Merchandise Shortage

[CastAStone]

As I understand it from someone who works there, the store closures are a result of lack of merchandise to sell, they literally don’t have enough product to spread across all of the stores, not a cost control measure. They make a $/ ton of money on impulse purchases, which are driven by having as many stores as possible. it makes no financial sense to have stores closed when the parks are reaching close to full capacity again.

Y’all can’t call Disney greedy when every new area they open up has 12 gift shops and then also call them greedy when they close six of them. Pick one. I recommend the former.

 

[Lilofan]

You got the first 7 letters right, at least. You've missed the other pieces in the equation, but fortunately, I no longer care that you did.

You make no sense or even know how to run a business efficiently .

 

[UNCgolf]

As I understand it from someone who works there, the store closures are a result of lack of merchandise to sell, they literally don’t have enough product to spread across all of the stores, not a cost control measure. They make a $/ ton of money on impulse purchases, which are driven by having as many stores as possible. it makes no financial sense to have stores closed when the parks are reaching close to full capacity again.

Y’all can’t call Disney greedy when every new area they open up has 12 gift shops and then also call them greedy when they close six of them. Pick one. I recommend the former.

I don't know that that's true anymore due to the homogenization of merchandise. I don't think it's difficult to believe they could make more money by closing a few stores (which sell the same merchandise as the ones that are open) and saving the money on staff etc.

It's not like they haven't shuttered retail and dining space in the past and never reopened it.

To be clear -- I'm not suggesting they're going to permanently close half of the stores in the parks, or anything remotely that drastic. But I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility to see a handful closed for a longer period of time.

 

[Fox&Hound]

Yes merch was so limited on our trip last week. I understand why but it was depressing nonetheless. Same ten products in every store...

 

[HauntedPirate]

You make no sense or even know how to run a business efficiently .

Yep, I have no idea whatsoever. Keep on assuming. Have a magical life!

 

[trainplane3]

Remember how the imagination store would have tons of merch? Mainly Figment stuff?

Ya, they have left over food and wine plus Soarin' stuff now and it's still bare:

That's it.

 

[Lilofan]

Yep, I have no idea whatsoever. Keep on assuming. Have a magical life!

Same to you!

 

[Figments Friend]

I would guess all those container ships sitting waiting to be unloaded are costing a bundle to the companies and they sure as heck aren't going to eat the cost. So ==guess what if and when the products make it to market the cost will be passed on to we the consumer thus pushing inflation even higher. So much for inflation being transitory if you believe that one I have great bridge to sell you

This has already happened in some respects.
I have retail connections and a lot of the product I'm aware of jumped in price this past Summer when they were having supply issues.
Supply is coming at a better rate now, but still spotty with certain items and the pricing can only go up.
Probably next year.

-

 

[trainplane3]

Test Track store:

 

[trainplane3]

Test Track store, even generic Chevy merch leaves it empty:

*Pictures taken on ultra wide so it may be slightly exaggerated. It's still pretty bad*

 

[Kirby86]

It looks like if they didn't have the generic Chevy or GM shirts and hats the shelves would be empty.

 

[trainplane3]

It looks like if they didn't have the generic Chevy or GM shirts and hats the shelves would be empty.

They basically would be.

Pictures coming of Nemo, Creations, and Mitsubishi much later. Any other places to check for people here while in Epcot?

To summarize: Seas is fine, Creations has a lot of dupe merch and Rat hats and mugs, Mitsukoshi is pretty bare (there's tons of walking room).

 

[bpiper]

We were in Animal Kingdom yesterday. We found several smaller gift shop kiosk closed. Amazing thing is the two main stores on Discovery Island we're incredibly well stocked with merchandise. They had abundant Animal Kingdom merchandise and non Animal Kingdom merchandise. They even had an extensive collection of Christmas items. Many that we had not seen before in our travels. Either some shipping containers arrived in the past couple of days or they're not selling merchandise very well at the stores there and they still have it in stock.

 

[JoeCamel]

I was in a Kohls this morning, lots of empty shelves, racks are spaced with merch not packed, racks missing....
This will go on for a year or more

 

[dovetail65]

Quality is worth paying more for. A cheap t-shirt that rips and/or has holes in it/fades after 12 months vs. a shirt that holds up for years but costs more? That's a no-brainer. But Di$ney doesn't want to sell you higher quality items at higher prices, because there's an inherent lack of repeat sales for said-lower quality merchandise. How can you expect them to keep per-guest spending high if consumers don't have to purchase things over and over again because they break/fade/wear out quickly?? Wall Street analysts would burst into fits of anger!!

Made in China does not mean cheap. It's the company that orders the items responsibility. Chinese factories use the specs and material the companies ordering specify . Some of the best machines, motors and clothes I ever purchased come from China. Those 500.00 shirts are made in China, I was surprised and even fantastic 3000.00 suits made in China, ordered right from my fitting delivered to the tailor for me to pick up. Only bespoke could be better and made in America on site.

So stop blaming the Chinese factories and start blaming the companies that either specify crap or don't do their quality control. The Chinese government is horrible, their people work hard and their factories and workers are just as good as anywhere.

