BPi-R4 supply issues?

[radiomean (Bill)]

Hello, I’ve been trying to buy a BPi-R4 for a second unit, and I have literally ordered from about 10 AliExpress sellers, and one Amazon supplier. ALL of them are showing stock but all have refused to supply it … they accept my order but then claim to be ‘out of stock’…

I have noticed that some sellers quote a reasonable - but still high - price, around £100 to £140 (but my first order a year or more ago cost £155 with BOTH the BPi-R4 AND the BE14 WiFi board…) - but then, most sellers show a ridiculous cost of £250 to £350!! I feel this is a ‘bait and switch’ and sellers don’t want to supply at the lower cost of £100, and I’m very annoyed with these AliExpress sellers…

Or - is there really a manufacturing or supply issue - and if so, when will it be resolved?! Many thanks…

[Lorem_amicus (Michael Fischer)]

Price explanation:

Banana Pi Product Price Adjustment Notice Due to Component Cost Increases

Due to the significant recent increase in the prices of key components such as DDR and eMMC, Banana Pi will implement a price adjustment across the entire product line based on current market conditions. This adjustment is necessary to ensure the continued stability of our supply chain and the consistent quality of our products. Once component costs decrease in the future, Banana Pi will make corresponding price reductions accordingly. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused to ou…

The "RAMageddon" Price Hike is Real - Incoming to BPI

Sadly, straight from the horse’s mouth, we are looking at a massive price hike on new batches of Banana Pi products. I reached out to the BPI Shop, and they confirmed my worst fears: significant price increases are coming for any new inventory. While existing stock might stay steady for a moment, if you’re waiting for the BPI R4 Pro 8X (or any DRAM-heavy SBC), expect the price to rise sharply. In 2026, the rule is simple: the more RAM a board has, the harder your wallet is going to get hit. If …

[radiomean (Bill)]

OK, I thought that might be the issue. But - the AliExpress sellers should NOT advertise at a reasonable low price and then refuse to supply… I will complain to the AliExpress platform if this continues!