This 2021 holiday season, there’s no shortage of warnings about, well, shortages. With several links in the supply chain compromised, consumers are advised by CEOs on down to shop early for Christmas and the winter holidays — the better, it is said, to avoid being shut out of everything from tech to turkey. But what specifically should you be on the lookout for?
Here’s an overview of 10 products and categories that are said to be feeling the effects of the domestic labor shortage, the overseas factory slowdowns and more. These are all items that may prove difficult to get off of your gift lists, and into wrapped boxes for loved ones. (And, yes, sorry, that was another warning.)
1. PS5 and Xbox gaming consoles
This one’s less of a red alert, and more of a reminder: Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and the Sony PlayStation 5 are hard to find. Still. And probably for months more to come — and into 2023. (File under: Supply chain issues, microchip shortage division.)
Many retailers are releasing limited quantities of these consoles during the holidays, but finding one at list price will be a matter of determination and luck — the more frequently you check stock with retailers online and in stores, the more likely you are to catch one of the holiday season’s sporadic restocks.
If you’re intent on scoring one of these before 2021’s done, then, sure, there’s always eBay — where the PS5 and Xbox consoles are going for about $1,000 each, a 100 percent markup from their respective $500 list prices.
A better option, as we previously recommended, is StockX, the third-party marketplace. As of publication, an authenticated Xbox X Series console could be had for $719, while a similarly authenticated PS5 with Blu-ray was selling for $740.
You can also hit the buttons below to check current stock availability for the PS5 at Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart.
PlayStation 5 (Best Buy), $500
Microsoft Xbox Series X (StockX), $719
Toys
Will you be able to find toys to buy for Christmas this year? Barring something catastrophic, 1,000% yes. Will you be able to find the toy at the top of your child’s gift list at similar prices to last year? Maybe, maybe not. The story of a hot-ticket toy making itself scarce on shelves is older than Teddy Ruxpin.
2021, of course, does have the additional twist of too many cargo ships stuck in seaports — and too few available shipping containers, i.e., supply chain issues. According to the CEO of the company behind the L.O.L. Surprise line, some of the toy world’s larger-sized items may struggle to reach stores and warehouses.
“The [L.O.L. Surprise O.M.G. house] — that item is over $200, and it’s big,” Issac Larian told CNBC. “You can only put 150 to 200 in a container. You can’t airfreight it.”
CBS Essentials has more about LOL Surprise OMG dolls here.
The good news is, at last look, the L.O.L. Surprise OMG House of Surprises was available via Amazon for $230. Additionally, as of publication, nearly every item featured in our rundown of Amazon’s hottest holiday toys for 2021, including the L.O.L. Surprise O.M.G. Movie Magic Studios playset, were in stock via the retail giant.
L.O.L. Surprise O.M.G. House of Surprises, $230
L.O.L. Surprise O.M.G Movie Magic Studios, $98 (regularly $136)
Sportswear
The dire forecasts here are short on specifics: Nike, for instance, says its products are taking twice as long to ship to North America, but it doesn’t say which sneakers, if any, they’re expecting to be scarce. (Pro tip: Last we checked, it wasn’t looking good if you were a men’s size 12 or above, and in the market for a new, $130 pair of Nike’s best-selling Air Max 90 Premium shoes.)
A main concern in this category is that leading brands like Nike, Columbia and Lululemon are dependent on their Vietnamese factories humming along — but instead, their Vietnamese factories are dealing with pandemic shutdowns.
As with toys, you just have to look around, and click around, to see what’s in stock. As of publication, for instance, the sportswear items from our comprehensive Black Friday preview guide, including the women’s Columbia Benton Springs zip-front fleece jacket from Kohl’s, were all available. (And, hey, even the Air Max 90 Premium was available in some sizes via Nike.)
Women’s Columbia Benton Springs zip-front fleece jacket, $40
Alcohol
You may need a stiff drink after reading this, but the supply chain situation has not been kind to an industry that relies heavily on imported beverages.
“Clearly, right now there’s a shortage of containers,” the Distilled Spirits Council’s David Ozgo said per CBS Dallas/Fort Worth. “Space on container ships is very, very short.”
But don’t break the glass on the emergency alarm just yet: Did you go to your local supermarket or liquor store tonight? Was there beer there? A bottle or two of a nice California red, perhaps? Yes? So, you’re fine then — it’s fine. Unless, that is…
Are you planning to gift someone with, say, the exclusive (and imported) Chinese liquor Kweichow Moutai? Then, as you may see at Total Wine & More, supply could be harder to come by. One possible workaround, per another of our gift guides: a gift card — maybe even to a retailer like Total Wine & More.
