Liz Weston: How the toy shortage could affect your holidays

Many popular toys may sell out long before the holidays, thanks to ongoing pandemic-related disruptions. This could be a disaster — or a great opportunity to reshape how we celebrate.

We can shop earlier and more thoughtfully, resisting the last-minute scramble for “must-have” items that really aren’t. We can choose classic over trendy, handmade over mass-produced. We can swap experiences for stuff and even make this a learning opportunity for our kids.

This approach requires some strategizing but could result in a saner, less stressful holiday.

WHY TOYS MAY BE IN SHORT SUPPLY

Holiday shortages are nothing new. Most years, some trendy toy or gaming console becomes the hot, hard-to-find item when manufacturers and retailers misjudge demand.

What may be different this year is the number of toys in short supply. Most toys and electronics are manufactured in Asia, but bottlenecks at ports are delaying deliveries, while shipping costs have skyrocketed. The cost for shipping containers has risen during the pandemic from about $3,500 to “well over $20,000,” says Jonathan Gold, vice president of supply chain and customs policy for the National Retail Federation.

“The supply chain throughout the pandemic has been stretched from end to end,” Gold says.

Higher costs are often passed along to consumers as higher prices. That, and the potential for shortages, should encourage people to start shopping as early as possible, says Jillian Wahlquist, vice president of Tom’s Toys , an independent retailer with three locations in California.

“If there’s a special toy or something that parents are really looking for, buy it now,” Wahlquist says.

HOW TO AVOID THE MAD SCRAMBLE FOR TOYS

Of course, panic buying early in the season can be just as destructive to your budget as waiting until...