http://cbc.ca/cgi-bin/templates/view.cgi?/news/1999/11/30/y2k991130

Stockpiling, hoarding, now becoming Y2K problems

WebPosted Tue Nov 30 17:34:14 1999

WASHINGTON - With a month to go, analysts looking into potential Y2K problems are predicting another trouble spot. Their major concern now is shortages due to stockpiling and hoarding.

For example, drug companies are bracing for a surge in orders for medicine. Some sellers of emergency equipment such as electrical generators already are sold out. Phone companies are worried that millions of people will pick up the phone at the same time to check for a dial tone, overloading the system. Stockpiling may limit supplies of food and other necessities. And banks are worried there will be a run on cash as millions of people withdraw money for a potential emergency.

Meanwhile, Canada's auditor general Denis Desautels agrees with the government's assessment that it's 99 per cent ready for the new year. Desautels' report commends the government for accelerating work on the millennium bug, after negative auditor reports in 1997 and 1998.

-- Uncle Bob (UNCLB0B@Tminus29&counting.down), December 02, 1999

Answers

See also...

Y2K Stockpiling Causes Worries (San Jose Mercury News)

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id= 001tpw

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), December 02, 1999.

It's SO ironic that those of us who've taken Y2K seriously have LONG AGO acquired whatever "specialty equipment" (or whatever) that we expected to need. All that's left for us "doomers" is a bit more food and ammo, for the most part.

So, who's attempting to buy up all the "stuff" at the last minute?

Hmmmm?

-- Dennis (djolson@cherco.net), December 02, 1999.

What, some wackos might buy extra food or something? ;)

"Don't buy more than you need in the week leading up to new year," squeals Koskinen. Ho ho ho. How many people on this forum (alleged pollys included) plan to be anywhere NEAR a shop then? I really love that we're the good guys now. :)

-- Colin MacDonald (roborogerborg@yahoo.com), December 02, 1999.

I resent being told not to purchase something or don't eat a particular food. I'm the type of person that will touch the paint if it says "wet paint do not touch." I'm off to the store to hoard some more.....

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), December 02, 1999.

Funny how on one hand they tell you BUY BUY BUY at Christmas (useless stuff like toys and clothes) ... but heaven help us all if you buy stuff you'd actually need in an emergency like food, medicine, and water. THEN you're an evil hoarder.

Forked tongue devils....

-- Grinch (stealing@xmas.com), December 02, 1999.

http://cbc.ca/cgi- bin/templates/view.cgi?/news/1999/11/30/y2k991130

-- TA (sea_spur@yahoo.com), December 02, 1999.

If the 'doomers' already bought stuff, then it must be the polly idiots buying stuff now. No? What do you think?

-- haha (haha@haha.com), December 02, 1999.

This is the most important information I've seen since I began visiting this board a few months ago.

Once the herd bolts, it's over. Our JIT supply system will be quickly over-run and will not be able to catch back up. Stores will have to close, creating even more Polly panic.

Ever see a Polly panic? It's not a pretty sight.

-- GoldReal (GoldReal@aol.com), December 02, 1999.

Stockpiling and hoarding aren't a problem for us. We still have plenty of storage space left.

That's only partially a joke. If this problem exists, let's see a list of names of people being harmed by it. I don't know of anybody in this country hurt by a lack of opportunity to consume all they wish. There is still plenty of everything available for everybody as far as I can see. America has a problem with over-consumption - not excessive hoarding.

The polly-press can be just as alarmist as the Gary North types - they just pick different things to over-react to.

Any verified examples of people dying for lack of meds due to someone else "hoarding" them? No, and there isn't going to be. Places where generators are sold-out? Well here there is a glut and they're on sale, people can take a road trip for one if they feel the need. If their brand or supplier of choice is back-ordered they can just go with the next best choice - big deal.

Bank runs? What bank runs? People are supposedly less worried about their ATM's/etc than ever before. Only 4 weeks left in the year and no bank runs yet. If too many people will withdraw simultaneously, it will probably be a very last-minute thing. Banks aren't legally required to pay depositors in cash (I'm told - please correct me on that if I'm wrong). If there is a bank panic, which I used to expect but now doubt, Clinton can declare a bank holiday just like FDR did. It was manageable then and it would be now too if necessary.

The polly-press censures doomer-types for trying to alarm people and for encouraging hoarding - but their own reports are more likely to cause alarm and encourage hoarding. If they were really convinced Y2K would be a technological non-event but potentially threatening by way of public over-reaction then they would best keep quiet about the whole thing. Of course, that is basically what most in the media are doing.

-- Gus (y2kk@usa.net), December 02, 1999.