My trip to five Walmarts, just-in-time inventory and de facto food-price inflation

[Nickelless]

Here's a post I'm about to make on my blog that I hope you guys find eye-opening:

http://survivalprep.net/2010/11/30/f...ice-inflation/

I had a day off two days before Thanksgiving, so I decided I'd finally do a partial "dry run" of marathon shopping trips I've been planning along a 150-mile stretch of a major highway. From one end of this route to the other, there are no fewer than nine 24-hour Walmart Supercenters. I had enough time that day to travel to five of the stores. What I discovered surprised me, and I hope my experience serves as a wakeup call for anyone who has been lazy with their prepping. Waiting to stock up is the biggest mistake any of us could make.

I work nights so it's usually easiest for me to travel from early evening to early morning -- the hours I usually keep anyway. The first caveat I'll offer for those of you who do your preps shopping at night is that at most big-box stores, items are still being restocked throughout the night and into the morning, so IF something you need isn't on the shelf, it might be coming up. Or you might just be out of luck.

Since I was just doing a "dry run" and not a full-fledged shopping trip, at the first store I decided to get just one package of each item I had on my list to see how long it would take on average to navigate the aisles I needed to go to, then extrapolate that time over the number of stores I planned to visit -- since food items are clustered together, I figured that the time spent picking up assorted non-food items around the store would be a better indication of how long it would take to navigate each store, then once I had picked up those items I would finish my shopping in the grocery section.

In the health and beauty section, I picked up a toothbrush, a bottle of Great Value brand amber mouthwash (a great oral disinfectant in addition to brushing), a package of dental floss and a package of Lava soap. In the sporting goods section, I picked up a box of ammo, a bottle of gun cleaner and gun oil and a magnesium fire starter kit. In the men's clothing section, I picked up a pair of gloves and a package of socks.

Then I headed for the grocery section. And a lesson in both de facto food-price inflation and just-in-time inventory procedures.

To keep things simple on this test-run, I planned on grabbing just four grocery items--a case of Great Value canned salmon, a bag of Great Value pinto beans, a container of Great Value oatmeal and (my exception to my one-item rule) a case each of Great Value canned spinach and Great Value canned sliced carrots. I use each of these items on a regular basis, so of course I thought everything would be right where it always was. Boy, was I wrong. And I didn't realize how wrong I was until I got to the fifth Walmart.

At the first store, I found everything I was looking for, and in fairly ample supply. Except for the canned carrots. There wasn't a single can of Great Value canned carrots on the shelf. So I flagged down an employee, apologized for the trouble since everyone was trying to keep the shelves full in the leadup to Thanksgiving (this was about 10 p.m. on Tuesday, and Thanksgiving of course was Thursday) and asked the employee if they could check to see if there were any cases of Great Value carrots, and if not, could they tell me how many might be in stock elsewhere? The employee came back, said that according to their computerized inventory they were totally out of Great Value carrots at that store, but that there were 96 cans--a mere eight cases--at the nearest warehouse. I thanked the employee for all of his help, picked up another case of spinach in lieu of the canned carrots and headed for the checkout.

After loading my stuff in the car, I drove to the other 24-hour Walmart in town, with a nagging thought in my mind: What if the second store was out of carrots as well? How far was I willing to drive to find Great Value carrots? Wouldn't it be a lot less trouble if I just settled for the name-brand carrots that were in ample supply on the shelves, instead of insisting on the Great Value brand? Well, yes, but if the less-expensive generic brand is out of stock and I have to settle for the more-expensive name brand, I'd have to pay more if I really wanted carrots.

And THAT is another angle of food price inflation: Great Value carrots didn't get any more expensive. I just didn't get there in time to get the cheaper brand. And so it would cost me more because someone else beat me to those carrots.

But hey, there are 96 cans at the warehouse, right?

ONLY 96 cans of carrots in the local warehouse of the largest retailer in the world. How many other shoppers are looking for Great Value carrots at this moment? But it didn't really matter--because the carrots were at the warehouse and not on the store shelf. I was flat out of luck. So on to the next store I went.

