For those of you non-Texans - and even for the Texans not in the HEB regional markets: there are strange doins.

The sections that are completely empty are right up against sections that are totally full. Same Category stuff, just there's no product there.

I will see whether any other Texan HEB shoppers corroborate this, and then we'll start asking questions.

Never seen this in my life.

-- lisa (lisa@home.unsure), January 11, 2000

Answers

I will go to the store tomorrow and let you know how it looks. I love my HEB, on Wooded Acres in Waco.

-- mommacarestx (nospam@thanks.net), January 11, 2000.

Momma, start in the Medicine area......

-- lisa (lisa@work.now), January 11, 2000.

"HEB"???

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), January 11, 2000.

Tom: (so glad to hear from you!) HEB = Harry E. Butts, guy that started out in Corpus Christi.... his heirs have taken the chain over about 60% of Texas, and they've moved into Mexico, under another DBA known as Central Market, an upscale-type gig.

-- lisa (lisa@work.now), January 11, 2000.

Lisa,
The HEB in Mexia seemed to be well stocked a week ago.
They had Regular Unleaded for $1.06, and a line waiting to fill up.
I hope the computer inventory system didn't "Expire" all the 00 datecodes.

-- Possible Impact (posim@hotmail.com), January 11, 2000.

Thank you, Sir..

Possibly we along IH-35 may see anomalies eariler than most.

What I saw tonight was not par for thr course in any sense of the word.

-- lisa (lisa@work.now), January 11, 2000.

lisa

I noticed the same thing in central texas, (also Walmart). Lots of span left on shelves..........

We own a small aircraft maintenance company and have had lots of problems with UPS. The parts that we need delivered "red" (overnight) are arriving 5 days late or are sent back to the company.

Also haven't received any IRS forms (tho they take our money). Sign at local library states that they may receive the forms at the end of January. Very unusual. But would be nice.

-- cheryl (watching@waiting.net), January 11, 2000.

They had Regular Unleaded for $1.06,

Sheesh !!!... high $1.50's..... diesel at $144.9

-- just a tad bit higher here (jatb@norcal.coast), January 12, 2000.

Mamacarestx,

Can you say if LakeAir Mall is still standing right around the corner there ? Sure brings back memories. Would love to know what's happening in that place, if it still stands. Thanks mamacarestx !

-- Rob (maxovrdrv51@hotmail.com), January 12, 2000.

Cheryl.. hm.

Keep watching. And report back...

-- lisa (lisa@work.now), January 12, 2000.

Lisa: which H.E.B. was it ... Cedar Park, Lago Vista, Marble Falls or Burnet?

-- Feller (feller@wanna.help), January 12, 2000.

Rob,

LakeAir Mall is still standing! Weather is great, 82 today. Traffic is horrible. Life in Austin.

Cheryl

-- cheryl (watching@waiting.net), January 12, 2000.

I saw the same thing in a Wal-Mart in Northeast Georgia. Whole sections of shelf space just totally empty. I wondered what was going on, because the stickers which mark the items were not preparation type items, just sort of mundane articles. But for several sections there was not one thing, completely bare. I have also seen this in one instance in Houston at another large grocery. The only time Ive seen it in a similar condition was when people stripped shelves just before a hurricane...

-- Frank Lee / I dont give a damn (ibuy@halfoff.com), January 12, 2000.

Except people are not stripping the shelves. Could be some suppliers are having production or distribution problems? Go ask the service desk or store manager, find some general item with an empty space and ask why isn't there any tulip flavored tobasco that I love so much? Put the BS detector on high and report back, soldier ;-)

I may have to take a stroll through Wally world tomorrow.

-- Squid (ItsDark@down.here), January 12, 2000.

HEB??

DBA??

Don't people in Texas speak English?

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), January 12, 2000.

HEB = Herbert E. Butts DBA = Doing business as BS = well, you should know this one

82 degrees down there? I hate you! We have 33 degrees and high humidity = penetrating cold - have to walk around the house with a blanket wrapped around me, and that is WITH the heat on. It's just damn cold here.

could you tell us, what kind of stuff is missing from the shelves?

-- (formerly@nowhere.zzz), January 12, 2000.

on michaelhyatt.com, several other folks made a similar observation for grocery stores in their area.

-- tt (cuddluppy@aol.com), January 12, 2000.

Ah, thanks tt, I think you finally explained it.. HEB is a grocery store! Running out of food , eh? Interesting.

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), January 12, 2000.

Could this have anything to do with taking inventory this month?

I know some stores reduce their stock on hand so they do not have to count everything for inventory in January, but I never knew a grocery store to do that.

Usually stores like Kmart, Sears, Zayre, etc.

-- Postman (ringstwice@lw.ays), January 12, 2000.

Having sunny 75-80 degree days here in north Florida. Really feel for you folks suffering the damp cold up North. Of course, we die in the hot, humid summers.

Note on grocery store shelves: I noticed this some weeks ago, and another poster has observed it too, the fact that when you glance down the supermarket aisles, the shelves appear to be full. However, if you go to select an item, you will notice that there are no other items behind the one item you just selected. I think the stores employ one person just to run the aisles fixing the appearance of what would be an obvious limited supply. It is an illusion making ploy/trick. Don't know if this is Y2K related, but it is definitely a merchandising attempt to make the place seem well stocked.

Just adding my two cents FWIW.

-- Lurkess (Lurkess@Lurking.Net), January 12, 2000.

Well, now I'm even thinking we're going over the edge. Stores often have less supply in january, as someone else pointed out. As the holidays end, grocery stores even rearrange shelves. They end up with huge empty spaces until new goods come in, and workers rework space.

At the local Harris Teeter (foodstore), for instance, the Store manager devoted one entire side of an aisle to water before 1/1. Now, ongoing, he won't stock that much water, but it has created a hole for now, until he reworks things. As for shelves not being overfilled, you've all heard about JIT - Just in time inventory. This is becomming the norm in grocery stores.

When that same Harris Teeter first openned 2 years ago, the produce area was filled to the rafters with fresh fruit and vegetables. It was to make an impact visually. They probably threw ALOT of it away because it went bad before being sold.

Now the displays have false bottoms, etc. to make it LOOK as though there is an over abundance. It's called merchandising.

If the trends you see continue, then yes, it might be an indication of problems. But I truly believe you are merely witnessing normal business cycles. In fact, when you go back this weekend, you may see huge Super Bowl diplays filled with chips, salsa, and beer.

They've probably just cleared space in anticipation of all those Frito-Lay products being delivered today!

-- Duke1983 (Duke1983@aol.com), January 12, 2000.

Lurkess,

I agree that they are shuffling product around to make the shelves appear full.

I went to a regional supermarket yesterday, and the clerk told me that they have had trouble getting some products, but I agree that we may all be jumping to conclusions. Time will tell.

-- No Polly (nopolly@hotmail.com), January 12, 2000.

We were shopping a WalMart in the Fredericksburg, VA area last night and some sections were stocked ok and others had large holes... one that really stuck out the motor oils... some brands had plenty of cases and other brands normally stocked had none..nada.. and other parts of that section had merchandise lined in one row across the front of the shelves.. The motor oil section is pretty standard stuff.. and my husband and I both thought it looked real odd... The cheaspest reg gasoline here was 108.9 At Wawas.. Haven't checked out the grocery stores but if there is anything strange there will let you know hd5574

-- hd5574 (hd5574@hotmail.com), January 12, 2000.

You mean I'm going to have to eat all this Hormel Chili after all?

Say it ain't so.

-- semper paratus (still_here_with@my.pals), January 12, 2000.