Well, I promised an update and compilation — but with 300 comments and counting, I don’t know I can do justice to it.
A few that jumped out;
– I work for a military supplier; we are be told that on some of our crucial parts that Feb. of 2023 is now the ship date.
– For the last six months I’ve been trying to get my hands on a Playstation 5, but can’t find one anywhere due to a semi-conductor shortage.
– I work at a Canadian Tire just outside of Ottawa. Here is a snap shot of some of the things disappearing: Oil and lubricants of all types and viscosity, some auto parts, solar panels and power inverters. That’s just auto parts dept. Auto service: tires are disappearing; all brands. According to the national tire distribution centre, many popular tire sizes and manufacturers are back ordered indefinitely.
– Local garage owner in Saskatoon said his supplier told him that winter tires will be completely gone by end of the month.
– Ag tires too.
– I see all the tricks and symptoms in the grocery stores today – one product fanned 1 unit deep across an entire display to make the shelf look full, but nothing behind it; upside down boxes underneath the produce to make the bin look full; shelves that despite their best efforts have huge gaps and ‘holes’.(downtown Toronto)
– A 10 foot piece of galvanized steel service entrance mast for new electrical service went from 145.00 to 225.00 in 12 months. 12 foot sections are completely unavailable…
– My electrician has had breaker switches on order for over a year now. No word yet.
– lots of reports on unavailability of furniture and windows
– Paint store can’t sell any dark paint, because they are completely out of deep base.
– Wife works in housing industry here in Calgary. Homes are being sold SANS Dishwashers, Microwaves and amid a severe shortage of appliances.
– Cat litter and canned cat food, prescription diet dog and cat food, veterinary pharmaceuticals
– Hockey jerseys
– My local Independent didn’t have potatoes twice this year. Potatoes!
– I run the parts department in a heavy truck shop. We are running low on things like brake drums, light bulbs, and Diesel Exhaust Fluid, as well as electronic sensors and modules…waited three months now for a remanufactured transmission for a Ram 5500, now going on two months for a For Powertrain Control Module for an F450, with no ETA in sight. My supplier for brake drums just got a trailer load, and on top of the price going up about 45%, there was a $90,000.00 “Container Fee.”
– On many of my jobs structural Steel has 9-12 month lead times. Bids on steel will only hold their prices for as little as 48 hours in some cases as the price is so volatile.
– I noticed Retailers here in BC cancelling flyer distributions lately because they don’t have the products listed in them. Inside knowledge.
– I work with close to 100 trucking companies of all sizes. Here’s what I’m seeing…
– I live in Houston, Texas.I work on a food truck. We’ve had trouble getting several items from our suppliers [Sysco and others], including hot fudge, plastic cups and lids, certain sizes of Styrofoam bowls, strawberries, and others.
Go grab a coffee and read them for yourself.
-
Original post continues below.
Reader KW, via email;
I was looking to buy some ABS pipe. It’s the black pipe used for drains and sewers from a home. It’s is completely unavailable in my city in any length with a three inch size. I’m seeing more and more shortages in this town. The same is true for some kinds of electrical breakers.
Your website have a incredible verity of readers from around North America and in a lot of professions.
It would be fascinating for you to set up a comment section when anyone can share their experiences around the country with shortages. I notice that there is less that can be bought in stores. I wonder what other parts of the country are going through?The price of the goods that are available are also going up fast. I guess “the budget balancing itself” and intentionally increased energy prices has led to inflation.
The comments are open for your observations and reports only, and please include your region or city. This is an informal survey – not a debate or discussion. Off topic and link dumps will be deleted.
Update: These comments are quite the read. I’m pinning this post to the end of the day, then will do an update and compilation tomorrow.
A reminder to all that much of the empty or lightly stocked shelves in major grocers and retailers are due to a shortage of workers to restock those shelves. At least, this has been a near-constant problem in my small city since the pandemic was launched at us. Apart from that, it is clear that here in S. Central BC many businesses across many industries are experiencing at least sporadic shortages.
Also, just a week or so ago, we were discussing on SDA the pitfalls of the current “just-in-time” manufacturing infrastructure that has been created. There is simply no depth of supply OR flexibility in most inventory chains, these days.
Due to extreme rainfall the Dresden Ontario cannery didnt meet the tomato tonnage limit. Whether the other canneries can make up the difference I don’t know. I do know the farmers were told to send everything to the plant, regardless of the quality. Guess they will add more Chinese spices
I had a friend who was stuck in AZ in her RV for six weeks waiting for a motor to fix the slide out. None to be had in the US, anywhere.
Sometimes it is better to find a electrical motor rewind shop, if it still exists.
The motors can usually be rebuilt in less than a week depending on demand, parts and labor shortages.
If need be , some parts can be remade by local machine shops.
Costs bucks but your back in business with a very robust and reliable fix.
Costco yesterday – Used to buy 3 litres of vegetable oil for $7.99, now $12.99. There was a shortage at first but they are now stocked. Not sure where Stats Can buys their groceries, inflation is way higher than they claim. Nothing has gone down in price to offset the increases.
