Will the Supply Chain Shortage Impact Holiday Shoppers?

People who follow tech news have already noticed that major manufacturers either delayed or canceled new product announcements. Newspapers and websites also published frequent photos of cargo ships anchored out at sea because they could not get permission to dock.

Sparked by the coronavirus pandemic, supply chain backups still plague suppliers, manufacturers, and retailers. At least, retail shelves now appear sufficiently stocked with toilet paper, even if people can’t always find their favorite brand on sale. Right now, shoppers want to gear up for the biggest shopping season of the year. How will supply chain shortages impact holiday shopping?

To clear up some misconceptions, Politifact posted that labor shortages caused the backup of cargo ships. These busy ports increased activity, but consumers appear to want more goods to make up for their lost time. For example, California ports moved a record amount of goods in recent months but cannot meet demand.

In other words, dockworkers already struggled with playing catchup and still haven’t caught up. They probably won’t catch up by the holiday season, so this situation will almost certainly impact shopping. The photos of dozens of ships waiting to dock appear dramatic, but according to CNN Business, trucking, railways, and other transportation modes face similar problems.

Thomas Harman, the CEO of a home decor company, posted on CNN about delays his own company experienced. He mentioned that his business had to pay several times more for shipping and wait longer for inventory to arrive. He also noted that delays kept the company from returning shipping containers on time, so they had to pay fees for returning them late. Sometimes, the penalty exceeds the original shipping charge.

Mr. Harmon explained that these problems would force his company to increase prices and reduce costs. He said that consumers should expect to see fewer sales and more limited selections, particularly for items with overseas manufacturers or suppliers.

USA Today supported that idea with an article advising consumers to purchase some holiday gifts early or risk not getting a chance to buy them at all this year. In particular, they highlighted small appliances, TV sets, and some popular toys. Expect to see limited supplies and fewer discounts, so it’s probably prudent to act quickly when a good deal does come along.

During the holidays, sales of electronics, appliances, tools, and many other goods will peak for the year. During this period of limited supplies, slow shipments, and higher prices, consumers have even more reasons to protect their purchases with a high-quality extended warranty. On the other hand, no consumer should feel pressured to purchase their retailer’s protection plan.

Upsie offers extended warranties for electronics, appliances, laptops, tools, and much more. Furthermore, Upsie gives the new owners time to register an extended warranty, so recipients of gifts should still have time to warranty their valuable presents. Upsie also lets owners transfer the plan to a new owner, so the buyer can register the protection plan and then transfer it to the recipient as an add-on gift.

Even better, Upsie helps its customers save money in two important ways:

Upsie also offers 24-7 customer claims. For larger products, like big appliances and TV sets, they offer in-home service. Upsie lets customers choose between local and mail-in repairs for small items, plus they provide a box and pay for postage on mail-ins.

Supply chain shortages might limit supplies and increase prices. Upsie can help stretch budgets and offer peace of mind.