Shoppers are enduring long waits for consumer items thanks to COVID-related delays at Chinese ports, staffing shortages and the war in Ukraine.
Shoppers are waiting months for dishwashers, appliances, furniture, cars and auto parts as the COVID-19 crisis, pandemic lockdowns in China, staff shortages and the war in Ukraine cause havoc with supply chains.
Individual retailers are reluctant to comment on the long delays, but their customers who have turned to social media to share stories of delivery delays of up to eight months for imported items. However, the sofa does not appear to have even been manufactured, let alone shipped or arrived at an Australian warehouse, according to Nick Scali’s order tracking site, which suggests a “tentative” delivery date of August 31 – five months after purchase.
Nick Scali was “constantly updating” customers with any changes to the forecast delivery date of their purchases “as we find out any date changes”, she said.Jermyn said he felt like he was in a catch-22 situation because cancelling the order would mean he would still have to wait for a new sofa.Renae Kunda is also no closer to taking delivery of the Landcruiser Sahara she ordered in January, while other car buyers are yet to receive vehicles up to eight months after purchase.
“Unfortunately, the global and national delays and container logistics chain congestion are likely to continue for some time yet, even though the import demand is waning to a degree,” he said.