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Hi all, I've noticed there hasn't been a thread created yet to discuss the ongoing worldwide supply chain crisis that has left shelves bare, shipments uncertain, Dems in Disarray, and Christmas at risk of being canceled for children everywhere. First up, I'm a historian, not an economist, and the main reason I wanted this thread is so that people who are knowledgeable about this can make nice effortposts for those of us who don't know why we can't find things in grocery stores anymore. Some discussion topics to get us started: 1. There aren't enough truckers to unblock the ports! Biden's 24/7 Port Schedule Not Working quote:President Joe Biden has ordered California ports to stay open all night to ease supply chain jams — but data shows that truckers aren't showing up to collect the cargo. 2. Shelves are starting to empty out! gently caress!!! Shopping Trip Shows Supply-Chain Crisis quote:During an everyday errand run, The Atlantic's staff writer Derek Thompson said he found that snarls in the global supply chain had created an "everything shortage." Thompson said what should have been a quick errand run for an at-home COVID-19 test, some paper towels, and prescription drugs turned into a sort of multistore scavenger hunt. I'll let the thread take it from here, but let me leave you with a great YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWTFG3J1CP8 The Man Who Arranges The Blocks posted:I am the man who arranges the blocks!
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# ? Oct 28, 2021 19:01 |
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# ? Mar 28, 2024 16:51 |
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So I keep hearing about problems with lack of space and whatnot at ports in California, why aren't ports in Oregon and Washington taking on extra load? I know they're smaller, and not directly where producers want them, but they still have rail connections and a few extra days should be better than waiting at sea. What am I missing here, just a lack of reporting on those ports already at capacity? Other limitations?
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# ? Oct 28, 2021 19:34 |
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Solkanar512 posted:So I keep hearing about problems with lack of space and whatnot at ports in California, why aren't ports in Oregon and Washington taking on extra load? I know they're smaller, and not directly where producers want them, but they still have rail connections and a few extra days should be better than waiting at sea. What am I missing here, just a lack of reporting on those ports already at capacity? Other limitations? Some companies have tried this, though with smaller ports nearer to LA. I think the primary obstacle they've reported is that the challenge then becomes it being twice as hard to get trucks out there to haul stuff out
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# ? Oct 28, 2021 19:53 |
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Seattle is one of the country's biggest ports and handles an enormous amount of trade from Asia. Our port facilities are massively backlogged and I've seen cargo ships waiting in the Sound for days for there to be space to unload the containers, quite frankly I don't remember the last time, if ever, I've seen *this* many ships going in and out of the Port of Seattle. The guys on Harbor Island must be having a field day, I've already seen at least one congratulatory circlejerk article published by the previous port commissioner who ordered container space to be expanded on Harbor Island (which is already a manmade island in the Sound specifically for the purpose of being a massive warehouse for the Port's overflow) because everyone gave him poo poo for what was considered a massive waste of spending on port facility expansions that would never be used or ever pay for themselves edit: he got my vote today for port commissioner tbh, that was a pretty solid "this guy knows what the gently caress is up with ports" moment edit 2: port no longer seems like a real word HonorableTB fucked around with this message at 20:24 on Oct 28, 2021 |
# ? Oct 28, 2021 20:19 |
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Great, thanks for the additional info!
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# ? Oct 28, 2021 20:38 |
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Solkanar512 posted:So I keep hearing about problems with lack of space and whatnot at ports in California, why aren't ports in Oregon and Washington taking on extra load? I know they're smaller, and not directly where producers want them, but they still have rail connections and a few extra days should be better than waiting at sea. What am I missing here, just a lack of reporting on those ports already at capacity? Other limitations? they are also backed up every port which handles TEU aka containers, aka "random stuff", is experiencing backups for a variety of reasons, primary among them being a shortage of truckers to haul containers away from the ports "just raise wages" is the obvious answer, but the trucker shortage predates the pandemic and supply chain problems because this kind of short haul trucking is a miserable job regardless long beach/los angeles gets the most press because it is the largest container port (not largest port, that is south louisiana by a large margin) and directly adjacent to a major metro area, full of journalists, who can see all the ships abnormally sitting around. but all of the major container ports - south california, seatac, NY/NJ, savannah, are all backed up for similar reasons. you even see the same problems internationally at other container ports. the overall reduction in trade during covid 2020 lead to both a relative and absolute increase in trade in 2021, and while in economic terms everything will shake out and stabilize into an equilibrium eventually, what this means while that new status quo is reached is a disruption and empty shelves other contributors to the crisis is backups at warehouses and distribution centers. any sort of chaos at any link in the chain introduces more chaos at other links, and increased delays, and increased costs. in the before times we had it good as everything became streamlined and cheap. now it's not that way, and it will be that way again, but not for a while. now is a good time to practice lessening one's dependence on material goods
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# ? Oct 28, 2021 20:41 |
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I haven't seen anywhere with any real lack of anything except at home Covid tests, but I've only been in and around cities recently. I assume it's more of a rural issue?
