Stores warn against hoarding

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Time to get those last minute items. This was also in th Chicago Tribune.

Stores warn against hoarding December 9, 1999 BY SHU SHIN LUH STAFF REPORTER Hundreds of thousands of fliers will be distributed at Chicago area stores starting this week to encourage consumers to purchase supplies early and not worry needlessly about Y2K. "We don't think this is an issue to panic over," said Barrett Murphy, Chicago's Y2K project co-manager, as he announced the initiative Wednesday with representatives of seven area grocery store chains. "But what we can't control is people's reaction to Y2K. The system is not meant for everyone to do the same thing at the same time." About 570,000 fliers will be stuffed in shopping bags or handed out at stores during the campaign. Murphy offered assurances that there will be enough food and supplies to go around, but he cautioned that supplies might not last if consumers stockpile. Grocery stores also will prominently display "Preparing for Y2K" posters. The fliers and posters include tips that urge consumers to finish their errands early and to stock some extra canned goods and bottled water as if preparing for a winter storm. But most important, the public should "not misinterpret everything as a Y2K failure," Murphy cautioned. "Stockpiling is not the answer," said Ertharin Cousin-Moore, spokeswoman for Jewel-Osco. "Our shelves will be filled. We're going to be open." Stores participating in the city's Y2K preparation project also include Dominick's, 7-Eleven, Kmart, Aldi, Cub Foods and Moo and Oink. The city already has distributed 1 million of the fliers to students at the Chicago Public Schools and area Catholic schools.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/prep09.html

-- Martin Thompson (Martin@aol.com), December 09, 1999

Answers

They're to late. I saw a soccer mom at Target tonight buying 5 five gallon gas cans. Must be x-mas gifts or something.

Also, friend of mine, former DGI, went to bank to withdraw "a bunch of cash" "just in case". When he asked for the cash the teller froze up. Deer in the headlights. Just a second sir, whisper whisper to manager. We're sorry sir, but we don't have enough large bills to give that to you. He had to go to two banks other branches to get the amount he wanted. It has started. Not long now.

-- Gordon (g_gecko_69@hotmail.com), December 09, 1999.


This has to be a first - stores telling people NOT to buy. Unbelievable. That's why I'm in business - so people won't buy.

-- Sheri (wncy2k@nccn.net), December 09, 1999.

IDIOTS!! Classical 'closing the barn door after the horses are out' syndrome. Again, IDIOTS!! Couldn't they see it coming? Couldn't they even GI about this? So what will the people naturally want to do when they read these fliers? DUH!!

The dash for cash has begun. "Don't spend all your money on those frivolous Christmas gifts, Buy food", and "don't wait until the last week of December to fiil up that extra tank", and "pay your insurance up 3 months ahead to avoid possible problems with your coverage" or "DON"T SPEND ALL YOUR MONEY BEFORE WE GET OURS!!!"

Y2K... the tactical event of the millenium, the menstruum of mercantilism. And they call me a *whacko*.

"Nurse, Oooooh nurse"

-- Michael (mikeymac@uswest.net), December 09, 1999.


I went to the bank a couple days ago to make a withdrawal. As I sat talking with one of the "personal bankers", I casually asked her if she had seen very many folks in to make withdrawals similar to mine (which is to say, obviously more than needed for christmas shopping). She said that last week, an older gentleman had come in to make a withdrawal. When the teller gave him the b.s. about "are you sure you want CASH? You know, it might be *safer* to take a cashier's check, or travellers checks!", he pulled out a handgun to show her, when he did this, a couple other tellers saw, and hit the floor. (Evidently, he "waved" it around a teensy bit, and said, Oh no! I feel perfectly safe)

So when I went this week to get some cash, and didn't hear the party line AT ALL. The teller simply asked me, "Going shopping?" to which I replied, "Uh, yeah, that's it, I'm going shopping." No cash limitations yet.

This was at a Bank of America, in Snohomish County, WA.

-- formerly (formerly@nowhere.zzz), December 09, 1999.


Loved that "Target" customer buying five 5 gallon gas cans...

It's gonna be a hell of a celebration!

-- Z (Z@Z.Z), December 09, 1999.



Um...which part are we not to interpret as a Y2k failure...? Are there going to be many failures (and WHY haven't you told us before THIS,hmmm?) This one or that one is a non-Y2k failure, so it's o.k.? We don't need to...ah..."worry", just endure it? Are they serious?

This would be pretty funny stuff if it wasn't such a serious subject.

-- chairborne commando (what-me-worry@armageddon.com), December 09, 1999.


formerly,

That story doesn't sound quite legit. I'm pretty sure it's a felony to carry a handgun into a bank and for sure you can't go waving it around.

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), December 10, 1999.


Tech 32, it probably was legal to carry but not to 'brandish'. There are very loose concealed weapons laws in Washington. Here in SC, with the completion of a 1 day handgun course, you can carry a concealed weapon just about anywhere....including a bank. You just better leave it concealed and not write anything on the back of a deposit slip in view of the security guards. About the only places I can't carry is when I have to go to the local sheriff's for my employee's background checks or if the store owner POSTS A SIGN saying no handguns allowed. That becomes criminal trespassing if you violate that one. If you carry into the law enforcement center, they just shoot you. Talk about social Darwinism! w

-- Lobo (atthelair@yahoo.com), December 10, 1999.

Thanks Lobo, I stand corrected.

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), December 10, 1999.


"will be enough food and supplies to go around, but he cautioned that supplies might not last if consumers stockpile"

What has that got to do with buying early? The only issue is how much "extra" there is in the system, in total, up to rollover. There's no time to shove more in to respond to early demand.

Sure, it'll HELP if people buy early, but the total amount available won't change. HOw much extra can the system take? 30 days per person? Not. 14 days? 7? 3?

I'm really, really glad I don't have to worry about this any more.

-- Servant (public_service@yahoo.com), December 10, 1999.



I don't know how it is now, but it used to be that you could carry a hand gun anywhere, any time in the west. AS LONG AS YOU DIDN'T CONCEAL IT. I always carried a gun and I laid it on the seat of the car when traveling. If I were pulled over by a cop or there was a road block for some reason, I would exit the car and tell the cop that I had a gun laying on the seat. Never had any problem. During the Berkeley race riots I carried it on my hip to and from and within the hospital ER where I worked. Any cop there would tell the staff to get a gun and keep it where they could reach it.

Taz..who still has the the gun and the hip to put it on!

-- Taz (Tassi123@aol.com), December 10, 1999.


BTW the story is an echo of a Medina County woman who was being delayed in her withdrawl, as the questions were asked and the manager's aproval etc were being done. She showed a gun and suggested that they hurry up and cash her good check. Happened about a month or so ago. reported in Cleve Plain Dealer at the time.

chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), December 10, 1999.


Purchase supplies early? "Early" was the fall of 1998. "Midrange" would have been January of 1999 or so. "Late" was anything after September 1999. Early? Gimme a break.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), December 10, 1999.

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