Here we go again and again?

Hot product.

Fouled up phone lines at the U.S. Mint.

We might be forgiven if we say par for the course.

The hot new product is the availability through the Mint’s subscription program of two-roll sets of the new Lincoln cents that will come out later this year.

A posting went up on the Mint’s Web site yesterday about this new program. Shortly thereafter, a message arrived in my e-mail apologizing for technical telephone difficulties.

I called the 800 number and the automated voice simply said call back later.

I am sure collectors are still excited about the prospect of buying the third design in the Lincoln cent set on Aug. 13, and what better way to get the earliest possible delivery than the subscription program?

Hence the rush. Online profits might be hanging in the balance.

Surely there has to be a better way of doing business than these electronic stampedes every few weeks.

What if grocery stores operated this way?

Food – Here – 2 Hours Only.

Imagine that kind of stampede in a culture now used to 24-hours of daily operations? We might actually lose weight.