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# ? Oct 28, 2021 21:47 |
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I live in Maryland, We doing fine over here. I think the port of Baltimore is even going "Hey shiiiips come over here, we got room and brand new fancy cranes for you to unload with"* *We had a delivery of brand new all electric container cranes like last month. Cranes so big they barely fit under the bridges on the way.*
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# ? Oct 29, 2021 02:58 |
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Mr. Fall Down Terror posted:long beach/los angeles gets the most press because it is the largest container port (not largest port, that is south louisiana by a large margin) By tonnage, the Port of Houston is actually the largest port in the country, and that being said, things are really backed up there too, so yep, pretty much hosed all over!
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# ? Oct 29, 2021 03:22 |
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Frostyhawk posted:By tonnage, the Port of Houston is actually the largest port in the country, and that being said, things are really backed up there too, so yep, pretty much hosed all over! Isn't the big divide in metrics between Houston and the rest "gulf coast is all liquid oil and the rest is all far less dense consumer goods" or has that changed with the upended patterns we've been seeing lately?
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# ? Oct 29, 2021 04:33 |
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We just need to wait for blue conveyor belts to finish being researched and that should take care of the throughput issues.
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# ? Oct 29, 2021 07:21 |
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Some of its media driven though, some of the dumbest takes have been from the initial pandemic rushes and the best one being from england along with prices in pounds. Theres a big issue with some right wing media blowing this up as a way to make people panic.
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# ? Oct 29, 2021 17:05 |
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UCS Hellmaker posted:Some of its media driven though, some of the dumbest takes have been from the initial pandemic rushes and the best one being from england along with prices in pounds. Theres a big issue with some right wing media blowing this up as a way to make people panic. Plus a lot of the supply chain issues were already in effect as of Christmas last year, but the news wasn't jumping on it nearly as heavily.
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# ? Oct 29, 2021 17:18 |
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Prices are up in NYC, but availability is still good. I feel kind of spoiled because delivery times still seem close to the old pre-pandemic standards. At least in Manhattan.
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# ? Oct 29, 2021 17:24 |
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We've had spotty availability for specialty products like wet cat food, etc. But average food products seem readily available without issue.
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# ? Oct 29, 2021 17:26 |
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Here's a weird one for you - all the flavored cream cheese at the local Fred Meyer (Kroger) was gone with little signs saying that these products wouldn't be available for a while. Rather odd, I would have thought those were locally made like other dairy products. But it's mostly "oh, you don't have literally every flavor of Mt. Dew" or "my FedEx shipping dates are all hosed up". Absolute shortage on Gunpla though, and releases keep getting pushed back again and again. Not too surprised.
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# ? Oct 29, 2021 18:09 |
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The weirdest shortage I have seen, on a consistent basis, is that there is way more peanut butter spread and way less actual peanut butter on the shelves in grocery stores in my city. Also I haven't been able to get peanut butter flavored protein bars for months. Very weird! I live in Houston too so it's not like I'm far away from regional ports and logistics hubs. The availability of normal stuff like meat and veggies and dairy is still good, but it's all gotten more expensive.
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# ? Oct 29, 2021 18:16 |
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The biggest shortage I've seen over the past 18 months is the yeast and flour drought of spring 2020. I did my first big grocery pickup order in several weeks today and it was one of the few times that they've had absolutely everything that I ordered, even the meat that was on sale.
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# ? Oct 29, 2021 18:28 |
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Lester Shy posted:The biggest shortage I've seen over the past 18 months is the yeast and flour drought of spring 2020. I did my first big grocery pickup order in several weeks today and it was one of the few times that they've had absolutely everything that I ordered, even the meat that was on sale. That was less the supply chain having major issues and more half the country deciding to get into baking all at once because everyone was stuck inside with nothing to do from what I recall.
