2021 Supply Disruptions

[hbelkins]

Noticed at Walmart yesterday and Dollar General today; bare shelves in paper plates/disposable cutlery, candy, pet food, laundry items, bottled water.

[jeffandnicole]

And now, a "major" toy shortage will affect holiday shopping .

This is probably a good thing given how many toys end up in landfills. Save that plastic for essential uses.

Tell that to the kids who will think that the Grinch stole Christmas.

"Hey Darling Son and Darling Daughter, why you crying? Santa made a donation in your names to the Human Fund. Merry Christmas!"

[webny99]

On the other hand, the big box stores that sell toys are among the most powerful companies in the world in terms of buying power, and they'll be doing whatever they can to keep their shelves stocked. That's likely to end up making shortages in other industries even worse, as the available container space will go to them first, then everyone else.

[Scott5114]

And now, a "major" toy shortage will affect holiday shopping .

This is probably a good thing given how many toys end up in landfills. Save that plastic for essential uses.

Tell that to the kids who will think that the Grinch stole Christmas.

"Hey Darling Son and Darling Daughter, why you crying? Santa made a donation in your names to the Human Fund. Merry Christmas!"

Obviously, this isn't going to work. But a parent of a similar mindset to Bruce is kind of stuck in a no-win scenario if their kid isn't old enough to grasp concepts like ethical consumption and environmentalism. When a kid is somewhere around seven or eight you can teach them values like that, but younger than that the kid is going to think Mom & Dad are the bad guys for not getting the kid what they want. There's moral panic all the time about not exposing kids to sex and violence, but you can't shelter a kid from marketing no matter how hard you try.

[vdeane]

On the other hand, the big box stores that sell toys are among the most powerful companies in the world in terms of buying power, and they'll be doing whatever they can to keep their shelves stocked. That's likely to end up making shortages in other industries even worse, as the available container space will go to them first, then everyone else.

Now I'm wondering how many small business toy companies will go bankrupt over this.  Christmas is when retail stores tend to make their profit (hence the origin of the name "Black Friday").

[webny99]

On the other hand, the big box stores that sell toys are among the most powerful companies in the world in terms of buying power, and they'll be doing whatever they can to keep their shelves stocked. That's likely to end up making shortages in other industries even worse, as the available container space will go to them first, then everyone else.

Now I'm wondering how many small business toy companies will go bankrupt over this.  Christmas is when retail stores tend to make their profit (hence the origin of the name "Black Friday").

It may depend whether they buy direct from overseas or through an importer. Prices are likely going to go up regardless, but I would think the latter would be a bit more favorable in this situation as you'd have a bigger player in the market doing the negotiating for you.

[US71]

Noticed at Walmart yesterday and Dollar General today; bare shelves in paper plates/disposable cutlery, candy, pet food, laundry items, bottled water.

Casey's General Store has been out of fountain cups, substituting unprinted cups.  I noticed a couple days ago, their normal cups are making a return.

[oscar]

I've noticed some empty/depleted shelves at my local grocery stores. Especially for some of my favorite frozen entrees, for which I've had to shop multiple stores to stock my refrigerator's small freezer compartment.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Noticed at Walmart yesterday and Dollar General today; bare shelves in paper plates/disposable cutlery, candy, pet food, laundry items, bottled water.

Casey's General Store has been out of fountain cups, substituting unprinted cups.  I noticed a couple days ago, their normal cups are making a return.

Reminds me of how a couple weeks ago I got a Coke in a Pepsi cup from Arby's, because I'm assuming that's what they could get their hands on.

[Scott5114]

Noticed at Walmart yesterday and Dollar General today; bare shelves in paper plates/disposable cutlery, candy, pet food, laundry items, bottled water.

Casey's General Store has been out of fountain cups, substituting unprinted cups.  I noticed a couple days ago, their normal cups are making a return.

Reminds me of how a couple weeks ago I got a Coke in a Pepsi cup from Arby's, because I'm assuming that's what they could get their hands on.

I think Arby's used to sell Pepsi. Those may just be leftover complimentary cups from the local Pepsi distributor that were sitting back in the stock room or warehouse for who knows how many years.

[dlsterner]

Noticed at Walmart yesterday and Dollar General today; bare shelves in paper plates/disposable cutlery, candy, pet food, laundry items, bottled water.

Casey's General Store has been out of fountain cups, substituting unprinted cups.  I noticed a couple days ago, their normal cups are making a return.

Reminds me of how a couple weeks ago I got a Coke in a Pepsi cup from Arby's, because I'm assuming that's what they could get their hands on.

I think Arby's used to sell Pepsi. Those may just be leftover complimentary cups from the local Pepsi distributor that were sitting back in the stock room or warehouse for who knows how many years.

As far as I remember, Arby's sold Pepsi products, although it has been a while since I've been there, so I am unaware of whether or not they've switched to Coke from Pepsi.  Normally don't go to Arby's since IMHO Roy Roger's has a superior roast beef sandwich (and Coke products which I prefer).

