I got some jars and lids from Kijiji , FB Marketplace

As you use them, please let us know how well they work.

The only lids I've used that were not Ball-Kerr-Golden Harvest were unbranded ones bought in bulk sleeves from Lehmans. They were good, but I don't know if Lehmans still sells the same.

Lehman's is currently out of stock, as is Target, Walmart, Ace Hardware, True Value hardware, plus my local Menard's, Tractor Supply and Family FArm and Home. Oh, and Blain's is out of stock too. I did find that there were some from the second hand/price gougers, but very expensive and my husband ordered some from Amazon that were listed as "Ball Canning Lids" but they came unmarked, from China, and are very thin and flimsy, obvious not Ball brand lids at all.

Fortunately I think I have enough for this year, I stocked up a lot last February, just as the pandemic was starting and we were still being told it was a hoax and would just disappear. I remembered the lid shortage in 1975, manufacturers even testified in Congress as to why there was a shortage (it was blamed on inadequate supply of materials). So I stocked up and now I'm glad I did. I'll pick up a few more boxes, just to be sure, if/when I see them. If I run out, the local food pantry will get a lot more fresh produce!

Seed companies are also having supply issues. I spent a couple of hours today on line, trying to find a specific hot pepper variety and some sweet corn. I got messages saying that shipments are being delayed 3 or 4 weeks, I got messages saying that no more orders were being taken at this time and I got messages that said orders were only taken on specific days. Thankfully I save most of my own seeds, but anyone who does may want to start searching for specific items now.

Annie

I refuse to pay more than $2.25/dozen for regular mouth canning lids. If we're getting to April/May and still seeing low stock or high prices (they're selling for $6-7/dozen on some sites!), I'll probably decide to invest in a set of Tattler lids. That is, assuming my test with the few lids I purchased around Christmas goes well. Their regular mouth lids are $8.99/dozen, or $7-$8/dozen when purchased in bulk. Next time I make stock or blueberry jam I'll do a few test runs with them.

So is anyone yet finding Ball lids this year?

Nope, I keep watching, but still just see empty shelves.

Annie

They are easy to find if you are willing to buy the jars and rings along with them.

Jack, I can buy a case of jars with rings and lids here too, but I bought all those boxes of jars at the on line auction, plus I have mine, my Grandmother's, Elery's Mother's, and jars from all the "church grandmas" that stopped canning. I don't need any more jars, just lids, LOL.

I found flats today at Meijer. I bought 6 boxes of wide mouth lids because they only had a dozen and I left some for others. 12 boxes of the regular size, because they had a lot of those. I probably should have gotten more, but I think I have what I need and now I have a "cushion", so I left them for others.

Annie

Annie - nice find! I bet the rest didn't last long.

I have 5 dozen old Kerr and Ball regular mouth flats and four boxes of new jars with rings and flats but they are all also regular mouth. I only have 3 dozen wide mouth flats which won't be enough for all of the various pickled things I make that I always use wide mouth for. Hopefully I can make a score like you did.

Worst case I will have to use regular mouth jars for pickling.

Jack, if I come across more wide mouth lids, I'll pick some up for you!

Annie

I picked up a dozen boxes of regular lids today at what I think is the best price we'll find this year: $2.09/dozen. I found a way to monitor inventory of all the locations of a particular store, and started refreshing daily to see when a store me had some in stock. I bet they were only on the shelf for a couple hours before I snagged them. Combine that with the pint jars + lids I bought so I can put up even more jars of Annie's salsa, and I think I'm close to what I'll need for the year. Ideally I'll pick up about 4 dozen more at some point. I also have some reusable lids to try.

Thanks Annie!

Nice find Liz. That's a really good price!

If you live in a region of the country that has a Menards, the ones near me seem to have been getting regular shipments in (of varying sizes, which don't always last long). The nice thing about Menards is you can track the inventory in near real-time online so you only head to the store if there's a good chance of getting them. They sell them at normal prices, and there's even a rebate available right now.

Here's the inventory tracker for regular mouth.

Here's the inventory tracker for wide mouth.

Check regularly. On Wednesday, my local store was sold out. On Thursday afternoon, they showed inventory and I was able to visit the store and purchase it. Last night, I saw inventory near my mom's house and she was able to purchase some of it, leaving plenty for others. By lunchtime that store had run out of inventory, but another store in her town was showing inventory. Hopefully, if we all only purchase what we need, there will be enough for all of us but I know long-time canners like us want to have some assurance that we'll be able to preserve our produce before we plant it all.