I hit pauper's pay dirt at the second Walmart--I got the LAST CAN of Great Value carrots on the shelf! Seeing a manager nearby, I flagged her down and asked her if she could tell me if there were any cases of carrots in the stockroom that weren't yet on the shelf, and upon checking her computer she also told me that there were 96 cans of carrots at the nearest warehouse, but that I had apparently gotten the last can of Great Value carrots in the store.

Flash back to the mid-1980s when parents were literally fighting in the aisles of toy stores to get the last Cabbage Patch Kids right before Christmas. I felt that lucky. But suddenly I had a sense of vulnerability -- what if this was the last can of food in the entire store? I'd be at ground-zero for a mob of hungry, angry people. But you know that moment is coming at some point -- and someone will end up getting the very last can of something. And they'll be in the crosshairs of everyone else who feels entitled to THAT last can and who will do anything to get it. Some of you may have seen this video (http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=2de_1290808778) of a mob trampling people to get into a Target store at 4 a.m. on Black Friday. How bad will things be when mobs trample people to get into grocery stores at 4 a.m. because they didn't stock up when they should've because they blew all of their money on expensive toys?

At the third Walmart, again there were no Great Value carrots on the shelf. I flagged down the stocker at the end of the aisle and asked him if he could tell if there were any carrots waiting to be stocked. He walked over to a pallet that was about a 5-foot cube on each side, walked around it while looking at it up and down, then shook his head and apologized that he didn't have any carrots.

Stop and think about this scene for a moment: I'm average height, about 5-foot-9, and I'm taller than this pallet of canned goods that's being unloaded for this particular aisle for this day. That's not a lot of food! Statistics show that grocery stores rotate through their entire inventory in about three days--Google the phrase "nine meals away from anarchy"--but if there's a sudden surge in business, whether it's an unexpected weather event (remember "Snowmageddon" last winter?), a natural disaster (look at the looting that occurred after Hurricane Katrina) or a sudden economic panic that sends everyone running to stores before prices spike upward (like gas prices after Katrina), you aren't going to have stuff on the shelves very long at all, much less when you want those things at your fingertips at any time. Maybe this wasn't the only pallet of canned goods being unloaded for this particular aisle. But then again, I wasn't going to be the only shopper! And if the guy in front of me decided he was going to buy everything I wanted, it didn't matter what was going to come in tomorrow, or next week, or maybe not at all. I was just plain out of luck.

So then it was on to the fourth Walmart -- and again there was not a single can of Great Value carrots on the shelf nor in the stockroom, according to a store associate. So I picked up another case of canned spinach and, for variety, a case of fruit cocktail, paid for my items and set off for the fifth store. I forgot to ask the associate at the fourth store if there were any carrots in the warehouse (although this store was two counties away from the first store and may use a different warehouse).

I got to the fifth store, again finding no Great Value canned carrots on the shelf, so I flagged down a manager and asked if they could tell if there were any carrots back in the stockroom. He checked his computer and said that while they were out of the carrots at this store, another store in the next town (a store I had previously not known about) had 63 cans of carrots in stock -- but they were not a 24-hour store, didn't open until 7 a.m., and in fact had to close early the previous evening because a semi had hit a major power line and knocked out power at the store. The fact that there were 63 cans of carrots SOMEWHERE did me absolutely no good because there was no way to obtain them at that time.

The thing about "just-in-time" inventory is that it's just-in-time for the store--not for the customer. You have absolutely no guarantee that you'll be able to get what you want if you don't get it now, and even if you want to wait for something, how long will it be before an item is back on the shelves? At a couple of the Walmarts, I asked the manager if they knew how long it might be before they got more carrots in stock -- but they said they had no way to tell. Four stores had no Great Value canned carrots at all. I got the last can at another store. Another store had 63 cans, but they were out of reach until the next morning -- and who knows how many other people might be waiting for the store to open and rush to get that very product because every other store was out of it? It doesn't take a major leap of logic to realize that this will happen when items are in short supply -- and how impolite, unruly or even violent will people get when they clamor to get the last item out of your hands because you have it and they want it?

