What Shortages are You Seeing?

[green5acres]

Saw this on Instagram:
"Thanks to the national cream cheese shortage, Kraft is offering customers $20 to bring another dessert to holiday gatherings instead of cheesecake.⁠
⁠
Supply chain issues have disrupted U.S. markets for months, leading to shortages of medical supplies, liquor, athleisure, toys, gasoline and other items, and now cream cheese. In New York, bagel shops are struggling to meet the demand for the condiment, The New York Times reported, as suppliers' inventories run dry.⁠ "

Now, how to collect that $20?

here in NC there is PLENTY of cream cheese and the sore brand was 89cents last week!

 

[LadyLocust]

Had to run to HD and Wmart on my way in to work this morning. HD had lots of holes, but also lots of boxes in the middle of isles acting like "displays" - wondering if just nobody to stock. At Wmart, they moved the isles farther apart like I mentioned previously which is actually nicer. There were a few holes but not too bad - looked like plenty of milk and I saw fritos (didn't buy either but took notice). What I noticed was produce! There wasn't much - like all those boat with watermelon from Chili in Dec. are being held up somewhere

 

[INresponse]

Had to run to HD and Wmart on my way in to work this morning. HD had lots of holes, but also lots of boxes in the middle of isles acting like "displays" - wondering if just nobody to stock. At Wmart, they moved the isles farther apart like I mentioned previously which is actually nicer. There were a few holes but not too bad - looked like plenty of milk and I saw fritos (didn't buy either but took notice). What I noticed was produce! There wasn't much - like all those boat with watermelon from Chili in Dec. are being held up somewhere

My experience when I was working for HD, the week before Christmas they usually start shoving all the Christmas stuff into one small area and they start setting up their spring display of things like patio furniture and lawn mowers and other yard stuff. All the major stores had a limited supply of Christmas stuff this year because of the ships stuck off the coast not getting unloaded. I asked a friend at the store I used to work at and she was trying to talk it up like they had plenty but when I looked in the overhead the top shelf was empty and it should have been stacked as high as possible with extra Christmas stuff.

A few days ago at the grocery store and Costco I noticed the produce section wasn't very full and several items didn't even have a home on the shelf anymore because they just didn't have it available. We needed green onions, not even an empty spot for them. I wanted stuff to make a big salad, aside from lettuce and cucumbers there was nothing else to put in the salad.

 

[TeeJ]

Went on a quest to find a specific stocking stuffer for my kids that I give them every year that's been impossible to find (hollow plastic candy cane filled with gluten-free, dairy-free treats like Skittles or Nerds). Hit 4 stores over the lunch break before I hit jackpot. The weird thing was each store had unique shortages that jumped out at me:

• Wal-Mart - produce was scarce, and what they had looked like it just came off a ship that had been stuck at sea for months. Holiday aisles already 1/2 empty.
• Harmons (local high end grocery) - plenty of produce, organic & "health food" shelves nearly bare. Holiday aisles filled with lots of "regular" sweets.
• WinCo (local discount grocery) - plenty of food but bulk foods nearly gone, laundry detergent shelves bare.
• Target - fresh produce piled to the sky, Holiday aisles mostly bare, health & beauty aisles visibly patchy - especially shampoo & hair dye. Laundry detergent shelves full up. They had the quested-after candy canes!!

I thought it weird that stores all within 5-10 miles from each other had such different shortages, but I guess they all have different supply chains.

 

[Spikedriver]

Went on a quest to find a specific stocking stuffer for my kids that I give them every year that's been impossible to find (hollow plastic candy cane filled with gluten-free, dairy-free treats like Skittles or Nerds). Hit 4 stores over the lunch break before I hit jackpot. The weird thing was each store had unique shortages that jumped out at me:

• Wal-Mart - produce was scarce, and what they had looked like it just came off a ship that had been stuck at sea for months. Holiday aisles already 1/2 empty.
• Harmons (local high end grocery) - plenty of produce, organic & "health food" shelves nearly bare. Holiday aisles filled with lots of "regular" sweets.
• WinCo (local discount grocery) - plenty of food but bulk foods nearly gone, laundry detergent shelves bare.
• Target - fresh produce piled to the sky, Holiday aisles mostly bare, health & beauty aisles visibly patchy - especially shampoo & hair dye. Laundry detergent shelves full up. They had the quested-after candy canes!!

I thought it weird that stores all within 5-10 miles from each other had such different shortages, but I guess they all have different supply chains.

I'm seeing the exact same things around me. Everything depends on which store you're at, at the time. The only thing they're all short on is experienced workers...

 

[LadyLocust]

Exactly! Same thing here between the various stores.

 

[TeeJ]

I'm seeing the exact same things around me. Everything depends on which store you're at, at the time. The only thing they're all short on is experienced workers...

Isn't that the truth! My youngest who has been working at a local grocery's deli for 6 months just got a big raise and brought home a bigger Christmas bonus than I got at a job I've been working over a decade. They really want to keep him!

