I remember when Robu was really killing it and don't get me wrong, they still hold their ground against competitors. Back then, they were gradually lowering prices over time, which was awesome. But lately, there's been noticeable price increases across their product range, with some items now costing more than their original prices.
Take their Best Prices page, for example.
When it was proudly launched by robu (quote was something along the lines of "why go anywhere if robu has the best prices" or something like that),
It was surprising to see such great never seen before deals here in India.
Also, their free shipping threshold was previously 500 INR, which has now increased to 1000 INR.
Here are a few examples (prices from my old invoices vs. current website listings):
- ESP32 C3 Mini & S2 Mini: 240 INR to 257 INR
- ESP8266 D1 Mini: 149 INR to 182 INR
- MT3608 Boost Module: 36 INR to 44 INR
- 2.4GHz IPEX Antenna: 22 INR to 29 INR
- USB-C 3.1 Breakout: 54 INR to 61 INR
- Rotary Knobs (5-pack): 118 INR to 126 INR
- 12710 Peltier Module: 324 INR to 347 INR
- TA6586 Motor Driver: 198 INR to 218 INR
- CH-2 Push Connectors (5-pack): 25 INR to 36 INR
- ESP32 Type-C Board: 399 INR to 448 INR
- FS8205A MOSFETs: 5 INR to 8 INR each
- 5MP Pi Camera: 279 INR to 325 INR
- SG90 Servo: 84 INR to 94 INR
- VL53L0X Sensor: 109 INR to 162 INR
- 3S 15A BMS: 195 INR to 219 INR
- 14500 LiFePO4 Cell: 89 INR to 106 INR each
Price comparisons are based on my past orders vs current listings.
This isn't an exhaustive list, but it reflects a broader trend. Being a maker in India is already challenging for a multitude of reasons, and these changes add to the hurdles.
Would love to hear others' thoughts on this. Are these price hikes reflective of global supply issues, operational costs, last year's IPO, trump tariffs or other factors? How would one navigate this if it gets even worse?