The problem is so bad that Walmart, foreseeing that holiday merchandise wouldn’t arrive in time, has asked some ships to turn around and go back, he added.
This does not bode well for someone who has his heart set on getting a PlayStation 5.
“What’s a shopper to do?” I ask.
Besides the obvious ― shop and ship early ― avoid the mentality that you have to get that certain someone a certain something. Be open to other, perhaps more thoughtful, options. “Finding a local, handmade present is better than buying the latest whizbang gadget mass produced in a Chinese factory,” Handfield said.
Despite the shortages, which certainly could make for a frustrating, frazzling holiday season, here are 10 ways experts say we can beat supply-chain woes.
Buy Local. This not only supports the local economy, but is also the best way to avoid shipping delays and lets you make sure you have your gifts in hand.
Buy American. Companies that make and source their products domestically have far better control of their supply chain than those that rely on importing. For instance, Red Land Cotton, a grower and maker of cotton products, doesn’t deal with any port-related slowdowns, said Anna Brakefield, who co-owns the business with her farmer father. The company grows the cotton on the family farm in Alabama, then makes products in nearby Georgia and South Carolina. Many of their competitors import cotton from India and China. It’s a difference Red Land boasts about in its advertising. “They’ve got a legitimate point,” said Handfield. “Bringing manufacturing back to the United States not only helps circumvent supply chain issues, but is also good for the country. You may pay a little more, but we should support American businesses and workers.”