[Pink Jazz]

Noticed at Walmart yesterday and Dollar General today; bare shelves in paper plates/disposable cutlery, candy, pet food, laundry items, bottled water.

Casey's General Store has been out of fountain cups, substituting unprinted cups.  I noticed a couple days ago, their normal cups are making a return.

Reminds me of how a couple weeks ago I got a Coke in a Pepsi cup from Arby's, because I'm assuming that's what they could get their hands on.

I think Arby's used to sell Pepsi. Those may just be leftover complimentary cups from the local Pepsi distributor that were sitting back in the stock room or warehouse for who knows how many years.

As far as I remember, Arby's sold Pepsi products, although it has been a while since I've been there, so I am unaware of whether or not they've switched to Coke from Pepsi.  Normally don't go to Arby's since IMHO Roy Roger's has a superior roast beef sandwich (and Coke products which I prefer).

Arby's switched to Coke in 2018.

[ZLoth]

Whataburger has been serving drinks in plain white cups rather than the branded cups recently too.

[CoreySamson]

Whataburger has been serving drinks in plain white cups rather than the branded cups recently too.

I've also noticed Buc-ee's has been occasionally doing the same as of late.

[abefroman329]

Noticed at Walmart yesterday and Dollar General today; bare shelves in paper plates/disposable cutlery, candy, pet food, laundry items, bottled water.

Casey's General Store has been out of fountain cups, substituting unprinted cups.  I noticed a couple days ago, their normal cups are making a return.

Reminds me of how a couple weeks ago I got a Coke in a Pepsi cup from Arby's, because I'm assuming that's what they could get their hands on.

I think Arby's used to sell Pepsi. Those may just be leftover complimentary cups from the local Pepsi distributor that were sitting back in the stock room or warehouse for who knows how many years.

As far as I remember, Arby's sold Pepsi products, although it has been a while since I've been there, so I am unaware of whether or not they've switched to Coke from Pepsi.  Normally don't go to Arby's since IMHO Roy Roger's has a superior roast beef sandwich (and Coke products which I prefer).

Arby's switched to Coke in 2018.

I was pleased with this decision - I hate Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, and most other Pepsi products so much, I won't even go to a restaurant that has these.

[Pink Jazz]

Whataburger has been serving drinks in plain white cups rather than the branded cups recently too.

I've also noticed Buc-ee's has been occasionally doing the same as of late.

Circle K as well.

[JayhawkCO]

I was pleased with this decision - I hate Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, and most other Pepsi products so much, I won't even go to a restaurant that has these.

I can't say that I've ever made a decision of a restaurant I'd go to based on their soda selection.  Beer selection? Sure...

Chris

[hbelkins]

I was pleased with this decision - I hate Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, and most other Pepsi products so much, I won't even go to a restaurant that has these.

I can't say that I've ever made a decision of a restaurant I'd go to based on their soda selection.  Beer selection? Sure...

Chris

I've never made any kind of decision based on beer selection. Soft drinks do play a part; if a place that carries Pepsi products doesn't have Diet Mountain Dew (or Diet Dr Pepper in places where Pepsi distributes Dr Pepper) then I will probably drink iced tea.

I was glad that Arby's switched to Coke. But wasn't Arby's the chain that served RC Cola products a few years ago?

[abefroman329]

But wasn't Arby's the chain that served RC Cola products a few years ago?

RC Cola owned Arby's from 1976 to 1993ish, but I don't have any memory of them serving anything besides Coke products or Pepsi products.

And, despite the fact that a Moon Pie and an RC Cola are a traditional Southern delicacy, I've never seen RC Cola for sale outside Northern Illinois.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

I hate Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, and most other Pepsi products so much, I won't even go to a restaurant that has these.

You're the second person on this board to make a comment like that. I never knew pop selection was that big a deal for people that the pop choice matters more than the food.

[abefroman329]

I hate Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, and most other Pepsi products so much, I won't even go to a restaurant that has these.

You're the second person on this board to make a comment like that. I never knew pop selection was that big a deal for people that the pop choice matters more than the food.

It's really more of an "all other things being equal" thing for me.

[Pink Jazz]

RC Cola is owned by Keurig Dr. Pepper.  However, bottling contracts for RC are typically separate from Dr. Pepper itself.  In most areas, Dr. Pepper itself is bottled by Coke or Pepsi, while RC is usually bottled by 7UP bottlers.

[vdeane]

If you've been drinking the supply chain woes away, there's bad news...
https://www.npr.org/2021/09/22/1039600464/liquor-shortages-covid-19-pennsylvania-virginia-ration-alcohol

[SSOWorld]

Culver's here in town has been using both their signature boxes and various patterned wrappers on burgers lately.

[Rothman]

But wasn't Arby's the chain that served RC Cola products a few years ago?

And, despite the fact that a Moon Pie and an RC Cola are a traditional Southern delicacy, I've never seen RC Cola for sale outside Northern Illinois.

Wut.