Everything’s out of stock!

[Maryann1975]

I get that this is a really first world problem and that with everything else going on, it’s totally minor, but I’m really struggling, all the main presents I’m wanting to buy are all out of stock everywhere! Xbox, iPad and the big new Harry Potter Lego set.
I can get an iPad delivered in January, but don’t know if I should do that or risk waiting to see if they come in stock elsewhere before then. I know there has been massive demand fo this type of product (which is why we want one, it feels much better to give it to her for Christmas rather than for no reason).
And as for the xbox, what were Microsoft (or whoever makes them) thinking? Why have they not made enough, did they not foresee that there would be a massive demand for them? Or is that part of the master marketing plan that I don’t quite get. Keep them restricted to keep people talking about them, but in the end there will be enough for everyone?

Anyone else struggling to get items they want or is just me? Are you accepting that some gifts might have to be late or holding out for more stock to appear in the shops in the next couple of weeks?

I had to buy Lego Star Wars calendar from eBay. I did order it from jdwilliams but they cancelled and at that point it was sold out. Therefore I bought a Star Wars Lego straight away without waiting for Black Friday and now it's sold out.

Which iPad were you after? JL has stock
www.johnlewis.com/browse/electricals/ipad-tablets/view-all-tablets/apple/_/N-5nlvZ1z13zz4?intcmp=cp_ele_Tablets_smbl1_mhi_AppleiPad_x010218

To get one of the new next gen consoles you need to keep your eye on Twitter, if I were you every night I would check Twitter for “Xbox series x stock” and hopefully you will find when more stock will be coming in.

I’d love to have been able to get a console for my boy but it’s not my (or his) year financially but I hope next year if I save up! Also once the shops open you’ll prob be able to get the other items, stores seem to have stock but not online x it might be first world problems to some but we all know how it feels so desperately want to give the kids what they really want for Christmas! I really hope you’re able to get the things you want xxx

i dont suppose nintendo expected to be working through a pandemic......lots of operations go into a product....the parts for example, then the packaging etc

staff are isolating or maybe off with covid....or dead from it!

you can't just magic up more trained staff. the supply chain is fucked in many ways

nintendo/xbox/microsoft/sony playstation

Dose it have to be an iPad? Could you not get another brand of tablet? Which HP set is it? I understand a lot of people are looking for the Xbox, I suspect your right though, they deliberately only release limited numbers. Hopefully when lockdown is lifted stores will get more stock in.

What happens is that all the childrens christmas type stuff is made in China. This is then shipped over to the UK in big containers,
The cargo ship takes about 6 weeks to get here from China and the good arrive in about August. They are then distributed from the docks to various warehouses and onwards to the shops.

So what I'm staying is that if you see the gift you want in the shops as early as September you may as well buy it then. Because there won't be another container load arriving before christmas so what is in the shops in September is pretty much the whole stock. All you can do is try another shop.

Sorry to go on, just might be worth remembering for the future. Hope you find something suitable.

I couldn’t get what i wanted in the uk and china was saying 6 weeks so I’ve ordered from an American site that quoted 10 days... who know if it’ll turn up or whether the site is even legitimate

Am suddenly finding the same. DCs have barely asked for anything so I've been browsing for ideas and even simple things like cool PJs (M&S hogwarts I'm looking at you) and slippers are out.
Arses.

Each year I buy some cool stuff on eBay. Not recent releases but for example when ds was into imaginext I got old editions from there and he loved them. Try for a second hand iPad maybe somewhere like music magpie

You always have to be fast and prepared for the most sought after items. This isn't new.

I don't really know what to suggest but the iPad and Lego should be available somewhere. Which Lego is it?

What's the Lego set you're after?;

I think it's to be expected with high demand items but I've noticed that stock levels in general are pretty poor. Our tall larder fridge is getting on a bit and showing signs of wear and tear. I did a browse for a replacement if it did start to malfunction and there isn't much out there, tbh.

Anything electronic is going to sell out. Yes, Microsoft always makes sure demand outweighs supply so they are not "stuck" with older models when the newer version comes out. My grandson is a computer geek and waits two years to buy any new equipment so that the first year all the bugs are worked out and the second year the prices are lowered so the new models can be released. He gets "new" at 1/3 the cost of new releases.

In the same boat with ipad - been thinking about it for weeks & now dithered too long. So gutted for dd1.

I think with the iPad (2020) it’s likely to be out of stock everywhere and the next batch will be ready in January, I had this issue a few months ago and managed to ore order for a batch coming out the end of this month, mine came last week and now they are out of stock again. You could be a reconditioned iPad but if your dd is like mine he excitement is opening the new packaging to a tech item 🤣

I’ve just had a look at Costco website
They have some there I think
Not sure if you have access to their stores

I think this year its particularly bad for stuff selling out because of covid. The factories have produced less because of social distancing and lockdowns.
People who predicted issues and worries about lockdowns here shopped earlier than usual too.

I hear you. The ps5 has me nearly bald!! I wouldn't mind but this is years in the making, major fuck up on Sony's part.

I imagine Microsoft were thinking how do we maintain production levels in the middle of a pandemic whilst completely changing our operations and managing staff safety and self isolation.

@GeorgiaGirl52

Anything electronic is going to sell out. Yes, Microsoft always makes sure demand outweighs supply so they are not "stuck" with older models when the newer version comes out. My grandson is a computer geek and waits two years to buy any new equipment so that the first year all the bugs are worked out and the second year the prices are lowered so the new models can be released. He gets "new" at 1/3 the cost of new releases.

This is the most sensible thinge. I do similar with consoles. Why people want them on launch boggles my head a bit.

There's a massive global problem with delays on getting goods, goes back to the China factory shutdown & shipping containers being in all the wrong places due to months of imbalanced ship movements. This is a special 2020 problem that will continue into 2021.

Warranty or refund problems is what makes me not want to buy too early -- also people change their minds what they most like, my income could drop & suddenly finances could be right - is why I wouldn't want to buy in September for December gift giving.

There are massive delays in the port of Felixstowe. Google it. Due to a number of factors but it’s only going to get worse after Brexit. Basically we’re stuffed because some wankers wanted a different coloured passport, and everything derided at the time as project fear becomes “we wanted that all along.”

@MrsShelton

i dont suppose nintendo expected to be working through a pandemic......lots of operations go into a product....the parts for example, then the packaging etc

staff are isolating or maybe off with covid....or dead from it!

you can't just magic up more trained staff. the supply chain is fucked in many ways

It had nothing to do with Covid. This is how almost every new console is marketed upon release. It's absolutely deliberate.

And yet people still mock those who have their Christmas shopping done in September