Sort'a.

Diane

[Fair Use: For Educational/Research Purposes Only]

For release anytime
JOYCE M. ROSENBERG, AP Business Writer
Tuesday, June 8, 1999

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/1999/06/08/national1118EDT0761.DTL

[snip]

A CONTRARIAN VIEW OF Y2K: Amid all the hair-pulling and teeth-gnashing about Y2K computer bugs, comes another, more positive, take from Richard Feinberg, a consumer sciences professor at Purdue University. Feinberg says many companies have been forced to take a good look at the way they do business as they race to solve their Y2K problems before 2000 arrives. They've updated their computers and in the process improved their ability to work with vendors and manufacturers. That in turn can mean they're in a better position to get their products to customers. Feinberg also found a plus for consumers -- many businesses, including retailers, will stock up on extra inventory, and that could mean better prices when the crisis is over and companies have to sell off the excess.

[snip]

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), June 15, 1999

Answers

Does this mean that "In every cloud there's a silver lining?"

'Hope so!

:)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), June 15, 1999.

Oh, wish wish wish wish wish wish wish! Wake us up and tell us it's only been a bad dream! The teriyaki tofu before bed did it! It's all gonna be fine, big bargains on all kindsa handy stuff in January, festivities and high-fives to welcome a new century. please please please please please please please

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), June 15, 1999.

Don't have time to follow the link right now but...

I've actually accounted for the news contained in this snip in my own personal y2k outlook.

The position that retailers will stock up one extra inventory isn't the case yet. And, in fact, the belief among the polly crowd is that addtional demand will cause shortages. I think additional demand will ramp up production to meet demand. Yet, it's just not happening. No matter what is said, it isn't happening. No increase in supply, no increase in production, only an increase in demand.

I have family that make a living working on the docks in the Port of Los Angeles. It's been slow for months. No extra work. No extra shipments coming or going. Not a lot of work for the many "casuals". This in one of the busiest ports on the Pacific Coast.

I don't want to but I have to put this in the happy face, rosy picture file.

Thanks Diane.

Mike ===========================================================

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), June 15, 1999.

Yep. With no debt, and food shelves bursting, we'll be in a good position to take advantage of any bargains available. Alternatively, we can trade some extra rice and beans for that bargain item.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), June 15, 1999.

Don't be to quick to bite on the more inventory line. I work for a large retailer and we are lowering stock levels. JITD

-- FLAME AWAY (BLehman202@aol.com), June 15, 1999.

"Tis true - if intelligently done. (As usual, the mainstream media and their university experts) are several dozen months slower than us get-it's.)

The changes and "inventory" only of old programs, if properly cleaned out and upgraded, can dramatically improve efficiencies in the IT department. For example, (but they won't do it) is the 65,000 "non-critical" systems in the federal government inventory. Ed Yourdon pointed this out in several of his "non-Y2K" programming management books.

If they really wished to reduce manning and lower overhead, probably half of those reports, inventories, and programs could be erased - and nobody would be the wiser for it, nobody would be the more foolish, and nobody would notice.

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), June 15, 1999.

LOL Robert,

One of the hidden benefits to Y2K, IT-wise, could be clutter clearing on a massive scale. (Remember "jobs" are associated with all the non-mission critical stuff).

Michael,

The more I look at it all, the more I *Sigh* and just say... Well okay then, were just gonna have to go through this thing mostly unprepared.

Maybe well learn a valuable lesson. Or not.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), June 15, 1999.

The whole JITD (just in time delivery) thing is due to accounting and taxation mumbo-jumbo. Due to artificiality. Reality will prevail and bite them (and us, unfortunately) in the ass.

-- A (A@AisA.com), June 15, 1999.

Warehouse space and inventory too - (although, you're right, both of those fold back into acconting) - Flint, for example, works in a factory/assembly area where traditional "storage rack" floor space simply isn't available. He can't go back to regular (month-long) deliveries because he (his company) has no place to put the "stuff".

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), June 15, 1999.

Robert,

Excellent observation regarding space. I forget where I heard this suggestion but the gist of it is  why not use empty supermarket space and buildings to warehouse goods?

Seems like a great idea to me...just waiting for *some* saavy food chain to actually do it!

I am ever the optimist and I do think there is still time to do this. Also, I like to think that a more streamline, better way of doing business will be the final outcome of this situation. It's the length of time that might be required to adapt and what can occur within that time that worries me ; )

Mike =============================================================

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), June 15, 1999.