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# ? Oct 29, 2021 18:34 |
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Here's some bits from a long thread with more info about the issue. Which in LA is apparently having enough space for empty containers so that full containers can be unloaded. https://twitter.com/typesfast/status/1451543779484258307?s=20 https://twitter.com/typesfast/status/1451543782516740099?s=20 https://twitter.com/typesfast/status/1451543784504897546?s=20 https://twitter.com/typesfast/status/1451543797645647877?s=20
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# ? Oct 29, 2021 18:36 |
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in my neck of the woods its mostly just random things that are hard to get - gatorade for some reason, wet cat food, gourmet crackers are the things we've consumed that are having chronic shortages. this is as like a problem sourcing the packaging as anything else. at least some of the problem with empty shelves is lack of shelf stockers, because that is a poo poo job. places with rock bottom pay like wal-mart are suffering more heavily from this (always have been) where at my local publix, which pays good wages and benefits, there is high turnover but positions remain filled with new facesMr Luxury Yacht posted:That was less the supply chain having major issues and more half the country deciding to get into baking all at once because everyone was stuck inside with nothing to do from what I recall. right, loving everyone started baking in spring 2020 and wiped out the flour supply
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# ? Oct 29, 2021 19:22 |
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I feel like supermarkets have some amount of bare shelves, I went into a store a few days ago and the whole coffee row was just bare, but that stuff seems to come and go. It does feel like a bunch of things are just like, perma out of stock when I'm ordering for work. Like, ordering laptop cases from apple, or some sorts of network switches just get you "ship date, 2022" and no further information. Lots of stuff we ordered in early summer is just coming now or has not come. Sort of technology stuff from the chip shortage, but laptop cases don't have chips in them, some stuff just can't be sourced for some reason right now.
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# ? Oct 29, 2021 19:28 |
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Our local Panera is completely out of coffee and hot tea. That was weird. (still have fountain drinks including green tea stuff, no other place has run out of coffee, though I have heard its getting more scarce).
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# ? Oct 29, 2021 19:31 |
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The grocery store was out of peas, of all things. We also haven't been able to get bags for the litter genie, the arrival date keeps getting pushed back so they're probably on a container ship somewhere. If insulin starts becoming short we're in major trouble, my girlfriend is a type 1 diabetic so it is kind of important!!
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# ? Oct 29, 2021 19:32 |
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So you're telling me to buy my Mechanical keyboard parts next week if I want them by Christmas? (they aren't group buy pieces) (Presents for my family will be gift cards at this point).
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# ? Oct 30, 2021 01:20 |
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most of the stuff i see is ordering from like smaller shops online. i buy dumb weird poo poo from nerd shops and t-shirt stuff. and they have taken weeks to process. shipping is slow but only like a week and half at most. most of the big stores i go to still have lots of merch but it takes them somewhat longer to replace poo poo. i think the bare shelves exist but its mostly certain types of food or some electronics and luxury items.
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# ? Oct 30, 2021 01:33 |
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Mr. Fall Down Terror posted:in my neck of the woods its mostly just random things that are hard to get - gatorade for some reason, wet cat food, gourmet crackers are the things we've consumed that are having chronic shortages. this is as like a problem sourcing the packaging as anything else. at least some of the problem with empty shelves is lack of shelf stockers, because that is a poo poo job. places with rock bottom pay like wal-mart are suffering more heavily from this (always have been) where at my local publix, which pays good wages and benefits, there is high turnover but positions remain filled with new faces And that caused disruption if even if it was just people making bread at home instead of getting it from supermarkets and restaurants, since retail and commercial supply chains are distinct. Likewise, the toilet paper shortage wasn't just hoarding, it's because commercial and home toilet paper are different products made in different mills, and when lockdowns mean people are pooping at home instead of in workplace or public toilets, you can't just start shipping those big-rear end rolls to supermarkets instead. Also totally reading "wet cat food and gourmet crackers" as a different shopping list than intended.
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# ? Oct 30, 2021 01:40 |
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look, we serve our cats hors d'oeuvres, whats the loving problem
Mr. Fall Down Terror fucked around with this message at 15:42 on Oct 30, 2021 |
# ? Oct 30, 2021 15:40 |
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https://www.freightwaves.com/news/carriers-must-move-60k-containers-out-of-la-lb-by-halloween oh dear.
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# ? Oct 30, 2021 15:54 |
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StratGoatCom posted:https://www.freightwaves.com/news/carriers-must-move-60k-containers-out-of-la-lb-by-halloween Is this an intentional fee to motivate movement of empty containers, or is this the result of the existing regulations that are contributing to the bottleneck? My understanding is that one of the major issues driving this bottleneck is that containers can only be stacked 2 high, meaning that surplus containers are being left on chassis. It seems really dumb that they haven't temporarily suspended these rules to help alleviate a global supply chain crisis.
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# ? Oct 30, 2021 16:16 |
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Removing safety regulations "temporarily" has never in the history of man either backfired or resulted in them not going back in after. Nope, never.
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# ? Oct 30, 2021 17:08 |
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Just sell all the containers unlike each lootboxea. 0.2% chance for a box loaded with graphics cards.
