Have any of you been affected by the Ports Strike in the West Coast?
 

I got a notice from MEZCO explaining the delay in my order for the Dark Knight Returns. Which it really doesn't hurt me much. But I'm thinking retailers must be experience some issues. Have you been affected or business as usual?

A lot of toy companies have been struck by the strike, but that's ultimately a minor thing. The strike affected my pets though, no new medicine coming in means low supply and higher prices.

I wouldn't call a 200% increase in dock time for 35% of all us consumer goods a small thing. not to mention the rotten consumables that are sitting in the sun which will drive up the cost of your groceries in the next few months. the economic consequences of this strike will be far reaching, I'm willing to bet the strike is why most of our local Toy stores have been bare for the last few months, and why so many items that were suppose to be out haven't seen US retail yet.

I think most people who bought from Mattel from November 2014 - Jan 2015 were effected.

I was affected with a rather lengthy delay with some replacement parts from sideshow toys for a defective Hot Toys Robocop that I bought. My claim was processed in early November, but I did not receive the replacement part until the near beginning of February, as it sat on a boat docked just outside of Los Angeles for nearly 2 months. It was an agonizing and very grueling wait.

All of the Wave 2 Combiner Wars TF stuff is sitting on those boats now. EE told me theirs was en route on the last wave of Jan, and they're still 'en route' now.

What's sad is that all these companies only have one distribution center in the USA and it's on the West Coast. You would think Idealy you'd want at the very least two in case there is a disaster (natural or man made) they could still get stuff to the people. The company I work for has hundreds maybe a thousand warehouses if a Blizzard paralizes one another can pick up the slack

This strike ended in Nov, so what is the hold up?

it's called scapegoating for most companies thats the busy season. So they had an excuse for Delays.

I agree. The ports holdup offers a temporary excuse for weak inventory management.

I look at this like a Car accident.

Yeah the accident took place and made everything come to a screeching halt, but just because it has been cleared the halt can still cause delays for hours after the accident happen.

Basically just because the strike ended that doesn't mean everything that was backed up will instantly be back on schedule.

That being said I'm sure some of the companies were thankful for a go to excuse for some delays.

your analogy is good but the problem is that the accidents delay should not hold up traffic more then a few hours, Not for 3 days after.

your analogy is good but the problem is that the accidents delay should not hold up traffic more then a few hours, Not for 3 days after.