Running into dead ends trying to find popular Digital Pianos so far this year in 2022? Do you keep seeing "out of stock" notices on the models you are looking at? You are not alone! It is happening right now due to the fallout from Covid-19, computer chip shortages, and massive international logistics-shipping delays that could last well into later this year for some popular models and other consumer goods! Please read this important new report to find out what is going on.
In fact the digital piano manufactures cannot keep up with worldwide demand and in the US some newer digital piano models are backordered up to 2 to 3 to 4 months or more until factories can catch up with the demand and shipping time can be reduced, and we are not sure that will happen anytime soon. These delays are also due in part to restrictions on factory workers at the overseas factories due to the new Covid strain and how those workers are allowed to work.
There are restrictions on how many workers can be in the factory at one time along with restrictions in movement within those factories. These newer restrictions cause big slowdowns in production output which puts a strain on the manufacturers having available inventory to ship and sell. In other words...demand is very high, supply is very low, and shipping times are longer, not just here in the US but in various countries around the world.
More than half of China's power comes from coal producing plants and the new restrictions in China on those plants is tied together creating a electricity shortage so that the factories and even local businesses and homes now have a rationing of electricity going on now. Yikes! Dependence on another country (especially a big one) for our supply needs is now coming back to haunt us in a big way! Check out these two articles about this situation at the following links: Power Cuts & Electricity rationing in China Why China has to ration electricity and how that could affect everyone
These days if you do not learn the art of "patience" in placing an order and waiting for what you want, then you may not get it at all because other people will jump ahead of you on the "waiting list" for these products if you don't get onto and stay on a waiting list. Usually to get on that "list" you'll need to come up with a deposit (at the very least) on the item you want.
This is not just true for digital pianos but also for other consumer products such as furniture, appliances, bicycles, parts, machinery, etc...all the things that people want and need for the inside as well as the outside of their homes.
Think I am kidding or being overly dramatic? I am not. The "writing is on the wall" so to speak. The pandemic is creating havoc around the world in so many ways and even though some of us thought it would be going away by now...it obviously is not, at least in terms of supply chain and shipping issues.
from overseas has been getting backed up at the main ports and docks receiving the shipments. Shipping and receiving ports & docks up and down California where most products from Asia (Japan, China, etc) are coming in from are also causing big problems. This is because they have been very backed up on the water and at the docks for all kinds of reasons including the new Omicron variant. There are just too many ships trying to get unloaded at the docks all at one time. Some ships have been asked to sit out in the water for many days because they have too many ships waiting in line already. Also, when the product finally does getting unloaded at the docks then there has been a shortage of truck drivers to drive the product to US factory warehouses. How long will this last? Well, it hasn't gone away yet. Click on the following link to learn more about this situation: Ships are going nowhere -product is stalled
I do not want to get political here, but...when most everything that we use here in the US as consumers is made overseas, if something goes wrong in that country and they cannot produce and/or ship, then we cannot get the product. It's that simple. If we don't have manufacturing infrastructure here to produce important goods, even if they do cost more money, then we may not get the product at all. I will leave that subject for another conversation.
It's really a big mess and it's going on right now and probably will continue to be that way for quite awhile. This obviously will not make you any happier but we are all dealing with it on a personal level and it is affecting other consumer products (and pricing) in a big way.
Apparently, due to huge ongoing consumer demand for digital piano and keyboard products along with continued Covid working restrictions in overseas factories and the ports/docks because of the newer "Omicron Variant," the computer chip shortage is putting added pressure on the economy and the computer chip related products across the board are in short supply. Whatever has a computer chip in it is being hit hard including home appliances, computers, TV's, cars & trucks, and so much more!