 

[Amish Heart]

Our big Kroger store had a full parking lot, so we went to the one we call the ghetto Kroger Store. Really, it's not as ghetto as those I used to shop in in New Mexico, but it's the most dumpy one here. They weren't crowded, had a ride em scooter for husband, and the bell ringer wasn't getting anything in his pot. They were out of all their digital deals I wanted (oj and tp). Produce dept looked decent, and I got raspberries, bananas, squash tomatoes, cucumbers. Their discount bagged $1 produce had alot. I bought the $1 bagged apples (5 to a bag) for the turkeys. They love them. The 80/20 burger was on sale (ha ha) for $3.98 a lb in a 3lb chub. Animal food and bread were really hit hard. Was chuckling...they had one checkout open, and the rest were self serve, and no one wanted to go to the self serve. After seven carts in line, they finally opened up another checkout. Went to Lowes for a new vacuum cleaner, ours bit the dust for good. Hardly anyone shopping.

 

[Spikedriver]

Isn't that the truth! My youngest who has been working at a local grocery's deli for 6 months just got a big raise and brought home a bigger Christmas bonus than I got at a job I've been working over a decade. They really want to keep him!

He must be reliable and be doing a good job.

My local Walmart is seeing a huge turnover. Hardly any of the staff up front is the same as six months ago except for the retirement age ladies. Most of the new workers are very young kids. One little girl (with light blue streaks in her hair ) was very chatty and said she had just turned 18. She's in there every time I go during the day so at least she's showing up. The only department that's kept its people there is the pharmacy, they're all the same crew for at least a year.

The local Fareway grocery store is known as a place for high school and college kids to work. They don't pay great but they're known for treating workers well. The founders of the Fareway chain are very devout Christians, run the chain with small town values, and live right in town here so they are pretty sensitive to what goes on in their store. All the over 18 workers are high tailing it for better paying jobs and there's a bunch of high schoolers in there now who have no clue about anything. It's kind of rough for everybody, but they'll get through it...

 

[TeeJ]

He must be reliable and be doing a good job.

My local Walmart is seeing a huge turnover. Hardly any of the staff up front is the same as six months ago except for the retirement age ladies. Most of the new workers are very young kids. One little girl (with light blue streaks in her hair ) was very chatty and said she had just turned 18. She's in there every time I go during the day so at least she's showing up. The only department that's kept its people there is the pharmacy, they're all the same crew for at least a year.

The local Fareway grocery store is known as a place for high school and college kids to work. They don't pay great but they're known for treating workers well. The founders of the Fareway chain are very devout Christians, run the chain with small town values, and live right in town here so they are pretty sensitive to what goes on in their store. All the over 18 workers are high tailing it for better paying jobs and there's a bunch of high schoolers in there now who have no clue about anything. It's kind of rough for everybody, but they'll get through it...

He's super reliable - I'm very proud of him! He's the only remaining employee of the deli from when he started 6 months ago, and he's probably trained another 2-3 crews that have all come and gone over that time. They need at least one 18+ year old there to run the "dangerous" slicing machines and woodfire pizza oven, so the deli is only open during his shift, and closes down when he goes home for the day. It's crazy how hard it is to find employees these days. At my company we're looking to start up a 2nd shift after the 1st of the year, but finding another 19-25 people who will show up and 5-6 that can run/maintain machines and lead out a bit looks very daunting!

 

[Supervisor42]

Remember them saying the same thing about: "The Great TP Shortage" when people went insane buying way more than they needed?
Same thing.
Kraft is simply stoking the fire by putting it in front of the eyes of millions.
If you spread (cream cheese pun) enough panic, a shortage will magically appear.
When they triple the price, nobody will even notice.

And here's why they won't have any Philadelphia Cream Cheese up north...
You don't dare say words like "Looming Shortage" around people like my wife.
(I didn't say a word, it weren't me!)
Look what showed up in our fridge this morning:

It's good thru May of '22.
I think we are all set.
Sorry bagel-biters, I'll let you know how it tastes on Eggo's.

 

[Spikedriver]

And here's why they won't have any Philadelphia Cream Cheese up north...
You don't dare say words like "Looming Shortage" around people like my wife.
Look what showed up in our fridge this morning:
View attachment 77503
It's good thru May of '22.
I think we are all set.
Sorry bagel-biters, I'll let you know how it tastes on Eggo's.

Yikes. That's about 4 times as much cream cheese as I've eaten in my life...

 

[Supervisor42]

Yikes. That's about 4 times as much cream cheese as I've eaten in my life...

I love it even though I can't digest it because I am lactose-intolerant.
It doesn't bother me near as much as the people nearby that are gasping for air.
And I am still 8-pounds behind trying to recover the weight covid pruned off of me in September.
I would highly recommend an 'Organic-Vapor-Permissible' fitted respirator, because I don't let food get thrown away.

 

[Terri9630]

Medical staff. I took the kid to the ER yesterday but because of staffing shortages it was a 2 1/2 hr wait according to their site. Her odd symptoms were long over before ANYONE that was in the er when we got there was called. We left 45 minutes after her symptoms stopped. It's currently over an hour wait right now. Hopefully we won't need to go back.

