# Are the current supply chain issues going to ruin your holidays? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 20, 2021, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-current-supply-chain-issues-going-to-ruin-your-holidays/952820 "2021-10-20T14:28:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-current-supply-chain-issues-going-to-ruin-your-holidays/952820/1 "2021-10-20T14:28:32Z")
It appears panic is taking hold in some quarters. So much stuff is sitting in containers waiting to be offloaded from ships and transported thither and yon - whatever is a consumer to do??? I’ve seen posts in various places suggesting one should shop at Etsy or local craft fairs or local businesses - keep your money local, support your neighbors’ businesses, etc. Good suggestions, to my mind. I don’t see it affecting my family much, as we’re all adults, with the exception of my granddaughter, almost-arrived grandson, and my niece’s son. And all the kids have way too many toys anyway - the consensus seems to be books and money into college funds are this year’s gifts of choice. Among the rest of us, we’ve pretty much gotten away from exchanging gifts since we all have all the stuff we want or need and no one likes shopping anyway. Instead, we do a goofy exchange. In the past, it’s been $10 gifts or white elephants, and this year, it’s Thrift Store Christmas. No dollar limit - the only rule is the item has to be easily carried in one’s car. It has the added bonus of supporting whatever charity your favorite thrift store is for, and no one’s feelings are going to be hurt if the gift is donated back - it’s really all about a silly game. So to answer my question, no, my family’s holidays aren’t going to be impacted by the supply chain. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-current-supply-chain-issues-going-to-ruin-your-holidays/952820/2 "2021-10-20T14:32:41Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > So to answer my question, no, my family’s holidays aren’t going to be impacted by the supply chain. Same here. We have what we need, and stopped acknowledging Christmas a few years ago. Pure bliss ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-current-supply-chain-issues-going-to-ruin-your-holidays/952820/3 "2021-10-20T14:34:18Z")
There are fewer of us this year than last (moved away, not died). I’m hoping this supply chain thing will allow me to talk the remaining group into being cool like @FairyChatMom 's family. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-current-supply-chain-issues-going-to-ruin-your-holidays/952820/4 "2021-10-20T14:41:18Z")
We’re pretty much at the same point with the adults in our family and my kids. I have a 4-gift rule for my children anyway, which translates to one “big” gift and a few smaller gifts like stocking stuffers and books. My nephews, on the other hand, will be a different story. I could definitely see them thinking that their Christmas is ruined. My sister & BIL usually buy them so much every Christmas and throughout the year that their boys even at 10 and 6 tend to have a small mountain of toys each afterward. In addition to Christmas gifts, they often get a “prize” for not throwing a tantrum while they’re visiting (or they get something to keep them from throwing a tantrum). I can’t imagine that there aren’t duplicates sometimes. Anyway, I don’t see reining that in as a negative - they tend to spend several thousand dollars on Christmas alone. I try not to judge, but I’m not very good at it. 🙂 With regard to the adults, we’re all there for the food & company. Usually we have a no-gift or under-$25 policy, so the largest thing I’m likely to get is a cookbook, which is fine by me. I don’t need more stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-current-supply-chain-issues-going-to-ruin-your-holidays/952820/5 "2021-10-20T14:53:14Z")
_Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before: What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?_ > [@overlyverbose](#): > > With regard to the adults, we’re all there for the food & company. Last year, many of us had our holidays “ruined” because COVID prevented us from getting together with the people we would normally have spent time with. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-current-supply-chain-issues-going-to-ruin-your-holidays/952820/6 "2021-10-20T15:25:53Z")
I don’t know…yet. If I’m giving out gift cards from the rack in the supermarket, then yes. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-current-supply-chain-issues-going-to-ruin-your-holidays/952820/7 "2021-10-20T15:33:06Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > I don’t see it affecting my family much, as we’re all adults, with the exception of my granddaughter, almost-arrived grandson, and my niece’s son. And all the kids have way too many toys anyway - the consensus seems to be books and money into college funds are this year’s gifts of choice. This. Though I have young nieces and nephews, their holidays won’t be ruined if they only get half the toys, and for the rest of us the gifts are not the point. There better not be a shortage of pork rib roasts though … ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-current-supply-chain-issues-going-to-ruin-your-holidays/952820/8 "2021-10-20T15:43:10Z")
We have little kids, but we’re just planning to order stuff early. There’s still toys on the rack at the stores, and my kids are not yet old enough (and are exposed to very little advertising) that there’s not yet a specific need-to-have branded toy that will make or break Christmas morning. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-current-supply-chain-issues-going-to-ruin-your-holidays/952820/9 "2021-10-20T15:51:30Z")
