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    Price increase on HDDs?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by JabbaJabba, Jan 29, 2008.

  1. JabbaJabba

    JabbaJabba ThinkPad Facilitator

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    I recently noticed some significant price increases on i.e. the Hitachi TravelStar 7K200 200GB hard drive (jumped about 30-40$ US) from last week to this week, instead of declining. This was observed in a few European countries.

    Also some of the external HDDs such as the 3.5" Seagate FreeAgent and the Maxtor Onetouch 4 have appreciated slightly in price rather than follow the usual declining trend.

    Has anyone noticed the same thing in the US? And does anyone know the cause? Material cost increases, high demand/low supply, production issues?
     
    JabbaJabba, Jan 29, 2008
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  2. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    I keep up with technology news and I have not read anything about increasing material costs or supply problems regarding hard drives. It's odd that the prices are going up (according to what you are saying) though, since Q1 is typically a period of declining sales vs. Q4. It has been so far this year.

    I wouldn't think too much of it.
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Jan 29, 2008
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  3. JabbaJabba

    JabbaJabba ThinkPad Facilitator

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    Thanks Chaz.

    I'm about to buy the 7K200 200GB drive along with 2 x 500GB Maxtor Onetouch 4 external drives. Had I pulled the trigger last week the total would be about 80$ US less than this week. Just wondering why the prices just started going up again, instead of down. But it seems it is just a local issue.
     
    JabbaJabba, Jan 29, 2008
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  4. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    Is the 7k200 made in China?

    Perhaps it's due to the Chinese New Year holidays when many factories close for several weeks. This year the situation is made worse by the weather, which is causing transport and power problems.

    Stocks of anything made in China may run down during the next few weeks so the basic rules of supply and demand suggest that prices may temporarily go up.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Jan 29, 2008
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  5. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

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    Hitachi makes all of their harddrives in Thailand. They do not have any plants in China.

    K-TRON
     
    K-TRON, Jan 29, 2008
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  6. JabbaJabba

    JabbaJabba ThinkPad Facilitator

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    Interesting theory John. Never thought of that. I do however remember that during Chinese New Year all the sales charts at my former employer, plummeted in China and to a certain degree also in a select few Asian markets.


    Thanks for the info. In the spirit of John's theory, they also celebrate Chinese New Year in Thailand, though not even close to the same extent as in China.
     
    JabbaJabba, Jan 30, 2008
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