is almost here too). Plants, etc here still hiring but only entry level. You planning on staying in NJ during y2k?

-- Lobo (Hiding@woods.com), March 20, 1999.

Quite frankly, Lobo, if I could get the things for anywhere near wholesale price, I think I'd load up the truck and trailer and do just that :) And yes, I'll be staying here - after all, it's called the Garden State, and I've got this garden, see... I don't doubt that it'll get pretty rough, but I don't live near the city by any means.

-- sparks (wireless@home.com), March 20, 1999.

Think about what you said. Factory is swamped---- stores doing a good job of restocking. I think you live in the birth place of the DGI. How do you restock if you can't get it from the factory????????????? Companies use DC's now not warehouse's. Goods are bought, sent to the DC for sortation, and sent out to the stores. Your in, your out.

-- SCOTTY (BLehman202@aol.com), March 20, 1999.

Scotty, I didn't say that the factory was swamped and the stores were restocking - that'd be kinda impossible, doncha think? The Honda dealer said the factory was swamped, and that he was sitting on a lot of stock he'd ordered months ago - they weren't restocking.

-- sparks (wireless@home.com), March 20, 1999.

Well things are not that rosy here in CA. I ordered DELCO 2000 Batteries for my power system in Dec98 and one is still back ordered. I got a call from my distributer yesterday and the Sunfrost Fridge I had been promised in MAY will supposedly ship in June...

Costco is still well stocked with everything in the way of foods, but canned Cheese Powder is on backorder at the local "survial" store. I guess the moral is buy at the supermarket while the sun is still shining!

-- helium (heliumavid@yahoo.com), March 20, 1999.

This is New Jersey, after all. I've given more that ten Y2k presentations in the Garden State, and I doubt that more than 5% of those attended planned to do ANY stocking at all, and those are the ones who actually showed some interest in Y2k!

Roger Altman

-- Dr. Roger Altman (rogaltman@aol.com), March 20, 1999.