Not at all. We have grandkids, but they don’t need much “stuff.” We’ll see what their parents say they want. Was just talking w/ my sister. She said at the food store, their standard answer for ANY question is, “Supply chain issues.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-current-supply-chain-issues-going-to-ruin-your-holidays/952820/10 "2021-10-20T15:52:26Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Last year, many of us had our holidays “ruined” because COVID prevented us from getting together with the people we would normally have spent time with. Oh, same here. I didn’t get to see my nephews or sister, and my mom was diagnosed with cancer, Christmas was really just spent helping her recover from surgery and prepare for radiation. 'Twas indeed shit-tastic and we didn’t go all out with the food because she essentially had her throat and tongue taken out, reassembled and put back. It wasn’t exactly conducive to eating large quantities of food. But I was absolutely grateful for what I got. And even absent a pandemic, that would’ve been enough for me. I lost too many friends last year and was thankful not to lose her, too. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-current-supply-chain-issues-going-to-ruin-your-holidays/952820/11 "2021-10-20T16:07:26Z")
No, not for us. My wife and I don’t generally exchange gifts, and we were talking about getting some things for the house this year. If we can’t find what we want until Jan or Feb, it won’t be a big deal. My son is just aging into maybe being able to understand Christmas, though I imagine he won’t really anticipate it until next year. We’ll try to find a fun set of duplos or something for him. > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before: > What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store? > What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more? There’s real risk here! > **[White House Warns Supply Chain Shortages Could Lead Americans To Discover...](https://www.theonion.com/white-house-warns-supply-chain-shortages-could-lead-ame-1847855509)** > > WASHINGTON—As reports of worldwide shipping issues continued to mount, the White House warned Wednesday that supply chain shortages could lead Americans to discover the true meaning of Christmas. “Unless these unprecedented scarcities are reversed... ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-current-supply-chain-issues-going-to-ruin-your-holidays/952820/12 "2021-10-20T16:55:13Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > It appears panic is taking hold in some quarters. So much stuff is **sitting in containers waiting to be offloaded** from ships and transported thither and yon - whatever is a consumer to do??? > > I’ve seen posts in various places suggesting one should shop at Etsy or local craft fairs or local businesses - keep your money local, support your neighbors’ businesses, etc. Good suggestions, to my mind. > > I don’t see it affecting my family much, as we’re all adults, with the exception of my granddaughter, **almost-arrived grandson** , and my niece’s son. And all the kids have way too many toys anyway - the consensus seems to be books and money into college funds are this year’s gifts of choice. I know what you meant, but I can’t shake the image that your grandson is packed away on a container ship anchored off the Port of Long Beach, somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-current-supply-chain-issues-going-to-ruin-your-holidays/952820/13 "2021-10-20T17:04:44Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I know what you meant, but I can’t shake the image that your grandson is packed away on a container ship anchored off the Port of Long Beach, somewhere. 🤣 I’m thinking at this stage, my daughter would almost prefer that - she’s about 4 weeks from delivery. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-current-supply-chain-issues-going-to-ruin-your-holidays/952820/14 "2021-10-20T17:09:48Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Same here. We have what we need, and stopped acknowledging Christmas a few years ago. Pure bliss Ditto. ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-current-supply-chain-issues-going-to-ruin-your-holidays/952820/15 "2021-10-20T17:32:38Z")
Unless Canada runs out of cash or plastic to make gift cards we’re set. (As usual) ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-current-supply-chain-issues-going-to-ruin-your-holidays/952820/16 "2021-10-20T22:16:44Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I know what you meant, but I can’t shake the image that your grandson is packed away on a container ship anchored off the Port of Long Beach, somewhere. But that’s where babies come from. Didn’t your mommy and daddy ever tell you that? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-current-supply-chain-issues-going-to-ruin-your-holidays/952820/17 "2021-10-21T14:13:06Z")
Nah. My Wife and I are DINKS. We usually get each other something for X-mas, and sometimes set a tree. Just another day though. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-current-supply-chain-issues-going-to-ruin-your-holidays/952820/18 "2021-10-21T21:18:45Z")
We’ve already purchased a few hundred dollars worth of stuff for the kids. Enough that we could pull it off with what we have, or maybe add a few more things if they’re available. Last year’s birthdays were a lot more stressful because they were just getting into “big boy” bikes. Nobody wants to be stuck with a tricycle when their peers are starting to ride without training wheels. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-current-supply-chain-issues-going-to-ruin-your-holidays/952820/19 "2021-10-22T17:19:22Z")
Nope. I’m single with no kids. My niece and nephew are in their 40s and live in different states. I buy a little something for my sister, and a few nice prezzies for my BFF. I’m probably having shoulder surgery soon so will be doing shopping online from local bookstores, etsy, etc. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-current-supply-chain-issues-going-to-ruin-your-holidays/952820/20 "2021-10-22T17:27:04Z")
I collect gifts during the year. To avoid big delivery delays this year, I’ve set a few items ahead or hand-delivered them. Much of the family is requesting gift cards. My lovely wife and I have ordered our holiday cards from Etsy and will give each other gift cards and a small present. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-current-supply-chain-issues-going-to-ruin-your-holidays/952820.md?page=2)