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'Outlet' RAM sold in Japan as new with huge markups, scuffed packaging — Crucial DDR5-5600 64GB kit commands $600 overseas as AI shortage bites
It's interesting to see that it's not only the best RAM that's become pricier these days. As pointed out by hardware enthusiast momomo_us, even memory kits sold through outlet channels still carry a notable retailer markup. For example, the Crucial Pro DDR5-5600 C46 64GB (2x32GB), which costs $507.99 in the U.S., is available in Japan for $602.74, taxes included.
Products available in the outlet channel usually come at a discounted price because they often include items with slightly damaged packaging, returned products, or things that are a bit outdated. However, that's not and will never be the case for memory. In today's market, where consumer memory is scarce, retailers are doing their best to make the most of every memory kit. Sometimes it means selling outlet memory kits at the same exorbitant prices as new ones, since there’s little room for consumer sympathy in a tight market.
Take a look at the Crucial Pro DDR5-5600 C46 64GB (CP2K32G56C46U5) memory kit that's available at Japanese retailer Sofmap. Even though it's labeled as an outlet item, this memory kit costs $602.74, or $547.58 before taxes. That's about 8% more than what you'd pay in the U.S. market. If you feel U.S. consumers face high prices, let's consider how paying an extra 8% for an outlet memory kit might feel.
In Sofmap's defense, the memory kit is new and works perfectly; only the packaging might have some scuffs, scratches, or be slightly torn. Since Micron has pulled out of the consumer market, Crucial products now have some collector appeal, which makes retailers even less inclined to change prices.
Before the memory shortage, Crucial's 64GB memory kit used to sell for about $134.99, but the price has shot up by 3.7 times in just a few months. Keep in mind that's in the retail market. Over on eBay, memory scalpers are asking as much as $1,067.45—more than twice the retail price. It’s quite a rollercoaster in the market right now.
When it comes to DDR5-5600 with timings like C46-45-45, this 64GB memory kit isn't the fastest out there. Still, DDR5-5600 is easy to run on any modern processor, whether you're using an Intel or AMD processor. Plus, it supports Intel XMP 3.0 and AMD EXPO, making setup quick and simple. But is the Crucial Pro DDR5-5600 C46 64GB worth paying $507.99? That's a personal choice only you can make. With the holiday season just around the corner, we're likely to see some good RAM deals, even if they might be few and far between.
Zhiye Liu is a news editor, memory reviewer, and SSD tester at Tom’s Hardware. Although he loves everything that’s hardware, he has a soft spot for CPUs, GPUs, and RAM.
