topic Re: Party City...Deflated in Q Talk

Party City...Deflated

MarnieRez3 — Fri, 10 May 2019 17:53:07 GMT

Party City is facing a HELIUM shortage and also closing 45 stores.

Does anyone else find it surprising that there is a global helium shortage? Apparently the helium reserves of some major suppliers in the US have been depleted as demand for the gas is growing.

Who knew?

Whither balloons?

Re: Party City...Deflated

MalteseMomma — Sun, 12 May 2019 00:48:40 GMT

I was surprised too .. are people not partying???... actually I think maybe more kids must be using laughing gas....... ????

I can only hope it is because people have become aware of our enviorment and the balloon pollution ........lol ( I know it is not the balloon,it is the helium)

But ,I could not resist saying,there is a balloon hanging from a tree around the corner from me, for over a year. I can see it from my window. If I were not so old i would go and cut it down.....the balloon, not the tree...lol

Re: Party City...Deflated

Grouchomarx — Fri, 10 May 2019 18:36:50 GMT

@MarnieRez3 wrote:
Party City is facing a HELIUM shortage and also closing 45 stores.

Does anyone else find it surprising that there is a global helium shortage? Apparently the helium reserves of some major suppliers in the US have been depleted as demand for the gas is growing.

Who knew?
Whither balloons?

Ha I just wrote about this topic in Community Chat. I was very surprised there is a helium shortage! Who knew. Just crazy. It's a thing nobody thinks about, that helium.

Re: Party City...Deflated

Daysdee — Fri, 10 May 2019 19:25:01 GMT

I see a lot of people buying the balloons at Dollar Tree. Also, doesn't Party City sell enough of other items to keep their stores open? I liked Party City in a town next to me. They opened one here and I was happy about it until I went there. The cards are no longer discounted and the ones they have are the same as Dollar Tree, but at a higher price.

Re: Party City...Deflated

wagirl — Fri, 10 May 2019 20:45:11 GMT

Intresting----I worked for Party City for 12 years, quit in 2009 and there was a shortage then too--did a ton of balloons and I mean a TON of balloons. Horrible place to work for !!

Re: Party City...Deflated

MarnieRez3 — Fri, 10 May 2019 21:55:29 GMT

@GrouchomarxI didn't see your posting in Community Chat! Sorry to repeat it here...Dare I say...TWO GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE! ;-)

I didn't realize helium is a gas - I thought it was....well, I didn't really know WHAT it was!!

CRAZY, indeed!

Re: Party City...Deflated

MarnieRez3 — Fri, 10 May 2019 21:59:25 GMT

@wagirlWait...there was a helium shortage back then TOO? I must google this helium shortage!

There is a huge Party City close to where I work and people are constantly streaming out with balloon bouquets. They must do a massive balloon business!

Re: Party City...Deflated

MarnieRez3 — Fri, 10 May 2019 22:01:25 GMT

@Maltese MommaYou're funny! LOLOLOL!

Re: Party City...Deflated

lovejoy2u — Sat, 11 May 2019 00:37:28 GMT

The Dollar Tree has posted a sign “ no helium” I live in the Washington DC metropolitan area and 3 Dollar Tree Stores have no helium. However the Family Dollar had some balloons already blown up for Mother’s Day. I guess we might have to go back to blowing up balloons which makes my jaws sting. My granddaughter is good at blowing up the balloons maybe she has a little more “ air” than me. LOL
I wish all moms a very happy and joy filled Mother’s Day!!!

Re: Party City...Deflated

wagirl — Sat, 11 May 2019 13:42:33 GMT

@MarnieRez3--OMgosh!!! I would come in at 6 a.m. just to do balloon orders. epecially on the weekends we would have people waiting in lines to order balloons----and then there are the graduations, and 4th of July and the other holidays too. I bet, in the 12 years I worked ther I blew up hundreds of thousands of latex balloons---and was dang fast at it too. Could prob blow up a dozen in 2 minutes or less. Then for Valentines day, when the red mylar heart balloons were on sale, we would blow those up and store them all around the store and still.....needed to blow up more. I am talking thousands of balloons just on that day. Crazy and glad I got out !!!

Re: Party City...Deflated

VaBelle35 — Sat, 11 May 2019 14:57:03 GMT

I tend to go to Amazon for party supplies for all the work events I put on.

I hate making a special trip (or to 3 party stores) only to find they don't have what I need or enough of what I need.

It's just easier for me to click and buy and then have it shipped to the office.

Re: Party City...Deflated

MarnieRez3 — Sat, 11 May 2019 17:55:11 GMT

@wagirlHOLY BATMAN! I had NO idea they they did that many balloon orders!!!!! No wonder there is a helium shortage!

Re: Party City...Deflated

MarnieRez3 — Sat, 11 May 2019 17:59:19 GMT

@VaBelle35Question - If you order party supplies from Amazon, do you then bring in a helium tank to blow up the balloons...or do you blow up the balloons the old-fashioned way, using lips and lungs?

Re: Party City...Deflated

Daysdee — Sat, 11 May 2019 23:30:16 GMT

I was shopping near a Dollar Tree today and they had many, many balloons on display so they could be seen through the windows (inflated) and ready to sell.

Re: Party City...Deflated

wagirl — Sun, 12 May 2019 14:27:51 GMT

@MarnieRez3---and on those heavy balloon days, many times we would need to take a quick break outside just to clear our lungs of all the helium and no---we didn't talk in that silly helium voice either--atho that would have been hilarious. would go home ater 8 hours totally exhausted and coughing. Of course that company had no provisions for making sure the air was safe. Helium is not a good thing if you breathe it alot.

Re: Party City...Deflated

KailaS — Sun, 12 May 2019 14:40:37 GMT

That explains why grocery store, Dollar stores, etc. me have signs that say, No Helium Availabe.” Who knew?

Re: Party City...Deflated

VaBelle35 — Sun, 12 May 2019 14:53:39 GMT

@MarnieRez3 wrote:
@VaBelle35Question - If you order party supplies from Amazon, do you then bring in a helium tank to blow up the balloons...or do you blow up the balloons the old-fashioned way, using lips and lungs?

@MarnieRez3 I get the disposable tank from Walmart. It's $19.99 (or it was before this "shortage."

The same one is $29.99 or $39.99 at the party store I go to (the sales rep was the one who told me to go to Walmart to get it cheaper!).

Re: Party City...Deflated

MarnieRez3 — Sun, 12 May 2019 17:46:51 GMT

@wagirl
Yes, I imagine it was incredibly taxing on your lungs. Well, you've explained why they are closing stores if they do that big a business in balloons. I had no idea!
@VaBelle35
Genius...you have circumvented the costly party stores! Love it!