East Coast Ports on Strike: Brace Yourselves for Delays!
Well, folks, it's happening—ports on the East Coast are striking, so if you’ve got goods on a ship right now, grab a snack and a comfy chair because you’re in for a wait. Yep, shipping internationally just got a whole lot more "fun."
Shipping Woes: The Struggle is Real
If you've ever tried to save a buck by ordering directly from manufacturers, you know the drill. None of this stuff is made in the good ol' USA anymore. I’m working on it, though! And hey, if you want to invest in my dream of bringing production back home, let’s talk. I promise it’ll be better than watching your shipment stuck in port limbo.
Shipping Costs: A Wild Ride
Remember when COVID hit and container prices skyrocketed from $7,600 to $25,000? Fun times, right? And did any of that cash go to the hardworking employees? Nah. Hence... the strike.
I’ve worked at plenty of companies, balancing their checkbooks, and trust me—these businesses could’ve given their employees better wages and health insurance. But no, upper management and shareholders needed that sweet, sweet profit boost. So here we are. Strikes all around!
My Breaking Point: The $50K Stalemate
Want to know why I left my last job? Simple: Don’t ask me to squirrel away $20K to $50K a month in a savings account and then claim you can’t afford raises or health benefits. I mean, c’mon! That’s the kind of logic that leads to... you guessed it, more strikes.
Pro Shipping Tip: Avoid the East Coast Ports (Especially Now)
Luckily, I’ve got nothing on a ship right now, but for those of you who do, here’s a little golden nugget of wisdom: Never ship to the East Coast. I know it sounds crazy, but a boat from China can actually get to the West Coast faster than the East Coast. Want to know why? It’s called geography. China is on the west side of the U.S., so shipping to LA and trucking it across the country is often quicker than sailing all the way around the peninsula to the East Coast, especially in the winter when weather delays hit hard.
And Speaking of Weather...
Hurricane season is here, and it’s already looking ugly. What used to be a few months of weather issues is now a year-round nightmare, thanks to climate change. The seas are rougher, and the East Coast ports are feeling it.
America's got ports on three sides of our lovely landmass. You’d think we’d have this shipping thing down by now, right? But hey, if it were easy, what would we complain about?
Stay safe out there, and may your shipments be swift!