Covid hurt the companies making things in the USA, that's for sure. It is hard to get good raw materials and even harder to train and employ people. I'm not judging any industry to harshly at this point due to the supply chain issues. I have had ambulances on order for over a year and the base truck bodies haven't arrived at the plant yet. I have other vehicles waiting on radios from a very major company. I know Whelen is putting most of their resources into keeping their Police, Fire, EMS and DOT/Tow lines stocked with the items that are most used so no one has a fire or EMS build hung up on a Whelen lighthead. I can't say for sure that's the problem with some of their "budget" or smaller items, but I have noticed that lights aren't the hang up when having ambulances built. I have on the other hand like I mentioned had several builds hung up on two very major radio brands that sent items months late that still weren't right. The one item I sent back to Whelen was replaced immediately, I can't say the same for the radios that arrived damaged "new". I hope Whelen can recover considering there aren't any better alternatives to outfit entire ambulances (my primary use for lights). I also think Whelen should cut some of their less used items from their line and focus on the big picture, but I am no CEO or marketing expert.
