I had a quick visit with a longtime Costco employee at check-out today. I remarked that the display of 20 plus $750. generators by the entrance should appeal to those who were concerned about Y2k. He said his company was concerned that many would stock-up on supplies such as generators and other bigger ticket items and then return them in January.

You can bet that this will be a problem for K-Mart, Walmart, Costco, Sams and other large chain stores.

I can see some people spreading some big ticket purchases between various big stores with easy return policies. Lots of Xmas items will be returned as always so mixed in will be Y2k items that served as short term insurance.

There is a certain class of people that abuse their right to return goods on a continuing basis and they will probably be joined by others just a few weeks from now.

Now I know that you and I have principles but we can't speak for everyone.

-- tc (trashcan-man@webtv.net), September 28, 1999

Answers

I will never return any of my items if y2k turn out to be not a disaster(please God). I have now changed my lifestyle for good. Never again will I be unprepared. I will, from now on, always live in a state of preparation.

-- a mom (prepared@fromnowon.com), September 28, 1999.

Returning any item that is significant to my family's welfare (assuming it is in good working order when purchased) would never be an option for me. January is just the beginning of 'stuff' happening, letting go of my resolve to be prepared at all times would never allow for this. My way of looking at the world and lifestyle has changed for the better permanently.

Just keepin' on, keepin' on

-- Sammie Davis (sammie0nospam@hotmail.com), September 29, 1999.

I understand that some people returned hastily-purchased items (like generators) to Lowe's after Floyd barely brushed us here in Durham. I won't be returning a thing, I haven't bought anything that won't be used at some point and, besides, many item were purchased for next to nothing at yard and estate sales. Our biggest purchase has been solar panels. Can you say free electricity?

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 29, 1999.

We won't give up a thing. Our plans are long term, not just Y2K.

Around here the farm stores and such have signs up: "Generators not returnable"

-- Art Welling (artw@lancnews.infi.net), September 29, 1999.

Our major purchase will be 1250 gallons of gasoline. Think they'll take it back if we ask nicely?

-- Gus (y2kk@usa.net), September 29, 1999.

I will not return one thing I have bought. Because of y2k I have become a much more informed person with major lifestyle changes. I have saved hundreds of dollars by learning how to can, dehydrate, take advantage of sales etc.

The homade clothes detergent I use is cheap and far superior than anything I can buy. I save electricity with thermos and haybox cooking. Our water bill is half of what it used to be because of the water conservation we use.

I will never go back to the wasteful lifestyle we had before and am a better person for it.

-- FOX (ardrinc@aol.com), September 29, 1999.

I can say AMEN bruthas and sistas..grin. We haven't purchased anything that I wouldn't have purchased anyway with the exception of maybe the Baygen Radio. Like the rest of you all, I've found a way to save 30 50% on my grocery bills by not having to purchase items unless they're practically GIVING them away. As a parent, it was also rewarding to hear my daughter call from her job to tell me she was so grateful for our pantry when Floyd was threatening the east coast. Her coworkers were buzzing around the office and wringing their hands about the cupboards being bare. We do need to realize how freeing it is for our children to have one less thing to be concerned about in this world which foists so many other worries on their heads prematurely. About the return policies, I have a friend who works at Southern States here in Delaware. She said they've been selling quite a few generators but it's with the understanding that they will NOT be returned unless not functioning properly...PERIOD. I have the feeling you'll see more policies like this even at Sams or WalMart.

-- beej (beej@ppbbs.com), September 29, 1999.

We're in earthquake country, due for a 9+ any day. Overdue. Everything we've done for Y2k works for quakes. Nothing goes back to the store.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), September 29, 1999.

I believe that 99% of the GI's that read and post on these forums will keep 99% of their Y2k preps. However, our "panic at the last minute friends" will be "shooting from the hip" and may buy anything and everything at panic time.

-- rb (ronbanks-2000@yahoo.com), September 29, 1999.

Not only will I keep every single item, but I plan to learn even more self sufficiency and to attempt to change my lifestyle even more to become less dependent upon the grid or anyone else's assurances that everything is okay in their firm/utility/agency/bank.

-- Elaine Seavey (Gods1sheep@aol.com), September 29, 1999.

bw, I dont' believe we've ever had an earthquake as big as a 9 in the U.S. in our history. So I doubt you're really overdue for one. I certainly hope you don't get a 9, but if you do, I hope you have stocked up on shoring for your house.

Good to hear from everyone that they are wising up to more than y2k-- good job!

Al

-- Al K. Lloyd (all@ready.now), September 29, 1999.

Not returning anything. I would never go back to being less self sufficient. I equate that now with being a whole lot less free. I like to be free, and I want to be freer with each year that goes by.

-- (formerly known as nobody@nowhere.wet), October 01, 1999.

I did not buy a generator, but with the increase of natural disasters from the Mississippi floods in 93, the ice storm in Canada this past winter, the killer twisters in Oklahoma and now Floyd in the Carolina's, who would want to get rid of their generator or supplies.

I believe that geting rid of ones supplies would be very dumb. Your area could be NEXT!

Joe Martin -- Buffalo, Ny (the snow, the snow!)

-- Joe Martin (nospam@nospam.com), October 01, 1999.

From: Y2K, ` la Carte by Dancr near Monterey, California

I cannot think of a single thing that I will return. However, I have done a lot of home improvements and I may trade those in on a new house built right, from well below ground, up. This would include a large, separate, well stocked and ventilated fallout shelter, a rain catchment system with gravity fed water to the house, solar water heating and electricity (using photovoltaic shingles), year round water source, defensible location, strong room, escape tunnels, solar motion detectors & public address system, 12,000+ SF garden with drip irrigation, compost toilets, greywater catchment, a barn designed to house a wide variety of animals, greenhouse...

"Now, tell me again about the rabbits, George..."

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage), October 02, 1999.

A few months ago, on Gary North's "Home Power Generation" forum, somebody posted and claimed that Y2K supply businesses were being told by credit card companies that they would no longer be able to process credit card orders in late 1999, due to the fear that people would take advantage of their credit card right to not pay a "disputed" purchase -- i.e., people would stiff the credit card companies if everything turned out OK and tried to return merchandise. Other than that one posting, I have not seen anything else on the subject.

-- Jack (jsprat@eld.~net), October 02, 1999.