I concur, went out a couple months ago to get some oil for the deep fryer, its been shelved for a couple years, but used to buy 3 or 4 litres for about a buck a litre.
Was shocked to see the prices at Stupidstore and Wallyworld for up to $3/l. Costco a little cheaper, but still way up.
We don’t deep fry often.
The most critical shortage of all: energy. Every major modern disaster is the result of a government policy.
https://notrickszone.com/2021/11/03/glasgow-the-stampede-to-mass-poverty-120-billion-tonnes-of-materials-for-wind-turbines-by-2050/
Spinal columns are in short supply, among House Republicans.
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2021/11/gop_betrays_its_base__again_13_gop_members_vote_for_bidens_porky_12_trillion_infrastructure.html
Pure Vanilla at Costco the exception. From a high of CA$39.99 to current CA$19.99.
Ammunition components –powder, primers, etc. — almost impossible to find in the states. Some loaded ammunition is available at radically high prices.
Seguin, TX
Well pump went out. Bought the last 1 HP Lowe’s had and had to go to four other stores to get the parts (riser and fittings) that I thought I’d need. Only found 1″ PEX and the fittings I got wouldn’t work, so I called an old HDPE supplier from when I ran a Gas Dept for the city. .64/foot for 500′ 200PSI water line and the right fittings.
200′ of #12 black and white stranded a 200′ of 14 ground (because they were waiting on #12).
Hello,
This is a very little thing, but my wife cannot find Russian Dressing (for salad) in any store in Edmonton and area for several months
Seems product lines are be rationalized to a few or single core items.
Example.
If for instance, 2 years ago there were 5 or 6 variations of a diet soda, now it has been reduced to 2 or one with emphasis on all production put into only that to satisfy demand.
Very similar to the Communist systems where if there was soda then you would only get one type , whither it be diet or not, be happy you got anything.
Going forward , choice will keep dwindling until you have none.
By then you will be thrilled you are just surviving.
All by design.
No shortage of masks around here. There are always several in each of our vehicles, every coat pocket too.
They are scattered around every parking lot, at the entrance to many clinics and businesses.
Perhaps supply chain problem solvers should take a look ……
I drive along Steveston Highway in Richmond a lot. East of the 99 at No 6 road are large offloading/staging areas for RORO car carriers. These lots are typically filled with a few thousand cars and trucks waiting to be put on carriers to be taken to dealers all over. The last few months these lots have been empty.
Fencing, of all things, is in short supply in Southern Ontario. Haldimand Norfolk region. Gates, wire sheep fence, horse fence, cow fence, steel posts, even wooden posts fabulously expensive -and- out of stock. $20 for a 6″ x 8′ fence post.
Last week Freshco in London Ontario had no Tomatoes. This week they only had medium size. No big tomatoes. But on the bright side, the PM had a nice vacation in Scotland.
Spouse had to wait several days when filling a prescription. Fortunately, we are in the habit of putting in refill requests well before current supply runs out. Do know there are supply issues with veterinary medicines as well.
Car lots virtually empty here in owen sound,
My granddaughter had a fender bender has been told parts may be 60 or more days to come in.
I think panic buying is starting again, just like at the start of covid.
I stop by a store occasionally that services 2 Indian reservations. The shelves are normally crammed with stuff but the last couple of times I was there I noticed there’s a lot of bare spots and many where the product quantities are pretty skimpy.
Eastern Ontario, at work we’ve been having problems getting aircraft parts and supplies of all sorts, including paints and sealers which have a short shelf life. Of particular concerns is avionics shortages, the computers (for GPS, TCAS, FMS etc.) have to go to the manufacturers for firmware upgrades and repairs, the turnaround time was quoted in days in 2019, now they say “at the end of next month, we’ll be able to give you a completion date”.
i was trying to look at prices in late August as both my vehicles needed new winter tires. Costco and Canadian Tire were sold out except for Pirellis at $460 each. I phoned my tire guy in Casselman and asked what the supply situation was like. “Bad” was all he said. He did find a set of Michelins for my car that were made in 2016 and had been forgotten in a corner of another warehouse but I’m SOL for the SUV. Last weekend while I had my neighbour’s Chevy on the hoist to change a headlight (the front wheel and inner fender liner need to be removed to change a light bulb, way to go GMC!) I noticed the transmission was leaking. Canadian Tire had only 2 litres of Dexron VI left and half of the shelves including the motor oil section were bare and I saw no 5 gallon pails that the local farmers buy for their equipment.
When you think you’ve cornered the market … you might just think about gouging.
Chinadian Tire
3 x 4L of chainsaw bar oil = $62.97
3 x 250 ml fuel stabilizer = $39.12
BMR Hardware
3 x 3.8L chainsaw bar oil = $26.94
3 x 354 ml fuel stabilizer = $17.94
I saved $48.00 by going to the little guy.
Whiskas bagged cat food, all flavours: The shelves have been empty for two months.