Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion HiFi & HT Chat Inflated Hard Drive Prices

I was surprised to discover that the price of hard drives has sky-rocketed over recent weeks - a 500Gb Seagate drive that would have cost around �30 is now typically around �90.

The cause is due, apparently, to the Thailand floods.

I wonder if this market-driven situation will eventually be reflected by an increase in price for Meridian Sooloos products?

Probably now �900 instead of �300.

Some retailers are dealing with it in different ways - possibly depending on where in the queue they are. Unfortunately the problem is affecting the brand of hard drives that I would normally select (WD and Seagate) a bit harder than some others.

Apparently the issue is expecting to take quite some time before it sorts itself out - I did hear at least 6 months. So I thought about getting another drive to dedicate to my Mac but a casual conversation with one retailer would indicate that prices have already doubled for some products even though they are on same stock.

If solid state drives are not affected, maybe they will get a foothold.

Yep, things over here in Thailand are still pretty messy : the only press anyone really sees is about Bangkok, but some areas - including major industrial parks - have been under 2m to 3m of water for over 2 months now....
It hasn't really rained for about 2 weeks, so levels are receding, but expect many major factories to be out of action for at least another 6 months, or perhaps abandoned completely & rebuilt elsewhere.
Greetings from The Land of Smiles !

I read about a Nikon factory that was under 2m of water initially and now that's only receded 40cm.
Production closed until January and expecting to get back to full capacity by March.

We manufacture part of the hard drive for Seagate in Bangkok (about 30000 pcs per month)and we have been down for more than a month. We will be lucky if we can get back in production by early next year. My nephew took a boat ride (yes a boat ride) to my house yesterday and sent me some pictures showing the receding water line - ouch. I rescheduled my next visit until late January. For me it is an inconvenience but for some it is a trajedy.

Gary