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In history books, we will all be able to delineate each point of the pandemic according to what essential thing was lacking. In the beginning, we struggled to keep our homes stocked with bread flour, personal protective equipment, and toilet paper. Over time, dumbbells, bicycles, graphics cards, and children’s play sofas have been overpriced or simply impossible to find.
With the onset of our second holiday season, delays and stock shortages unfortunately continued up and down the supply chain. Faced with a shortage of computer chips, Toyota has reduced production. Construction companies cannot receive raw materials or labor. There are no transport containers. In May, I ordered a new bedside table for my daughter’s bedroom – it won’t come until December.
Thanks to generous delivery policies from companies like Amazon, we’re all used to having everything we need right away. This is no longer the case. Here at WIRED, we will soon begin producing our annual gift guides. But as a personal favor to you, our readers, I urge you to start your holiday shopping … now.
In which industries is it the worst?
Almost every industry is affected by supply chain shortages. But some of them will have the biggest impact on our holiday shopping.
Computer chips have been in short supply throughout the pandemic. As we announced earlier this year, almost every device you own consists of specialized microprocessors that require specialized factories to make them. The companies that make these microprocessors (disclosure: my husband works for one) can’t include a dime; their work process takes months, if not years, to rotate and increase production.
Almost every large company has assured us that its respective supply chain problems are under control in time for the holidays. However, this is refuted by the fact that key products are already under pressure. For example, the Apple Watch almost always comes with the new iPhone, but comes out later this fall due to production delays. The Google Pixel 5A is only available in one color and size and is only available in the US and Japan. If you’ve set your heart on a particular gadget, this is probably not the best year to wait for Black Friday discounts.
The Covid-19 pandemic also made us read books. For those of us who have not yet turned to the Kindle, paper books will also be hard to find. Paper manufacturers have reduced their activity due to the spread of the Delta option, and the shortage of paper across the country is slowing down the production of everything from envelopes to paper shopping bags. If you want to send Christmas cards or give a copy of the latest Becky Chambers, you don’t have to wait.
The shortage of transport containers has particularly affected industries with overseas production, which means that it is popular. plastic toys like LOL Surprise dolls are jammed in ports abroad. The White House recently appointed a port envoy to remove logistical barriers to international shipping, but this is unlikely to have much effect before the holiday season.
Our best holiday shopping tips
In the Gear team we are more or less professional buyers. As we prepare our coverage for the holiday season, I have some tips to share that may be helpful.
Start early. It starts with reading this article and making a list. As much as we love Black Friday, this is not the year to wait for big discounts if you have the heart to give a vacuum Dyson or a new iPhone. It may not arrive until the break, or it may not be in stock for the foreseeable future.
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