Walmart is notifying selected suppliers that they are increasing their stocking levels. They have an incredible ability to respond and analyze the movement of inventory. They normally expect increased traffic this time of year for seasonal purchases but this is beyond the normal seasonal stocking. The other chains are not far behind in technology and anlysis expect to see others to follow very soon.

They either are responding to movements at POS (point of sale) or are building up stock ahead. One of the strategies that makes Walmart so efficient is the JIT sales, inventory not in store is wasteful and drains the operation of resources. Either way the herd may start to bolt before Christmas. Any run anywhere in the world could be carried instantaneously via 24 news type networks.

December is ticking away...

-- squid (Itsdarker@down.here), December 03, 1999

Answers

My housemate works for the local WalMart, it's the only WallyWorld for a 120 mile radius. Currently there are in excess of 40 semi trailers parked behind the store. There are two tanker trailers. There are also about 50 shipping boxes (semi-trailers boxes without undercarriages/wheels)of various sizes.

Knowing this forum's insatiable curiousity, I asked them to go ask the main store manager.

So my housemate asked him about the trailers ... His reply was:

" This WalMart will stay open NO matter what happens in 2000!

We have a 4 month supply of merchandise out back.

We have (4)generators stored outside that can power eveything in the store and enough fuel on hand right now to run them for 3 months without resupply.

Additional Shipments of merchandise and fuel are incoming.

We have everything we need to run this store manually.

By DEC 31st we will be able to operate at current levels throughout 2000 without resupply if needed. "

Found out today from a real estate agent that this WalMart has also leased every empty warehouse in town.

-- hiding in plain (sight@edge. of no-where), December 03, 1999.

Squid, nice post.

I don't think the herd will bolt until disaster is up close and personal directly in their faces. This is a pretty dumb herd we are talking about...

-- nothing (better@to.do), December 03, 1999.

Hi squid, hiding, thanks for the posts.

And skeptical Brit says... I find this both plausible and credible, and here's why. Wal-Mart are famous for their JIT system, but they are also expansionist, and have a lot of buying power. Stocking now makes a lot of business sense.

Regardless of what happens at rollover, if Wal-Mart has full shelves and can keep selling while others run dry, they will buy themselves publicity and long term credibility. And while they lose money compared to JIT, they are actually denying goods to their competitors.

Again, thanks for the posts. Very thought provoking.

-- Colin MacDonald (roborogerborg@yahoo.com), December 03, 1999.

I guess I "dis-associate". Here I am, every day, reading about TEOTWAWKI, storing water and food - but I still am surprised when "real people" (excluding us "doomers"), "real government" and "real businesses" are getting ready in case TSHTF!

-- Anonymous999 (Anonymous999@Anonymous999.xxx), December 03, 1999.

Hiding,

That's encouraging! ...a GI in the position to potentially impact thousands in your area. Cool! Um, so folks there would need cash I suppose for purchases in the blackout scenario. If it's the only store open in a large area, through a significant period of time, then they will also need beefed up security.

-- Hokie (nn@va.com), December 03, 1999.

If you think that's impressive (and it is) go the latest Y2KWDC report on Hamasaki's site and read what Marriot is doing. They have a 'wartime' mentality about Y2K, and look like they did everything possible to protect their business, customers and employees.

http://www.kiyoinc.com/WRP132.HTM

Kook

-- Y2Kook (Y2Kook@usa.net), December 03, 1999.

I can tell you the WalMarts in the Baltimore Area all have over two dozen trailers (without wheels) lined up in the parking lots. It is going to be one hell of a winter storm! Also keep an eye on your local national guard armory. They typically have a few storage trailers in the back compound (with stove pipe vents coming out the top) Some of the local armories have been doing some maintenance on these trailers, like giving them a fresh coat of silver paint. These trailers getting the new paint just happen to be new additions to current stock. I asked about the new influx of storage trailers at a local guard armory and the nice staff sargeant said he couldn't discuss the purpose other than they where for equipment storage.

WalMart not the only folks in your town stocking (hoarding) supplies, just-in-case, its our job to be ready you know.

-- MarktheFart (happy@risperdane.com), December 03, 1999.

I dont wish to offend anyone, but we need FACTS. Alot of folks believe those semi's are hoarding/preparing for the big storm, But, I talked to a friend of mine who works at a Walmart in Brooksville Florida, the trucks there are used for layaway storage. She just told me this last night. She keeps track of whats in those trucks via the computer system. We need to be more 'factual' before we leap to conclusions. If we have an inside tidbit, do share, but assumptions should be stated as such. I'm not flaming.

