U.S. News and World Report
Waiting for the Black Friday promotion before starting holiday shopping may not be the best idea. Supply chain bottlenecks and shipping delays mean that the longer you wait to shop, the more likely you are to experience limited inventory, longer shipping times, and fewer discounts.
If you plan to start holiday shopping now, there are some items here that may prove to be troublesome to cross off your shopping list.
Even the technology giants are not immune to the challenge of global shortages. This holiday season, various technological products may be in short supply, and some products will sell out much faster than in the past.
The pandemic has disrupted the manufacturing industry and at the same time pushed up domestic demand for electronic products. Not to mention, the shortage of microchips makes things worse. As a result, the company has been struggling to keep up, and inventory in stores and e-commerce sites has been lower than expected.
Since the release of Sony PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S last year, the inventory problem of game consoles has always existed. Nintendo also announced that it will reduce the number of Switch consoles planned for this fiscal year by 20%. Chip shortages have forced electronics companies to cut the production of game consoles, but despite the reduction, demand remains high. If you are lucky enough to find one that is still available, don't expect any discounts.
Other holiday hot items you might want to buy early are popular smartphones, such as the latest iPhone and Samsung Galaxy phones. Apple is one of the world's largest chip buyers, but it may need to cut its estimated 2021 iPhone 13 production target by as much as 10 million units.
[See: 9 Holiday Shopping Habits That Will Make You Bankrupt]
The retailer also warned that there will be a serious shortage of toys this season. While you can definitely find toys, finding toys at the top of your child's gift list at a reasonable price may be another matter.
Mattel, a producer of popular brands such as Barbie, Hot Wheels and Fisher-Price, announced on the company's second quarter earnings conference call that it will raise prices in the second half of the year before the holiday to offset rising production costs. And transportation. Hasbro's brands, including Playskool, Nerf, My Little Pony and Transformers, have also announced plans to increase the prices of toys and games in time for the holidays.
Although retailers are preparing for most of the year, inventory shortages due to strong demand for toys may exceed supply capacity. LOL Surprise's manufacturer MGA Entertainment's inventory can only meet 65% of its pending orders.
Toys that sell out quickly may also take longer to be replaced by new inventory. Therefore, if you want to grab the toys that are popular this year, you need to act quickly.
In August, the American Booksellers Association reported that the book supply chain is facing many challenges, including shortages of truck drivers and limited freight capacity, shortage of warehouse labor, congested ports, and high container costs. Publishers of all sizes have reported printing problems, which caused slower fulfillment times.
If holiday shoppers wish to purchase a particular book, encourage them to buy as soon as possible.
[See: Alternatives for Amazon online shoppers. ]
Buying electrical appliances this holiday? You may be out of luck. Experts say that if you have been paying attention to a particular kitchen or laundry equipment, you may not be able to buy it for weeks or even months. Shipping parts to manufacturers and machines to distributors and retailers has always been a daunting task.
If you need electrical appliances urgently, please go to an independent dealer or consider replacing them. If you can bear the waiting, please join the waiting list or sign up for an alert when your favorite model is back on the shelves. Experts also said that although there may be some limited product promotions during the holiday period for large home appliances, do not expect the same discounts as in previous years.
As Vietnam is one of the largest suppliers of clothing and footwear in the United States, and factories related to the pandemic are shut down, more and more US retailers expect delays and shortages of goods, as well as rising labor and transportation costs. Nike reported that it took twice as long for its products to reach North America. Lululemon and Gap also rely on factories in Vietnam, although the labor force is limited, Vietnam has recently allowed factories to open.
Cotton prices also hit a 10-year high, which may eventually be passed on to shoppers. Cotton can be found in many products, including jeans, T-shirts and underwear. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the prices of men’s shirts and sweaters, men’s pants and shorts, and women’s dresses have increased the most in the past year.
If you are considering ordering a new sofa, rug or upholstered bed, you may have to wait until the middle of next year to ship it. Furniture manufacturers and retailers report that the combined effects of COVID-related issues, increased demand for furniture, severe weather conditions, and a shortage of upholstery foam are driving shipments next year.
Popular holiday decorations, cards, food, etc. may be difficult to buy and may be sold out in advance. Large home improvement retailers such as Home Depot and Lowe's quickly sold out Halloween decorations, indicating that demand for holiday decorations may be higher this year.
Global supply constraints have reduced the number of artificial Christmas trees available, and retailers may be forced to increase prices to offset shipping costs. Christmas lights, decorations and wreaths may also be in short supply this year.
Some have warned that some holiday staples, such as fresh Thanksgiving turkey and ham, may be more difficult to find in grocery stores. Although experts say this is not necessarily a shortage, it may be more difficult for you to find a fresh bird. As the cost of grain feed soars, shoppers may also notice a rise in the price of turkey.
Although starting holiday shopping early does not mean that you will find everything you need at a discounted price, you may have better luck than shopping online or in stores until Black Friday sales.
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7 things you bought earlier this holiday originally appeared on usnews.com
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