SCHEDULE MARATHON SHOPPING TRIPS

So as I noted above, there are nine 24-hour Walmarts along a 150-mile stretch of highway leading to my town. It could take anywhere from 8 to 12 hours to go to the other end of the route and then go to each store one by one, picking up all of the items I'm trying to stock up on, and finally unloading at my house at the end of the trip. But since we've already seen that just because there's a 24-hour Walmart that there's no guarantee something will be on the shelf, what kind of fool would I be just to give up and go home? I'd be a hungry fool! But let's do the math on best-case scenarios on what I COULD get, if everything (including Great Value canned carrots!) is on the shelf. Let's say that at each of the nine Walmarts, I'm able to get at least a case of carrots or other canned vegetables, a case of canned fruit, a case of canned salmon, 10 lbs. of dry beans and five 42-ounce containers of oatmeal (an average shopping trip for me, not counting refrigerated or frozen items). If I'm able to pick up at least this much of these items at each of the nine 24-hour Walmarts on my route, I'll arrive home with 108 cans of vegetables, 108 cans of fruit, 108 cans of salmon, 90 lbs. of dry beans and almost 119 lbs. of oatmeal. That's a pretty good start, and not bad for a day's work! How long will it take to get a single sandwich or bowl of soup -- if anything -- if I have to wait in lines at soup kitchens or FEMA centers if I'm foolish enough to keep waiting instead of stocking up now?

And I wonder how many preppers lose sight of the big picture: It's not how much food or water or ammo or anything else you have that's important. What matters is how long you and your family will be self-sufficient and not dependent upon the government or other cash- or resource-strapped entities when disaster strikes. Unless a disaster strikes my neighborhood in a manner that directly impacts my house or my family's lives, I don't plan to leave my house in search of resources in the event of a disaster. I will either make sure I have as close to everything I need before disaster strikes, or I and my family will find a substitute or do without. If you're not working on becoming self-sufficient, you're missing the whole reason you should be prepping. Not only do self-sufficient people ease the strain on scarce or nonexistent resources, but they are in a position to help others during those Schumer-hits-the-fan events. It doesn't take a lot of time or effort to stock up compared to the amount of time wasted in line waiting for help when you could be at home with your loved ones taking care of each other, or helping others. If you plan to wait on stocking up or otherwise becoming self-sufficient because everything looks fine right now, you could be the next disaster waiting to happen.

[AgAuGal]

very good ... I noticed the price of various seasonings are going up. Anyone notice the price for McCormick products lately? I found some knock off varieties still for a 'reasonable' price. Some McCormick varieties were 3x in price.

[Argentsum]

Nickeless, I salute your continuous efforts to improve your (and our) education in the field of preparedness.

Keep up the reports.

[Nickelless]

very good ... I noticed the price of various seasonings are going up. Anyone notice the price for McCormick products lately? I found some knock off varieties still for a 'reasonable' price. Some McCormick varieties were 3x in price.

Get bulk spices at Sam's Club and store them in mason jars. You'll pay a lot less per serving.

Nickeless, I salute your continuous efforts to improve your (and our) education in the field of preparedness.

Keep up the reports.

Thanks for the encouragement, Argentsum.

[aybesee123]

Don't forget about asking for "rain checks" on products not in stock. Albertsons had ragu alfredo sauce on sale for .99 during Thanksgiving week and it was sold out. I got a raincheck for 10 and picked them up tonight.

[AgAuGal]

Get bulk spices at Sam's Club and store them in mason jars. You'll pay a lot less per serving.



Thanks for the encouragement, Argentsum.

Just started putting spices in mason jars. waiting to get 100 jars of stuff then will seal w/ O2. your story made me think of what I use most or would not want to run out quickly, Puffs and TP. I have allergies and I go through Puffs a lot. Just checked the stash - no enough. Anyone calculated how much of the 'stuff' your family uses on a weekly basis in order to estimate how long your preps might last? For instance, how many rolls of TP needed each week, other disposables. Soap, I have a friend who uses at least a bar a week, more in the Summer. Having the basics has to help relieve some stress. Like you pointed out, if you have prepared for your family then that is one less group of people placing needs on a system that may be in chaos for who knows how long. I really need a way to organize / inventory what I have and what daily needs might have shortages.

[Nickelless]

Don't forget about asking for "rain checks" on products not in stock. Albertsons had ragu alfredo sauce on sale for .99 during Thanksgiving week and it was sold out. I got a raincheck for 10 and picked them up tonight.

Three words: cash and carry. There will be no rain checks when TSHTF, so it's not a good idea to rely on them when stocking up on your preps.

