×

Marshalltown freezer supply runs cold

Appliance Doctor Manager Matt Ellison and summer helper Annie Battles process some requests to fix appliances which have broken down. Calls for repairs have increased since a shortage of appliances began in March.

Freezers are hard to come by these days.

There is a shortage. New freezers are difficult to find in stores and when one does arrive, they do not last long.

Matt Ellison, manager of the Appliance Doctor, said they have been in short supply since March – when the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Shaphan Smith, the manager of Menard’s in Marshalltown, agreed and said the store is utilizing buying power to secure as many units as possible. However, the supply has been sporadic, he said.

“Menard’s receives multiple calls and requests daily,” Smith said. “The unprecedented demand due to the COVID-19 may have caused shortages and supply chain interruptions.”

A fridge with a freezer has a “Sold” sign on it at the Appliance Doctor business in Marshalltown. Freezers are in short supply due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Manager Matt Ellison said people have started buying fridges just to utilize the small freezer space.

Ellison said he believes the shortage is caused by a number of different things. The manufacturers have not been able to get the proper components to build the freezers. He said the Whirlpool plant in Amana has also been closed a couple times this year due to cases of COVID-19 in employees. Ellison said the meat shortage has also caused people to stock up, which means they would need freezer space.

“After people began stockpiling meat, the freezers we did have quickly sold out,” Ellison said. “So, the panicked meat buyers did it, too.”

He said the Appliance Doctor went from having 15 freezers for sale to zero in a week. Getting the number back up has been difficult. Ellison said the freezers have slowly trickled in, but when they arrive, they do not even last 24 hours. The Appliance Doctor receives multiple calls every day from people looking to buy a freezer.

“We have way more calls for them than what we can supply,” he said. “Money doesn’t mean anything if you can’t get what you’re trying to buy.”

Some customers have begun buying refrigerators with freezers so they can utilize the space.

Appliance Doctor Service Tech Loren Davis works on a fridge in the back section of the business. Staff have been putting in extra effort and time to repair freezers and fridges that break down because there is a shortage of new ones.

As a result, service technicians for Appliance Doctor have been doing a lot more freezer repairs.

“We are trying our best to fix as many as possible,” Ellison said.

Ellison said he does recommend that if a freezer is beyond repair, people should ask if friends or family can share some space.

“Ask if there is any space they are not using,” he said. “That is the only suggestion I got.”

In the meantime, the Appliance Doctor has a back order of freezers stretching out to August for some and October for others. However, Ellison said there is a possibility the business could get some back in stock sooner.

Freezers for sale were once stored in the Appliance Doctor on a certain wall, but now it sits empty due to the shortage brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Please take care of what you have,” he said.

Menard’s is also working with suppliers to try to get the number of freezers increased.

“We expect to be in a better stock position by July,” Smith said.

——

Contact Lana Bradstreamat 641-753-6611 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today