Purchasing plan- keep good notes

[Lowdown3]

I think it bears repeating, especially for the newer folks.

It's important even if most of your ordering is online, to make good notes with every prep purchase you make.

Simple stuff that will help you reference your order, cut down on consternation and misunderstandings, etc.

Here's an example I might use with abbreviations, etc.

MagazineExpress.com , 9/21, 10 G17 MAGS, 100 Rounds of Elephant Killer 9mm. "Out today" Todd 2:37pm

I can scribble this in a catalog, on a scrap of paper, type it on a wordpad, etc. etc.

If I ever can't remember what I ordered, or when, or from who, I can look at it and realize I ordered 10 G17 mags and 100 rounds of 9mm Elephant Killer rounds from Magazineexpress.com on 9/21 and Todd there told me at 2:37pm that it would go "out today."

Now this info can do several things for you-

1. If your the impatient type, instead of calling them 27 seconds after you ordered asking where it is, you have something to reference. "Todd" told you it would go "out today", so it's Friday, UPS isn't going to move anything on Sat and Sun, so I look and go "OK 3 days UPS from MagExpress to my location, it will probably be here by Wed." Often times if a company doesn't have your email address address you won't get an email tracking number. Also, sometimes a company gets busy and backed up on emailing you a tracking number 35 seconds after your purchase. Get this info to cut down on the impatience factor.

2. It can help you verify what you did and didn't order. Can't tell you how many times in 20 years I've had people say "I didn't get the widget with my order." "Sir, it looks like you didn't order a widget with this order." "Oh I forgot." Often times when we "shop" online or look at catalogs, we look at 50 different products on a website, in a catalog, etc. For me, it's usually budget constraints that keep me from ordering everything I want :( but if I don't write down what it is I actually DO order, I may get confused and think I ordered something I didn't.

3. This info can help you if indeed a real problem does come up.

Most especially now with the plethora of johnny come lately preparedness companies advertising everywhere, it's easy to get confused even to where you even made the purchase from if your not careful.

Back in the late 90's a company entered the market that purposely copied a lot of the products, marketing methods of some of the older companies. So this place advertised a lot of the same products older companies like mine did. At least a half dozen times a month we fielded calls from people asking where their orders were- ORDERS WE NEVER RECEIVED cause they ordered from the other company with similar products!!! We had some "doozeys" also- irate customers that only calmed down when they realized they had NOT in fact ordered from us but from that other place. We wasted a LOT of time researching orders for non existent customers- people that ordered from other companies but did not bother to write down even the basics of WHO they ordered from.

Just this very morning I got an email from a confused lady asking where her food order with the "free stove" was from August! WE HAVE NEVER SOLD STOVES NOR OFFERED "FREE STOVES" WITH FOOD ORDERS!!!

I verified that we indeed had never done business with his gal nor had any order past, present or pending for her, then emailed her back explaining that she had us mixed up with another company. More than likely, she saw our ad on SurvivalBlog and assumed we were the ones she ordered from. I gave her some tips on how to figure out who she ordered from- i.e, check her Credit card and see the name of the company that charged her, etc.

It's very important to keep track of purchases for these reasons as well as to avoid duplicating items where duplicates are not necessary. Yes it's important to HAVE duplicates of certain items, but sometimes the money for the backup water filter is better spent on food storage at that time, etc. So keeping track of your purchases can help you make the correct purchases for your budget at that particular time.

Keeping a small notebook or a wordpad file with your prep purchases on it will help you avoid a lot of problems and a lot of wasted time and effort.

Anyone else got any purchasing tips?

Lowdown3

[610Alpha]

do your research, not all products are equal and definitely not all companies.

I am looking at getting some Freeze Dried #10 cans in the future...there are several companies out there... do I buy from the Mountain House or Wise or _____? I have to try their foods to see if it tastes like feces or not, cause if it does my wife, kids, and I are going to starve. What's the nutritional content? Whats the cost per ounce/pound? Who do i buy it from? Why them? Whats the total cost including shipping per vendor? Don't forget to factor in the trust that you have built with a vendor that supports a certain forum.

[Bearman202]

A big nod to elittle on this one. I ordered some "7 day candles" and found that they were long and thin candles in glass containers. Okay, now, if TSHTF, where am I going to find something long enough to light the stupid candle when it's over half-way used? Second item: I looked up some oil lanterns, and found some that looked exactly like what I was looking for. They looked like the old railroad lanterns. I ordered two. When they got here, they were about a third of the size I was expecting them to be. They work, but they don't put out enough light to read by. I kept them, and will use them if necessary to keep from running into the furniture, but they're not what I thought they were going to be. The warning there is to be sure you know what you're ordering. I've really slowed down in the past couple of months because I'm pretty much where I can be with the affordable stuff. Several of the items are dupes, because the first one I bought didn't do what I thought it would do, but there you are.