[Nickelless]

Just started putting spices in mason jars. waiting to get 100 jars of stuff then will seal w/ O2. your story made me think of what I use most or would not want to run out quickly, Puffs and TP. I have allergies and I go through Puffs a lot. Just checked the stash - no enough. Anyone calculated how much of the 'stuff' your family uses on a weekly basis in order to estimate how long your preps might last? For instance, how many rolls of TP needed each week, other disposables. Soap, I have a friend who uses at least a bar a week, more in the Summer. Having the basics has to help relieve some stress. Like you pointed out, if you have prepared for your family then that is one less group of people placing needs on a system that may be in chaos for who knows how long. I really need a way to organize / inventory what I have and what daily needs might have shortages.

You really don't need O2 absorbers with spices. Just keep the mason jar lids on and they should retain their flavor.

Good idea on calculating the rate at which you use stuff. I do that but add 20 percent just in case.

[TnAndy]

Man, all this talk of carrots made me run out to the root cellar and check............yep.... the remainder of jars we canned last summer are still there !

But kidding aside, your point is taken Nickelless.....and I think preppers understand it. The whole point of prepping is to avoid the JIT supply system.

[Nickelless]

Yeah Andy, I know that with GIMers I'm pretty much preaching to the choir, but with the reach of the Internet I hope the collective wisdom of everyone on this board gets out to as many people as possible so that when TSHTF, there will be relatively less misery and (at least in theory) fewer predators putting the rest of us in peril.

[TnAndy]

Well, my guess is the choir is pretty skimpy here actually....ahahahaaaa....

Whole lot of folks are interested in gold and silver in pretty much a profit motivated way without understanding the point of rising metal prices means the paper fiat most folks depend on is approaching the value of nothing......and what that means for society as a whole.

So preach on.........I've always found your posts informative.

[Fatboy]

So preach on.........I've always found your posts informative.

Nickelless,

I would say the quote I posted is about as high a compliment one could ever hope for. Considering that Andy doesn't just talk about it, he lives it!

[Scorpio]

yep Tn,

gold and silver are sounding the alarm and who is listening?

S

[Oldmansmith]

Man, all this talk of carrots made me run out to the root cellar and check............yep.... the remainder of jars we canned last summer are still there !

But kidding aside, your point is taken Nickelless.....and I think preppers understand it. The whole point of prepping is to avoid the JIT supply system.

Mine are sitting under row covers out in the garden still....can't beat cold weather carrots for taste.

[Professur]

Less preaching to the choir as leading by example. More importantly, you're showing how urban survivalism works. Between Andy's pioneering and your urban techniques ... someone should be gathering all this and publishing a printed book of it.

IMHO, a solid effort was made to preserve the vital info of GIM1 ... but we need to do better ... we need to be ahead of the game and not trust that all this experience will be any more accessible than those 96 cans of carrots at the warehouse.

*edit: Not to ignore the efforts of Merlin and all the other contributors.... every one of you that shares deserves respect and thanks.

[Ozark]

Nickleless

Last week my local grocery stores had vegetables on sale for 38 cents per can for Libby veggies. I bought 24 cans of sliced carrots on sale in your honor. It took four separate stores since each store only stocked about 12 cans per store. We cannot wait to prep until the SHTF. I spend 20 bucks or so each week on can goods that are on sale. I now sleep better knowing that my stash will get me through a dry spot or two.

On a separate note. My spouse and I routinely walk at a local Walmart at 10 p.m. I am always amazed by the amount of items that are restocked each night in the grocery section. Pallets and pallets of items. A great host of employees restocking the shelves. I feel that the shelves would be bare in 24 to 36 hours under normal times. The just in time delivery system brings the trucks in the evening. My local store does not really have a warehouse according to a young man that I know that works there. I fear that a great many people will go hungry if they believe that they can always pick up a few items at Wallyworld.

[GoldWampum]

Wally world doesn't warehouse. Walmart's distribution centers are a shining example of JIT. My son worked at one years ago. It's amazing the amount of stuff that goes through one on a daily basis. So, a one day interruption would empty them. The stores would empty out hours (not days) later. I would guess less than 48 hours until it's all gone. All the way to the distribution centers. At least the food and useful items.

