PC vendors set date for price spike

A-brands' UK cost structure has increased in recent months, prompting the price rise

The majority of A-brands PC vendors will hoist their prices through distribution on 1 April or 1 May, with increases set to vary from five to 15 per cent.

As revealed by ChannelWeb, the recent depreciation of the pound against the dollar and spike in memory prices forced the likes of HP, Toshiba, Fujitsu and Sony Vaio to re-examine their trade pricing structures.

Distributors have now received official word from a number of A-brands on the timing and severity of the increases.

Mark Glasspool, general manager for PC Systems at Computer 2000, said the majority of the broadliner’s vendors had confirmed they will increase prices on their current ranges on those two dates or as they change ranges.

“We have received some form of communication from all of the brands we carry over the last ten days,” he said.

While most commercial product prices will rise on 1 April, the spike in most consumer units will not occur until a month later, Glasspool said. The increase could vary from anywhere between five and 15 per cent depending on the specification, he added.

Glasspool said Computer 2000 would strive to help “soften the blow” for resellers working on special bids for after those dates.

He added: “If resellers are able to take inventory at the end of March or the end of April this would be a good way of securing themselves against any price rises.”