Sandy Bridge Launch Price Gouging?

[Bass]

I have pretty much ordered all the parts for my upcoming Sandy Bridge build except for the CPU, and ideally I want to get the i5 2500K. Now, I didn't really pay attention to the Nehalem launch, but I heard that back then there was some considerable price gouging from day 1. Given that the MSRP of the 2500K is $216, how much markup should I expect?

I hope that it is no more than $20, but I really don't want to wait on buying the CPU just because of the price. I know that there is always MicroCenter, but I live an hour away and am not sure if I could feasibly drive there.

 

[Edrick]

I think all the price gouging has been going on from the retailers who have been selling them early. Once everyone has them on the shelves (Jan 9th) , I would not expect any gouging. Even if they do have a $10-$20 markup, I really don't care since they are so cheap to begin with.

 

[pm]

Bass, what motherboard did you choose?

 

[Bass]

Bass, what motherboard did you choose?

P8P67 Pro, ~$180 shipped. Saw it on SuperBiiz and figured that since the P55 equivalent costs the same on newegg now, I had doubts that I would get a much better price when newegg stocks them.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

someone else here said that microcenter doesnt have deals until a few days after launch. i would wait to buy this to make sure the platform is stable. most people already have way more computer than they need, its getting really hard to justify upgrading

 

[Zap]

someone else here said that microcenter doesnt have deals until a few days after launch.

I'm waiting for Micro Center too. :whiste: Ideally they'll have it for a similar price to their current deals on socket 1156 CPUs. Imagine getting a 2500K for under $200 after tax!

I'd keep my current main rig (Core i7 975X) but I would be thinking about upgrading my wife's rig (Core i5 750) and my LAN party rig (mini ITX Core i5 750).

 

[Castiel]

As much as i want the 2600K i think i might settle for the 2500K. I have no use for Hyperthreading.

 

[nanobreath]

As much as i want the 2600K i think i might settle for the 2500K. I have no use for Hyperthreading.

This is my sentiment now. Originally thought I'd be going for 2600K, but after looking at the reviews, the 2500K is nearly as good. Not really worth a 50% increase in price to go to the 2600K.

As to the OP, generally the price gouging doesn't commence until stock dries up. So if you buy release day on the first stock price is usually MSRP. Markups commence once they run out and know they won't be getting in new shipments fast enough to meet demand. You know, classic supply vs. demand stuff.

 

[Castiel]

This is my sentiment now. Originally thought I'd be going for 2600K, but after looking at the reviews, the 2500K is nearly as good. Not really worth a 50% increase in price to go to the 2600K

Agreed. It'll pretty much run any game smoothly when overclocked past 4.5ghz

 

[Nintendesert]

Looking at some of the benchmarks in the Anand review, the 2500K was actually outperforming the 2600K in gaming and at a lower clock speed.

So getting a 2500K up to the same clockspeed it should perform even better in relation to a 2600K. Not sure exactly why that is though.

Definitely the gamers choice of CPU though.

 

[Bass]

Just saw this link somewhere else:

http://www.neobits.com/intel_bx80623...z_p548448.html

Core i5 2500K for $246 (Not in stock) and Core i5 2300 for $207 (In stock!), both $30 above MSRP. Wonder if this means my fears will come true for the larger e-tailers?

 

[Castiel]

Newegg should have the chips and boards up in a few days. You can already see them in the search bar

 

[nanaki333]

newegg has like an auto-markup system. it's a really nice system. once they sell x number of CPUs, it'll automatically go up $10, then $20, until sold out, then the really high markups begin!

it also works in reverse. i've ordered things and immediately after, i click the link in my confirmation email, and the price has now dropped like $20. my favorite was an ereader that dropped $20 immediately after and included a free leather case minutes after the order.

 

[Castiel]

newegg has like an auto-markup system. it's a really nice system. once they sell x number of CPUs, it'll automatically go up $10, then $20, until sold out, then the really high markups begin!

it also works in reverse. i've ordered things and immediately after, i click the link in my confirmation email, and the price has now dropped like $20. my favorite was an ereader that dropped $20 immediately after and included a free leather case minutes after the order.

I'd be willing to pay up to 250 for a 2500K and 350 for a 2600K

 

[Zap]

Core i5 2500K for $246 (Not in stock) and Core i5 2300 for $207 (In stock!), both $30 above MSRP. Wonder if this means my fears will come true for the larger e-tailers?

Note that the prices quoted in the reviews are NOT the MSRP (AKA "street price"). They are the price Intel charges retailers (AKA "cost") when purchasing them directly from Intel in quantities of 1000 units.

