You already know that hardware prices are skyrocketing around the globe. RAM and SSD storage components, for example, have been in plenty of headlines. The upshot at SiteHost is that Dedicated Servers are getting more expensive, bespoke server builds are off the table, and we’re being flexible with some of the gear that we assemble for ourselves. It’s never nice when we have to share pain with our customers, but there’s no alternative. Sorry.
Recently we wrote that when it comes to procurement we’re doing what we can, and we’re in a better spot than some other companies. But it’s still not exactly comfortable. The shortage is more serious now than it was when we first wrote about it in January.
It’s time to be decisive. If you intend to buy a new Dedicated Server or upgrade any hardware soon, our sincere advice is to do it now.
There’s a bit of panic out there amongst some of the buyers we’re competing against. Some supply lines have effectively dried up. Even though we’re a regular shopper and always keep a close eye on these things, we’ve seen some high prices that have truly surprised us. For customers asking us for quotes—people who are aware that something bad is happening but not exactly how bad it is—the shock has been even worse.
And there’s no quick end to any of this in sight.
Looking for a Dedicated Server? Act sooner, not later
We’re updating our Dedicated Server prices much more often than we were in the past. In a sign of the times, we can now only promise that the prices on our website are “indicative”. This isn’t the way that we’d like to operate, but it’s the reality that we are in. Again, we’re sorry. The sooner you click “Order Now”, the more likely you are to lock in the price that you see.
Things are moving so fast that when we write up quotes for customers now, they are only valid for 5 working days. That’s partly because prices could go up again at any time, and partly because if we need to order anything in, we need to move fast.
So it’s time to be decisive. If you intend to buy a new Dedicated Server or upgrade any hardware soon, our sincere advice is to do it now. Yesterday would be ideal, but today is your next best option.
Also, be prepared to buy “off the shelf”. We’ve had to reluctantly stop offering bespoke builds for Dedicated Servers. Ordering in small numbers of particular components as and when we want them? That’s just not how hardware suppliers work anymore.
We’ll keep being straight up with you
It’s become clear to us that while general awareness of a hardware shortage is high, there’s less appreciation of exactly how bad things are. We don’t enjoy giving you sticker shock, so we will keep blogging and posting about our observations and experiences here in between commercial hardware suppliers and end users like you.
We won’t sugarcoat the news while it’s bad, and when improvements come downstream we’ll share the good news. Until then though, please understand that as shocking today’s prices are, this is going to get worse before it gets better.