[cmyx6go]

Originally Posted by 2000cs

Definitely true that a lot of stuff comes from China, Taiwan (soon to be China), Vietnam, Malaysia, et al.

There are ports in Vancouver, Seattle (and area), Portland, and others in CA besides the ones seemingly most impacted. Also can go through the Panama Canal to Texas ports or Florida, South Carolina, etc. which might make sense given the number of ships at anchor awaiting an opening at Los Angeles area ports. The WSJ article is a few weeks old now; today DeSantis said bring your freight to FL and we’ll get it on the road. https://www.wtvy.com/2021/10/08/flor...orts-are-open/

Something feels wrong about this - the story makes sense if all ports are impacted but not if just a few are - trucks and trains are needed at all ports for inbound freight. So if they are available at most ports but not a couple, it seems something else must be underlying this.

I did international transportation in my previous life years ago. In the 80s, the ships used to stop at all the ports on both the eastern and western seaboards. They built these mega ships and not all the ports could accommodate, plus they found it more cost effective to discharge all the containers in say NJ or LA and move the containers on the rail to the ultimate destination instead of hop scotching down the coast. Although the other ports are still operational, I don't know if they can accommodate the mega ships or have the space and equipment to handle the volume.

[F30lolz]

Off topic but already getting notifications from a few credit cards and PayPal to get Christmas shopping done NOW. Sorry if it was discussed already, didn’t read every comment.

[King Rudi]

Originally Posted by F30lolz

Off topic but already getting notifications from a few credit cards and PayPal to get Christmas shopping done NOW. Sorry if it was discussed already, didn’t read every comment.

Noticed this as well. Also, half-way listening to the news yesterday morning, they were discussing shipping date cut-offs for packages. I'll only buy gifts for the boys, the girlfriend and her kids, but don't plan on ordering gifts off the internet this year, but don't expect much to be on the shelves in the coming weeks either. I think I'll whittle figurines for everyone this year, but I don't have the time. Perhaps if I could find someone willing to whittle for me, I could outsource the work. Now to find employess.....oh, shit.....nevermind.

[6oclockshadow]

Vax mandates gonna exacerbate the issue 10 fold.

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by 2000cs

Why is the port issue only at a few of the west coast (CA) ports, and not any others?

The talking heads on local NYC TV news are reporting ships waiting off-shore to be unloaded at the NYC/NJ container ship piers. Nothing major like the west coast, but more like a sign that they are operating near 100% of their current capacity.....

[King Rudi]

Originally Posted by 6oclockshadow

Vax mandates gonna exacerbate the issue 10 fold.

Most definitely. Now let's add Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Shelves even more empty and more people getting sick. The storm thickens.

[kscarrol]

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

I don't run the ports but I believe the issue with the owner operators has more to do with the classification BS of employees vs independent contractor. CA is really strict on that.

Okay, I get the environmental aspect but what about the drivers. If CA is not allowing owner/operators to work the ports, what percent of drivers are owner/operators? Could this be part of the issues given that truck drivers are in short supply already? Does this make things worse at the CA ports?

[6oclockshadow]

Originally Posted by M_Six

When was the last time you bought something made in Europe? Cars notwithstanding. The vast majority of stuff comes from Asia.

That said, Chicago is another place where empty containers are piling up. And Savannah, GA as well.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/port-lo...st-11632935229

The problem is everywhere, but it's much worse around the Pacific rim.

Last week, I bought a non stick pan spatula. $12, Made in Germany-Wesco.
Bought a breadbox and trash can in July -Brabantia- both made in Belgium.

If you look hard enough, and want to pay for first world manufacturing QA standards and workers right ethics, you can avoid Chinamart. It aint easy, and you'll pay extra for it, but it's possible.

[cmyx6go]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

Okay, I get the environmental aspect but what about the drivers. If CA is not allowing owner/operators to work the ports, what percent of drivers are owner/operators? Could this be part of the issues given that truck drivers are in short supply already? Does this make things worse at the CA ports?

As far as I know, there is nothing that says owner operators can't work the ports.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by F30lolz

Off topic but already getting notifications from a few credit cards and PayPal to get Christmas shopping done NOW. Sorry if it was discussed already, didn’t read every comment.

