topic Re: Shipping Bottlenecks in Community Chat

Shipping Bottlenecks

On It — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 15:12:18 GMT

60 Minutes did a story on the shipping bottlenecks at the ports and along the railways. If you did not see the story, I recommend trying to find it and watch it. A lot of blame has been deflected, but clearly the system needs an intervention.

The inflation we are seeing is shipping and storage fees, not the cost of goods. One toy company had to pay a million dollars in storage fees in September. The owner said there was no way he could pay that kind of money out of pocket. The cost would have to be passed on to consumers. His containers are in Chicago at a rail yard at the bottom of a large stack of containers. He cannot get them through no fault of his own but is nevertheless being charged storage fees.

Re: Shipping Bottlenecks

GrailSeeker — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 15:40:43 GMT

I saw that last night. What a bunch of hooey.

Re: Shipping Bottlenecks

proudlyfromNJ — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 15:47:47 GMT

@GrailSeeker wrote:
I saw that last night. What a bunch of hooey.

@GrailSeeker So what's the real story? I didn't see it.

Re: Shipping Bottlenecks

millieshops — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 15:54:47 GMT

@On It Before I go looking for that show - did they cover what's to be done? I'm tired of reading reports about the problem without plausible solutions.

Re: Shipping Bottlenecks

On It — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 16:05:37 GMT

@millieshops wrote:
@On It Before I go looking for that show - did they cover what's to be done? I'm tired of reading reports about the problem without plausible solutions.

I came in late and missed the beginning of the story. They did say the problem was not a shortage of truck drivers. The man in charge of the port said they are working to resolve the issues with all the parties involved. It seems like gridlock. One man even called it a form of piracy. There are so many moving parts that it seems some type of Czar with power needs to be appointed to get things moving.

Re: Shipping Bottlenecks

GrailSeeker — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 16:07:36 GMT

@proudlyfromNJ wrote:
@GrailSeeker wrote:
I saw that last night. What a bunch of hooey.
@GrailSeeker So what's the real story? I didn't see it.

"One problem with the U.S. system is-- we-- the ports are owned by the cities that they're in. And ultimately the capital expenditure for building terminals, for dredging, for you know, for investing in these ports comes down to decisions made at a local level. You know, this is a national infrastructure, it's to serve the entire country. So there's a real role for federal government to come in and step in."

Packed ports and empty shelves: Inside the issues behind the U.S. supply chain crisis

Re: Shipping Bottlenecks

catter70 — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 17:58:34 GMT

@proudlyfromNJ , @millieshops you can see it on Utube. I just searched 60 Minutes shipping crisis or something to that effect and there it was.

Re: Shipping Bottlenecks

tansy — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 18:21:48 GMT

How's it hooey, @GrailSeeker?

Re: Shipping Bottlenecks

sunshine45 — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 18:34:40 GMT

my daughter and i were in MICHAELS last week looking for some christmas items and yarn. i was so surprised to see very little christmas in stock. even a lot of the skeins of yarn were depleted and it was difficult to find 6 or more of the same color. we were speaking with a long time employee and she said they just got a large shipment of halloween items in that they had to mark down drastically in order to get rid of it. i always enjoy picking up holiday items at michaels and managed to get a bag full at 40% off, but am hoping that more of their holiday items are on the way......they had no ribbons, bows, gift bags, or tissue paper......and only a little bit of wrapping paper.

Re: Shipping Bottlenecks

GrailSeeker — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 19:06:06 GMT

@tansy wrote:
How's it hooey, @GrailSeeker?

I just said that in lieu of cursing. It's a huge problem that is causing inflation on an unprecedented scale. I did not mean that the report was not accurate. It is of great concern.

Re: Shipping Bottlenecks

Cakers3 — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 19:08:24 GMT

Re: Shipping Bottlenecks

SilleeMee — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 19:11:18 GMT

Our ports are outdated and in desperate need of overhauls plus there needs to be more incentives for drivers to become truckers and incentives to keep them from quitting.

Re: Shipping Bottlenecks

gertrudecloset — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 19:12:40 GMT

@Cakers3 wrote:

Now this is the problem. No one should be selling things (no matter what they are) without having the items on hand for shipping to the customer, QVC.

My package isn't there, because I refuse to let someone sell me something when they have no idea when they will receive it to send it to me.

