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?

If your child is old enough for a console they are old enough to understand that they will get it in January once there's stock. Unfortunately this year has been very unusual and stock isn't readily available.

If they've asked Santa, well magic and technology isn't a good mix, you don't want an xbox stuffed with candy canes do you?? My girls have always been told santa can't make technology, the magic messes it up!

My dd1 really wants a particular figure, ive explained that the preorders have been delayed and won't be here for Christmas. I preordered this in August for her November birthday but it keeps getting pushed back. But she will have other stuff to open. And is ok with it.

I am one of those people who starts early, I never pay more than I would get re selling on. Eg I bought heavily reduced lol dolls in the summer. Dd2 now wants the bigger ones so I've easily sold them (for slightly more than I paid!)

There’s something every year. There was the year middle class women were coming to blows over Teletubbies in John Lewis. The year you couldn’t get Space Lego and the year anything Tracey Island was as easy to find as rocking horse shit. 🤷‍♀️

I would imagine most suppliers, or those who provide components to them have been caught out with the pandemic. I work for a company that manufactures and there have been massive problems during busy October/November/December period.

There is little we can do when a major supplier to us has to close/is running slow due to an outbreak in their factory and we get hundreds of thousands less green bottles than we planned (for example). Many companies have lost production capacity due to lockdowns or staff shortages, when they should have been fully utilised on the run up to Christmas.

What gets my goat is companies taking your money, when they don’t actually have the item in stock to sell. Then when they finally let you know it’s not available you’ve missed the opportunity to get it anywhere else.

@thelegohooverer That happened to me. Not going to buy anything from jdwilliams anymore.

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?

Those consoles could be preordered in June/July, people who desperately wanted them got in then. It's not the companies fault that you've left it so late to try buy one of the toys of the year. When it comes to consoles you are sometimes better off waiting a while til any necessary patches are issued.

@thelegohooverer

What gets my goat is companies taking your money, when they don’t actually have the item in stock to sell. Then when they finally let you know it’s not available you’ve missed the opportunity to get it anywhere else.

This - exactly. Waiting to speak to Hotel Chocolat re one of their velvetisers.

I've been burned like this before so shopped very early. Lego shop retail assistant told me not to wait to purchase the Lego Harry Potter advent calendar and a modular set I was umming and ahhing over. She predicted they'd be gone by the end of October. They're coming back for 14th December I think but she was right so I got everything then.

Yep. And just wait for the Brexit shit show. I can't even get my kids knickers in the style they like.

And this is why I started in August this year and was all done by mid October.

I've only just shopped and haven't had a problem but my kids haven't asked for games consoles or big lego kits so maybe just lucky.

Not tech or Black Friday related but I’m SO FED BLOODY UP for marks and Spencer being constantly out of stock of pretty much everything.

I really like their stuff and get how tough it is for high street shops atm so although they aren’t the cheapest I always try and throw my custom at them!

It’s so hard! Their stock is abysmal. I went on today wanting to order well over £100 in baby basics and homeware. Nothing in stock! I ended up on Sainsbury’s who had everything and 2/3 the price.

At this point if M&S go under I’ll just have to shrug my shoulders and think ‘deserved’.

(It’s not even like I’m picky! I they have 7 designs in baby vests/sleep suits...etc and EVERY SINGLE ONE was out of stock )

This thread is making me so grateful my kids are past the 'it' toy stage. During lockdown 1, I found it hard to order clothes for DD as everything in her size was out of stock, so with potential lockdowns in mind, I did most of my shopping early. But it's much easier when you're not wanting the same thing as thousands of other people at the same time!
I too don't understand the derision towards people who shop early. If you can afford to and don't have kids who are likely to change their minds, it makes sense to get things before Christmas panic sets in!

I had an email from Lidl today and they had some Harry Potter pjs coming out Thursday may be worth having a look at them online

My DC are tiny and I’ve been struggling just with stuff like the balance bikes I want

I got my 2020 iPad on Saturday from curry’s

I got the new iPad 2020 a couple of weeks ago when I phoned Apple they told me to check Mondays and Fridays as that's when delivery is

I'm having a similar issue. In October, I started to casually ask what toys they'd like and I bought some of them.
They then wrote their Santa letters (quite recently) and not one thing previously mentioned is in their letters!
I now have bags in the attic of stuff they don't want and I can't find the things they do want.
The shops opening and closing isn't helping.
I don't know what to do now and am really stressed.

The Xbox next batch will be in some stores - try game around the 18th December. You'll have to set alerts be online looking daily.

Also try very, curry's, John Lewis, and Amazon.

Also the lower range not the Xbox x is in stock.

People thought it was a marketing ploy but turns out it really is low stock. John Lewis on launch day only had 500 across all stores and within seconds of the 8am launch they were gone.

I know about this because DH job is linked to it
Containers are I wrong places so factories don’t have enough/ the right size containers to fill and sent to port
To get to port in China you might have to cross several provinces and need paperwork for each, and now treble that and costs with covid
China government can and do change port regs at any time. Shanghai busy, now it’s reduced capacity etc
Then the vessels are in the wrong places because of covid (boats move slowly it’s takes months to catch up- many were dry docked during g first wave and not commissioned again)
Airfreight prices at a global high so no one airing u less totally nec (like medicine) because also slower and more challenging than usual)
Then- Felixstowe - massive massive backlog because of alllll the above- like 3/4 weeks.
And. Now brexit. stock and inventory in wrong places
Will get significantly worse and more expensive in new year
Turkey has no trade deal so trucking options reduced and trucks in wrong places too. Also makes loads of tellies etc
Only food will be priority and will have big cost implication
And as for specifics of Nintendo and all the gaming things etc- they’ve sold more than ever in less time than ever- there is launch prep and then there is far far more demand than ever ..

@Thismustbelove can’t you guide the Santa discussion a little? “Santa sometimes brings good surprises”. “Santa is great at knowing what someone might like, and it isn’t always what’s on their list”. “Santa uses people’s lists to get to know them a bit better and understand what they like. To to help chose the present, not necessarily to get all the toys on the list”. Also some heavy hinting and reminding while they write the list.

Otherwise, what would you do if they change their mind on Christmas Eve?

I hope everyone gets what they want sorted out OK.

I'm feeling this - I'm very grateful that I've been able to do almost all of my shopping by end of October but I CAN NOT get hold of a pair of Minecraft Creeper Watches.

Even a sight selling them at £25 each has sold out (they are £9.99 in Argos!!) :( On the other hand I was quite pleased with the Disney store, only ordered from them in late November and the big Toy Story toys needed were all in stock.

This is the first year I have shopped so early and am so glad I did.

My DC are little but I know very well what they like and my 5 year old wrote her Christmas list quite early because it takes a long time for a letter to reach the North Pole!

@CloudyVanilla just in case it helps - not sure if this is the one you are after but they are currently in stock at Matalan for £12

@TheLastStarfighter thank you!!!! That is so odd because scrolling past on my phone it definitely said it was out of stock in Matalan too. I will have to order and hòpe for the best

I got my husbands PS5 the day the preorders were released a few months ago, stayed up till 2am and didn’t have a problem buying it. We were waiting for preorders to drop as knew they were releasing for Christmas, with new tech you have to be on it. I got all my Christmas shopping done in September and I am stress free thank god.

Keep an eye on Twitter for the Xbox etc, a lot of places are saying jan delivery now