8 votes

Behind shipping delays and soaring prices are workers still at mortal risk of COVID-19

2 comments

  1. [2]
    FirstTiger
    Link
    Having read this article, I suppose I'm a little less upset at the delays my (work) lab has had getting scientific supplies/equipment. I knew some chips were made in Vietnam and laboratory...

    Having read this article, I suppose I'm a little less upset at the delays my (work) lab has had getting scientific supplies/equipment. I knew some chips were made in Vietnam and laboratory plasticware in Malaysia, that they came through ports in California, that freight haulers delivered the heavy orders- I just didn't think of the fact that people were making those things, shipping those things, to me. It's entirely too easy to think of things ordered through a computer and delivered in a boxes as belonging to an inorganic, de-humaned process... When all of it, at almost every step, involves a human being.

    3 votes
    1. joplin
      Link Parent
      I agree it's important the we remember the human-side of the entire process. At the same time, it would be nice if online suppliers were more honest about shipping times. Some are, but some still...

      I agree it's important the we remember the human-side of the entire process. At the same time, it would be nice if online suppliers were more honest about shipping times. Some are, but some still offer "3 day shipping", which really means "ships in no more than 3 days from when we receive the product, which might not be for months," but which they know full well makes the people purchasing the thing think, "Ships within 3 days of right now."

      This isn't a new problem, it's just become a much worse problem with the worldwide shortages we're seeing. If I need something and no supplier can get it to me before I need it and they tell me that, then I can plan some sort of replacement or cancel whatever I need it for. But if nobody will be honest with me, I'll be left holding the bag if it doesn't show up in a reasonable amount of time. That's the part that's frustrating to me.

      5 votes