Amazon Delays Shipping PC Parts for Weeks; Shop Elsewhere for Now

News
By Matt Safford
last updated

Look to the likes of Newegg or Best Buy to get your components faster.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

As noted at PCMag and on social media, the stated delivery dates on Amazon for many popular PC components like the best AMD and Intel CPUs, motherboards, memory, cases and power supplies have recently gone from the usual handful of days to nearly a month--even for paying Amazon Prime customers accustomed to waiting just a day or two. 

April 21 seems to be a common delivery date at the moment for many PC parts. The same date holds for many other products the company is likely deeming a lower priority as the ecommerce giant juggles the logistics and health concerns around the coronavirus, like books and personal care products. That said, the mix seems to be pretty hit or miss, with some power supply models still showing an arrival time in March, with many others listed as arriving three weeks later.

The good news for those of us who don’t want to wait for our tech is that there are still other companies that specialize in tech, and don’t yet seem to be delaying shipments of PC components and other hardware--at least for now. For example, the Ryzen 7 3700X is currently listed on Amazon as arriving April 21, while the same CPU at Best Buy is currently showing as arriving by Friday, March 27th at my zip code in NJ. The same Ryzen on Newegg shows it as arriving between 3/31 and 4/2. NZXT’s H510 case is also showing as arriving from Amazon on 4/21, while Newegg says it will ship it to you between 3/25 and 3/30--though you’ll have to spend $9.99 on shipping for the case on Newegg. Also, prices of course vary between sellers.

Of course, these dates vary by location, and as should be obvious to everyone at this point, anything could change in a day, or even a few hours. But many of the same PC parts that Amazon says will now take nearly a month to arrive can be ordered from Newegg and Best Buy with free 3-5 day shipping, or even faster for a fee as low as $3.99.

Note that not all PC tech on Amazon is listed as arriving in mid-April. Many monitors, mice and other peripherals are still showing up on the site as shipping by the end of the week. It’s also possible (if not likely) that Amazon is being overly conservative in its delivery dates, and products promised by the third week of April will arrive sooner. I’ve personally witnessed Amazon under-promise and over-deliver on order arrival dates in recent days. But of course things are changing rapidly.

To be fair, as much as we love PC parts, Amazon sells plenty of products that should probably take precedence over your new SSD or graphics card, as should the health and wellbeing of Amazon’s workers. Just know that if you really want that new upgrade or missing piece for your new build to arrive soon, skipping Amazon for the likes of Best Buy or Newegg will likely be a more expedient -- and speedier -- alternative for now. 

Matt Safford
Matt Safford

After a rough start with the Mattel Aquarius as a child, Matt built his first PC in the late 1990s and ventured into mild PC modding in the early 2000s. He’s spent the last 15 years covering emerging technology for Smithsonian, Popular Science, and Consumer Reports, while testing components and PCs for Computer Shopper, PCMag and Digital Trends.

55 Comments Comment from the forums
  • redgarl
    WUT???!


    To Our Valued Customers,

    At Newegg, we’re closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation and working tirelessly to serve the needs of businesses and individuals who are quickly adapting to new ways of life as we all pull together to curtail this outbreak. In response to the virus, we’ve implemented updated best practices in our workplace to help ensure the health and safety of our employees and customers.

    Putting our Employees and Customers First
    In accordance with California’s recent statewide stay-at-home order, most employees in our Los Angeles area headquarters are now working from home. We have temporarily limited on-site business operations to essential staff in our warehouses to ensure fulfilment and delivery of customer orders with minimal interruption, especially those relying on Newegg to deliver household staples, medical supplies and other necessities. These essential employees adhere to recommended hygiene and social distancing practices, and we’ve increased janitorial services to preserve a clean, healthy work environment.

    These precautions are designed to ensure customer orders are picked, packed and shipped by healthy employees. Once a package leaves our warehouse, it’s entrusted to one of our shipping partners. A large percentage of these orders are delivered via UPS or the US Postal Service, both of which are taking steps to ensure the health of their employees and safe parcel delivery. UPS published its COVID-19 response here, while the USPS is following guidelines published by the CDC. Newegg and its fulfilment partners are pulling together to deliver the highest, healthiest level of service to our customers.

    Fair Pricing Commitment
    Newegg is committed to fair pricing. If you suspect a product is priced dramatically higher than it should be, please let us know so we can investigate and fix the problem. Supply chain fluctuations and big swings in consumer demand are placing unprecedented pressure on the e-commerce system as a whole, and we’re grateful to you – our loyal customers – for helping to ensure pricing remains fair, especially during trying times like these.

    Supplying the Remote Workforce
    More employees than ever before are working from home – some by choice, others out of necessity. We recently launched a Work From Home portal in response to the sharp, recent increase in searches for products such as webcams, laptop computers and other products suited to remote work. Newegg will continue to monitor product category searches to ensure the selection of products available evolves with customer demand.

