Jay Weber Show transcript 3-24-21 7:40am
I threatened to do this topic with callers last week, and i want to do it now. What goods or services are you waiting for due to the US and global supply chain problems? Has an issue with a supply chain or shortage, affected you?
Suddenly-plastics- are in short supply, because the cold snap that idled most of Texas shut down the big petro-chemical plants down there. So anything plastic is going to be more expensive and harder to get and that’s’ just one example.
This is a bigger issue than many people know, and hasn’t gotten nearly the attention that it deserves in the legacy media.
The covid-19 shutdowns of last year- in the US and globally- and then the sputtering, stuttering restarts over the last several months, have created some unique and unexpected shortages and hiccups in the supply chain.
For example: all of the major car companies have had to idle plants in America at times, over the last few months, because they cannot find enough computer chips and now plastics...to keep their factories running.
The computer chip shortage is now affecting the computer and tech manufacturers, and leading to shortages and delays in manufacturing for companies like Samsung.
I, myself- just me- as a guy who doesn’t do much shopping or ordering-
I happen to be waiting for a mower deck to be manufactured for a new garden tractor I am buying....and....I’m also waiting for a new pair of shoes that I paid 150 dollars for...and I’m told...at some point, you’ll get them.
I have got to believe there are all sorts of similar stories out there: what are you waiting for, or how have the supply shortages affected you?
Last week, we talked about the prices of –every single building material skyrocketing. The lumber, tile, drywall, siding, plumbing pipe, copper wire...every item you need to build a new house- has skyrocketed and/or is in a ‘state of shortage’ and is delaying construction projects.
And this all gets worse-as the country and the globe reopen- post-covid-19.
I think you’ll remember that the manufacturing sector was the part of the economy that bounced back the earliest, and the strongest.
We have had a situation for months, in which factory owners cannot find enough laborers. They are back to their pre-covid-19 problems of not having enough reliable help...and still this new surge of spending is catching them by surprise. Many cannot keep up with orders.
And a lot of the shortage problems seem to begin at the very first step: getting the raw materials. Mining, drilling, logging operations were slowed or shuttered during the pandemic and due to less demand...they now have to get back up to speed.
The Texas fracking that provides the oil that was being used to produce the raw plastic that everyone needs ...needs to resume. Plastics plants are saying: we need the raw materials, first.
And so, a return to normal production could take some doing.
Consumers will pay more for virtually everything, and have less of it. Everything is plastic these days. It’s basic economics:
And no, I didn’t order Nikes, but it would explain why my shoes are in limbo.
But here’s what’s great about capitalism and a consumer economy: I know that i won’t have to resort to wearing bread bags on my feet. Right?
Because- if I can’t get my preferred pair of shoes, I’ve got hundreds of other choices to choose from that-will be-in stock and available.
It speaks to the greatness of capitalism that- even with these delays of days or weeks- we’ll all ‘still get our stuff’...and far faster than our parents or grandparents could have received it, years ago.
In today’s America, I am ordering things off of the internet that I absolutely, positively, do not need overnight...or within three days...from Australia.
And yet- they get here that fast.
i love the speed and convenience, but i swear to you, many times, i have looked at the delivery date and thought...I do not need this new sauce pan...tomorrow by noon. They could calm down a little.
I can’t believe they are going to get me a new table saw...in two days. That’s sort of crazy and unnecessary.
But it speaks to the greatness of capitalism, competition, and innovation.
Our forefathers were worried about finding food. Any food. Anything edible. To keep them alive over the next few days.
We are ordering groceries and food from around the world...and it is coming right to our house....and we are miffed if it’s even a little bruised or crinkled.
Uh...this bag of Kit Kats has some broken ones in it...darn amazon....
Some texts about delays.....
Purchased a pontoon December first 2020. It will not arrive until May 30 if I am lucky. I bought carhart seat covers Dec 21, 2020. They took my 800 then delivered then just last week. No updates, no apologies and 2 months delayed from the promised delivery date. Notice micro chips are not involved in the second order. I'm remodeling my home. Construction is delayed 2 months as building supplies are hard to come by. With an initial completion date mid June, I'll have my home as a constriction zine most of summer. Yet my life is unaffected by COVID
Dale-oak creek--Manufacturers are behind due to shortages of steel. Normal lead times of 2 days are 5+ weeks, and steel prices have more than doubled. All since January 1.
It's not just car makers. It has caused issues in the furniture business because of the foam in cushions. I went to buy a sofa - they said it would come in September because they so far behind with the issues in Texas.
Patio pavers have been on back order for a month. We live in Daytona Beach now had lived in Milwaukee
Appliance parts too
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