Supply chain issues from an insider.

The Covid lockdown resulted in many supply chain disasters.

#1, Grocers... Most urban dwellers eat one or more meals "out" on daily basis. Brown bagging it isn't very popular, so most workers got their lunch, and many got their dinner or breakfast prepared somewhere other than home. Those meal supplying channels were mostly shutdown. Figure the grocers had a large number of new shoppers buying much more food.

Just In Time Inventory methods and the same optimized warehousing of distributors could not meet the unforecast 40% or greater surge in demand. Restaurant supply houses saw their demand drop through the floor. Abundant food in America, but the distribution of that food could not be reconfigured quickly.

As the food supplies began to catch grocers up on supply, the vast increase in demand consumed what was available.

Great amount of packaging, cans, boxes, labels and preservatives etc had been sourced from China for years. Those resources are still not back online, nor is there an expectation for their resumption.

Most "in-demand" foods packed for some degree of long shelf life are sold-out. Lesser quality brands have taken their place; for now. Lots of lost food due to handling problems and processing delays.

The official advisors recommending citizens build a pantry resource for their food needs are further stressing the distribution networks. Of course, having longterm food storage at home is a great idea! Yet when food storage for 330 million Americans becomes the goal, and fewer than half of those people were relying on grocers for even half their meals, it means there isn't capacity to enable its happening.

Understand that you have to get what you can find at the grocers when you find it. Supplies are unlikely to improve significantly anytime soon... Wholesalers and distributors aren't going to build new warehousing or go into debt to fund capacity for what is likely viewed as a short-term problem.


#2 Building materials. In lockdown, America's tradesmen and DIYers had time and tools on hand, so they did projects they'd put off... Again, more unanticipated demand for capacity limited by the expected JIT inventory seasonal demands.

About the only lumber imports, other than specialty woods like mahogany, come from Canada. Yet, most hardware, tools, and other plumbing and electric supplies were produced in China.

All work done in America since Covid's outbreak has been reduced by distancing and other restrictions. Thus: shortages.

Chinese sourced gear & supplies are backlogged with no resumption in sight.

For the want of a nail... Just might come to be a reality.



These are just 2 of the challenges facing our "consumer society". Virtually everything we buy has some component sourced from China or other foreign nation. Most of the foreign nations sourced their processed materials, chemicals, and components from China.


What we are faced with is "What you see on the shelves is probably all you're going to be able to get"! Buying online? Don't hesitate. Might not remain in stock very long...

Even if/when China resumes production and then shipments to customers, it will take months maybe years to build up inventories a restock retailer customers. Then, there's also the Trump/Xi tradewar and political blustering.




What all this really points to is Your Need To Become As Self-Sufficient As Possible.

Resale shops are already seeing big reductions in donations as people decide they'd best hold onto clothes and gear which they would have donated last year without any concern.


There's only so much of what's available. Once it's gone, it's gone.

You can depend on the fact that Essentials will inflate in price very strongly and non-Essentials will face close-out price reductions or sit on the retailers shelves forever.

It's lowes and home depot...

I can verify this at my local stores..

OP is telling the truth.

You people better fucking listen.

Guy at lowes told me they don't know if / when they will ever get pressure treated lumber back in stock.

Wanted to redo some rotten boards on my deck.

NOPE

THIS I agree completely

Everything IS because of you facing libatic democrat motherfuckers!!! Everything you touch turns to suit!

Look at the democrat cities that are now shitholes packed with freaks and sub 70 iq dipshits.

this is what happens in a situation where companies work on a just in time delivery profit model.

And then there is a pandemic. And buyers stop placing orders.
Then a president who uses China, the main supplier of... everything, as a floormat.

All of a sudden there is demand but everyone forgot to place orders on time. fearing tariffs, uncertainty.

Im telling you it destroys trade. When trade stops it destroys lives. And this is just the beginning.

If the USA does not start to re open asap and this trade war nonsense stops, then it is game over for the US economy.

People do not seem to realise just how bad things are right now. And how bad it will get if we do not end this insanity asap.