HP & Samsung supply problems

[Ashley_Price]

This is just to give everyone a heads-up about a potential problem for those who use HP or Samsung products:

News has reached me that there is a major problem with the supply of HP and Samsung products (especially ink and toner cartridges, but also printers and other equipment, and even household "white goods"). This is a situation that will affect the supplies industry as a whole.

Samsung and HP used the shipping company, Hanjin, to transport the items via container ships to the relevant hub points around the globe. However, in September, Hanjin filed for bankruptcy, leaving 800 containers containing HP and Samsung products (totalling some $34 million) stuck in different locations, or still on vessels awaiting transportation.

How does this affect you?

Quite simply, this is, of course, a global logistical nightmare and is likely to mean, in the short term, supplies of HP and Samsung products will be hard to get hold of.

While there are stocks of many of the items, these are likely to be depleted over the coming days and weeks. Speaking with one of our suppliers, their "best guess" for when their stocks will be replemished is around the end of October. However, it is possible that the situation could drag on longer until the end of November.

I just wanted to make everyone aware, even if you don't buy from me.

 

[Carl "Excel-Expert" Nixon]

The South Korean government gave the shipping company a £35m loan a few weeks back, so all their ships around the world could be unloaded. This should have freed up all of the containers including HPs and Samsungs.

What happens now is a big question. Will companies like HP be able to find enough alternative container ships to keep stock flowing? That could cause big problems for lots of companies and not just these two.

 

[Ashley_Price]

Will companies like HP be able to find enough alternative container ships to keep stock flowing? That could cause big problems for lots of companies and not just these two.

Very true, but these are the ones we've been warned about by our suppliers. Obviously if I hear any news of other similar firms being affected then I will post it.

But just wanted everyone to be aware of potential problems.

 

[Carl "Excel-Expert" Nixon]

In my own experience, it is not unusual for suppliers and wholesalers to use stories like this to either get sales moving or to jack prices. It generates a sense of urgency when their isnt one.

Many years ago when I was in computer wholesale, any earthquake or political unrest in Japan, China, Korea etc was used by the wholesales to push more product. Maybe different in your industry but it was a fairly standard practice back then (Mid 90's)

 

[Ashley_Price]

t generates a sense of urgency when their isnt one.

My suppliers are out of some of the HP and Samsung products and not going to be able to get new stock until end of October... possibly November.

For my customers this is quite urgent.

 

[Don Smith]

My suppliers are out of some of the HP and Samsung products and not going to be able to get new stock until end of October... possibly November.

For my customers this is quite urgent.

Take the opportunity to flog them alternative hardware, extra sales and customer service = win/win. Basically you should be offering your customers a solution, this is the added value you can give over the likes of Amazon.

 

[Ashley_Price]

Take the opportunity to flog them alternative hardware, extra sales and customer service = win/win. Basically you should be offering your customers a solution, this is the added value you can give over the likes of Amazon.

Already doing this!

We also have a range of compatible cartridges. However, some people will only use the original brand, especially if their printer is within warranty. Or they have bought cheap imitation ones off eBay in the past and have had problems.

 

[marklew]

I don't think they will have a problem finding alternative shipping liners. The sector has massive over capacity and also rates that in many case aren't covering costs, hence why Hanjin went pop. If you've got deep pockets, now is the time to buy a fleet of ships, stick them in cold lay up and wait for the economy to pick up... the only two issues:

• how long will this be?
• do you have a spare couple of hundred million to buy a fleet of ships and cover the costs associated with cold lay up until the rates are back to the level to make it profitable... but there are bargains out there at the moment compared to the prices ships where going for pre-recession