I personally am done purchasing lids for the year and am grateful for that.

Thanks for the tip Liz. Perfect timing! In a few hours I will be going by a Menards store that is 45 miles from here on the way to the lake. The store tracker says there are 18 boxes of wide mouth in stock right now. I will leave a little earlier then I had planned.

The Menards closer to home shows out of stock.

Jack, I hope you got some lids! I checked the locator, my Menard's had 40 boxes. By the time Elery drove the 7 miles to the store, they were all gone, go figure.

Thanks for the tip, though, Liz!

Annie

Oh, that's a bummer Annie! I'm curious if you checked the locator once Elery got there to see if it was registering zero. In my area this seems to work, and I'm hoping it will for others.

Liz, it was still registering 40, but the salesperson said there were none to be put on the shelf. Then she said that if you get on line and make a pick up order and pay for it on line, they will prepare that order and you can just pick it up at your convenience, within a reasonable amount of time, of course.

So, next time we see them, we'll order on line for a local pick up and then just pick them up!

Annie

Interesting. Here, we can’t make any online purchases. Sorry it didn’t work for you!

Back from the lake trip. I did stop by Menards Friday on the way down. I managed to get the last 4 boxes of wide mouth flats that they had left. The didn't have any regular mouth flats. I also bought the one box of pint and a half jars they had. I usually have to order those from Ace hardware.

Good for you, Jack!

Liz, no on line ordering? I guess even the big companies differ from place to place. Delivery isn't usually available here, not even pizza, but nearly everywhere has on line ordering, or at least by phone, as long as you are willing to drive to pick it up. Anyway, my stepson lives near a Menards and so I ordered a dozen boxes on line from his store and he picked them up for me today, slick as can be. Now all I have to do is get them from him.

Annie

It's this item in particular they weren't allowing online orders for.

Liz - I forgot to thank you again for the tip on Menards store finder..thank you!

I finally used my lids from Uline and they worked fine. I ordered another 6 dozen just to be sure I will have enough this year. Probably didn't have to though because yesterday I was in my local Dollar general store and they had a good supply of canning items, including lids.

I have checked so many stores here for lids and found none. Checked Amazon last night and the prices are sky high. I hadn't checked Dollar General stores so thanks for mentioning them, Rose.

Madonna

Madonna, congratulations on the plants AND the lids. I have 100 strawberry plants but the chipmunks have decided they are delicious. Now I'm trying to figure out how to get rid of chipmunks. Maybe I could can them, LOL, chipmunk stew!

My stepson brought my lids to me, $2.09 a dozen, but they only had regular, no wide mouth. Plus my dear husband finally got to visit with his middle boy and his family, something that hasn't happened since last July. Win-win! So a double thank you, Liz.

Happy Canning, everyone.

Annie

New year, same shortage.

I just found wide mouth lids with rings for $5 and some, at Walmart online. Maximum 6 boxes.

And here are some one piece regular mouth lids:

https://www.fillmorecontainer.com/g70-ct-white-button-hi-heat-plastisol.html

If these are like the ones that come on grocery store spaghetti sauce and stuff, they can probably be reused a few times.

I was at Wally World today, no lids for processing, seems everyone has cases of jars with lids. Glad I bought a case 1,100 of regular mouth lids off the Mennonites in March. and snagged and 8 dozen wide mouth Ball flat lids when they had them a month ago.

Forgot to mention the Mennonites informed in the winter Ball was only allowing 1 case of lids per store.

I did find and buy lids at a local orchard! I went back three days later and they were gone! Wish I had bought more when I saw them. Wegmans has not had lids but does have canning jars. They put a limit of 2 cases per customer. They also put a limit on pectin !?! Why is there a limit on pectin?

Booberry, I've found lids a couple of times at the local Meijer, limit two boxes of any canning items per customer. They have lots of pectin, both the low sugar and regular kind, but none of the stuff for freezer jam. Who knows why...

Annie

HummHum, who knows why some items are i stock and others not. I use Dutch Jel and that is easy to find here in Mennonite country. I have never made frezzer jam, so i dont know about that, have not looked. i have noticed at the regular grocery store no lid and band boxes, but have cases of jars.

All Gone!

I may have a small amount of lids if any one is interested. I am packing to move back to MI and will have to keep things in storage until I buy a house. I did not think they would store well. Let me know