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# ? Oct 30, 2021 17:28 |
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KillHour posted:Removing safety regulations "temporarily" has never in the history of man either backfired or resulted in them not going back in after. Nope, never. Understanding was that was due to nimby laws because it trashes the view. Containers get stack way more then two high while in cargo ships.
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# ? Oct 30, 2021 17:35 |
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UCS Hellmaker posted:Understanding was that was due to nimby laws because it trashes the view. Containers get stack way more then two high while in cargo ships. Well then let me amend my previous statement to "they did." https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/202...ting-to-unload/
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# ? Oct 30, 2021 17:56 |
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Wrote this years ago. Pandemic did what I was worried the trade war would do.Bar Ran Dun posted:Systems, Business, Trade, Kanban, and Political Economy
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# ? Oct 31, 2021 02:15 |
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I work for a large industrial bakery in Baltimore. We run 24/7 and average around 120,000 lbs of bread a day. Here's some current issues: 1: We keep running low on ingredients like rye and gluten. Many of our large use bulk ingredients come from overseas and as best as I can figure those ships are now idling somewhere near Cali. 2: We use a shitload of chemical additives to make bread cheaper, faster and last longer. Small amounts per dough but vital for the formula. We're running out of them. The problem with substitutions is we're running out of the easy to swap ingredients and getting to the point where the information we have to legally put on the bag will change 3: Which brings me to point three, we keep running out of bags. Bag orders are set up months in advance, sometimes a year. We can't get the bags we already contracted for, there's no way in hell to put in a rush order for new bags with new nutritional info. So the realistic scenario is we will be selling bread that doesn't match the caloric information and ingredient list on the bag. 4: Labor shortage right now is insane. We can't get workers, and the pay is decent. We're a second chance employee for many felons, so someone with a record can make 60k a year in Baltimore, have a 401k, great insurance and be in a union. And we just can't get workers. It's never been this bad. Tldr: Running out of poo poo to make bread, bags to put it in and people to put it in the bags
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# ? Oct 31, 2021 02:36 |
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Bar Ran Dun posted:https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/20/opinion/us-globalization-tariffs.html?referringSource=articleShare
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# ? Oct 31, 2021 03:02 |
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Been commenting on all this in CSPAM for a while gunna cross post the stuff that might be relevant. Will be a couple of posts:Bar Ran Dun posted:it’s also that international container shipping cartel’ed up and most of the big lines jointly reduced capacity to bring rates up in response to the Covid drop off. they had been caught up in nasty feedback loop that kept prices low for a long time. Bar Ran Dun posted:lol, Bar Ran Dun posted:the marine underwriters were having a bad year already. I mean there have been multiple very large losses of on deck containers on several vessels in the last six months. Bar Ran Dun posted:Global supply chains are going to be less competitive going forward. The container lines are pulling it in hand over fist now. The cheap container freight party is over. Bar Ran Dun posted:it’s not just the db order book it’s all ship category order books. Bar Ran Dun posted:the end goal of supply chain management is for what we buy at the final point of sale to be able predict future needs all the way back to the base raw materials being dug out of the ground. then to maximize the whole chain for shareholder profit. Bar Ran Dun posted:lol of course. love finding out that people reached the correct conclusion (that controls were necessary to prevent collapse) over a decade before I was born and chose the status quo.
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# ? Oct 31, 2021 03:06 |
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Bar Ran Dun posted:employees were just another inventory to reduce, whoops Bar Ran Dun posted:lol Bar Ran Dun posted:“SHIP ORDERS SURGE AS CARRIERS RUSH TO ADD CAPACITY Bar Ran Dun posted:this will not happen quickly. ships take a long time to build. so that means years and years until capacity gets back to where it was. Bar Ran Dun posted:LINER CONGESTION SPREADS ACROSS THE PLANET, 304 SHIPS QUEUING FOR BERTH SPACE
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# ? Oct 31, 2021 03:07 |
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# ? Mar 28, 2024 16:51 |
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Bar Ran Dun posted:The skyrocketing price of shipping goods across the globe may hit your pocketbook sooner than you think - from that cup of coffee you get each morning to the toys you were thinking of buying your kids. Bar Ran Dun posted:RETAILER HOME DEPOT CHARTERS BOXSHIP TO MAINTAIN SUPPLY CHAIN Bar Ran Dun posted:Hapag Lloyd just ordered 6 ultra large containerships. Bar Ran Dun posted:a business is a system designed to poo poo out whatever widget or service from its inputs to be turned into money (or a system designed to just Hoover up money). a business is a loop to repeat the same task over and over again. Bar Ran Dun posted:Home Depot is literally chartering their own containership because the container lines service is so bad now.
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# ? Oct 31, 2021 03:08 |