All I Want For Christmas is You – Because Amazon Might be Delayed!

It’s beginning to look like Christmas….is on the cards! With family! Happy days. Now it’s back to dragging Christmas presents halfway across the world again. Or is it?

Heard the one about over a hundred ships sitting off the West Coast off the United States unable to unload? 

Or the one about Europe and China being short on containers (because they’re stuck on ships off the West Coast of the United States)? 

Or the one about truck drivers and port staff operating at only 30% due to Covid-19 restrictions (hence the backlog of ships waiting to dock)?

Or the one about power outages in China leading to lower production of manufactured goods? 

Or the one about Amazon Germany about to run out of packaging (because it’s probably all on ships somewhere!) 

Or the one about sea and air freight costs sky rocketing because of all of the above?

And worst of all, there may be a turkey shortage in the UK?

Phew, sounds like a logistical nightmare. Where does that land us as consumers and present-purchasers as we embark on the season of giving? In a spot of bother if we’re not careful. As the scope triangle of time, cost and quality tells us, it’s difficult to meet our needs on all three of those things: if we want something fast, it’s probably going to cost a lot or not be bet quality. Something’s has to give, in other words. It’s just that, as things stand globally, it’s going to be two somethings: because both time and cost are under pressure. 

So the choices are:

• Purchase early: like now!
• Source locally: don’t import via Amazon, and select from what’s available domestically
• Gift differently

It’s the last one I like most and what I’m leaning towards more, personally. If I take a step back from this situation I realise I’m being given a chance to reaffirm how I behave as a consumer:

• Do I or my loved one really need this item?
• What else could this money be spent on?
• What goes into making this product and where is it sourced from?
• Do I want to support the manufacturer of this product?
• What does my loved one really need or want?

Perhaps what we really all need, given the restrictions that have kept us apart and the presents that might delay us, is just TIME. Time to be together, to share moments, to be in each other’s company as events unfold, to slow down, to make things together. 

I know this won’t really cut it for little kids. They will still want their LEGO and Pop Its and goodness knows what else and trying to explain to them that we’re not doing presents in the usual way this year just might not fly. But we can model better consumer traits for our kids and inspire them to make more with their hands, shop less, act from their heart and realise that the most fun they really have is with us and each other. Everything else iare just props. 

Happy season of giving everyone!