Apple iPhone 13
As reported in September, the great chip shortage of 2021 will force Apple to cut production on its new iPhone 13s through the end of the year by more than 10 percent. Fortunately, 90 million iPhones minus 10 percent is still a lot, so as of publication, a new iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 Mini was available via Apple and other retailers.
Artificial Christmas trees
Christmas trees have long been susceptible to the whims of the supply chain. In 2018 and 2019, for instance, prices on fresh-cut trees rose due to a reduced number of growers (and a reduced number of trees, natch). In 2020, prices rose again because pandemic-weary consumers were basically buying anything that could be hauled inside their homes.
In the early holiday-going this year, it’s fans of artificial trees who are feeling the squeeze. A CNN report said prices on the typically imported product could be up by as much as 25 percent over 2020 — “if you are lucky enough to still find one by Thanksgiving.” For what it’s worth, when we checked the Walmart site, we were lucky. We found several top-selling artificial trees in stock, including Best Choice Products’ flocked tree with 250 lights.
If you want more Christmas tree options, check out our roundup of great Christmas trees that are still in stock.
Pre-lit holiday Christmas pine tree with snow-flocked branches (6 foot), $160
Christmas lights
A year after consumers hoovered up Christmas lights (in order to decorate all the trees they bought), the twinkly strings are again expected to be in short supply. (Christmas lights are largely produced and imported from countries in Asia, so, yes, supply chain issues.)
On the upside, at last look, most of the top-selling holiday lights on the Walmart site were available. A 59-foot-long string of 300 multi-colored LED mini lights from Holiday Time, for instance, was available, and going for $17. Check out our list of Christmas decoration deals for more ideas.
Multicolor LED mini Christmas lights (59 feet), $17
Turkeys
There are rumblings that turkeys may be harder to come by for Thanksgiving dinner: Per a CBS Chicago report, farmers are struggling to find turkey-wrangling farm workers. If you’re the plan-ahead sort, you can reserve a bird in advance via a subscription meal service: Hello Fresh, for instance, was offering a Turkey & Sides box fit to serve up to 10 people with a roast turkey, ciabatta stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and more for $17 per person.
At last look, an 8-pound, smoked whole turkey can be had — and delivered to your door — by Omaha Steaks for $90 if bundled with other dishes. (The bird cost $180 if purchased separately.) Complete Thanksgiving meals were also available from the company.
Hello Fresh Turkey & Sides box, $170
Omaha Steaks Smoked Whole Turkey, $90 and up
Books
In August, the American Booksellers Association advised booksellers to stock up on titles they expected to be in demand during the holiday shopping season. Maybe everybody got the memo? As of publication, physical copies of all of Amazon’s Top 10 best-sellers of 2021, including the new hit novel, “The Four Winds” by Kristin Hannah, were available via the retail giant. (And the best thing about books? Even when hardcovers and paperbacks are sold out, e-book editions are often available.)
“The Four Winds: A Novel” (Hardcover), $12
“The Four Winds: A Novel” (Kindle Edition), $15
Clothing
No, it’s just not just sportswear that we’re told storm clouds are gathering over. It’s every kind of wear. “It’s been difficult to plan inventory flow with much precision,” Nordstrom CEO Erik Nordstrom told investors, as reported by CBS News. “We do not expect those conditions to change anytime soon.”
Problems may ensue if you’re looking to acquire threads in a timely manner from the brands that are caught up in the Vietnam factory-shutdown vortex — like, say, Michael Kors. On Amazon, we found size options were limited on at least a couple of Michael Kors dresses. But we also found the hooded, Michael Kors women’s three-quarter-length, chocolate-brown down puffer coat in stock, and available in a range of sizes.
Michael Kors Women’s Chocolate Brown 3/4 Down Puffer Coat with Hood, $225
Here are some Early Black Friday deals that haven’t sold out yet
Don’t let supply chain issues make you too nervous about the holiday — there are plenty of great gifts on sale you can shop right now. Here are some of our favorite early Black Friday deals you can shop at some of the nation’s top retailers.
Walmart pre-Black Friday deals
Walmart’s Black Friday sale kicks off early on Nov. 4, with deals on big screen Roku TVs, coffeemakers and more. But the retailer is offering deals on tons of tech, beauty, home goods, apparel and more, reduced right now.
This fitted wool-blend pea coat is on deep discount at Walmart, priced at just $40 (reduced from $150). If you have big arms or wide shoulders, order a size up.
Champion women’s jersey joggers are also on sale at Walmart now. You can get a pair for just $19 (reduced from $25).
This Michael Kors Women’s Pyper gold case black leather watch, originally $149, is now available for $92 at Walmart.