[GodspeedMetals]

Nickelless, you are SERIOUSLY my hero. My wife keeps poking fun at me about my need to hoard and store supplies & food (I've been on a rampage for the last 2 - 3 months to get a good 6 months of regular supplies we use everyday). She's living in a dream world as is 98% of our country. While she's slowwwwwwly getting it now, she tends to daydream and forget about what's really happening outside our home.

It's people like you who remind me that there's so much more to do!!! When did Noah build the ark? Before the rain.

[Dude]

This kind of activity really throws me for a loop. I just bought my wife a Macbook Pro for Christmas and dropped another 2K on a 18 MP DSLR package to replace our older DSLR. While we have maybe 200 "dinner meals", mostly dehydrated, stocked at home for hurricane/other disasters, I just can't get into canned food. We don't eat it, except for tomato based sauces and a few basic soups for recipes.

OK, I love smoked oysters in those tins. Anyone know how long those last? I could see dropping 1K on those and hoarding them.


Heh, heh - did a search and read this comment at the link.

speaking of things in cans. i once ate canned smoked oysters that were about 10 years past the expiry date. i didn’t know this till i was halfway through the can… but they were just so tasty i had a few more before i stopped

http://pageslap.wordpress.com/2009/0...ed-volume-one/

[TnAndy]

Mine are sitting under row covers out in the garden still....can't beat cold weather carrots for taste.

Yeah, we've got lettuce and cabbage out under row covers now, but I need to get a cold weather hoop house built for permanent cool weather crops ( adding brocolli and carrots to that list ). This morning the weather turned from 60 degrees/rain yesterday to 26 this morning with snow and a heck of a wind. I spent 1/2 hour in the garden freezing my hands off and re-fastening sheet plastic over my hoop cold frame that tore loose in the night....told my wife "that's it.....permanent hoop house next year".

[Fatboy]

This morning the weather turned from 60 degrees/rain yesterday to 26 this morning with snow and a heck of a wind.

I figured the weather must be bad to have you at the keyboard much after 6:00 AM. We are about a day behind you (weatherwise that is). It's about 55 and raining so hard I can't see a half mile. Pretty strong winds too. It is supposed to drop to low 30's and turn to snow this afternoon. Emergency broadcast on the radio right now. Flash flood watches / warnings most everywhere. There are many blessings to living at the head of the watershed.

[TheMadHatter]

It's disgusting to think how many people think that Walmart is pretty much the only place to shop at. Walmart is my LAST resort. How many family owned grocery stores did you pass in your travels? To each his own.

[TnAndy]

There are many blessings to living at the head of the watershed.

Amen to that ! Not the least of which is knowing nobody is crapping on your spring water.....ahahahaaaa

I'm working on the inspiration to get down the shop and fire up the woodstove.....but it ain't hit me yet......ahahahaaa

[Bx3]

But suddenly I had a sense of vulnerability -- what if this was the last can of food in the entire store? I'd be at ground-zero for a mob of hungry, angry people. But you know that moment is coming at some point -- and someone will end up getting the very last can of something. And they'll be in the crosshairs of everyone else who feels entitled to THAT last can and who will do anything to get it.

I told this story on the old GIM but it matches exactly with your intuitions. Many years ago, my godmother went to the store just before a big snow storm. She was able to get the last loaf of bread in the isle. As she was turning around another woman came up and grabbed the loaf of bread out of my godmothers cart and started to walk away. My godmother (in shock) asked the woman "excuse me, but what in the hell do you think you are doing?" The woman replied "well, this is the last loaf of bread in the whole store", quickly turned and walked away. My godmother just stood there in total disbelief. Just wait until it is not just a simple snow storm and there are 20-30 people fighting over that last loaf of bread. Bx3

[TnAndy]

yep Tn,

gold and silver are sounding the alarm and who is listening?

S

Not most people, I suspect. The mainstream media sure isn't connecting the dots for them, if they even mention gold/silver at all.

My guess is if you took a poll of the average guy, not one in a hundred could tell you within 25% what the spot price of either is right now.....all most could say is "it must be up, I see those cash for gold places advertising".

[Usury]

I find myself more in the Survival Prep subforum than any other here at GIM2 and for a good reason. There's a ton of great advice and enlightenment on things that I may not have thought of yet, so thanks to everyone for the info.

