I've noticed at the grocery stores very people inside shopping. I only go to the store now to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables to accomodate my SPAM, rice and beans. While getting my veggies, I overheard the produce clerk talking to another clerk. Here's the jist of the conversation: "So you got laid off today?" "Yeh, the union rep said that all the stores are laying people off because fewer people are shopping." "I know what you mean, I'm having to get rid of produce here, it just isn't moving." "Yeh, a lot of people stocked up big time for Y2K and they aren't coming in to buy anything except for milk, bread and eggs." Well, if that's really the case, then I expect to see layoffs in the paper products industry, and other industries that manufactured emergency prep items, at least until people run out of certain items and start buying again.

-- Reva (Reva@notrealadddyyy.xcom), January 04, 2000

Answers

This will certainly be the "other" downside of Y2k preps. Some will return what they can, others will keep a hold of what they have, others will simply use what the have.

Also, consider that there was a lot of activity given to certain businesses who build or supply prep related items, groceries, etc. There's gonna be a drop in their businesses as well.

Has there been extensive inventory work and restocking done yet in 2000?

Mike

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-- Mike Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), January 04, 2000.

This has been predicted numerous times that the GDP was going to drop a bunch in the first quarter because consumers and manufacturers would be using up their inventory and stockpiles.

-- Guy Daley (guydaley@bwn.net), January 04, 2000.

I bought lots of great food and a thermos cooker (excellent buy). I only have to go and buy fresh foods now and replacement for my large stockpile when items get depleted. I am so happy that i prepped! Lots of great food year and no more crush of the grocery store! i hate sopping.

-- Ishkabibble (ishman@home.com), January 04, 2000.

Stockpiling up seemed to be regional. Didn't see much if any around here (other than my own, in the MPLS area) and the grocery stores seem to be business as usual. While there were posts here of items being cleared off shelves in other areas of the country, I never saw a lick of it here. Reva, whereabouts are you located? Just curious. I would imagine this purchasing slowdown shouldn't last longer than...a three day storm... ;-)

-- Ford Prefect (bring@your.towel), January 04, 2000.

Central California - Albertson's is where I over heard the conversation.

-- Reva (Reva@noterealaddyy.xcom), January 04, 2000.

There may well be a few lay offs due to Y2K buying but it's common practice every year for suppliers of virtually all consumer goods to layoff temporary workers after New Years. Nothing more than the usual post-holiday employment slump. Folks buy a great deal of groceries for Christmas and New Year's and then coast for a week or two afterwards.

Now some of the manufacturers may feel the pinch but the smart ones knew better. That was a major part of the reason why the backorder waiting dates on storage foods were so long back in the early part of the year because the storage food packagers (Walton Feed, etc.) knew that come the first of the year the floor would fall out of the market. Knowing that, they chose not to expand their operations beyond a certain point. The wave passed and they started catching up. Actually, as early as last summer orders really began to plunge.

Many of the specialized survival supply companies back in the early eighties went bust when Reagan won his second term and the survivalist movement dried up. Much the same as is beginning to happen here.

..........Alan.

The Prudent Food Storage FAQ, v3.5

http://www.providenceco-op.com

-- A.T. Hagan (athagan@netscape.net), January 04, 2000.