Do you have a webcam? If your answer is anything but a resounding “yes”, please allow me to offer my condolences. Finding stock webcams has become an exercise in futility for some. Demand for external webcams has skyrocketed during the pandemic and will likely continue for many months. Why is this the case? Well let me explain. Even though the situation has improved somewhat, mainly in the sense that we are no longer subject to strict lockdown measures (for now), webcams have become entrenched in our daily routines and are now considered a fixture. essential. It may seem like a strong statement, but think about it for a second. Whether you're working from home, preparing for back to school, socializing with friends and family, or taking classes online, chances are you need a webcam. Using your phone is fine for quick impromptu calls, and sometimes your laptop's built-in camera can get the job done. But if you want good video and audio quality, and an air of professionalism in any meeting you attend, a webcam is a must. The problem is that manufacturers have never been equipped to deal with this monumental increase in demand. Toilet paper makers were well aware that even though shelves were out of stock for much longer than most of us are comfortable with, in the end, it's easy to print more paper. After all, the demand will still be there for the toilet, and most of the time people tend to buy in bulk. Web cameras, on the other hand, cannot afford to expand manufacturing. First of all, it would be a huge financial risk to produce thousands of webcams, only to have them sit on the shelves once demand finally calms down. Also, manufacturers, especially in the technology sector, have been hit hard by the Covid-19 measures. They found it difficult to restore their usual output levels, which means fewer webcams are produced.
Storage wars
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(Image credit: TechRadar) Shipping is also a factor. Most of the webcams will be exported to the United States or Europe, and the pandemic has caused countless logistical problems in this regard. If factory supply is low, there's no point sending a truck or plane halfway around the world if you only have a hundred webcams. It is an expense that must be carefully balanced. This leads to the situation we find ourselves in now, where demand continues to far outstrip supply. When webcams appear in stock, they are gone in an instant. And those that remain are often paid a premium by resellers. It's a riddle. Unfortunately, it is difficult to predict when this trend will change. As the coronavirus persists, being able to communicate remotely will be critical. Some kids and parents don't know how to get back to school, millions of people are looking for jobs and will have to conduct virtual interviews or rely on a webcam to function effectively. . And if that wasn't enough, there has been a significant increase in the number of people launching video games as a new hobby. Personally, I know that I would have been in dire straits if I hadn't picked up a webcam before the pandemic. Like thousands of others, I have been working remotely for several months now, a challenge that would have been much more difficult without a webcam. The thought of not being able to see, hear and interact with my colleagues would have been difficult to say the least. If you see a webcam in stock, and you've been looking for a while, don't add it to your cart. You never know when you might need it in these uncertain times. See more webcam deals with our roundup of the best cheap webcams, and check out the best webcams: The best options for working from home. Today's best webcam deals - stock checked every 30 minutes: Ausdom AW615 1080P Webcam... PQ Labs Webcam with Tripod... Logitech C310 HD Webcam,... Logitech B525 Foldable... Logitech - Camera web HD C920S Logitech C920 Webcam - 30fps... Back to School 2020 is sure to be different and we're here to walk you through what you'll need. Whether you're actually going back to school or taking remote online lessons, we've put in place a series of step-by-step guides for students, teachers, and parents to make sure you're buying the right technology and accessories.