No matter how much we may disagree with each other regarding polictics and how to "fix" the problems in other forums, we all realize that there is in fact a problem and it may get so bad that we need to be prepared for it. So on this subforum, we're all rowing in the same direction.

Well nearly all of us anyway...LOL.

[phideaux]

Waldo-World's much-praised Just-In-Time inventory management system has problems beyond canned carrots.

I have been looking for a pair of size Medium sweat pants for months. Sold out. Dozens of Small and XXL pants on the shelf, but no Mediums to be found at any of the 4 or 5 Waldo-Worlds I've been to in my area.

Finally found some sweats at Kohl's.

For inexpensive canned veggies, try Big Lots, especially when they run their 20% off the entire store sale. I picked up a couple of cases of Veg-All mixed veggies for about 60 cents a can.

[Hystckndle]

Wally world doesn't warehouse. Walmart's distribution centers are a shining example of JIT. My son worked at one years ago. It's amazing the amount of stuff that goes through one on a daily basis. So, a one day interruption would empty them. The stores would empty out hours (not days) later. I would guess less than 48 hours until it's all gone. All the way to the distribution centers. At least the food and useful items.

Exactamundo !,
Pick one store, chain, etc etc.
NO ONE " warehouses " if they absolutely do not have to.
They only "distribute".
Computerized models abound on the theories of not warehousing items.
Taxes are required on " inventory".
What you can physically SEE in a store is backed up in distribution
about 3 days or so deep.
The "supply house" career is now called a "distribution " career,
which I had a hard time relating to until I did some on the ground recon very similar to the OP.
The entire food distribution system operates in ( balances on maybe is better wording ) constant flux and flow
( like it always has ) but in todays world its' reliability depends on the constant availability
of many other items ( such as oil ) that if interuppted for even one day would begin to create a situation similar to the Target or WallMart videos in many areas.
Our family goal is to be in the position to choose to NOT venture out into the situation if at all possible.
Regards to all,
Haystackneedle

P.S. Is silver and gold north of everything and the dollar headed lower a GOOD thing ?
The alarm is sounding IMO.

[Nickelless]

It's disgusting to think how many people think that Walmart is pretty much the only place to shop at. Walmart is my LAST resort. How many family owned grocery stores did you pass in your travels? To each his own.

My shopping options are rather limited given the hours I'm usually awake when I'm not at work, but you bring up a great point. However, I think that as a reflection of the mindset of most people--"Hey, let's go to Walmart!"--it shows how screwed the masses will be if they don't wake up soon. Walmart certainly won't be the only place with empty shelves. I'll have to do some digging to find family-owned grocery stores that are open mid- to late evening on the route I normally travel out of town, but given the size of towns I go through on that route, I don't think there would be many.

[Aurumag]

My shopping options are rather limited given the hours I'm usually awake when I'm not at work, but you bring up a great point. However, I think that as a reflection of the mindset of most people--"Hey, let's go to Walmart!"--it shows how screwed the masses will be if they don't wake up soon. Walmart certainly won't be the only place with empty shelves. I'll have to do some digging to find family-owned grocery stores that are open mid- to late evening on the route I normally travel out of town, but given the size of towns I go through on that route, I don't think there would be many.

Although I very rarely shop at WalMart ( I used to buy cases of ammo before they started rationing), I greatly appreciate your efforts Nickeless.

Unfortunately, the majority of those who rely on WalMart probably lack the literacy skills to appreciate your report, even if they had ready access to it.

IMO, the bottom line is to prep BEFORE TSHTF, because even if you "score the carrots," the hungry Zombies will be waiting in the parking lot and all the way home to take it away from you.

Thanks again for sharing!

[Book]

In normal times it takes my local Wal-Mart three days to order and then have available for pickup 144 cans of Bumble Bee Red Salmon. Wtshtf every shelf of food at Wal-Mart will be empty within an hour.

The thoughtful OP by Nickelless does not even mention that gasoline to drive to various Wal-Marts wtshtf will not be available.

The moral of this story is get it now or do without wtshtf.

[Chester-Copperpot]

I'll start to worry when the Dollar menu disappears. Until then its double cheeseburgers all round.

