We'll find out shortly...

For educational/research purposes only:

http://www.cnnfn.com/1999/12/29/technology/wires/millennium_hoarding_wg/

Y2K as non-event?

Some stock up on gas but no hoarding; most people unworried
December 29, 1999: 6:21 a.m. ET

NEW YORK (AP) - Store shelves are far from empty and many merchants say it's business as usual as Y2K draws near, with few Americans hoarding goods in preparation for possible troubles in the new year.

    While some Y2K-fearing consumers are buying up baby formula, electric generators and sleeping bags, most aren't purchasing a thing or are just stocking up on basics, such as water and batteries.    "We have not seen our customers hit the panic button," said Don Harrison, spokesman for Home Depot, the Atlanta-based home improvement chain.

    As the calendar changes, there have been concerns that computers will misread 2000 as 1900 and disruptions will occur -- from electricity failures to disabled ATM machines.

    But businesses and government agencies have worked hard to make sure their computer systems are Y2K ready, and now most experts say outages will be scattered and less severe than initially feared.  As a result, most Americans are making minimal preparations.

    "I think more people are worried about the inconveniences that Y2K problems may bring, rather than if they will survive it," said Clay Parnell, a partner at the Atlanta-based retail consulting firm Kurt Salmon Associates.

    Many of the big retail chains -- including Wal-Mart and Target where people would likely buy many of their Y2K supplies -- have not seen any unusual uptick in business this week.

    A recent survey of 1,011 adults by the International Mass Retail Association, a Washington-based trade group, found that nearly 71 percent of respondents said they would not stockpile anything due to Y2K concerns.

    "The only thing that's going to happen is that people are going to be depressed when they find out nothing happened," said Charlie Bogle, as he shopped for a New Year's party at an Oakland, Calif., Safeway supermarket. For those who are preparing for Y2K, the focus seems to be on the necessities that experts have suggested buying, such as water, batteries and flashlights.

   "We have cash on hand, a little bit of extra food and that's it," said Marguerite Harrington of Salt Lake City, who doesn't think disaster will strike. While most people aren't going overboard for Y2K, there are those who are listening to the doomsayers and making sure they are prepared for the worst.

    Rylee's Ace Hardware in Grand Rapids, Mich., has sold out of kerosene heaters and the staff is continually refilling kerosene tanks. In Jackson, Miss., people are buying cases of canned food at the Jitney Jungle grocery store. Sales of baby formula at the Northeastern supermarket chain Pathmark are 40 percent higher than usual.
    "I've definitely seen a run on generators over the past month," said John Brogan, assistant manager of a Home Depot in Denver, where a storefront display also includes propane heaters, Duraflame logs, flashlights and batteries.

    An Exxon gas station in Brentwood, Tenn., sold 10 gas containers this week, much more than usual. At Stroh's Surplus in Okarche, Okla., ski suits and sleeping bags have been selling well.

    Sears is protecting itself from would-be hoarders by imposing a 20 percent restocking fee to anyone who buys a generator and then tries to return it in January.

    "I'm not scared of Y2K," said Judy Norton, who has nearly 15 gallons of gasoline and lots of supplies stored at her Traverse City, Mich., home. "Just being wise and prudent."

-- Tim (pixmo@pixelquest.com), December 29, 1999

Answers

Looks like a selection of like minded individuals in regards to the necessity for Y2k preps.

-- kevin (innxxs@yahoo.com), December 29, 1999.