LAST LAUGH

LAST LAUGH YOU WANT IT? YOU CAN’T HAVE IT

5 ITEMS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IN 2022

By riCHarD posLuszny

Probably the understatement of the decade is: “We’re living in challenging, complex times.” It’s certainly correct but it’s underselling what’s been an interesting decade, to say the least.

Fast forward to 2020. A pandemic swept the globe. And when things seemingly turned around, we were hit with another wave that, arguably, yielded a more significant impact. Rinse and repeat. A few more times.

At the time of this writing, it’s yet to be determined whether more COVID-19 mutations will deliver systemic repercussions.

Adding to that, there’s been another lasting effect from the pandemic. As industrial operations abroad ceased, or workforces were limited, we’ve been dealing with supply shortages for key components (e.g., microchips). And the hits just keep on coming. Inflation is rising. In fact, the United States’ inflation rate is the highest it’s been in 40 years.

See what I mean, now?

All of the aforementioned — and even more factors — has created a supply squeeze. Goods are becoming harder to acquire. That said, I figured it’d be wise to cultivate a small list (in no particular order, mind you) of the hardest items to acquire so that we level set our 2022 expectations. Buckle up; it’s about to get bumpy.

1Leading off our list is an automobile. But, it’s not just any other vehicle. It’s the all-new Ford Bronco. Since I began covering the automotive sector over 13 years ago, there’s only been two autos that captured universal interest.

First, the Tesla Model 3. Second, the all-new Bronco.

If serious buyer interest from all walks of life wasn’t enough, compounding this Ford’s hard-to-get factor is how long it took the blue oval to get this product to market. Not only had people been waiting years for this truck to make its debut, additionally, when the first batches arrived this past summer, a massive recall was announced. All of the Bronco’s hardtop roofs had to get replaced. This meant thousands of these trucks were parked waiting for the appropriate parts to be produced.

Now they’re starting to appear in our local neighborhoods and if you want to get one — and you weren’t on the list — get ready to cough up some serious bucks. Mark ups can be anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000 over the Bronco’s sticker price.

2If there was a silver lining in the real-life horror show that was the first couple waves of COVID, it was this: If you were brave enough to travel, you were going to do so effortlessly. That’s because as the pandemic raged on and there were many unknowns about the virus, flights ground to a halt.

Forget the long lines at the TSA checkpoints. You were able to breeze through security and get to your gate in ghost-town-like airports. And, once aboard, it was barren.

As one would expect, had they taken an Economics 101 class, this resulted in the airlines reducing headcount and their respective overhead.

Fast forward to present day. Catching an empty flight is an impossibility. As the airlines struggle to rehire their teams and keep their active crews healthy and not burnt out, the number of flights between routes has diminished. Additionally, today’s leading airlines are leveraging the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive analytics to determine how to maximize occupancy per flight.

wasn’t surprised to board flights that were packed to the hilt. Travel is back in full swing, so, don’t be surprised if you get hit over the head with cancellations or delays — assuming it isn’t a disgruntled passenger who was told to put on a mask.

Due to this, the guy who takes off their shoes and socks then goes into the bathroom at 35,000 feet isn’t the worse thing about flying any longer.

3If you’ve been waiting to acquire a special timepiece, well, you’re just going to have to wait longer. That’s if you don’t want to lose your shirt when it comes time to pay up. Right now, the hardest watches to acquire come from a very well-known brand, Rolex.

This isn’t news to you if you’ve been trying to buy a Daytona — they were in short supply before COVID kicked off. But now, it’s an all-new ball game. That’s because any Rolex sport watch in stainless steel is non-existent.

As I would advise anyone making a serious purchase, it’s important to do your research. In the watch world, and more specifically Rolex, this means that it’s an imperative to make your purchase from an authorized dealer (AD). And, when the day comes to pick it up, it’s important that you receive the Rolex box plus all the appropriate paperwork from the factory. If you care about maximizing the value of your Rolex for a potential sale down the road, these things matter.

The box and papers are not always guaranteed if you’re purchasing a timepiece on the second-hand market where it’s common to see these details go missing. Also, it’s likely you’ll see price increases that are multiples higher than the actual retail price.

NOTE: Friends don’t let friends pay more than retail for their Rolex.

4Moving into a new home is one of the most exciting, and downright frustrating, things you can do. Change is good, right? Having recently completed a move with my better half, I can confirm that all of the aforementioned is true.

There’s just one thing you’ll need to be mindful of, especially if you’re relocating to a larger space: Furniture is extremely difficult to come by. This, of course, is made even more troublesome if you are particular and have an eye for design.

While my significant other and I were trying to find investment-grade pieces for our new abode, we were taken aback by just how many items were unattainable for up to 12 months. And, here’s the kicker: When I discussed this with family, friends, co-workers and other folks, they all noted that’s only the start.

In most cases these are estimates.

I learned this firsthand as several of our purchases were delayed from their original delivery dates. Adding insult to injury, some of our items arrived damaged. So, we had to start the clock. Again. In fact, I am still awaiting two tables. Any day now, guys!

5It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that I will wrap up this list the same way I started. With a vehicle. And, you may notice a theme here.

Rugged is in.

The hottest vehicles today are big, burly and likely boast some form of luxury. Perhaps that’s the sheer volume of space or jaw-dropping technology. In some cases, it’s the auto’s ability to traverse virtually any terrain. Now with the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, you get all of those things. Released in 2019 with significant revisions, this iconic sport-utility vehicle is the best it’s ever been. Frankly, it’s night and day compared to the previous-generation G.

Dating back to a pre-COVID world, this excitement made the Geländewagen a hot commodity. A dear friend of mine got his hands on one. It just took two years.

Now? Forget about it.

Having said that, you can pick one up on the used market. They’re just astronomically priced. For example, the standard 2019 G550, with some mileage, may cost anywhere from $150,000-175,000. But, if you’re looking for more and need the G63 AMG variant, get ready to plop down anywhere from $200,000-300,000. Mind you that’s in dollars, not pesos or rubles.