[Merlin]

Wally world doesn't warehouse. Walmart's distribution centers are a shining example of JIT. My son worked at one years ago. It's amazing the amount of stuff that goes through one on a daily basis. So, a one day interruption would empty them. The stores would empty out hours (not days) later. I would guess less than 48 hours until it's all gone. All the way to the distribution centers. At least the food and useful items.

Walmart isn't just a shining example of JIT. They are used in case studies by graduate business schools around the world for utilizing cross-docking for the first time in the retail sector in the 19080s.

From Wikipedia:

"Cross-docking is a practice in logistics of unloading materials from an incoming semi-trailer truck or rail car and loading these materials directly into outbound trucks, trailers, or rail cars, with little or no storage in between. This may be done to change type of conveyance, to sort material intended for different destinations, or to combine material from different origins into transport vehicles (or containers) with the same, or similar destination."

I've never been behind the doors, out back, at a Walmart store. My bet is you wouldn't find much there. If it isn't on the shelves, they don't have it.

[S.McDuck]

Interesting how some survivalists seem to "survive" off from store the same as the sheeple.
wonder if they use camoflauge hoverrounds in between insulin injections?

[Nickelless]

Interesting how some survivalists seem to "survive" off from store the same as the sheeple.

So it's not our fault if the sheeple don't think to buy enough for the long haul. It's not like there aren't people out there talking about this sort of thing. Sheeple have the same access to everything else that we end up buying in bulk, they just don't buy in bulk for long-term storage.

[S.McDuck]

So it's not our fault if the sheeple don't think to buy enough for the long haul. It's not like there aren't people out there talking about this sort of thing. Sheeple have the same access to everything else that we end up buying in bulk, they just don't buy in bulk for long-term storage.

the last place I'm going is walmart if things get scary.

[phideaux]

the last place I'm going is walmart if things get scary.

i think that's the point. Go there now, before it gets scary.

[S.McDuck]

i think that's the point. Go there now, before it gets scary.

it's a good feeling isn't it?

[Julian]

very good ... I noticed the price of various seasonings are going up. Anyone notice the price for McCormick products lately? I found some knock off varieties still for a 'reasonable' price. Some McCormick varieties were 3x in price.

Look for a local store with herbs and spices in bulk, you'll save a lot of money, and the spices are usually much fresher than the McCormick jars... if you have WinCo in your area, that's a great place for bulk spices.

[GoldWampum]

Look for a local store with herbs and spices in bulk, you'll save a lot of money, and the spices are usually much fresher than the McCormick jars... if you have WinCo in your area, that's a great place for bulk spices.

I miss Winco.

[Brio]

Interesting how some survivalists seem to "survive" off from store the same as the sheeple.
wonder if they use camoflauge hoverrounds in between insulin injections?

Ah yes, I plan on living only on what I can grow in Zone 3/4 (peas, potatoes and carrots) summer and if I want something other than I'm going to pay triple the price to not shop with sheeple. Not.
Utilize your resources and say thank you to those who do much of your homework for you.

[S.McDuck]

Ah yes, I plan on living only on what I can grow in Zone 3/4 (peas, potatoes and carrots) summer and if I want something other than I'm going to pay triple the price to not shop with sheeple. Not.
Utilize your resources and say thank you to those who do much of your homework for you.

you didn't do any homework for me. I've been prepped for over a decade. I also know trying simply live off a garden is too risky for me anyway.

[11s11ver]

Carrots are so ridiculously easy to grow and store I don't know why anyone would want to eat the vitamin devoid canned carrots.

Canned carrots which, btw, leach BPA from the can's lining. I know that's not the point of this thread but just sayin.

Grow your own and let the sheeple fight over GREAT VALUE CARROTS.

[ShirleyUGeste]

Great thread, Ncik; thanks. A couple of points you miss though as far as risks of NOT stockpiling goes.

Like Book said, will your car have enough gasoline in it to get you 300 miles to all of those Walmarts, and HOME again? If not, will gas stations be open & accessible? Will they be able to pump gas (electric failure)? Will they be accepting ATM cards or credit cards, and if not, will you have cash? And what is the traffic going to be like -- zipping right along, or at a dead standstill a la Katrina?

Will the Walmarts and other stores be open and operational... say in the event of a severe storm, terrorist attack, or the electric grid goes down? And how will you pay for your purchases if they won't/can't accept plastic?

