I have. I just don't want to spend additional time and money to add something to a brand new truck that should be on it from the factory. I can wait. I'm not blaming Ram because I completely understand their situation. I own a tractor and outdoor power equipment dealership and things are crazy. I quit counting last June when at the time I had lost 32 tractor sales due to not being able to get tractors. A mower brand that we sale, that is made in the USA, had over 800 2022 preseason orders in my territory alone for their best selling unit, and my territory is being allocated less than 200. I don't want to have to wait but I understand if I have to. The sad thing is that we are hearing that things will not start getting better until fall 2022 and will not be back to normal, whatever that's going to be, until 2023.
MSRPs are going to continue to go up and don't believe the crap that once the pamdemic ends they will go back down. Their cost might come down but once a manufacturer knows he can charge x amount for a product, they will continue to do so. Covid backed up the supply chain, but by far the two biggest issues we are hearing from manufacturers that are affecting price and availability are shipping cost and labor shortages. China is out bidding everyone for space on container ships and driving the prices way up. Shipping cost alone for a 40' container 2 years ago was $2,000 to $5,000. It is now fluctuating between $20,000 and $30,000. Employers are having to raise wages and offering hiring bonouses, and they still cannot get people to go to work. It's just frustrating being a business owner during these times. It's frustrating being a customer. This wasn't directed at anyone on this forum. Just try to understand what businesses both small and large are going through. I'm just frustrated and needed to vent.