If you have little ones around, you know how popular these doll-and-accessory-surprise unboxing balls can be. LOL Surprise Confetti Under Wraps dolls, now just $10 (reduced from $13), make great stocking stuffers.
Pod-based coffee brewers are convenient, but not always cost effective when you want to make a lot of coffee at once. The Keurig K-Duo ($79) offers the best of both worlds, with K-Cup-based and basket-and-carafe-style brewing options.
Best Buy pre-Black Friday deals
Best Buy’s early Black Friday sale is on. The retailer has TVs, laptops, video games and more tech on sale.
This deeply discounted Lenovo Chromebook is a popular sale item at Best Buy right now. It features a 11.6-inch display, 4 GB of memory and 64 GB of storage.
This fun Super Mario Lego toy challenges kids to build their own Super Mario World courses out of Lego bricks, which the included Bluetooth-enabled Mario toy can interact with. It’s currently $48, reduced from $60. (For a fun add-on stocking stuffer, check out these mystery box Lego Super Mario add-on characters ($5).)
The highly rated TCL Roku Series 4 TV is in a real sweet spot of quality and value.
TCL 50″ 4K Roku TV Series 4, $380 (reduced from $450)
Ulta pre-Black Friday deals
Find makeup, skincare, fragrances and more reduced at Ulta.
Prince U Got the Look vegan eyeshadow palette, $28 (regularly $55)
Amazon pre-Black Friday deals
Amazon’s pre-Black Friday sale, featuring what the company is calling “epic deals,” is on now. You can save big on Alexa-powered devices, toys, apparel, kitchenware, beauty and much more. Here’s a sampling of what’s on sale.
Apple AirPods, $197 (reduced from $249)
Echo Show 5, $45 (reduced from $80)
Melissa & Doug Mine to Love wooden play bunk bed for dolls, $39 (reduced from $54)
The LOL Surprise! Movie Magic Studios set includes 12 dolls and more than 70 unboxing reveals, plus a green screen for kids to make movies. It’s currently $38 off at Amazon.
Target pre-Black Friday deals
We’re still counting down the days until Halloween, but the Target Holiday Shop is decking the halls with $5 decor deals, $20 wreath deals and more.
Save 50% on the LOL Surprise! Dance Dance Dance Dolls 4 pack at Target now.
Target has Baby Yoda on sale as well — save $3 on this cuddly 8-inch Baby Yoda plush right now.
Nordstrom pre-Black Friday deals
Nordstrom has markdowns on men’s, women’s and children’s fashion, home and more.
Nike Men’s Dri-Fit zip jacket, $45 (reduced from $75)
Nordstrom Snuggle Plush faux fur slipper, $15 (reduced from $29)
Pre-Black Friday deals at Kohl’s now
Kohl’s has plenty of deals on apparel, kitchen appliances, home goods and more. Right now, take an extra $10 off $50 with promo code GET10 and an extra 20% off with promo code YOUR20. Plus, you’ll earn $10 of Kohl’s Cash for every $50 you spend through Oct. 31. (Redeem your Kohl’s Cash from Nov. 1-10.)
The Big One oversized plush throw, $11 (regularly $27)
This Ninja ice cream maker is an even sweeter deal when you consider that it comes with some Kohl’s Cash on the side.
Ninja CREAMi ice cream maker, $180 (reduced from $230)
Women’s Gloria Vanderbilt Amanda classic jeans, buy one get one 50% off (regularly $40)
GameStop pre-Black Friday deals
GameStop has deals on video games, gaming accessories, action figures and more.
Razer Basilisk Ultimate Wireless gaming mouse with charging dock, $130 (reduced from $170)
Wayfair pre-Black Friday deals
Find furniture, small kitchen appliances, bedding and more reduced at Wayfair.
Magic Bullet
The Magic Bullet countertop blender, $39 (reduced from $57)
Mercury Row Imani square arm sleeper
This reviewer-loved velvet sofa bed has a 1950s feel. It transforms into a twin-size bed and is available in three colors, including this eye-catching green.
Mercury Row Imani square arm sleeper, $500 (reduced from $669)
Mercury Row cotton wall hanging
Choose from cream or gray in this cotton wall hanging with a tasseled bottom. Try using it as earthquake-proof artwork above a bed.
Mercury Row cotton wall hanging, $52 (reduced from $70)
Tucker Murphy Pet Nyberg specialty cat bed
It doesn’t get much cuter than a cat in a hammock. This particular design won’t look out of place with most décor.
Tucker Murphy Pet Nyberg specialty cat bed, $30 (reduced from $41)
