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Dear Customers,
As our thoughts and well wishes go out to the people of Thailand who endured the flooding disaster last year, PC Connection would also like to share with you the latest information we have in the midst of this industry-wide crisis.
Last year’s flooding in Thailand disabled a significant portion of the world’s production of some technology components, including hard disk drives and semiconductors. With Thailand being one of the world’s largest exporters of hard disk drives and home to many manufacturing plants, supplies are likely to be constrained well into 2012. Manufacturers have been working diligently to ensure a smooth return to normalcy in respect to allocation and pricing. These efforts have translated to advancements in production and distribution of hard drives to our wholesales partners and resellers like PC Connection.
We are dedicated to minimizing disruption within your business and will work with you to resolve any potential challenges that may occur. Here are some answers to Frequently Asked Questions. In addition, please do not hesitate to contact your Account Manager for the latest information.
Kind regards,
PC Connection, Inc.
Q: Which products are affected by the Thailand flooding?
A: Although this disaster has ultimately affected the supply chain of most PC components, hard drives have seen the greatest impact. Among hard drive categories, we are currently seeing a stronger supply in desktop drives. Enterprise drives are still a challenge and will likely be freeing up in Q2. Business critical, 7200 RPM drives continue to be in short supply.
Q: Can I still order hard drives?
A: Yes, although deliveries cannot be guaranteed.
Q: What about pricing?
A: Even though pricing is not yet back to pre-flooding levels, we are seeing pricing stabilize and, in some cases, drop.
Q: When will prices and availability return to normal?
A: The expectation is to see pricing be back to pre-flooding levels by the end of calendar year 2012.
Q: I am loyal to certain brands. Are there other manufacturers that offer the same thing if what I want is out of stock?
A: Yes, in most cases. There is quite a bit of redundancy from one brand to another. Your Account Manager can help you migrate to another brand if it is available.
Q: Are there good alternatives to hard drives?
A: Solid-State Drives (SSDs) offer benefits such as faster speeds and increased stability. In addition, optical drives and flash memory are options worth exploring. Contact your Account Manager for SSD, optical drive, and flash memory options.
Q: I buy Network Attached Storage for my business. Will this supply be affected?
A: Yes, but the supply we are seeing is much stronger than originally anticipated. If you cannot find what you are looking for with your usual manufacturer, give us a call for recommendations. We likely have the style and configuration you are looking for.
Q: How will the flooding in Thailand affect desktops and notebooks?
A: Due to the hard drive shortage, we are experiencing price fluctuations on desktops and notebooks. In addition, inventory is restricted. Please contact your Account Manager for current pricing and availability.