Has Atmel significantly raised 8-bit MCU prices recently or is this Digikey?

[JoeN]

Good catch on the prices.  Maybe Digikey is trying to take advantage that they are the only ones who have much stock right now.  Hopefully it will all normalize.  Possibly, Atmel got behind on production.

[boredtodeath]

Because I do not have hundreds of dollars to spend when it comes to buying microcontrollers, I can only buy a few at a time, maybe spend $10-$30 if I am lucky, and that has to include shipping.

$2.77 for bootloaded & labelled parts, mailed inexpensively from Niagara Falls, Canada
http://www.dipmicro.com/store/CPU-ARD328P         Uno bootloader
http://www.dipmicro.com/store/CPU-ARD328P-DUE Duemilanove bootloader

The raw atmega328p IC's on that website without the sale is CA$4.26 and with the special, they are CA$3.20, and that dose not include the shipping. And then the units with a bootloader and sticker are CA$5.01 and while on sale CA$2.95.
Really should take note that is a sale and not the normal price, plus you have to add shipping.

I avoid eBay.

http://m.banggood.com/index.php?com=search&t=search&keywords=atmel avoid eBay.

You know there is a good chance they have there own eBay store, right?

[CrossRoads]

dipmicro has really cheap shipping - somehow they are able to use USPS and pay even less then we for a flat rate box.

[boredtodeath]

dipmicro has really cheap shipping - somehow they are able to use USPS and pay even less then we for a flat rate box.

Someone working there could know someone in the US postal service or because they ship a lot they are given a discount.

[CrossRoads]

I think it's something to do with mailing in from outside the US.
China companies send us stuff via USPS Registered airmail, and I am amazed at the low rates compared to what I have to pay to send international.

[liuzengqiang]

Dipmicro in at niagra falls so they ship to US from within US and if it's Canadian order, they just ship in Canada. If you purchase more than $15, use ILOVECANADA for free shipping. Has to be less than 13 oz in total otherwise first class mail won't ship.

Many Chinese ebay stores ship from Hongkong. It's a free port, so shipping must be a lot cheaper. The US international rates are super high. I used to get lots of international orders

[liuzengqiang]

Current prices:

http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?lang=en&site=us&KeyWords=atmega328p-pu&x=0&y=0

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Atmel/ATMEGA328P-PU/?qs=%2fha2pyFadujcrAcowhVCzj0vtgCenYitTBfrdeSNJnmn1EI7EVhhFw%3d%3d

http://www.newark.com/atmel/atmega328p-pu/ic-8bit-mcu-avr-mega-20mhz-28/dp/68T2944?rd=atmega328p-pu&catalogId=15003&langId=-1&storeId=10194

I might order a few tubes when I run low. Mouser will get some stock in July so there is no reason to panic.