 

[Skott]

I'd be willing to pay up to 250 for a 2500K and 350 for a 2600K

And you probably will if supply cant meet demand in the first week or two. Perhaps even more.

 

[Castiel]

And you probably will if supply cant meet demand in the first week or two. Perhaps even more.

I honestly don't think newegg is going to gouge them. Thinking 229.99 for the 2500K and 339.99 for a 2600K

 

[Stosh68]

I went to the Frys in San Diego last Sunday and casually asked when they were going to start selling the Sandy Bridge chips and boards. The salesman pointed to a stack of various motherboards tucked away on a top shelf from all the usual motherboard vendors. He told me he could sell me a board, but not the CPU. I asked when I could buy the CPU and he stated the official January 9th date, so I asked how soon would they be available in store after the release date and he told me they already have them in stock. Next, I asked him if he had pricing on them and he said yes. I looked over his shoulder while he looked up the 2600k and it was listed at $319.00.

I went back again yesterday and no amount of social engineering on my part could get him to sell me a CPU even though he admitted that some Frys stores had "accidentally" already sold them.

 

[Castiel]

I went to the Frys in San Diego last Sunday and casually asked when they were going to start selling the Sandy Bridge chips and boards. The salesman pointed to a stack of various motherboards tucked away on a top shelf from all the usual motherboard vendors. He told me he could sell me a board, but not the CPU. I asked when I could buy the CPU and he stated the official January 9th date, so I asked how soon would they be available in store after the release date and he told me they already have them in stock. Next, I asked him if he had pricing on them and he said yes. I looked over his shoulder while he looked up the 2600k and it was listed at $319.00.

I went back again yesterday and no amount of social engineering on my part could get him to sell me a CPU even though he admitted them some Frys stores had "accidentally" already sold them.

I used to work for fry's in Tempe and the computer won't allow the sale. I tried many times when the E8500 was to be released

 

[Attic]

I went to the Frys in San Diego last Sunday and casually asked when they were going to start selling the Sandy Bridge chips and boards. The salesman pointed to a stack of various motherboards tucked away on a top shelf from all the usual motherboard vendors. He told me he could sell me a board, but not the CPU. I asked when I could buy the CPU and he stated the official January 9th date, so I asked how soon would they be available in store after the release date and he told me they already have them in stock. Next, I asked him if he had pricing on them and he said yes. I looked over his shoulder while he looked up the 2600k and it was listed at $319.00.

I went back again yesterday and no amount of social engineering on my part could get him to sell me a CPU even though he admitted that some Frys stores had "accidentally" already sold them.

awsome. I tried to get my woodland hills store to sell me one last time I was in there, Dec 28th.

 

[Hogan773]

I went to the Frys in San Diego last Sunday and casually asked when they were going to start selling the Sandy Bridge chips and boards. The salesman pointed to a stack of various motherboards tucked away on a top shelf from all the usual motherboard vendors. He told me he could sell me a board, but not the CPU. I asked when I could buy the CPU and he stated the official January 9th date, so I asked how soon would they be available in store after the release date and he told me they already have them in stock. Next, I asked him if he had pricing on them and he said yes. I looked over his shoulder while he looked up the 2600k and it was listed at $319.00.

I went back again yesterday and no amount of social engineering on my part could get him to sell me a CPU even though he admitted that some Frys stores had "accidentally" already sold them.

$2 of "gouging"

I can live with that

 

[Bass]

A little disappointing that we still need to wait until the 9th, but assuming that the 2500K costs $219 at Fry's, then that would translate to around $235 after tax, which isn't too bad. Even better if Microcenter sells them for even less, but I still hope that newegg or Amazon have them for around that much, as I would rather not drive for 1 hour in my gas guzzling car to get just a single CPU.

 

[src1425]

Micro Center is now advertising the 2500K for $179.99 and the 2600K for $269.99 (after instant in-store discounts), starting 1/9. Newegg better have some sort of sale or I know where I'll be Sunday morning!

 

[Majic 7]

Micro Center is now advertising the 2500K for $179.99 and the 2600K for $269.99 (after instant in-store discounts), starting 1/9. Newegg better have some sort of sale or I know where I'll be Sunday morning!

Didn't need to see that. Sitting here all warm and cozy in my "I'm ok for now cocoon" that just got chinked a little.

 

[sticks435]

Micro Center is now advertising the 2500K for $179.99 and the 2600K for $269.99 (after instant in-store discounts), starting 1/9. Newegg better have some sort of sale or I know where I'll be Sunday morning!

Ummmm you and me both brother. It's a 45 min trip, but I got a friend I'll probably go see sat night and hit the store Sunday.