Opening the year up, ASUS USA has published an announcement with regards particular to GPU and motherboards pricing. As of this moment, ASUS motherboards and GPU prices will be increased to a certain amount. This is primarily due to logistics, components and operational costs increase. ASUS has reportedly worked closely with their solutions partners to minimize price increases but pricing on retail partners like Newegg and Amazon tells us that is impossible, as we see pricing increase in there, too.
Juan Jose Guerrero III (JJ), ASUS’ Technical Product Marketing Manager states the following:
Update regarding MSRP pricing for ASUS components in 2021.This update applies to graphics cards and motherboards* We have an announcement in regards to MSRP price changes that are effective in early 2021 for our award-winning series of graphic cards and motherboards. Our new MSRP reflects increases in cost for components. operating costs, and logistical activities plus a continuation of import tariffs. We worked closely with our supply and logistic partners to minimize price increases. ASUS greatly appreciates your continued business and support as we navigate through this time of unprecedented market change. *additional models may see an increase as we moved further into Q1.
Now the important thing to note here is that JJ represents ASUS USA and the prices stated primarily are reflected on the ASUS USA Store and will most likely roll over to Newegg and Amazon. For people like the Philippines who follow US news, expect US prices but still receive Philippine prices, the new listed prices are somewhat closer but still lower than we get. Here are some of the prices from the ASUS US Store gathered by TechPowerUp
- ROG-STRIX-RTX3090-O24G-WHITE: $2,109.99
- ROG-STRIX-RTX3090-O24G-GAMING: $ 1,979.99
- RTX3090-24G-EK: $2,014.99
- TUF-RTX3090-O24G-GAMING: $1,839.99
- ROG-STRIX-RTX3080-O10G-WHITE: $1,049.99
- ROG-STRIX-RTX3080-O10G-GAMING: $ 929.99
- RTX3080-10G-EK: $999.99
- TUF-RTX3080-O10G-GAMING: $859.99
- ROG-STRIX-RTX3070-O8G-WHITE: $779.99
- ROG-STRIX-RTX3070-O8G-GAMING: $699.99
- RTX3070-8G-EK: $729.99
- TUF-RTX3070-O8G-GAMING: $649.99
- KO-RTX3070-O8G-GAMING: $639.99
- DUAL-RTX3070-O8G: $599.99
- ROG-STRIX-RTX3060TI-O8G-GAMING: $599.99
- TUF-RTX3060TI-O8G-GAMING: $ 529.99
- KO-RTX3060TI-O8G-GAMING: $519.99
- DUAL-RTX3060TI-O8G: $ 499.99
We have already reached out the ASUS Philippines for an official response to this. We are still awaiting an official response.
From my analysis, there’s 2 things we have to take into consideration here: 1) JJ states that the prices increases are due to component and operating cost and 2) there is also the logistic and tariff issues. Now these 2 things are distinct from one another as component costs ultimately affect how much it takes to make a product and will be uniform all throughout their global supply but logistics and tariffs are unique to a region. We are well aware of the current trade sanctions that President Trump has imposed on Chinese-sourced items to the USA. This made many Taiwanese companies that had warehouses and factories in China to move operations which does affect cost.
As of this moment, this is not a global situation. Any stores outside of the USA using this reason to jack up prices further is clearly profiteering.
