[TWilliam]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Wednesday', 'O')h I'm sure they are as varied and different as the people who organize them.

If I understand the way mine works, you buy an annual share and then you are considered part owner. As an owner you get discounts and the right to sell your own products, after they are sampled and approved by the board for quality and safeness and if you are claiming they are organic, you have to prove it to them somehow.

Obviously, I need more details, but the way to get the discounts is to buy in as a partner, at least for this particular co-op.

[TT]

This thread is really freaking me out.

I'm in Victoria, Australia and that's a long, long way from the USA. But I am seeing the very same thing here.

3 weeks ago I went looking for Home Brand jam in my local Safeway store. The shelf was bare. Never mind - I took a more expensive brand name. As I do a lot of baking for our local fire brigade I use a lot of jam, so the following week I again looked for the Home Brand jam. Still the shelf was bare, but now the brand name jams were also noticably depleted. A week ago most of the brand name jams were gone. Only the less popular marmalade and plum jams left. No red jams at all of any brand.

A few days ago I had to go to the city. On the way home I stopped in three safeway supermarkets to look for jam. None had the Home Brand and only one had any strawberry jam at all.

Back home I checked my local Safeway again, and now noted that there was no Home Brand peanut butter, hazelnut spread, or honey.

Also no firelighters on the shelf. Canned peas, beans and corn missing. Many empty spots with neighbouring products pulled across to hide the blanks.

This is not usual. The last time I saw anything like this was in the '70's during the oil shock. I was hoping it was a delivery or strike problem, but when I asked the manager, he really didn't know what the problem was. The stuff just didn't arrive and he just kept reodering it.

There is still plenty of food on the shelves. But it is very freaky to see so many things missing and stay missing for such long periods of time.

[DarkDawg]

I think most sheeple just don't get it, and Sprawl-Mart knows this. They are still trying to build new stores. My town has been fighting the fight for over a year now. The land-owners want to sell and make big $ with no cares about their own community, but fortunately the town board has thusfar stalled attempts by issuing (temporary) moratoriums on building size. But they vote this month on the final zoning law. We have a nice small village center and I would love to see it stay that way. Another town nearby is also fighting the same fight. It's really scary watching the pro-Wal-Mart advocates do their thing. There are lawn signs all over the area saying "Wal-Mart YES!" while I see very few "NO SprawlMart" signs.

We already have two Super Wal-marts 15 minutes from here in either direction. Here is a simple viewpoint on the size issue alone. How is this unfettered viral-like oil-dependent retail growth possibly sustainable?

[ThunderSnow]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Wednesday', 'A')h, screw Wal-Mart.
Right now the co-op is kind of a hippy-dippy health food store, but it will quickly turn into a redneck farmer's market as soon as "the big guys" leave.

[gnm]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('magician', ' ') I work at a tobacco specielty convience store and we are having a devil of a time getting djarums, forien cigars, some import beer and other things that get shipped far. really far.

[Wednesday]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ThunderSnow', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Wednesday', 'A')h, screw Wal-Mart.
Right now the co-op is kind of a hippy-dippy health food store, but it will quickly turn into a redneck farmer's market as soon as "the big guys" leave.

[advancedatheist]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TT', 'T')his thread is really freaking me out.

I'm in Victoria, Australia and that's a long, long way from the USA. But I am seeing the very same thing here.

[aflurry]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Wednesday', '.')..and last month it was?

[Wednesday]

A product that has been successful for over a century would indicate quality, not lack of it.

Have you got nothing better to do? Try staying on topic.

Last month there were at least two dozen different brands of soap, today there are 4: Dove, Irish Spring, Ivory and Olay. (none of them appeal to me)

If you want to complain about the quality of Pear's Soap, I believe they are based in London, direct your complaints there.

Today there were no garbage bags on the shelf of any kind.

[Laurasia]

Am I losing it, or did someone change the name of this thread?

L.

[Wednesday]

You're correct, I suspect they changed the title to more accurately reflect the topic.

I've decided to start using the ignore button on people who try to hijack a thread with nonsense.

[TWilliam]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Wednesday', 'I')'ve decided to start using the ignore button on people who try to hijack a thread with nonsense.

[Wednesday]

There's a difference between drifting off-topic during the course of a conversation and purposely trying to hijack a thread.

I'm glad you started this thread, thank you, TWilliam.

[Pablo2079]

Went in a "Warehouse/Member Only" type place today. Did not notice any shortages. Everything seemed well stocked, but prices have definitely gone up.

[PolestaR]

I just saw an Oprah thing today about bird flu. They said they recommend people stocking up incase it happens. 5-6weeks of food and water.

I'm not sure the date of when the USA got the Oprah show (this is in Australia) but it could explain any shortages. Everyone listens to her show.

[magician]

we got a mixed order of blunt wraps and some cigars we ordered today. we have consistently been only able to get about 2/3 of our orders for a few weeks now. is trucking breaking down? or is it opra? or am I just looking for what I expect to see. the ALDI near here carries the usual. recently its the only place I can get good produce without losing an appendage in the deal. it dosent seem to be too affected although ive got my eye on the sugar. however kroger is going down. lots of empty shelves, and limited selection with lots more cost. I think that it is rooted in trucking and distrobution systems. aldi is designed to cut all kinds of overhead out (germans them aldis). kroger isnt. whatever it will all continue on until there is no beer and cigs in this town. when there isnt, its time to bug out before the gunfire starts. thats why I work in beer/tobacco/bars. its as good an indicator of vital goods and services as any.


--frater coyote

[untothislast]

Increased fuel prices must eventually show up in the cost of everything we buy, which is manufactured or transported to point of sale. In the short term, this might be our best gauge of the initial effects of PO.

What's needed, is an index of about 50 items universally available - from a tin of household paint to a loaf of bread - to see how prices fluctuate from month to month.

Those US members interested in tracking gas prices in their area, might refer to:

www.gasbuddy.com

The UK equivalent (for petrol) is:

www.petrolprices.com

I plan to track those products my wife and I regularly buy at the monolithic UK Tesco supermarket chain - so it should be interesting to see if any patterns start emerging.

[TWilliam]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('magician', 'W')e have consistently been only able to get about 2/3 of our orders for a few weeks now. is trucking breaking down? or is it opra? or am I just looking for what I expect to see.

[aflurry]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Wednesday', 'T')here's a difference between drifting off-topic during the course of a conversation and purposely trying to hijack a thread.

I'm glad you started this thread, thank you, TWilliam.

[duke3522]

Hey All,

I have noticed some shortages at our local WM super center. Especially among items that are stocked by the route drives. I think the route drives are hitting our WM fewer days a week to save on gas.

Also the quality of fresh produce is terrible and the prices high. I am so glad my spinach and other salad greens are coming in, or there would be no salad for me.

As for stocking up. I believe that anyone who has not put back a supply of food and water is being irresponsible.

Duke of Indiana