Sea Container, Truck & Carrier Shipping Delays and Low Inventory

Sea Container, Truck & Carrier Shipping Delays and Low Inventory

PLACE YOUR ORDERS EARLY!
SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED
Read our story below to see why ...

Due to the Covid pandemic, product availability is becoming extremely unpredictable, as production, coastal ports, truck deliveries and all shipping channels are experiencing extreme delays. Many manufacturers have stopped taking new orders or accepting new customer business, for the rest of the year. Some manufacturers have stopped importing due to the ever escalating container shipping charges. Most manufacturers and U.S. distributors are short staffed which is causing more internal delays. Prices have also been on the rise, as services are going to the highest bidder due to a shortage of shipping containers, port and dock workers, trucks and truck drivers.

 

Currently, there are well over 150 container ships parked on the water, just in California's L.A. Port Authority waters, waiting to get unloaded.

Currently, there are well over 150 container ships parked on the water, just in California's L.A. Port Authority waters, waiting to get unloaded.

Did you know?

  • Each container ship takes an average 5 days to unload.
  • Then there is customs inspections on each container and its content (some get spot checked, some get thoroughly inspected).
  • Then the containers go into staging, and loaded on container chassis.
  • Then truckers are hired to pickup containers on chassis and delivered to the warehouses
  • Then upon delivery to warehouses, the containers are unload and the warehouse redistributes the inventory back out to the stores.
  • Now, if one factors in the containers that are not being delivered locally, in the L.A. area or even to some destination within California, but to inner states or the Midwest, then an additional handling step is required, which adds to the shipping time and cost, as the containers then need to be loaded onto trains, to complete their journey to warehouses and distribution centers throughout the United States (taking as long as two-three additional weeks). Same scenario holds true for all cargo ships arriving to the Eastern Ports, or coming into the Midwest's Lake Superior from the Atlantic.

Mile long trains pulling maxi stack container cars.containers that are not being delivered locally, in the L.A. area or even to some destination within California, but to inner states or the Midwest, then an additional handling step is required, which adds to the shipping time and cost, as the containers then need to be loaded onto trains, to complete their journey to warehouses and distribution centers throughout the United States (taking as long as two-three additional weeks).

That's a lot of time! So, considering all those container ships that are waiting in port for their turn to be unloaded, even if everything goes right, there is a very high probability that the product in those containers won't be on any retailer's shelf this year. 

Low infentory in manufacturer's and distributors warehouses/

Low Inventory and Empty Shelves. Currently, we are being told by our inside sources in the industries across Hobbies, Toys, Games, Gifts, Sporting Goods, Christmas, Camping & RV, Tools, Household Goods, Auto & Boat Parts, that best positioned manufacturer warehouses are currently at only about 20% to 50% inventory levels. Most that are at 50% inventory levels is because they are short staffed and behind in processing orders due to Covid and workers reluctant to return to work.

The GOOD NEWS is ... Oakridge already has inventory (including new products for 4th Qtr and Holidays) in our warehouses or already on its way.
But quantities / supplies are limited.

so ... PLACE YOUR ORDERS EARLY!

Feb 18th 2024 TR

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