Re: Shipping Bottlenecks

gertrudecloset — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 19:14:49 GMT

@On It wrote:
60 Minutes did a story on the shipping bottlenecks at the ports and along the railways. If you did not see the story, I recommend trying to find it and watch it. A lot of blame has been deflected, but clearly the system needs an intervention.

The inflation we are seeing is shipping and storage fees, not the cost of goods. One toy company had to pay a million dollars in storage fees in September. The owner said there was no way he could pay that kind of money out of pocket. The cost would have to be passed on to consumers. His containers are in Chicago at a rail yard at the bottom of a large stack of containers. He cannot get them through no fault of his own but is nevertheless being charged storage fees.

Oh so this report said that my little yogurt or other food items I buy didn't go up? Things I buy customarily didn't go up, just the shipping went up?

What a load....my lying eyes don't see the price increases in everything from clothing to cars!

Re: Shipping Bottlenecks

Foxxee — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 19:37:11 GMT

Inflation continues to rise with price increases across the board.

Most of it could be resolved if there was a will to do so.

Re: Shipping Bottlenecks

liliblu — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 19:44:42 GMT

@gertrudecloset wrote:
@On It wrote:
60 Minutes did a story on the shipping bottlenecks at the ports and along the railways. If you did not see the story, I recommend trying to find it and watch it. A lot of blame has been deflected, but clearly the system needs an intervention.

The inflation we are seeing is shipping and storage fees, not the cost of goods. One toy company had to pay a million dollars in storage fees in September. The owner said there was no way he could pay that kind of money out of pocket. The cost would have to be passed on to consumers. His containers are in Chicago at a rail yard at the bottom of a large stack of containers. He cannot get them through no fault of his own but is nevertheless being charged storage fees.

Oh so this report said that my little yogurt or other food items I buy didn't go up? Things I buy customarily didn't go up, just the shipping went up?

What a load....my lying eyes don't see the price increases in everything from clothing to cars!

My understanding of that quote is that companies/stores have raised the price of the merchandise to cover their higher shipping and storage costs.

Re: Shipping Bottlenecks

tansy — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 19:53:01 GMT

I would not buy anything I wanted in a timely fashion from QVC after reading about other people's experiences.

I have not had any problems with any other online sites. A huge rug arrived within a week. I bought a couple of puzzles with quick delivery. My g-son's birthday presents arrived within a few days. A makeup order from Nordstrom seemed to arrive within hours of my order. 🤷‍♀️

Re: Shipping Bottlenecks

geezerette — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 20:27:18 GMT

Anything I've ordered from other than QVC has clearly stated before I ordered how long the expected delay would be. Some have gotten extended beyond that, at which point I've been notified. One order was delayed even more, but the difference between that and QVC is that I was able to cancel that other order.

Re: Shipping Bottlenecks

sunshine45 — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 20:47:38 GMT

@tansy wrote:
I would not buy anything I wanted in a timely fashion from QVC after reading about other people's experiences.

I have not had any problems with any other online sites. A huge rug arrived within a week. I bought a couple of puzzles with quick delivery. My g-son's birthday presents arrived within a few days. A makeup order from Nordstrom seemed to arrive within hours of my order. 🤷‍♀️

i am a regular shopper on QVC. i have one advance order item that i knew was an advance order when i purchased. i purchased three items on 11/7......one shipped on 11/9 and the other two shipped on 11/12. i ordered an item on the 13th and it still says "preparing your order."

over the past few months my deliveries from QVC are taking anywhere from 3 - 10 days, but never longer than that.

i know that once it is out of QVCs hands it is then the responsibility of the shipper. i also know that QVC must be short staffed in many areas of their company, as many companies are. they are constantly posting job opportunities these days.

Re: Shipping Bottlenecks

hckynutjohn — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 00:33:40 GMT

@millieshops

The CBS Network is not in charge of anything to do with the the supply chain issues. Did they accurately report it? Beats me, I didn't and have no desire to see/hear their interpretation of the issue.

It's strange that there are some ports around the country that are moving things pretty well! And then there are the others. It is easy to find which ones do not have 100 ships sitting in the water doing nothing but being charged for things over which they have no control.

It's been widely reported and verified by many that last month 4,000,000 workers quit their jobs. Why/How? All one need do is go back several months to get a glimpse at the how and why "help wanted" signs are everywhere.

hckynut