Posted on 04/29/2021 3:34:48 AM PDT by EBH
WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) - If you’ve tried to buy equipment for your yard or farm lately, you may have had your name added to a waiting list. Stores across the U.S. are seeing the effects of supply chain and shipping issues, and the Wausau area is no different.
Grebe’s in Wausau says lawnmowers are a good example of a product experiencing supply chain issues that are leading to delays.
Tim Grebe pointed out a row that is usually full of tractors. Right now, he’s only got one to sell.
“We’ve been here for 75 years, and this is the first time we’ve actually had to say, ‘I don’t know, I literally don’t know,’” he said, explaining what he’s had to tell customers.
The only other time a Grebe had to say that to customers was his grandfather after World War II.
“‘46 and ’47 where he was struggling to get things, and that was after World War II,” he said.
They’ve got so much room, they have snow blowers on display. Tillers are difficult to get in stock. A parts order placed Tuesday afternoon had every part on backorder. Getting things in stock can be a shipping issue. But it’s also because parts like foam for tractor seats can be hard to come by right now.
“Can’t use a tractor without something to sit on. So, can’t get the seats, so then the tractor sits there and it’s not available for sale,” he said.
Products being unavailable wasn’t a problem for Grebe in 2020.
“A year ago right now, that stuff was made in the winter of 2019, so 2020 spring and summer, no problem,” he said, explaining the lag in effects on supply.
But he says vendors are now seeing the impact of worker shortages and delays at factories that began last year.
“They haven’t been able to run factories efficiently, they’ve had to restructure factories, they’ve had to do a lot of different things in order to actually produce a product, so all of that has played into not being able to get stuff this spring. I think most of us are in the same position. There’s just not a lot of product out there,” he said.
Besides covid shut down issues, we are paying a lot of people way too much to not work. Everyone is seeing this, not just restaurants.
I’ve been dealing with this for the past two weeks. Trying to buy a Husqvarna lawn tractor and the model I want was not to be found in three states. Finally found one yesterday and had to pay full price, no discounting anywhere. No one has any inventory except for smaller entry level models. It was quite surprising to me.
It is going to be a very tough year....again.
Is the Biden cabal even talking about this or are they still formulating their “narrative” for rationalizing failure? Is it on the radar even?
People got to spend that free gubmint money on something. High ticket discretionary items like a new lawn tractor, another gun or home improvement hit hard. Any idea what the lying DC hacks are saying inflation is currently running? I need to look through my political memorabilia for that WIN button.
The narrative is the drought in California, crop devastation and dust bowls due to climate change. If the land doesn’t have a cover crop holding the soil in place or the cove crop is tilled under in anticipation of planting, that suddenly can happen due to lack of parts... the soil will just blow away. Now consider some farmers may see their Plan B is to not plant in order to save the land.
Again, this is where a President Trump would be putting Americans first. He would already be negotiating retooling our factories for these needed parts. I have always worried if we went to real war with China, we would be hard pressed to put food on the table.
Well ....we’re going to see some pretty Hard Times.
Funny, Yesterday I started reading a book by that name.
Hard Times
An Oral History of the Great Depression
One history teller made the point that those who had ‘imagination’ got through alright. I think about all the people this past year waiting on the government to get through the year. PPP, EIDL, Unemployment, Stimulus all these programs and fiscal policies are artifacts of the Great Depression. But they do one very dangerous thing to the psyche of the American People, it robs us of what is unique about America. Our imagination and ingenuity.
My sister managed to break the lawnmower chute on the brand new mower I bought her during the first few times she had used it. It was her and not the products fault.
Apparently you cannot mow rocks.
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