How many of our unprepared citizens are going to be waiting in the parking lot of Walmart #5 to break into your car and steal everything you bought at the first 4 Walmarts?

The possibilities are endless, and most of them ain't good. Prep NOW; count your blessings later.

[Nickelless]

Great thread, Ncik; thanks. A couple of points you miss though as far as risks of NOT stockpiling goes.

Like Book said, will your car have enough gasoline in it to get you 300 miles to all of those Walmarts, and HOME again? If not, will gas stations be open & accessible? Will they be able to pump gas (electric failure)? Will they be accepting ATM cards or credit cards, and if not, will you have cash? And what is the traffic going to be like -- zipping right along, or at a dead standstill a la Katrina?

Will the Walmarts and other stores be open and operational... say in the event of a severe storm, terrorist attack, or the electric grid goes down? And how will you pay for your purchases if they won't/can't accept plastic?

How many of our unprepared citizens are going to be waiting in the parking lot of Walmart #5 to break into your car and steal everything you bought at the first 4 Walmarts?

The possibilities are endless, and most of them ain't good. Prep NOW; count your blessings later.

Shirley, all the reasons you mentioned are exactly why I'm going to all of these Walmarts NOW--I don't plan to be anywhere near them when TSHTF, unless--and yes, I've thought about doing this--I take a camera with me to film the chaos at Walmart on the day the dollar collapses. Maybe I should see first if Walmart has Kevlar.

[Cold Finger]

NOTE: Hydrogen peroxide is far better as a mouthwash, cheaper and also makes an excellent topical disinfectant for wounds

[Professur]

But it doesn't leave your breath minty fresh.

[Cold Finger]

But it doesn't leave your breath minty fresh.

Yeah, like that

[Nickelless]

This kind of activity really throws me for a loop. I just bought my wife a Macbook Pro for Christmas and dropped another 2K on a 18 MP DSLR package to replace our older DSLR. While we have maybe 200 "dinner meals", mostly dehydrated, stocked at home for hurricane/other disasters, I just can't get into canned food. We don't eat it, except for tomato based sauces and a few basic soups for recipes.

OK, I love smoked oysters in those tins. Anyone know how long those last? I could see dropping 1K on those and hoarding them.

Dude, I just went back and was reading older comments and noticed yours. Here's my take on canned goods that I posted on another site:

As you guys know, I'm a little OCD when it comes to dehydrating food, but the cans have a purpose: I'm in the process of putting together a large storage closet where I'm going to have a "public" stash of canned goods, dry goods and other food items I can pull from when guests come over so that I don't have to go into any of the rooms of my bunker to pull food out of there and compromise my food storage OPSEC. I think of the up-and-coming storage closet as a sort of staging area that I'll keep filled and rotate goods into it, but I'll have enough on hand in there so that unless there's a major event of some kind and I can't get people out of my house long enough to go down into my deep larder to pull out inventory to restock, I'll have enough food publicly accessible that hopefully in a worst-case scenario (backed up by ADT and my companion Concealed Carrie) if would-be looters see the large amount of food in the storage closet, they'll think that's all I have and they won't even bother looking for the mother lode.




And in case you were wondering, the photo immediately above is dehydrated frozen carrots, not canned carrots. But Wally World typically only has about 20 packages of any particularly frozen vegetable at one time:





Which I then thaw and dehydrate:






Not to be confused with the (usually) much larger inventory of canned vegetables on most store shelves, er, in someone's cart:



And speaking of Wally World's typical inventory of any particular frozen vegetable at any given moment, on a full-fledged run to all nine Walmarts as I mentioned in my original post, if I were able to get 20 lbs. of frozen (soon to be dehydrated) veggies at each of the nine Walmarts, I'd have 180 lbs. of veggies that, if I were to run only four dehydrators, would take me the better part of two weeks to dehydrate (and really cramp my extended freezer space). However, the mileage I could get from that much vegetables would be pretty impressive--and after dehydration it wouldn't take up much room at all. Take a look at the mason jars of carrots above--that's 64 lbs. of frozen carrots after dehydration. And it really wouldn't matter that some of the veggies would thaw out on the way home during my shopping marathon--those would just be the first ones that I'd put in the dehydrators!

[Oldmansmith]

Good thinking there Nickeless!