The issues with the supply chain are real and seemingly getting worse. Well, what does this have to do with my photography? It has started to affect my ability to take and sell photos. The first indicator was the problem I had getting photos to restock a local store with prints in August. Delay on top of delay pushed the completion of my order into an extended out-of-town trip. That meant I could not pick up and deliver the prints myself. Fortunately, the printing company took all of my information and delivered the prints to the store while I was gone. Then in September, I ordered 2 spare batteries for my camera. It is almost 2 months later I have no idea where the batteries I ordered are. Then things got really absurd. MY laptop computer was in need of being replaced. So I ordered with the hope that an in-stock computer and a overnight delivery would get it to me before my next trip. Instead of showing up inside of 16 days, delivery was finally attempted while I was again away while leading a photo tour. I pleaded with the computer supplier to delay delivery until I returned home to no avail. The order was flagged for a signature and I was not able to reschedule the order with the shipper. Not feeling that I could re-order and take delivery before my next trip, I decided that it might be easier to order a new battery for the old laptop computer. My mistake was ordering based on the model number of the computer and it was the wrong battery. Hopefully that has been corrected and the correct battery will be delivered today. That still does not solve the issue of a full hard drive. Meanwhile, my Adobe software on my laptop will not update.
What is the lesson from all of these headaches with getting needed supplies? It is not just photographers who are going to be affected, but almost all businesses will have to adapt to a new way of doing business. You cannot depend on having supplies when you need them, but only when you can finally get them.
If you can possibly plan ahead I would suggest doing so as the Supply Chain Blues may only get worse. And if anything is coming from Asia plan on your supplies being help up in the Pacific in a holding pattern.
