Out of stock everywhere

[maw lod qan]

This is why I've never got the real grasp of "a world market economy ".

How can you have free equal trade if employee X is paid 1 chicken a month, employee 3X gets 5 chickens and employee 10X get 50 chickens.

Poor Ole 10X, eats pretty well till employee X is making everything for 1 chicken.

Tried to keep this really economic and not political. 

Right now this economy has turned my 5 monthly roasters into Cornish hens.

[vagk]

Has anyone any updates regarding availability ? Is the production line working or the ES eyepieces will be discontinued ? 

[Zeta Reticulan]

Not so long ago I waited months for an ES 18mm. I've got a feeling that ES were working on introducing a new range, but covid got in the way. Regardless of world events and geopolitics supply chains will no doubt recover and be reinstated. 

[Don Pensack]

ES designed 3 other focal lengths in the 92° series several years ago, but they haven't been released.

They told me they've been put on hold due to production scarcity.

I was told by their sales manager that they place orders for eyepieces a year in advance and that the factory, a cell-phone glass manufacturer, makes the eyepieces in two large production runs per year.

if they get all they ordered but make an error guessing what will sell and what won't, they can make changes in the next production but can be out of stock for 6 months to a year.

And they have been.

That was before Covid19.

Now, they have to contend with raw materials shortages, factory shut downs, standing in line to get on a ship IF a cargo container is available, and a shortage of drivers to deliver the container.

Factory to warehouse shelf used to be 3 weeks, but now it can be 3 months.  Add that delay to other delays, and they can only pray their planning department guessed exactly right on product demand.

Most companies saw a 300-400% increase in sales during the pandemic, and though sales have declined since the peak, they aren't back at pre-pandemic levels.

So, shortage of materials, long delays, and increased demand--a perfect storm condition that creates empty shelves.

[Zeta Reticulan]

10 minutes ago, Don Pensack said:

ES designed 3 other focal lengths in the 92° series several years ago, but they haven't been released.

They told me they've been put on hold due to production scarcity.

I was told by their sales manager that they place orders for eyepieces a year in advance and that the factory, a cell-phone glass manufacturer, makes the eyepieces in two large production runs per year.

if they get all they ordered but make an error guessing what will sell and what won't, they can make changes in the next production but can be out of stock for 6 months to a year.

And they have been.

That was before Covid19.

Now, they have to contend with raw materials shortages, factory shut downs, standing in line to get on a ship IF a cargo container is available, and a shortage of drivers to deliver the container.

Factory to warehouse shelf used to be 3 weeks, but now it can be 3 months.  Add that delay to other delays, and they can only pray their planning department guessed exactly right on product demand.

Most companies saw a 300-400% increase in sales during the pandemic, and though sales have declined since the peak, they aren't back at pre-pandemic levels.

So, shortage of materials, long delays, and increased demand--a perfect storm condition that creates empty shelves.

Is the mobile phone glass manufacturer JOC, Don?

[vagk]

3 hours ago, Don Pensack said:

ES designed 3 other focal lengths in the 92° series several years ago, but they haven't been released.

They told me they've been put on hold due to production scarcity.

I was told by their sales manager that they place orders for eyepieces a year in advance and that the factory, a cell-phone glass manufacturer, makes the eyepieces in two large production runs per year.

if they get all they ordered but make an error guessing what will sell and what won't, they can make changes in the next production but can be out of stock for 6 months to a year.

And they have been.

That was before Covid19.

Now, they have to contend with raw materials shortages, factory shut downs, standing in line to get on a ship IF a cargo container is available, and a shortage of drivers to deliver the container.

Factory to warehouse shelf used to be 3 weeks, but now it can be 3 months.  Add that delay to other delays, and they can only pray their planning department guessed exactly right on product demand.

Most companies saw a 300-400% increase in sales during the pandemic, and though sales have declined since the peak, they aren't back at pre-pandemic levels.

So, shortage of materials, long delays, and increased demand--a perfect storm condition that creates empty shelves.

let's hope they will come back soon. Lack of ES eyepieces started two years ago..

[Don Pensack]

3 hours ago, Zeta Reticulan said:

Is the mobile phone glass manufacturer JOC, Don?

Yes, They produce very very large numbers of glass for phone screens every year.

Also eyepieces, scopes, mounts, etc.

[vagk]

16 hours ago, Don Pensack said:

ES designed 3 other focal lengths in the 92° series several years ago, but they haven't been released.

Do you know the 3 focal lengths and if there is a possibility of making them in the future?

[Louis D]

5 hours ago, vagk said:

Do you know the 3 focal lengths and if there is a possibility of making them in the future?

Here's an old post on CN by Don related to this.  He mentions 22mm, 8.8mm and 6.5mm future focal lengths.  That 22mm would be huge and heavy!

[vagk]

1 hour ago, Louis D said:

That 22mm would be huge and heavy!

Same size and weight as a small refractor 😅