Appliance delays irk builders

Builders are complaining about an appliance shortage, saying final signoff and handover of new homes is being delayed.

One national builder said kitchen appliances were in extremely short supply, particularly popular Fisher & Paykel ovens, stovetops and rangehoods. “We have to wait months,” that executive said. “We’re switching to other brands as a result.”

This has meant delays in settling some new house purchases, said the builder, who did not want to be named.

Fisher & Paykel spokesman Andrew Luxmoore said it was doing all it could to fill rising orders.

“We’re currently seeing a huge demand for Fisher & Paykel products,” he said. “It’s a demand we’re working hard to fill, with our manufacturing facilities around the globe running at record levels.

“With that surge in demand across much of the appliance and electronics industry comes constraints on components and longer wait times to source the parts we need. Add to this the strains being faced by ports across Asia-Pacific with high shipping volumes from all industries leading to significant delays, and it’s a complicated puzzle we need to solve.”

The shortage was hitting all manufacturers, not just F&P, said Luxmoore. Fisher & Paykel appliances are made in China, Italy, Thailand and Mexico.

One builder said he was forced to abandon plans for a full suite of Fisher & Paykel appliances in a new house because of the long delivery time.

“Containers bound for New Zealand, full of all sorts of goods, are just being offloaded in places like Los Angeles and Kiwis are being told ‘you guys take it from there. It’s not worth it for us to get it all the way down there’,” the builder said.

“I’m starting to see comments on social media websites in the sector saying if you have not booked in 2021 orders, make sure you have an alternative.”

Timber prices are also picked to rise in the New Year because of a supply shortage.

Bruce McEwen, chief executive of distribution for Fletcher Building, which owns the Placemakers chain, said timber supply volume was well down and although products were available now, reserves were short.

Bunnings chief executive Jacqui Coombes said demand for decking timber in particular had temporarily exceeded supply at some highervolume stores, but suppliers were supporting Bunnings with fresh stock every week.