    Looking Ahead
    The COVID-19 situation remains fluid, and Newegg is committed to helping customers manage through this difficult time. We will continue to monitor and respond to federal, state and local health authorities to protect our employees and serve our customers safely, and with minimal disruption.

    Sincerely,

    Anthony Chow
    Chief Executive Officer, Newegg Inc.
    Reply
  • shrapnel_indie
    Best Buy To Our Customers,

    Across the country these past several days, you have come to our stores to buy the technology and household necessities that are so valuable at a time like this. We remain determined to continue to serve you and are announcing today a new way of making our stores accessible while even further enhancing customer and employee safety.

    In our stores

    Beginning Sunday, March 22, we will offer contactless curbside service at all locations across the country where state or local laws allow. Rather than ask you to come into our stores, any items you order on BestBuy.com or the Best Buy app will be delivered to your car curbside. If, for any reason, you didn't order the product in advance and the product is in stock in the store, one of our employees will be more than happy to go get it in the store and sell it to you while you remain in your car. This service also extends to returns and exchanges, the period for which has been extended on most products so that you have more time. Only employees will be allowed in the store, but we are determined to serve you as fully as we can. Unfortunately, we are temporarily unable to continue our product trade-in and recycling services.

    For those who want to continue shopping with us online or on the app, we will, of course, still get you what you want.

    In your home

    As you know, Best Buy works in millions of customer homes each year, and we have long been proud of the services we provide. Because of the increased concern for you, your families and our employees, we have made the decision to suspend currently scheduled installations, haul-aways or repairs for large items like refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers and TVs.

    Beginning Monday, March 23, we will no longer deliver these large products into your home and will, instead, offer free doorstep delivery. This means we will take the item as close as we possibly can to the front door of your home without bringing it inside. We know that this change will be inconvenient, and we are truly sorry. It was made with our employees' and your best interests at heart. If you have an order scheduled for installation in the next 30 days, please expect an email or text from Best Buy about your delivery options.

    Employees

    Speaking of our employees, everyone working right now is doing so on a voluntary basis, and all hourly employees who volunteer are receiving a temporary pay increase. Additionally, anyone feeling sick is told to stay home, and they will be paid for that time. Finally, anyone exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 is also told to stay home, with pay, and we are paying employees who may need to stay home to care for their children.

    All of us at Best Buy are grateful that so many states and localities believe we are an essential business, allowing us to continue to serve you when you need it most. We thank you for your patience and loyalty and look forward to continuing to provide you with the technology and home essentials you require to stay connected and work and learn from home. Thank you.
    Reply
  • NewJohnny
    I'm sure I'm not alone in having to build a new workstation for working from home. This is the worst time to lower priority on this. If I can't get a decent pc soon, I can't work.
    Reply
  • closs.sebastien
    when 1 milliard of people are locked down and trying to work remotely, amazon cut any possibilities of computers-repairs.. Other products take precedence, this I can easily understand, but repair-parts for computer may be also important too. not 1st important, but more important than 70% of other products.
    Reply
  • PapaCrazy
    Not just computer parts, my new spatula set is delayed. How am I supposed to cook for myself in the armageddon if I can't scoop batter efficiently?
    Reply
  • spdragoo
    Micro Center’s Response to COVID-1903/21 UPDATESWe are limiting the number of customers in our stores to ensure proper social distancing.
    We have implemented a waitlist for entering the store to eliminate crowding or lines at the entrance. You may return to your vehicle or maintain proper distancing from the entrance and other customers.
    At this time, we are limiting payment options to credit cards/debit-enabled cards, and A/R accounts to minimize physical contact.Coming soon; We will have a medical assistant available to ensure the health of our associates when arriving for work.Here at Micro Center, we are dedicated to supporting our families and communities through this critical time. As we navigate this crisis, we have already taken several actions to ensure the safety of our associates, customers and their families. We are following CDC guidelines as well as implementing new policies and procedures as this matter at hand evolves. We whole heartedly believe it is crucial for us to serve and support our communities, while keeping health and safety at our core focus. Please continue reading to learn more about our response to COVID-19.
    March 19, 2020
    A Letter from our CEO, Rick Mershad
    How Micro Center is making efforts in response to COVID-19FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