 

[LadyLocust]

Medical staff. I took the kid to the ER yesterday but because of staffing shortages it was a 2 1/2 hr wait according to their site. Her odd symptoms were long over before ANYONE that was in the er when we got there was called. We left 45 minutes after her symptoms stopped. It's currently over an hour wait right now. Hopefully we won't need to go back.


View attachment 77507

Many have been let go due to their personal decisions. They are running the rest of the staff ragged Hope kiddo is okay.

 

[joel]

Got five trailers & the expanded metal wagon.

 

[Terri9630]

Many have been let go due to their personal decisions. They are running the rest of the staff ragged Hope kiddo is okay.

She's doing ok. Between ABQ and Santa Fe she started having some pain in her right shoulder and jaw, numbness in her right hand and the feeling of something crawling on her neck. I was concerned that it may have been a reaction to her new med but the urgent care doc said she pinched a nerve. She's a bit sore today but otherwise good.

 

[SLADE]

Cream cheese taste like grody lard.
I like lard but not cream cheese.

 

[viking]

Yesterday we went to Grover Plumbing and Electrical Supply in Grants Pass to get some things for a small solar backup system I'm working on for a friend of ours, they had no disconnect boxes like I used for our system so I subbed a screw in fuse box with a lever switch, at least I was able to get 1" plastic electrical tubing and fittings to run the solar power from the array to the shed where the batteries, inverter and solar controller will be. While we were there I looked at the price of the 250' of 10/2 burial Romex cable they had already purchased, heart attack time, $271, the 1"X 10' tubing was just a few pennies over $17. Makes me wish people had listened to me when I told them that things go in cycles and what can be afforded at one time can become unaffordable in just a short time. Over the years we have set up our survival systems when we were in times of the bottom of cycles, when we could still afford to do things, we really feel sorry for people that have just recently had their eyes opened and want to get prepped, we've seen the prices more than double and I don't think it will ever get better. In spite of all the increases, people that come to understand what's coming need to do something, even small things could make a huge difference in their survivability.

 

[jazzy]

went to town for the once a month errand run, stopped in at walmart for groceries. the shelves had food but definitly short. nothing at all like normal---but still a little biut of everything even if not eno0ugh choices.
butter was $6. they had hams for aorund $1.98 not too bad but last year it was .98 for christmas hams.

still some things but not as much in variety or amount. if its true the supply shortage is growing im thinking next year this time will be more challenging.

 

[LadyLocust]

Had to run to HD this morning to grab a couple more extension cords. This was my selection (ended up w/ option #2).

 

[Spikedriver]

Had to run to HD this morning to grab a couple more extension cords. This was my selection (ended up w/ option #2).
View attachment 77848

That's interesting. I suppose maybe it's from everybody buying up all the extension cords to use with their Christmas decorations?

 

[Biggkidd]

Asked my Nate my SIL to pick up 5 gallons of Rotella 15W40 he says he's been to 6 different stores and can't find any. The only gallon plus containers of 15w40 oil he has found is Supertech . No thank you not in my diesels. I need to change all three diesels here which takes about 12 gallons of oil!

 

[Amish Heart]

Went to Kohls again to use my Kohl's cash, and that place is ridiculously bare. They did haul out some carts of stuff that needed to be shelved in the aisle, and I guess you could of grabbed directly from there. Not much of anything in toys or housewares. Maybe one item on 4 shelves, most were empty.

 

[LadyLocust]

Asked my Nate my SIL to pick up 5 gallons of Rotella 15W40 he says he's been to 6 different stores and can't find any. The only gallon plus containers of 15w40 oil he has found is Supertech . No thank you not in my diesels. I need to change all three diesels here which takes about 12 gallons of oil!

We got a 30 gal. (?) barrel of oil for our rigs. Works out quite a bit cheaper. Might contact a local fuel supplier.

 

[Spikedriver]

We got a 30 gal. (?) barrel of oil for our rigs. Works out quite a bit cheaper. Might contact a local fuel supplier.

15w40 has no shortages around me right now. Nor is there a shortage of DEF. (Both of my brothers are owner-operators so if there's trouble, I hear about it... )

 

[joel]

My local Home Depot has freezers really for pick up.

 

[LadyLocust]

15w40 has no shortages around me right now. Nor is there a shortage of DEF. (Both of my brothers are owner-operators so if there's trouble, I hear about it... )

No shortage on DEF here either - haven't checked on oil in the stores so ???

 

[Biggkidd]

Well he found me 5 gallons of Chevron Delo that can go in the dozer. I'll save what Rotella for the tractor it only uses 2 gallons for a change. I think the dozer uses 4.5 gallons.

 

[angie_nrs]

From what I have heard, the DEF shortage is due to hit in February. I can't remember now what the reasoning was. We ordered (and got) another barrel of it b/c we have a place to store it and it's certainly not going to get any cheaper.

I was at WM today for a quick run in and just happened to notice that the pre-packaged lunch meat section looked really bare. I thought that was strange. I don't eat that stuff anyways, but I did notice the bare shelves there.