Yes. Start NOW. I started looking around Amazon a couple of days ago for my daughter after she had picked some toys out of the toy gift book Amazon had sent out. One item I was about to purchase and waited a day was gone. No indication on when it'll be in stock. Other toys are in stock but at outrageous prices. I've already ordered a few toys and not waiting to figure out if those are the ones I really want to package as presents. Figure I can send back the ones I don't end up gifting.

[King Rudi]

I would like to add competent employees to my list.

[OkieSnuffBox]

Other than groceries seeming dramatically more expensive, haven't really noticed a shortage of things.....outside of the obvious like electronics/cars. Thankfully don't need either. With the fiancée and I both working from home permanently, I haven't even had a car since March. I sold it because I had only put 900 miles on it in the previous year.

I am curious what's going to happen to commercial real estate. For instance, they are permanently closing our office on Sunday. We worked from home 2-3 days per week before the pandemic and have been working from since March of last year.......so not that big of a change. Maybe they can try to convert a lot of these spaces into apartments/condos to help with the lack of affordable housing.

I do miss going in and just getting to see other people, have little "stop and chats," etc. They have given away the TVs, monitors, ping pong table, etc.

[Tommy-G]

Don't know to what extent this can go but my buddy drives over the Sunshine Skyway into Tampa area and said he saw 5-6 container ships all lined up making their way into the Tampa ports

And since it was on FB it must be true

[cmyx6go]

Originally Posted by Tommy-G

Don't know to what extent this can go but my buddy drives over the Sunshine Skyway into Tampa area and said he saw 5-6 container ships all lined up making their way into the Tampa ports

And since it was on FB it must be true

I'm sure they were already scheduled into Tampa. It is a huge deal to divert a ship to another port and couldn't be done overnight.

[dreamingat30fps]

Add pool chemicals to the list. I dunno how much a bucket of chlorine tablets use to cost in the before times, but $200 seems excessive to me. Not to mention like $150 for 25lbs of shock. Also has beef gotten more expensive also? I don't usually do the grocery shopping, but was at Costco for something else and thought maybe I would pick up some steaks... it was like $90 something for a pack of like 4 NY strips.

[Tommy-G]

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

I'm sure they were already scheduled into Tampa. It is a huge deal to divert a ship to another port and couldn't be done overnight.

I could understand that, just seemed like another opportunity to cheer for Florida

[spazzyfry123]

Beer prices. Had a yearning for some BS beer to chug after yard work, so ran up to the gas station for a 12 pack of Coors. It is easily 30% more expensive than the last time I bought a 12 pack. It was approaching larger craft beer 12 pack pricing even. (Think Fat Tire or something)

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

Add pool chemicals to the list. I dunno how much a bucket of chlorine tablets use to cost in the before times, but $200 seems excessive to me. Not to mention like $150 for 25lbs of shock. Also has beef gotten more expensive also? I don't usually do the grocery shopping, but was at Costco for something else and thought maybe I would pick up some steaks... it was like $90 something for a pack of like 4 NY strips.

Yeah cos' Costco cut them 4 inches thick, 4 steaks is about 8 pounds. This is why i stopped going, everything was so monumentally huge.

[freakystyly]

LOL, I'm not too into popular domestics but European beer still is cheaper than anything brewed in my own damn town, sometimes by half the price. Hows ze German brews in America?

[jsf721]

Right now getting anything in the janitorial wholesale business is difficult. Lead times are longer and trucking is unreliable at best.

We have really created a mess.

The focus needs to be getting people back to work and to stop the free money that saps peoples motivation to go work. Past that I really don’t know what else to say.

[Mike.]

fresh millet for my parrot haha

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

I did international transportation in my previous life years ago. In the 80s, the ships used to stop at all the ports on both the eastern and western seaboards. They built these mega ships and not all the ports could accommodate, plus they found it more cost effective to discharge all the containers in say NJ or LA and move the containers on the rail to the ultimate destination instead of hop scotching down the coast. Although the other ports are still operational, I don't know if they can accommodate the mega ships or have the space and equipment to handle the volume.

Sounds like similar problems with the massive Air Bus A380. It's just too friggin' big. Many airports can't handle the size or weight.