Who else has noticed the shops running low on stock?

[PicsInRed]

Anyone else? Clothes shops - sparse stock, what remains is last season's rejects. Furniture and electrical - empty space where goods have sold out without replacement. Even misc in John Lewis, e.g. mirrors etc. Is anyone here in buying/stock management and know anything about this?

I did read that fashion chains cancelled next season orders at lockdown, but with restrictions world wide (and tensions high between UK and China), when will full stock return?

Asda is very poorly stocked and has been for some time.

I've noticed another funny one - cream almost never has the little plastic lid! It has the seal you tear off, but no lid. So if you don't use all the cream at once, there's no cover for in the fridge. I've taken to washing and saving the lids whenever they're included

I think this is an environmental thing rather than Covid as by the cream in Waitrose there is a sign saying something about that they have done away with the lid, less waste

Marigolds
Ketchup
Webcams
Bread makers
Rollers for painting

We moved house on last day before Lockdown! So have been trying to source things for the new house. Mirrors , garden furniture, small furniture items and even a range have been hard to source. All out of stock or long delays In shipment. Also rather obviously gym equipment.
I also can’t get worcs sauce anywhere!

Size small Nike grey joggers, unobtainable since March - a world of teenage boys in lockdown!

Fascinating thread!

Things I’ve tried and failed to get recently include vacuum packed rack of ribs, a choice of tinned corned beef (there’s only ever one type if any), men’s jog shorts in any size other than XL+ and affordable garden furniture- no surprise there though.

Am returning to work in retail soon and dreading the supply issues because they will create gaps for many many months- we will be the ones facing the flack.

I can't find icing sugar anywhere

@Ingles2

I’m a retailer and am amazed at this thread! When we went into lockdown, everything went into lockdown..manufacturing and distribution. The supply chain is seriously backed up in everything.. obviously we would like full shelves so I wonder where a/ you think this stock is coming from when the manufacturers have been closed and b/ how retailers are paying for all this new stock after being closed for months?

Why are you amazed at this thread? We’re just discussing what isn’t about....it’s quite interesting to see what shortages have been caused by this. Nobody is blaming the shops and we understand the reasons why.

Though some of it must be down to individual shops. My morrisons hasn’t had oregano or Fishfingers for weeks. But Tesco and coop have.

Our local Wilko is empty, I needed some pens, there were Bic biros and that’s it, similar in the cleaning aisle and even the crockery and storage box shelves were empty. I asked the person behind the till who said people have been buying like crazy since compulsory masks were announced and also they are just being sent less from their warehouse.

Strawberry ice cream too. I haven't seen any for months.

I was never able to find strawberry ice cream. I have up liking a few years ago. Who makes it?

@Ingles2

I’m a retailer and am amazed at this thread! When we went into lockdown, everything went into lockdown..manufacturing and distribution. The supply chain is seriously backed up in everything.. obviously we would like full shelves so I wonder where a/ you think this stock is coming from when the manufacturers have been closed and b/ how retailers are paying for all this new stock after being closed for months?

That's the whole point. 🤷‍♀️

It's not a blame thread, it's an observation thread - the observation for whatever reason there is a shortage of many goods.

@SpringIsSprung1

Soy sauce! Impossible to get north west, Wirral peninsula

@SpringIsSprung1, have you tried the Chinese supermarkets in Liverpool? Or if you have a Costco card, they normally do a 1.8 litre container of Kikkoman soy sauce, although it's been a while since I visited the Ellesmere Port store. No problems getting it at the Asian stores in Chester either.

@WhentheDealGoesDown

I've noticed another funny one - cream almost never has the little plastic lid! It has the seal you tear off, but no lid. So if you don't use all the cream at once, there's no cover for in the fridge. I've taken to washing and saving the lids whenever they're included

I think this is an environmental thing rather than Covid as by the cream in Waitrose there is a sign saying something about that they have done away with the lid, less waste

I wondered if that was it - but then the lids periodically come back which doesn't make much sense!

@outwardbound I've given up on Wilko! Our local high street branch used to be a go to for all sorts of bits but now has a permanent queue and big gaps in the shelves. I ordered online from them and had no problems. Ditto White Company- staff there told me all the stock was going online. Some others-Savers for example, seem to have normal stock levels. I also ordered online from them during lock down and got everything I wanted.

@formerbabe, you can make your own icing sugar by whizzing granulated in the blender

Thanks @twoglassesofprosecco I've done that in the past, unfortunately my blender is absolutely useless!

I haven't been to any shops since before lockdown but it's noticeable online too. One specialist food supplier I was ordering from last week seemed to have nearly half of the products out of stock.

I ordered something three weeks ago. It is made to order. I got a very nice email from the business owner apologising for a delay, explaining that the packaging they use is made in Leicester. Because of the local lockdown they were having to find an alternative which was proving difficult.

@PicsInRed

Good heads up on Currys. Cash flow issues? Otherwise they'd just refund, wouldn't they?

I've noticed another funny one - cream almost never has the little plastic lid! It has the seal you tear off, but no lid. So if you don't use all the cream at once, there's no cover for in the fridge. I've taken to washing and saving the lids whenever they're included.

Probably better for the environment though

Think of all the money you are saving. We did all shop too much before lockdown including myself

However essential items being unavailable must be frustrating

It's a mixture of things causing it for our store. First the knock effect of isolating/shielding and some suppliers still catching up with demand. Another issue, all our stock is delivered to a main warehouse, separated and delivered to store. Due to lack of sales and lots of staff still shielding, we're only having 50% of the usual deliveries. The final issue, is having to quarantine items which are returned so we have crates if stock that aren't on display.

I've wanted a treadmill since lockdown began but it's impossible, I think the problem is they need 2 delivery men in 1 van to carry it but that must still not be allowed. Presumably that will be the case for any big heavy items.

@Smileyoriley I noticed that White Co was empty too and the store has only been open since the autumn. That’s an interesting point about stock being diverted online I have seen less out of stock things online than I have in store.

I def noticed this!
Went to Home Bargains a few weeks ago and was so disappointed that they hardly had anything in!

We also ordered a load of bathroom bits back in June - new bath, shower etc all in prep for our bathroom being done in August.
Still hasn't arrived and delivery date keeps being pushed back! Getting slightly concerned now !

My kids have outgrown all their shoes, so we masked up and headed to the nearest town. The large independent shoe shop has closed down permanently. M&S only had school shoes and hardly any summer clothes for kids. Next has shut down, as has top shop. Gap had two pairs of kids shoes - not two styles, two pairs. The only place with stock was Zara.
Even the book shop seemed to be flogging hardbacks of books as new releases that are already Out in paperback.
I hope that this will actually slow the insane retail cycle for clothes in some way - in the way that high end fashion did away with cruise collections etc. Fewer ranges but better.
(For adults, Whistles, mint velvet and FC shut / sweaty Betty and joules shut down permanently)

Carpets! Had a quote before lockdown, once shops opened up again went back as the quote was really good, included free underlay and loads of extras (taking up old stuff and removing it etc.) and yes, fitters are now out and about fitting.

But it's more than 3 weeks ago now that I paid, they just can't get the carpet itself. Factory still shut. No stock.

@IveSeenThings Worcestershire Sauce is a bottling issue. You can get some from Amazon.