[Clemente]

1. If you could only buy your storage/prepper food supplies from one online or retail (brick and mortar) store, which one would it be?

2. Same question as 1 above, but best store for metal canned foods (like you get at the supermarket, typically moist or wet food that comes in metal cans, and not dry storage foods like wheat, etc). Think canned meats, canned veggies and fruits, etc. of the type you would be more likely to buy from a prepper/survivalist store than a supermarket, maybe because of their uniqueness, longer storage/expiration dates, etc--properties more needed by preppers)

3. Same question as 1 above, but best store for prepper/survival supplies OTHER than food items (para cord, knives, first aid supplies, tools, communications equipment, fishing, books, water purification and related, etc).

Lots of factors to consider if you could only buy from one store for each of these 3 questions. For example, you would probably want greatest variety of in stock items, quality of items, pricing, etc.)

 

[DKR]

The three items are mutually exclusive.

For Chow, the LDS folks offer the best deal for food vs price.

As for the rest - shop locally. You can see the quality - or lack of it - before you pay.

 

[Marjorie]

1. LDS Home Storage Center, if I were going for price only (all the basics at really good prices). Rainy Day Foods if price didn't matter but I was looking for variety, especially in dehydrated veges.

2. I don't buy wet packed foods from a prepper/survivalist store (didn't even know you could get them?). I like to do most of my wet-packed storage goods from WinCo. They are inexpensive and they have a good variety there. 2nd choice is Walmart in neighborhoods that have a different ethnic makeup than mine does.

3. I don't have a single store for these. I guess if I were absolutely limited to one store, I'd go with Amazon. I buy about 50% of my prep stuff from there. Water filters I buy from the source (justwater.me), knives from Cabelas, tools from Northern Tool or the manufacturer (Tekton) or antique mall, medical from Mountainside Medical.

 

[Vinegar Joe]

1. If you could only buy your storage/prepper food supplies from one online or retail (brick and mortar) store, which one would it be?

2. Same question as 1 above, but best store for metal canned foods (like you get at the supermarket, typically moist or wet packed canned foods, and not dry storage foods like wheat, etc). Think canned meats, canned veggies and fruits, etc. of the type you would be more likely to buy from a prepper/survivalist store than a supermarket, maybe because of their uniqueness, longer storage/expiration dates, etc--properties more needed by preppers)

3. Same question as 1 above, but best store for prepper/survival supplies OTHER than food items (para cord, knives, first aid supplies, tools, communications equipment, fishing, books, water purification and related, etc).

Lots of factors to consider if you could only buy from one store for each of these 3 questions. For example, you would probably want greatest variety of in stock items, quality of items, pricing, etc.)

Clemente,

In reply;

If restricted to only 1 store, I would not commit to this type of venture.

For the specific question on foods, my small homestead group has a food co-op with high quality arrangements in place.

......

Some of my important prepper / survivalist stuff was "inherited" just working in the overseas offshore oil exploration industry, in Army reserve and as a NATO contractor.

 

[DumbOkie]

1. Patriot Supply just to support like minded people
2. The LDS or Walmart/samsclub
3. Ebay, because 9 times out of 10 I can find good things on there and multiple sources are in one spot

 

[RJ2019]

Winco for food. For the rest, I often buy from eBay

 

[Jim from 28DaysLater]

Seriously, if the question is just, if you could only have one store... probably Walmart.

So imperfect in a lot of ways, but...

I've gotten a lot of things from Walmart, a lot of things from Amazon.

Might not be the way I'd do it if I had tons of money, but...

There may be a concern with real specialist prepper stores as well. I don't know if this is just paranoid, but if anybody started hunting preppers, they would more tend to get your name from the records of the prepper store, or by cyber surveilling it, right? It's more gray man to get stuff from Walmart. You go in there, and you're like anyone else doing grocery shopping.

I don't know if the above will ever happen, but it's just something that's in the back of my mind all the time. When I deal with Walmart, I feel like it's anonymous. If you wanted to get a tent or a cheap binoculars from Walmart, who cares. When I buy something from The Official Prepper Store website, it's a different thing.

 

[slyguy]

Skills are what you need... the gear is not the difference maker.

Use whatever local place you like. Pay cash if possible, don't make huge transactions. Pretty basic stuff.

I agree with getting most from Walmart, AliExpress, MidwayUSA, hardware store, etc. Any big box store sells food and camp basics, clothes, knives, etc.

The higher end tarps or important camp gear that will last for years and through heavy winds? I usually go Bushcraft Outfitters. If you spend time in the woods regularly, the cheapo vs well-made shelter and cook stuff does make a difference in longevity and ease.

...We did the YouTube dollar store challenge a couple years ago (spend the night in the woods with just $10 of dollar store items.. and you need to make a reasonable shelter, a fire, a couple meal/snacks in the process), and we did it on autumn night that got down to nearly freezing. It was fun. The point is that you don't need amazing gear to get by if you have the craft and methods and practice them often. I got knife, large garbage bags, shower curtain, matches, twine, duct tape, aluminum tins, baked beans, jerkey, big water bottle... didn't even need the whole $10 (but I guess you'd now get $12.50 since Dollar Tree went up with inflation like everything has, lol).

 

[ForestBeekeeper]

Skills are what you need... the gear is not the difference maker.

I agree.

The primary store for all of our stuff is likely the feed store.

Before I found the local farmers to source our food from, it was the feed store that did it.

 

[hiwall1]

LDS simply because it is all common items at the best possible prices.
For us, Walmart for everything else due to the free shipping right to our door.