If Disney is selling crap that is because they order crap, those exact same factories can make higher quality items, Disney just wants the huge mark up so orders the lower quality. Just as one said the T-shirt might cost 30.00 more if made in America, fact is they can get those higher quality t-shirts for 15.00 more from China, but Disney doesn’t want to make less money. Disney knows Americans would not buy them in the same scale as the cheaper items(heck the love of Walmart). People scream about Chinese crap, fact is most won't pay for the better quality, made in America or made in China..

It is always the end company's fault if they sell is crap, not the people that make it for them. It takes a day to say to the factory, hey I am not using you any more I am using a different factory, the items you are making for me are garbage. If it's not QC it's material quality and that's going to cost more whenever you go, material cost what it cost. So blame Disney or the retailer wherever you purchased from, trust me whoever Disney purchased from whether in China or not did their job or Disney would stop buying from them and paying them.

 

[JoeCamel]

Made in China doea not mean cheap. Its the company that orders the items . Chinese factories use the specs and material the companies ordering specify . Some of the best machines, motors, clothes I ever purchased come from China. Eckj those 500 shirts are made in China roo I was surprised a 300 suit yep fans is suits made in China to order right from my fitting delivered to the tailor for me to pick up. Only bespoke could be better.

So stop blaming the Chinese factories and start blaming rhe companies that either specify crap or don't do thier quality control. The Chinese government is horrible their people work hard their factories and workers are just as good as anywhere.

If Dinsy is selli.g cral rhays because they order crap belive me those exact sam factories can make higher quality item Dinsy just wants the huge mark up so orders the lower quality. Just as some said the Tshkrt might cost 30 more fact is they can get those gjhr quality t-shirts for 15 more form China but Dinsy dient want to make less money. Americans will only pay a certain amount people scream about Chinese crap fact is they won't pay for rh better quality made on America or made in China at 15^ less they want dirt cheap. Material cost what it cost.

It is always the end company fault in whether what they sell is crap not the people that make it for them it take a day to say hey not using you any more I am using a different factory, problem is if it's not QC its material quality and that's going to cost more whenever you go. So blame Disney or wherever you purchased from trust me whoever Dinsy purchased from did thier job or Dinsy would stop buying from them.

Did you get your spellcheck from China?

 

[Lilofan]

Made in China doea not mean cheap. Its the company that orders the items responsibility. . Chinese factories use the specs and material the companies ordering specify . Some of the best machines, motors, clothes I ever purchased come from China. j Those 500.00 shirts are made in China, I was surprised fantasic 3000.00 suits made in China too, ordered right from my fitting delivered to the tailor for me to pick up. Only bespoke could be better and made in America on site.

So stop blaming the Chinese factories and start blaming rhe companies that either specify crap or don't do thier quality control. The Chinese government is horrible their people work hard their factories and workers are just as good as anywhere.

If Disnney is selling crap that is because they order crap belive me those exact same factories can make higher quality items, Disney just wants the huge mark up so orders the lower quality. Just as some said the Tshirt might cost 30 more fact is they can get those higherr quality t-shirts for 15 more form China but Dinsy doesn’t want to make less money and knows American would not buy them in the same scale as the cheaper items.. Americans will only pay a certain amount people scream about Chinese crap fact is moat won't pay for the better quality, made on America or made in China at 15% less most Americans at least in the quantity to make Disney the money they want to make want dirt cheap. Material cost what it cost.

It is always the end company fault in whether what they sell is crap not the people that make it for them. It takes a day to say to the factory hey I am not using you any more I am using a different factory, problem is if it's not QC its material quality and that's going to cost more whenever you go. So blame Disney or wherever you purchased from, trust me whoever Disney purchased from wether in China or not did thier job or Disney would stop buying from them.

Don't know about China but friends and family when visiting Hong Kong go to the custom tailor shops to get fitted for bespoke suits. The workmanship is excellent.

 

[Kirby86]

Don't know about China but friends and family when visiting Hong Kong go to the custom tailor shops to get fitted for suits. The workmanship is excellent.

I'm assuming when people are saying China they mean the mass production sweat shops that companies use. If I went to a tailor I'd expect quality work since that is their craft.

 

[BillyGr]

Don't know about China but friends and family when visiting Hong Kong go to the custom tailor shops to get fitted for bespoke suits. The workmanship is excellent.

Like anything, if one is willing to pay for the quality, it will be made that way (one of the announcers from Price is Right years ago always got his fancy jackets over that way, think his were from Thailand but same idea).

Test Track store, even generic Chevy merch leaves it empty:
*Pictures taken on ultra wide so it may be slightly exaggerated. It's still pretty bad*

Assuming you just mean that there is lots of floor space without racks? And that that isn't just a leftover reaction to trying to keep people spread out while shopping?

 

[mchase10]

You know there are plenty of small towns that would love to get back to manufacturing. Those towns that built this country. So yes, Disney, pay attention and do a little work and go find them and you can bring back some if not all of your outsourcing to China back to the U.S. affordably. You have to do the work and go find them but they are there! Everyone has become so lazy!