The idea of actually tasting the food you plan to stake your life on is a good one too. I bought four cases of MRE's and have tried one of each of the different meals. Some are definitely better than others. I ordered the "trial" or "free" six pack from -AN MLM COMPANY THAT SPAMS SURVIVAL FORUMS ON THE NET (THIS ONE 3 TIMES) and liked the soup. The problem there is that each package doesn't contain enough calories to keep you alive. That, and they make wayyyyy too much soup for one person to eat at a time. They taste pretty good, although I didn't care much for one of them. If you're on the verge of eating the abovementioned furniture, they would be better than nothing, but I would suggest putting the money into food bars or something else. Speaking of food bars, did you actually try any? Are they edible, or do they taste a lot like the package they come in?

Reputation can mean a lot when ordering on-line too. Like elittle says, it really helps to order from people who have been around for a while. The new guys offer some killer deals, at least until you get them and find that they're not quite what you thought they were going to be, or came straight off the boat from China. i.e. they look like the real thing, but it's obvious they're not going to take the kind of abuse they're likely to get when you need to use them.

Lowdown3 has a great suggestion about keeping track of your orders. If you're working off a list, that shouldn't be difficult. I'm not organized enough to keep a booklet, but I DO print off a copy of the "final order" page when it pops up. That let's me know what I ordered and who I ordered from. When I get the product, I may or may not keep that order page to remind myself who I ordered it from. Thinking about it, it might be good to jot a note about how long it took to get the product, the quality, etc. on that page and stick it into a folder somewhere. Thinking about it, that list makes a LOT of sense, because it can act as an inventory for your preps. Check the items off as they arrive, and bingo, you've got a list in hand of what you have available. As you use it, make another check. I think I'm going to start doing that... (He tells himself while looking around at the pile of stuff he already has....)

[1Admin]

Bearman- edited the name of that place out of your post. Their little MLM "reps" spammed the forums here on at least 3 separate occasions and from what I've seen and heard, just about EVERY survival forum on the net.

Just like the "extreme c-o-uponing" threads that some love to post or bump every few weeks that bring a ton of spambots to the forums, I'm not gonna invite spambots (funny name but they are a real thing) or some BS "rep" for that little Multi Level Marketing (think Amway) "company" here by them seeing their name mentioned.

We cleaned up more than our share of mess caused by those scumbag ba$tards.

I know you meant no harm in your post and I'm sorry to have to edit it, but in the same token we have had very few spammers in the last couple months due to pre-emptive action by the couple other admins. This has been good cause we were getting tired of cleaning up after spammers. So, since that little MLM company has a HISTORY of spamming this and MANY OTHER forums on the net- I notice The Survival Monkey site has a huge thing about that "company" posted on their forums- I'm not even gonna allow their name to be posted anywhere. Sorry. It's always a handful of B-holes that ruin it for everyone else. 1admin

[MustangGal]

Another suggestions would be to look carefully at the demensions posted. I ordered a "poster" off ebay once and when it arrived it was approximately 8"x10". I was furious, but when I went back and looked at the listing, the size was clearly listed. The information was there, I didn't look closely enough. Lesson learned.

[SCinPNW]

Another suggestions would be to look carefully at the demensions posted. I ordered a "poster" off ebay once and when it arrived it was approximately 8"x10". I was furious, but when I went back and looked at the listing, the size was clearly listed. The information was there, I didn't look closely enough. Lesson learned.

I agree with MG here, I have done the exact same thing. Now I get out my ruler and actually look at the size so I a true visual.

SC

[eeyore]

On ebay for the last kid, we pre bought formula (wife can't nurse). You have to be careful of expiration dates on semi perishable items and quantities promised. But expiration dates can work in your favor also, as long as you plan correctly.

[Bearman202]

Wow, I didn't even know they were doing that. They're an MLM? Good enough reason in itself to pass on them. The only people who make any money in MLM schemes are the people at the very top. Thanks for the info.

[monkeybird]

When I first started prepping, I asked for recommendations of reliable companies on forums just like this one. I'd almost always get recommendations for a few companies over and over again. I used these companies and have never been cheated or disappointed.

I have also learned to carefully readi labels and descriptions. I even do it in the grocery store. I've picked up familiar products in which the only change in packaging is the small flag saying it's reduced salt or something! Some of those products are inedible. Yuck!

Lowdown, when I order on line, I've always gotten a confirmation email with a description of the product I've order and the estimated shipping date. I simply save these e-mails in a special folder, and refer to them when necessary. If I order by phone, which is almost never, I paste and copy the product description, and save it that way or save the physical catalog until the product is received. There is never a mistake of who, what and when I'v ordered something.

[Grinnan Barrett]

It is funny that I still have receipts from JRH done in 1998 when it was in Florida. One thing I would add is always buy from people you have come to know and trust. Best price does not always mean best service, quality, or even getting what you thought you had purchased. Buy from people you respect and you will not regret later. Just bought another Katadyn from JRH today. I still have preps from Robert bought in the 90s. I am not trying to sound like a commercial for JRH but the truth is Robert is the reason I came here in first place. He sells what he believes in and backs it up. GB

[thedreamers]

Its funny but since we started prepping we read alot more lables and keep an eye on the descriptions. You all are right in making sure you get what you need or want. Can you all reccomend good reliable companies for a starting prepper to get stuff?? Thats if its ok with the Admin people.....I dont want to get anyone in trouble. Thanks

PS. We had to go with the folder thing to keep records I wasn't that good at keeping a notebook.