Huge increases in digital piano and keyboard orders from people all around the world has added to the backup and congestion and lack of supply of those chips are affecting all of the major brands of digital pianos in a very big way. The remainder of the computer chip factories are having general supply issues of their own because of demand in producing enough to go around (the world). So...on top of all the other issues, there is a shortage of digital piano computer chips that go into each and every digital piano made in all price ranges and configurations by all digital piano companies. This is creating even longer delays, more backorders on all the favorite digital pianos out there, and now some immediate price increases across the board. We predict it will easily go into later 2022 before we see things leveling off and getting somewhat better. Check out the following recent article about the computer chip shortage and difficulties chip makers and users are having. Computer Chip Shortage and solutions
A person's health is much more important then getting your favorite digital product in our opinion because if you are not around to enjoy it then what does it matter? I have had personal experience with friends who have died or gotten very sick having gotten covid over the last year or so. For us it is all about you and your family's health. But, getting a digital piano which we know can mentally and spiritually make you feel better when you play it is also very important in our opinion and we want to see you get your digital piano order in ASAP so that you have a chance to get it sooner than much later and not pay increased pricing. But now we all just have to be more patient and learn to wait longer and expect to see higher prices for the products we want (on just about everything) until the world gets back to "normal" which could be a long time.
Here's a link to a past news article talking about the things I just mentioned. It doesn't mention digital pianos because the digital piano industry is small as compared to bigger consumer electronics and vehicles. But it has the same effect on the digital piano industry. Computer Chip Shortage is getting Worse!
Empty, messy, disorganized, and without "feeling"...that's the way it looked to me and it's probably because they are depressed that they have little stock to sell as compared to what they normally have. With regard to digital pianos and keyboards, what they did have was mostly very "low-end" product like their house brand called "Williams" which I have ![Guitar Center acoustic guitar room]( "Guitar Center acoustic guitar room")
blogged about in the past and those items are definitely low quality products based on my experience with them, especially compared to the major brands. But regardless of those issues, many of the Guitar Center stores are looking pretty bleak these days because of all the product shortages that have been caused by the fallout from the pandemic. So this problem has hit "everyone" including the retail stores, the factories, the suppliers, the shippers...everyone! So don't expect to get your order anytime soon. The operative word of the day is "patience" because that's what you'll need if you want a popular name brand musical instrument including digital pianos, keyboards, acoustic pianos, etc.
The sooner you decide what you want and the sooner you place an order asap with a deposit, the sooner you'll get one although that still could be anywhere from 1-5 months away in a number of cases, depending on the brand and model. There are a few brands and models that come into stock here and there, but many of the popular models are hard to get. Think this will clear up soon? Think again. I don't foresee a positive change in "wait time" and product supply until sometime later this year and I know that many people "in the know" agree with me. Plus, as I mentioned, prices could go up again as well.
Also, because of supply/demand with demand being much greater than supply right now, the price of those containers has gone up more than 4 times in cost just over the last year and are still climbing. This means you will definitely absolutely see more price increases of EVERYTHING coming soon to your local stores and the internet for anything you want to order that originates from overseas. Think things have gotten more expensive here lately?...it's going to get worse so don't wait to buy what you want and need.
Also on a personal note, I think now is the time for us to start making more things in the US because the previous higher US labor costs and other things that would have been an issue for us making things here are starting to get evened out by the higher costs of goods overseas. I am not optimistic in seeing that change actually happen in any great degree, so we'll see what happens. But for now, especially with digital pianos, things are not getting better in terms of availability or cost.
We are like little ants running around without really having an answer and knowing what to do. Covid cases are still out there and factories have been affected...again. Fewer factory workers...less production and output and then less available product for consumers. Then we all lose out and can't get what we want, and if you get what you want it will take a lot more time to get it and will cost all of us more money.
For them it's a good problem to have in that so many people are wanting digital pianos (and other consumer products) for their families and/or for themselves and consumers are purchasing more digital pianos than ever before in the US.
But with such low production from their factories due to covid-19 and additional problems getting these pianos shipped to the US and unloaded on the docks and then transported to their US warehouses in a timely manner, piano shoppers/buyers will likely continue to have problems getting the digital piano that they want anytime soon. You (and I) will be willing to pay more money for that same item just to get it at all!
Don't take a chance...be an "earlier bird" and pick out your digital piano now even before you really need it and get it ordered or you will likely lose out and the wait time will be even longer, perhaps up to 4-6 months or more as of right now for some of the more popular models if you wait too long.
