Got this e-mail today from MicroChip.com, which took over Atmel:
Why choose microchipDIRECT for Atmel products? Easy.
- Factory Direct Pricing and Support - Largest Inventory of Microchip Products, over 200 Million Units in Stock - Special Pricing for High Volumes - Schedule Orders up to 12 Months in Advance - Offered in Most Countries - Monthly Development Tool Deals... and More
As a welcome gift, we would like to give you FREE shipping off of your next order. Apply the following coupon code: WELCOME03 at checkout. Expires March 26, 2017.
What do you expect from the Land of Overcapacity? China has a lot of zombie manufacturing companies that aren't making money, but are just making product to keep the factory running and the hands busy. I suspect a lot of the cheapo electronics are that kind of thing
I think the shipping may be subsidized over there, too.