    What measures is Micro Center taking to protect associates and customers during this time?    We are limiting the number of customers in our stores to ensure proper social distancing.
    We have implemented a waitlist for entering the store to eliminate crowding or lines at the entrance. You may return to your vehicle or maintain proper distancing from the entrance and other customers.
    At this time, we are limiting payment options to credit cards/debit-enabled cards, and A/R accounts to minimize physical contact.Coming soon; We will have a medical assistant available to ensure the health of our associates when arriving for work.
    A greeter will be designated at all Micro Center locations to ensure customers’ and associates’ safety and to provide disinfectant for carts to comply with CDC guidelines. The greeter will also remind customers to keep the recommended 6 feet distance from other customers and associates.
    Our service department will be providing a sanitation area to disinfect incoming service items as well as taking our precautions in following CDC guidelines to sanitize units as they come in.
    Paper towels and disinfectants have been distributed for use throughout stores and home offices. We are allowing and working to provide the use of gloves and protective masks as well.
    Associates are frequently disinfecting the checkout area to maintain customer and associate cleanliness. We are in the progress of adding markings to checkout lines noting 6ft distances between customers. We are asking both our associates and customers to please be mindful of their distance to others while in-store.
    We are adjusting our store hours to allow for expanded cleaning procedures to take place and for more time to restock the products you and the other essential businesses need.
    We are limiting the amount of service staff that are working at one time. Until further notice, our service and repair check-in process will be expedited, and we will not be providing our extended tech support consultations.What options is Micro Center providing to their associates regarding time off?If any associate feels uncomfortable coming to work, they will be allowed to stay home.
    We have waived our attendance policy until further notice.
    We are providing quarantine pay and confirmed diagnosis pay in addition to regular paid time off, and leaves of absence.
    In an effort to show our extreme gratitude, we are investing $1,000,000 in our associates that work with us through this challenging and uncertain time.Are stores open, and have changes been made to operating hours?We have implemented the following changes to our hours. Please be aware that these may change. We encourage customers to review your local store info page for any changes.
    Retail store locations: Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    Tech Support: Monday – Friday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
    Micro Center Online: Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday Closed
    Changes to store hours will continue to be posted at the top of each webpage. Please be sure to have your store location selected.Our store locations are currently operating in accordance with local mandates and curfews. Please check back often for updates.
    In-store clinics are temporarily suspended. Please check back for updates.To assist with the unprecedentedly high volume of calls, we encourage our customers to reach out to us via our additional resources:
    Text – You can now text your local store at their listed number
    Chat – Our chat is available on our site located at the bottom right corner
    Forums – Our forums have a plethora of information immediately at your fingertips! Representatives and our community are more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
    Social – Our social team is eager to assist via Instagram, Facebook, and TwitterIs in-store pick up currently available?Yes, our in-store pickup services are available. We recommend you take advantage of this feature. The in-store pickup process encourages the CDCs recommendation of social distancing for the safety of our customers.
    We are currently experiencing a high volume of orders. We ask for patience while associates are working to fulfill all orders as quickly and timely as possible.
    Orders placed after 6 p.m. will be processed the following day. This guideline is to allow associates to fulfill all current orders and to comply with curfew regulations.When will a specific item be restocked?Regularly! Our team is working hard with our vendors and suppliers to restock as quickly as possible. We understand the dire need for products to learn, work remotely, and support our healthcare community during these ever-changing conditions.
    Please note due to the high demand for computers and monitors we have a temporary limit of 5 per customer. We want to ensure all of our great customers have access to this much-needed product and appreciate the understanding at this time.Micro Center is committed to working with federal, state and local authorities to ensure the safety of our associates and customers.Please continue to check our page for the most recent updates as this crisis evolv
    Reply
  • digitalgriffin
    I need 6tb drives for my unraid nas backups of family photos and movies as well as my ai research code and papers.

    Im not near microcenter except for an hour drive each way.

    And newegg is only offering 3rd party sellers for wd red drives. And considering new egg is owned by china, f em.
    Reply
  • King_V
    digitalgriffin said:
    And considering new egg is owned by china, f em.

    I've seen that claim elsewhere, but it's not true.

    In 2016, Liaison Interactive, a Chinese technology company, acquired a majority stake in Newegg in an investment deal.

    Majority stake by a Chinese technology company isn't even close to "owned by China."
    Reply
  • digitalgriffin
    King_V said:
    I've seen that claim elsewhere, but it's not true.



    Majority stake by a Chinese technology company isn't even close to "owned by China."

    "Owned by china", "majority stake by Chinese technology", makes no difference to me. China's gov't and some of China's businesses stab us every chance they get, and in a cowardly, covert way. They do it through industrial sabotage, monetary manipulation based policy, political smearing and more.

    For example: China for years fed misinformation into Africa about how the USA generated AIDS to get rid of black people. Why? Because China wanted access to resources and customers in Africa and wanted to eliminate competition.

    This whole COVID-19 blaming the US for their problems is just proof of how ugly they really are when it comes to world affairs. So I make a point not to support them when I can avoid it.

    The sooner we get off China's teet the better. We should have never put them in a position where they manufacture the majority of our anti biotics. That was just stupid on our part, as it gives them leverage during an outbreak like this. (And they have threatened to hold back vital meds)

    So like I said, "F-em"

    Any way, I ordered from Amazon. I'll wait a month and power down my NAS backup until then.
    Reply
  • drivinfast247
    It would seem Corsair.com is no longer available and accepting orders. I placed an order 2 days ago and no conformation email was received yet money was taken from my account. Still no email of any kind but the money has been returned.
    Reply