Skills are great but supplies are certainly needed.

 

[Mr. Sockpuppet]

Skills are what you need... the gear is not the difference maker...

I agree, with this caveat: Fingertip information to properly develop and utilize the same.

As nobody is a true expert in every aspect of the subject, though some do come very close, there becomes a need for a reference source to review specific areas.

This is what I utilize: The Indispensable Guide for Getting Through these Troubled Times - NoFEMA

 

[Fen Boskage77]

1) The local feed store
2) Mitchler's (Amish store)
3) Toss up between our local gun shop and the surplus store in the city.

 

[Vinegar Joe]

I agree, with this caveat: Fingertip information to properly develop and utilize the same.

As nobody is a true expert in every aspect of the subject, though some do come very close, there becomes a need for a reference source to review specific areas.

This is what I utilize: The Indispensable Guide for Getting Through these Troubled Times - NoFEMA

Mr Sock,

I just took a rapid glance at the link to the NOFEMA book.

Only looked at one topic: Small Town as a Bug Out Destination. It is NOT correct to write - nor for readers to rely on - small towns erecting military style roadblocks. This is decided and controlled by the state and Feds.

FEMA is just one of several Fed agencies involved in disaster prep, responses and recoveries.

 

[Mr. Sockpuppet]

Mr Sock,

I just took a rapid glance at the link to the NOFEMA book.

Only looked at one topic: Small Town as a Bug Out Destination. It is NOT correct to write - nor for readers to rely on - small towns erecting military style roadblocks. This is decided and controlled by the state and Feds.

FEMA is just one of several Fed agencies involved in disaster prep, responses and recoveries.

When the defecation hits the ventilation, small town America...and even city neighborhoods...will do what is right for them.

And it's already happened, too many times to count.

 

[country_boy]

1. If you could only buy your storage/prepper food supplies from one online or retail (brick and mortar) store, which one would it be?

2. Same question as 1 above, but best store for metal canned foods (like you get at the supermarket, typically moist or wet food that comes in metal cans, and not dry storage foods like wheat, etc). Think canned meats, canned veggies and fruits, etc. of the type you would be more likely to buy from a prepper/survivalist store than a supermarket, maybe because of their uniqueness, longer storage/expiration dates, etc--properties more needed by preppers)

3. Same question as 1 above, but best store for prepper/survival supplies OTHER than food items (para cord, knives, first aid supplies, tools, communications equipment, fishing, books, water purification and related, etc).

Lots of factors to consider if you could only buy from one store for each of these 3 questions. For example, you would probably want greatest variety of in stock items, quality of items, pricing, etc.)

Going by your rules-
1) Walton/ rainy day foods. ( if not 1, I’d add LDS, and a MH supplier.)
2) There are few metal can foods I would be more likely to buy from a prepper store. Bega cheese maybe from Honeywell grain. More realistically, Walmart ( due to their rapid turnover), Winndixie, Web Resturant Store, Pigley Wigley ( slow turnover, but they have #10 cans), SAMS, Resturant depot.
3) I can’t think of any answer other than Bass Pro. I don’t know of a store that carrys knives, communications equipment, fishing eq, first Aid, tools and books). Maybe other candidates might be granger ( if price isn’t a concern), Lehman’s, or Forrestry Suppliers Inc ( used to see Katadyn- not sure they still do)

 

[McMacy]

One place: Walmart

3. Water filters I buy from the source (justwater.me),

Talked to Ron and he steered me to discountfilters.com. Originally I bought the filters from the Monolitic Dome business for Texas Baptist Men’s Water Ministry. I think I paid $35 for two. Have you bought directly from the justwater folks lately?

 

[Old fart]

I learned (the hard way) to store what we eat and eat what we store, so I use coupons, loyalty programs, sales, cc cash-back, etc. and buy most things from the usual local grocery stores. Helps keep them in business and stocking what we like. Also built rapport with the buthers, produce guys, managers, etc., which has been very helpful when there's been shortages or quality issues. And easier to keep track of stuff and FIFO. Note that I don't prep for TEOTWAWKI, only "regular" SHTF, so no long-term storage items. I also don't buy groceries at WalMart or Target because they make it hard for grocery stores to stay in business in some places, and because of sanitation concerns in some WalMarts, and storage of food near soap, etc.

Over decades, camping gear, etc. has come from Cabelas, REI, WalMart, local camping/military surplus stores, pawn shops, military clothing sales, PX/BX, Ace Hardware, a couple specialty stores, and (last resort) Amazon. Patronizing the local stores whenever possible helps keep jobs and money local, plus I can touchy-feely before buying. I usually come out better buying local by using loyalty programs, sales, and coupons, than I would for almost everything on Amazon.

Canning, gatrdening, etc. supplies over the years have come from WalMart, Rural King, Tractor Supply, a couple local stores, Lowe's, Home Depot, and Ace Hardware.

 

[Old fart]

Double post. Sorry.

 

[Old fart]

When the defecation hits the ventilation, small town America...and even city neighborhoods...will do what is right for them.

And it's already happened, too many times to count.

People working together, even in bad areas, kept rioting, looting, and burning out of their neighborhoods, including the little Mom and Pop stores, parks, etc. during Ferguson and George Floyd. Cool to see blockades manned by residents, residents sitting on their front steps armed with hoses, fire extinguishers, and firearms, no government interference, business owners supporting residents, and businesses and homes not harmed, even with horrible destruction a block or two away.

 

[emh1701]

I shop locally for fresh and buy bulk online other things. I get an employee discount where I shop, though. Not everyone will.