#144 Costs are going up.

HP Inkjet Cartridges, Print Heads, Photo Value Packs and LaserJet Supplies price hikes. As of Jan. 1, 2009, HP is increasing the list prices on Inkjet cartridges, print heads, photo value packs and LaserJet supplies by approximately 5% on average. Actual price increases will vary by part number. PCSS will be passing on this increase as well most retailers.

PCSS will increase our hourly rate from $74 to $79 effective January 1, 2009. We increase our rates every 2 years so we maintain this rate until 2011. Thanks again for your support.

Our distributors (those who sell us the PCs & Supplies) quickly changed their freight policy when fuel prices went up. We used to get free freight on orders over $500. Now for one distributor we only get free freight on orders over $1000 and at another only if the order ships out of one warehouse and is over $1000. Since gas prices have plummeted no one has changed their freight policy back. This means PCSS can't order products every day. We have to wait until we get an order over $1000 or our prices will have to be higher to cover the additional freight cost. This is especially true on heavy items like PCs and Printers.

Good news is PC and laptop prices are as low as we have ever seen them. Remember Windows XP goes away in January 2oo9, so if you think you need a new PC order soon if you want XP.

#143 Technology kills the local store?

In the holiday rush we'd like to ask each of our customers to consider doing much of their holiday shopping with local stores. A dollar spent locally goes around 3 times in the community. A dollar spent at an Internet store supports the Internet stores community not yours.

The new business model for sales may be strictly getting on you PC and ordering, but local stores also provide Internet sales. Take PCSS. You can check out our sales items on line or just email us with your request. We will get it to you before Christmas and make sure you have the right item.

If your local stores go out of business it will effect you eventually. A world of shopping that is nothing but Walmarts and Internet stores is a very scary future. Personal service is still alive and well in your local communities!

Buy Local!