Hardware stores grappling with ice melt shortage ahead of winter storm
Local hardware stores say high demand, brought on by the recent string of storms, has caused a shortage of ice melt.
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With another winter storm on the way, you might have a tough time finding some supplies this time around.
Local hardware stores say high demand, brought on by the recent string of storms, has caused a shortage of ice melt.
"This week we got about 800 eight-pound shakers in," Westport Hardware owner Richard Velez says, "Within five days, 800 shakers went out."
While the store has some bags of ice melt, its shakers and 40-pound ice melt pails are completely sold out.
“Things are on back order," Velez says. "The ETAs? We don’t know."
It's also a problem of supply, store owners say.
With spring approaching, suppliers are being conservative with how much extra ice melt they send out.
"It's inventory," Velez says. "They’re trying to be conservative because spring stuff is starting to go in, and they don’t want to have to fulfill a lot of stock of ice melt."
When prepping for this weekend's storm, you may have to hit a couple different shops to find enough ice melt.
