Jesus - almost 90 days now and can't get freaking TVs instock

[TwixVoy]

I work at a multi-billion dollar retailer and it's coming up on 3 months STRAIGHT now that I can not get TVs instock. I am talking ZERO replenishment. We carry a selection of about 20 different TVs. We have been out of stock on almost ALL of them for coming up on 3 months straight. In the last 3 months our logistics receiving report shows we have received a total of 9 individual units.

I emailed up to our distribution center and asked when we could expect TVs to start to flow from the DCs. I was got the response back today which said NOT UNTIL AUGUST AT THE EARLIEST!!! And they cautioned me that that was just an OPTIMISTIC guess.

We had a customer who wanted a 47" TV really badly the other day. Of course we have no boxed stock to sell him. He starts really pushing to buy the display. Normally we don't sell TV displays, but I said screw it sell it to him.

Total TV sales that day were about $1300 - and that made us the 11th HIGHEST selling store for TVs in the company that day. That means out of over 2000 stores all across the country $1300 bested damn near all of them.

I just find it EXTREMELY interesting that a multi-billion dollar company can not get TVs from Asia for over 3 months, and the distribution centers are saying they can't get more until freaking AUGUST at the earliest. It almost seems like they don't want to do business with us anymore.

[LostinVA]

1. Uh huh

[TwixVoy]

5. People have theorized where I work on this forum

I will not confirm or deny it, but go ahead and give up a call to one of the stores the company people theorize I work for. Ask for electronics, and ask the person you get on the line how many TVs they have in stock out of all the ones that are carried. This is a NATION WIDE issue the company is having so you have a 99.9% chance of being told damn near everything is out of stock at any store you call.

[LostinVA]

8. I just did, and checked online

[TwixVoy]

9. You have to remember that we count our DISPLAY TVs in inventory

because we take them right out of the box. Therefore the web site will say INSTOCK because the display counts as inventory.

CALL THE STORE and ask what is available in BOX STOCK to buy.

[JDPriestly]

2. China is not extending credit to us -- and for good reason.

Thanks to AIG, Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, Citibank and on and on until you get to the guy who owed $100.00 more than he can pay on his credit card, our credit is gone. Deservedly so.

And the last thing we need is more credit. Go out and buy a copy of Harper's magazine, April edition, or go to your library and read it there. The article you want is entitled Infinite Debt, How unlimited interest rates destroyed the economy by Thomas Geoghegan.

It is a must read. You will understand why our goose is cooked. Yeah, that one. The one that laid the golden egg.

[MindPilot]

3. Curious because I work for one the largest TV manufacturers in the world

And we can't get the overstock out of our warehouses. In the meantime people are getting fired, laid off and retired early all over the place.

Yeah, it is like they just quit doing business.

[TwixVoy]

4. That is weird

I wonder if it is a brand we don't carry. Is it an off brand?

The 9 TVs we were able to get in during the last 3 months were Sony, Westinghouse, and Vizio.

[MindPilot]

6. Probably the most recognized TV brand there is.

Vizio is an "off brand" :D

PM me...I might be able to help get some product headed your way.

[TwixVoy]

7. True

but it is damn popular for some reason.

[MindPilot]

13. Perhaps that reason has to do with the price point?

I saw a 40 or 42 Vizio at Costco for $500.

[high density]

17. Maybe everybody is doing like me...

And waiting for the non-"off brands" to get in that price range. Once tax refund money dries up I expect to see some deals this spring. Or maybe I'm dreaming and being unrealistic. I'll admit to knowing zero about the real cost of manufacturing LCD TVs and what the profit margin is on them. I do know I'm rather unlikely to spend $800+ on a top brand 40" 1080p TV from Mexico or China.

[LSparkle]

10. Great -- just when my projection set starts to die and I'm about to buy LCD ...

I'll probably be told the model(s) I prefer aren't in stock
and may not be for a while. TYPICAL OF MY LUCK! At least
the brand I want is Sony (and you noted that's one company
you are getting stock from).

[walldude]

11. Got a Costco card? My local Costco has tons of TV's

lot's of Sony's too.

[LSparkle]

14. Good idea! I'm not a member (yet) but there's one in my town all right

I hadn't even thought of going that route -- thanks for
the tip!

[Mike 03]

12. Not to ask a stupid question, but is this an inventory issue?

This speaks volumes about behavioral changes in our consumption habits? Would that be fair to say?

[MindPilot]

16. Actually it has way more to do with shipping and manufacturing scheduling

My marketing expert co-workers tell me the TV market is pretty much constant. Everyone has a TV, and when it quits, people buy a new one. The economic conditions don't affect that very much. In most households the TV is as much a necessity as the stove or refrigerator.

[Canuckistanian]

15. It's happening everywhere. Retailers don't want inventory.

It costs money to store and maintain products. They'd rather sell what they have, forecast and order in just what they think they'll need.

I've noticed it's particularly a problem with electronics, especially large bulky items like TVs.

[sarcasmo]

18. Just a thought, maybe your companies line of credit has dried up?

[dixiegrrrrl]

19. It is good to hear from you again.

I have been wondering when you would be able to post news of your job related happenings.
Appreciate all and any that you can share.