Shortage of laptop key components, courtesy lockdowns

Vijay C Roy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 6

Planning to get your laptop or desktop PC repaired? You may end up paying more as the prices of key components have increased by 40-60% in the past 15 days. The region is witnessing a shortage of key components such as screen, SSD, hard drive and RAM. According to the industry, there is a supply chain disruption because of the lockdown in Mumbai and Delhi and prices are changing on a daily basis.

“We are facing back-end issues regarding the supply of key components as most of these come from Delhi or Mumbai. As there is lockdown in these two cities, it is difficult to source such components. On an average, the prices of key components have increased by 40-60% in the past 15 days,” said Arun Kumar, a sales executive working with Chandigarh-based accessories dealer.

Repair becomes dearer

We are facing back-end issues regarding supply of key components as most of these come from Delhi or Mumbai. As there is a lockdown in these two cities, it is difficult to source such components. —Arun Kumar, Sales executive

“A high definition screen, which used to cost Rs 3,500 a fortnight ago, is now selling at Rs 5,500,” said a technician. Insiders say many dealers’ representatives in metros are complaining about delay in hardware shipments as most of them are imported from China.

With work from home and online classes becoming new norms, there is a significant demand for old and new laptops. The sudden spurt in demand has also expanded the second-hand laptop/desktop market.