If you’re wondering why your current two-way radio vendor is taking longer than usual to fulfill your latest order, or they’re telling you they’re out of the units you want, it’s probably due to the semiconductor shortage. This started with the automotive sector as the US emerged from lockdown last year, and has since cascaded into other industries like retail and communications. Here’s the scoop on why this all started, and what you can do to get the radios you need.

Supply and Demand

Semiconductors are used heavily in the design of new vehicles, and they require long production times. With last year’s COVID lockdowns and the shift to remote-based work, people drove less and fewer cars were purchased. That prompted automakers to cancel a lot of their semiconductor orders to save the revenue. But, as lockdowns lifted, people started traveling again, and the demand for new vehicles began to climb, renewed demand for semiconductors quickly outpaced supply. This backlog then spread to other product lines: TVs, computers, smartphones, video games… and two way radios.

How That Affects You

Chances are, you’ve heard from your two-way radio vendor that items are temporarily on backorder, or they’re simply out of stock. They may or may not be able to give you a set timeframe on when those units will be available again.

While they’ll tell you that the reason is due to production, there’s another factor at play: their distribution network. Many of our competitors rely on shipments that come by boat, rather than air, because it costs less. It also extends travel time.

How We Can Help

Everyone might be experiencing shortages, but we’re feeling it less. We want our customers to get the radios they need when they need them, rather than have to wait. That’s why we don’t mind covering the costs to get our units by air so that we have solutions that are compatible with the needs of your business. Plus, we continue to offer the same great benefits that have made us a leader in the two-way radio market:

• Lower costs. We continue to offer the best prices in the industry, often 30 percent less than MSRP.
• Compatible units. All of our radios can sync with any network — including yours, and regardless of brand.
• Durability. We pride ourselves on having military-grade equipment that can go for 12 rounds without a KO.
• Repair. If you’ve got damaged radios you want to revive, we can fix any unit and cover the shipping costs both ways.

We can help your team maintain the communications network it needs to get the job done, all thanks to equipment that comes with the best support and warranty in the industry. Our US-based service department has been voted the best for 15 years in a row, and they’re standing by to take your call. Troubleshooting, repair, replacement, same-day quotes, or general inquires — whatever it is, we want to hear about it. When you’re ready, give us a call at 866-986-2321 anytime between 9 AM and 8:30 PM EST.