Mangaluru: Dealers in Mangaluru are grappling with dwindling stocks and a shift towards refurbished products amid reports of another increase in computer and IT hardware prices this month.Ravi Bhat, former secretary of the Mangalore IT Dealers Association, said hardware prices have risen steadily since Jan, and the anticipated fresh hike is expected to put further pressure on the market.“Stocks are extremely low. Dealers must place orders and wait a long time, leaving customers with little choice but to select from whatever is available,” he said.Bhat, who handles bulk computer orders, said frequent price fluctuations have made it difficult for dealers to participate in government tenders floated through the Govt e-Marketplace (GeM).“We are required to keep quoted prices valid for up to 90 days, but hardware prices change every 15 days. With margins of just 2% to 5%, it is impossible to absorb the difference,” he said.Bhat said he had to withdraw from a major project because supplying equipment at the quoted price would have resulted in losses.Nagendra Prabhu of Suprabhata Computers said a laptop priced at Rs 38,500 until July 31 now costs Rs 42,000.The increase has prompted many customers, including corporate buyers, to opt for refurbished systems, he said.Prabhu also pointed to growing demand for laptops on monthly rent. Large distributors have entered the segment, offering certified refurbished devices with warranties of up to three years.“Refurbished systems cost nearly half as much as new ones. The availability of warranties has given customers greater confidence to choose them,” a dealer said.Another dealer said overall business had not declined but had shifted towards refurbished devices and rental models.An industry expert said IT dealers across the city were reporting significant growth in the refurbished segment.
