Supply Chain Issues
Last updated: November 7, 2023
To our friends and customers,
We are committed to getting you the gear you need. However, we want to be upfront and transparent about the severity of the existing supply chain, the semiconductor chip shortage and other inventory issues.
Our Sales & Support Staff are available!
If we do not have an item in stock in our own warehouse, we can often have it ship directly from the supplier to you - providing that the supplier has the item in stock. And we'll be happy to check that for you prior to purchasing. We often have access to a direct dealer portal where we can check inventory for you immediately. In some cases, we have to reach out to the supplier by phone or email, which can take a little longer. The best way to have us check inventory and/or ETA dates is to Open a Help Ticket and we will reply as quickly as possible during business hours. If you don't see a prompt reply from us, please check your spam folder.
Yes, you can still place your order online!
Planet DJ allows you to place an order for items that are not physically in stock. This allows customers to have their position held in line, since several items come in and then immediately go right back out to preorders, once again leaving no extra inventory in stock on the shelf. If you are concerned about wait times, please either contact us first to check availability or choose "Reserve Now With No Money Down" as the payment method during checkout. Credit Card & PayPal orders are billed during checkout and incur a fee if canceled, so only choose that payment method if you are certain that you want it and do not intend to cancel it before it becomes available.
While we are doing our best to get your order to you as quickly as possible, we appreciate your understanding if we experience shipment delays. Below is an updated list of some current issues we are aware of:
- If a manufacturer is out of stock on a non-electronic item, the overall average backorder wait time seems to be running 2 to 5 months.
- If a manufacturer is out of stock on an electronic item that requires a certain semiconductor chip, the overall average backorder wait time seems to be running 4 to 10 months and occasionally longer.
- Controllers and Mixers – Due to the semiconductor chip shortage, most (if not all) DJ controllers and mixers are in extremely limited supply. This stems from the largest semiconductor chip manufacturing plant in Japan burning down last year. Pioneer, Denon, Rane, Numark and others are all experiencing extreme backorder situations. The wait is often 2 to 5 months, and sometimes 8 months or longer depending upon the model. Unfortunately, ETA dates are extremely unreliable.
- Wireless microphones – Due to the semiconductor chip shortage, most wireless mic systems and transmitters were out of stock in all of 2021 and 2022. In 2023, we are seeing improvement and have even received some stock for our warehouse shelves, but manufacturers are still struggling to catch up to demand. ETAs have been reduced from an average of "16 to 20 months" down to "approximately 6 months." Receivers appear to be more readily available than transmitters.
- Shure – Inventory is getting better, except for wireless microphone systems (see "Wireless Microphones" above.)
- Shipping carriers (UPS, FedEx, USPS, etc.) – Effective March 26th, 2020, all shipping carriers have suspended all rush shipping service guarantees for all shipments from any origin to any destination until further notice. This means if you choose 2-Day Shipping as the shipping method, and they deliver it 4 days later, there is no refund for lack of performance.
We will do our best to keep this page updated with the latest information we have, but for the most current information, contact us first to check availability or choose "Reserve Now With No Money Down" as the payment method during checkout.
Your friends at Planet DJ
P.S. Want to learn more about what happened and how it all began? This article explains it best: The Absolute Simplest Explanation for America’s Supply Chain Woes.