Y2K an issue at BJ's wholesale club for first time

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I finally decided to buy a month's worth of supplies on top of the month's worth that I have accumulated over the last few months. I was loading a cart at BJ's with 6 gallon boxes of water. A very worried woman came over to me and asked if I was buying the water for Y2K. She said that she had been reading alot of scary stuff and was wondering whether she should stock up. I said that my family likes to have a little extra on hand, but that I wasn't stocking up for Y2K specifically (I know, I chickened out). Later, a guy in the check-out line next to me had 3 packages of flashlights, 6 cases of water and other foodstuffs that looked to me to be Y2K items.

I know this is a small sample, but I have delayed stocking up and have maintained memberships at Sam's Club and BJ's for, inter alia, the purpose of detecting early shifts in buying demand. These are the first two shopping trips that I have made where Y2K has arguably been an issue.

-- eggman (Ichabod@isitchy.com), November 15, 1999

Answers

eggman, my guess is that it is a local phenomenon. I do BJ's in Greater Boston (including a couple very recent trips) and have yet to see any activity. Haven't even noticed a change this past year in what they are stocking here.

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), November 15, 1999.

eggman,

On my last two 'top-off' trips (there always seems to be one more of those in the making) I have also seen an increase in what I would call Y2K purchases by others. Last year when I started prepping I didn't see anyone buying Y2K stuff (and I was looking).

On the last two trips though, I noticed two people the first time and three the second time buying water, 50lb bags of rice, 10lb bags of beans, sterno, flashlights, etc. Definitely Y2K stuff. An I didn't hear any snickers or jokes from the cashiers either.

All I can say is I'm glad more people are prepping without the panic. It'll make it easier on us all in the long run...

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), November 16, 1999.


i shop alot. i haven't seen anyone yet doing massive shopping (other than one guy that had too many of lanterns, batteries, etc. that i figured he was going to resell them later). but i have noticed an increase of folks buying batteries, flashlights, etc. and what amazes me is they looked more like they are prepping for the 3- day "hurricane".

-- tt (cuddluppy@yahoo.com), November 16, 1999.

eggman--did you say you havne't stocked up yet?????!!!! you get your butt out there today and shop. seriously it takes more than one day. i just wrote to family and friends that they either have about 40 more normal shopping days or FIVE!!!!!! depending upon whether the movie takes hold or not.

-- tt (cuddluppy@yahoo.com), November 16, 1999.

I've still to see a trend. I'm going to call my friend who works at a supermarket distribution warehouse and see if he's spotted anything yet.

And I agree: the shopping deadline (in the USA) is probably this Sunday.

-- Colin MacDonald (roborogerborg@yahoo.com), November 16, 1999.



tt - I also have too many lanterns, since I plan to use them as XMAS presents.

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), November 16, 1999.

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