When we were out yesterday, we were talking about Joplin and I realized that Vince has probably not driven through Joplin since we left here nine years ago. Almost every time I was here to see Chad and his family, which was four to six times per year, there would be at least one trip to Joplin so I’ve experienced the growth to a limited degree. Vince has kinda been plunged into the middle of a larger city than we left behind with lots and lots more traffic.
I understand that Joplin isn’t the largest of cities by any means but we’ve been living out in the woods for a very long time and we don’t see a lot of traffic, nor do we see many places to shop so Vince is a bit like a kid in a candy store while driving down the main street and seeing so many places he’d like to stop . . some day . . when COVID is over and his wife is at home!
The strangest thing yesterday was Target. I was looking for some curtains for the bathroom windows and their store shelves were so empty.
This was their curtain selection. Look at the empty hooks. The entire top row, which you can barely see, was empty except maybe one thing hanging up there. I understand the problem with getting merchandise from China but how does a store stay in business when they have overhead to pay and employees to pay and nothing to sell?
I wanted some smaller totes for a couple of shelves. This was their selection of totes. It’s like everything we look for is nowhere to be found . . unless you need a fridge or a washer or dryer from Home Depot! I’ve never seen so many fridges, washers and dryers. They all seemed outrageously expensive, though I wasn’t really looking for anything – just killing time in the appliance area while Vince was looking at something else.
Maybe it’s all the kids going back to college, needing curtains and totes but I saw more empty shelves there than I did stocked shelves.
It makes me thankful we don’t need much but it has to be hard on businesses with so little inventory.
Carol says
This is typical of stores in the Dallas area in August when college kids are going back. Anything you’d need for sending kids to college are hard to find in late summer.
Judy Laquidara says
I wondered about that but it seems extremely weird that it’s just Target here.
Doreen says
The same situation exists here in S.E. MN. Generally, what is on the sales floor is all the inventory the store can get (whether it be Target, Home Depot, etc). We ordered an upright freezer over 2 months ago and were told that it wouldn’t be available till late August……now, they don’t know when it will come. The smaller/less expensive appliances are no where to be found and the stores just say that the mfg can’t get parts, etc. We were in Amana, IA, last week and the Amana/Whirpool plant is running around the clock to produce their appliances!
Judy Laquidara says
We’ve been to Lowe’s, Home Depot and Walmart WAY too much this week and from the stores here, except for no freezers, other than Target and TJ Max, the stores we’ve been to have been fully stocked.
When we decided not to move our old freezers and started trying to buy a freezer in MO, every place said “You can pay for it now and it will be here in late July or early August.” I was afraid those days would turn into late August or early September and then in January, we’d still be without a freezer so I didn’t buy one. I hope you get yours soon.
What I don’t understand (and of course, I have no real knowledge of how any of this works) but the washer, dryers, dishwashers, stoves and fridges – especially fridges and just overflowing! Why can’t they somehow make freezers? Makes me wonder why!
Barbara says
My sister needs a new dishwasher and can’t get one, she’s been told there’s a national appliance shortage. My niece tried to buy a new refrigerator (different city than my sister) and was told there’s an appliance shortage. She finally found a repair person to fix the fridge, but that wasn’t as easy as pre-pandemic days.
Judy Laquidara says
That’s crazy. Every appliance store here seems to have more fridges and dishwashers, along with stoves, washers and dryers than I’ve ever seen in stock.
April Reeves says
Are they in stock or they just have their display models that you can’t purchase? A friend here ordered from Home Depot and whirlpool called them today (their supposed delivery date) to say it will be September. Turns out it isn’t even built yet..
Judy Laquidara says
They can be delivered right away. I was looking at the washers, comparing to what I have here and the salesman said “Pick what you want and we can deliver it in tomorrow.” I was talking to the saleslady at another Home Depot and asked “Why can they make so many fridges and no freezers?” She said the freezers were the first thing to go and they haven’t been able to get any.
montanaclarks says
Same with the Target store in Billings–bare shelves everywhere–I too wondered if it was because kids are going back to school and college.
Osage Bluff Quilter says
I told the kids the other day, there probably won’t be much to shop for at Christmas. Jefferson City store shelves are bare too.
Joan says
I noticed the same thing at Target and other stores in Anchorage early last month. It was too soon for school shopping, so I am sure it is a supply chain issue. I had wondered if the Canadian border closure had impacted our freight deliveries, but now I see it is not just a local issue. Frightening!
Marsha says
I literally got last printer ink cartridge at the store. I guess with people working at home plus on line school. Employee said having a hard time keeping in stock
Jill McCaughey says
Point of reference…the Canadian border has never been closed to truck/essential service traffic, just to visitors. We have all gotten so used to inexpensive items on our shelves that are produced oversees, and now there is a long delay in shipping, as well as production, and we have to wait much longer than we had imagined. Have you tried to get Kona solids? Or waited for new lines of fabrics, as well as notions? It has forced some of us to revisit our stashes, and to also do more planning, or modifying, whether it be for meals, quilts, or activities.
Let’s hope the situation changes for all of us, we can look back on these times and be glad we survived, and have a renewed perspective on our lives. Jill in Calgary/Phoenix (which I will probably miss this year!)
Susan Nixon says
I’m thinking you’re right about college students. I was in our Target a couple of weeks ago, and it looks nothing like that! I was just wandering around, and everything was full up. I don’t know if Knox is bigger or Joplin. We have several colleges and UT, too, but I don’t live in the college area. Maybe if it were a Target down by UT, I would see different things.
Nelle Coursey says
How about making Roman Shades for the windows? I love those. When I worked at the drapery shop we made them all the time. Sure does help when you only want to close one of the blinds and leave the other one open. I went to Big Lots the other day and their drapery stock was just the same as what you saw! They had a lot of the other things needed for school, but not drapes!
Judy Laquidara says
It will be a long time before I’m in a position to make anything with all my supplies in Texas and while I’m there, I need to be packing and doing other things. It was easier to buy them done.
Ethelann Wood says
I notice the same thing in Delaware. Some things are fully stocked and othersare not. I just received a bread machine that I ordered in March. I agree with you about moving appliances, especially if the are more than 5 years old. They are so big and heavy,plus the new are so much less expensive to use. Did you ask sbout their scrstch or dents. We got agood price on a unit that had a dent away fromm important parts and was up against the cabinets so no one sees it.