Some reports of Y2K hoarding.

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http://www.cnn.com/1999/US/12/29/y2k.hoarding.ap/index.html

Hmmm, looks like Atlanta isn't the only place... Wonder how many other people heard Jim Cantore's comments on The Weather Channel this a.m. and decide to "stock up a little" too?

-- Deb M. (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), December 29, 1999

Answers

huh? A generator that you may wanna return later is "hoarding"? WTF?

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Some reports of Y2K hoarding, but mostly, it's business as usual Cars filled every availbale pump Tuesday at this Texaco gas station in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

December 29, 1999 Web posted at: 1:55 p.m. EST (1855 GMT)

NEW YORK (AP) -- Store shelves are far from bare and many merchants say it's business as usual as Y2K draws near.

While some Y2K-fearing consumers are snapping up baby formula, electric generators and sleeping bags, most aren't purchasing a thing or 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 to ensure their computer systems are Y2K ready. Most experts now 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.

"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, California, supermarket.

For those who are preparing for Y2K, the focus seems to be on the necessities that experts have suggested people buy, namely water, batteries and flashlights.

"Water is probably the biggest thing," said Randy Sharp, a manager at a Wal-Mart in South Charleston, West Virginia. Stockers were filling the shelves Tuesday to keep up with the rush.

"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 making sure they're somewhat prepared for the worst.

Rylee's Ace Hardware in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has sold out of kerosene heaters and the staff is continually refilling kerosene tanks. In Jackson, Mississippi, 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. And John Brogan, assistant manager of a Home Depot in Denver, said there's been an increase in demand for generators.

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

"I'm going to top off my tank just as a precaution," said Jill Madden while loading groceries into the back of her SUV outside a Publix Supermarket in Jacksonville, Florida.

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, Michigan, home. "Just being wise and prudent."

Jerry Isaacs, manager of the Elkins, West Virginia, K-Mart, said sales of water, batteries and camping stoves have jumped in the past few months. Still, he said Y2K concerns have been "blown out of proportion."

"I don't think it is going to be as bad as people anticipate," Isaacs said. "I think overall, it's gonna be just another day."



-- Hokie (va@va.com), December 29, 1999.


What comments?

-- What? (wh@t.comments), December 29, 1999.

How outrageous! here we see yet another example of the main stream media being joined at the hip with the Klinton administration.

People buying a few extra things and maybe a generator are "Hoarding"??? Iam disgusted...

-- matt (matt@somewhere.nz), December 29, 1999.


I'm sure glad that a K-Mart manager thinks this is overblown. You sure don't get it any straighter from the horses mouth.

-- Dave (aaa@aaa.com), December 29, 1999.

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