-- consumer (shh@aol.com), December 03, 1999.

Naturally Walmart is preparing for what should be the biggest Christmas shopping season ever because of our overheated economy and stock market. We have a negative savings rate - (Anybody dispute this?) - More credit than ever - Its not the American way to save. How many people do you know that live paycheck to paycheck? That's because they're SPENDING IT. Like somebody else comically said on this forum, everybody is going to have there head up Santa's a** until Christmas. Then the sheeple will start thinking about other things.

-- Guy Daley (guydaley@bwn.net), December 03, 1999.

The trailers will also be handy to store the returns after Christmas when people discover they can no longer afford to pay the prices demanded for food and other essentials.

-- John (jh@NotReal.ca), December 03, 1999.

Live on in your dreams folks...the box trailors here all have fixtures in side signs on them, and right below another which says no merchandice iside...Now why is it then that when you should go by one when it is being inspected (just arrived) that you see stacks of boxed canned good, and another with mountains of paper goods. I want to now where you are going to store lay a ways in a fully loaded box trailor?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Shakey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-- Shakey (in_a_bunker@forty.feet), December 03, 1999.

Our WalMart here is not a grocery store, they do stock junk foods but nothing of significant nutritional value. So what if you have TP, paper towels, lamp oil, you can't eat them (maybe barter though). Grocery stores depend on trucks arriving everyday to restock. Water and food will be the biggest consumer demand, I just hope those trucks keep right on a rolling for the sheeples sake.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), December 03, 1999.

Here's my WalMart story: About a month and a half ago I was in the automotive department checking out the gas cans they had. While I was looking at them, a couple of guys walked by and one said to the other, "I still need to pick up a couple of gas cans for Y2K." It sent a chill down my spine.

About three weeks ago I went back and purchased two six-gallon cans from a shelf that was totally stacked full of them. I intended to come back after Thanksgiving to get some more.

Last week I went back to buy two more gas cans and the shelves that were previously stacked to the top with gas cans were empty, except for those crappy little two gallon cans.

I asked a clerk if they had any more six gallon cans "out back" or something and he told me that whatever is on the shelf is what they have and that I'd have to wait for the next shipment. I'll have to assume that this WalMart (in Asheville, NC) doesn't have four months of inventory.

Anyway, I'm planning on being out that way later today so I'll check it out again - I still want to get a couple more gas cans.

-- Clyde (clydeblalock@hotmail.com), December 03, 1999.

For clarification. My original post is direct from a supplier contacted. This is not specificaly about trailers or "rumours" of trailer but specific notification about the NEXT 3 weeks. Guess what they haven't even begun their serious stocking up. They are starting now. No other details can be provided. Take it for what its worth from someone who works for a Walmart supplier.

-- squid (Itsdarker@down.here), December 03, 1999.

Does anyone know for sure if Walmart in fact has a "lay-a-way" policy? I may be out of touch with retail reality, but I haven't encountered many mass merchandisers offering this to customers these days.

-- Brian E. Smith (besmith@mail.arc.nasa.gov), December 03, 1999.

In my area Wal-Mart, K-Mart and other discount stores has lay-a-way. I live in the poor south and lay-a-way will never leave this area until poverty does.

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), December 03, 1999.

We live just north of the border in Canada. We live about 12 miles from our nearest Walmart. They don't have even one trailer on their parking lot. The store has nothing but Christmas stuff. We were there a couple of months ago and stocked up on our dogs favorite food (cheese flavored). We have been back several times since and the shelves have not been re-stocked. Maybe they are keeping supplies for south of the border.

-- Kath (wingy@sprint.ca), December 03, 1999.

Visited the Walmart here in Eugene Or today,saw at least 20 semi trailers and 20 or so 40 ft shipping containers. Of course being in Eugene it's probably just housing for the anarchists!

-- Ralph Kramden (and@awayWeGo.com), December 03, 1999.

My Walmart is fully stocked and chock full of holiday shoppers already..no trailers..still plenty of 5 gallon gas containters . No sign of GIness. Darn.

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), December 03, 1999.

I just mentioned this thread to my wife and she told me that just yesterday she happened to drive behind our nearest store in Phoenix and 15 large containers were stored there.

-- tc (trashcan-man@webtv.net), December 03, 1999.