Key Takeaways
1. Rising Hard Drive Prices: The cost of hard drives, particularly high-capacity models, has significantly increased, with prices in the UK reaching £500 to £560 (about $720) for a 28TB drive.
2. Redditor’s Cost-Saving Trip: A Reddit user saved approximately $3,300 by flying to the U.S. to purchase 28TB Seagate drives at a much lower price, highlighting the extreme price disparity between the two countries.
3. Shopping Strategy: The user strategically divided his purchases between two stores due to customer limits, ensuring he could acquire ten drives during his trip.
4. Logistical Challenges: The Redditor meticulously documented and tested each drive to avoid issues, packing them carefully for the flight to ensure their safety.
5. Market Trends: Hard drive prices for high-capacity models have surged by 46% since 2025, pushing users toward traditional hard drives over more expensive SSDs, while some manufacturers like Western Digital face production shortages extending into 2028.
Amidst increasing RAM costs and a growing demand for data centers, the prices of hard drives have also risen. In the UK, the cost of hard drives has escalated to the point where one data enthusiast found it more affordable to fly to the U.S. to purchase them.
Redditor’s Experience
A Reddit user, known as u/cgtechuk, shared his experience on the subreddit r/DataHoarder. He explained that he had been monitoring the prices of 28TB Seagate Expansion Desktop external hard drives in the UK, and noticed they kept increasing over time.
After seeing prices rise throughout the holiday season, this Redditor placed an order for ten 28TB hard drives from the U.S., packed his luggage for a quick trip after New Year’s, and picked them up personally.
Shopping Strategy
Both Best Buy and B&H Photo impose a limit of five drives per customer, so he decided to divide his order between the two stores in New York. After confirming his purchases, he flew from London and checked into a hotel close to JFK Airport.
So, what drove him to the trouble of traveling to the U.S. just to get ten 28TB hard drives? The answer lies in the significant price difference between hard drives in the U.S. and the U.K. The Seagate 28TB Desktop Expansion drive is priced between $350 and $390.
Back in the UK, the same model is priced at £500 to £560 at major retailers and online platforms like Amazon, which roughly translates to about $720. Doing the math, this results in savings of approximately $330 to $370 per drive. For ten drives, that totals around $3,300 in savings before considering travel expenses.
Cost Analysis
A basic round-trip ticket from London Heathrow to JFK can be booked for less than $700, and an inexpensive hotel with basic services runs about $200 to $300 for a four-night stay. Even after budgeting for food and transportation, the Redditor still saves over $2,000.
Interestingly, he used points to cover his flight and hotel, which saved him roughly $700. Concerned about potential issues with swapped drives, he meticulously documented each drive’s serial number, tested them with CrystalDiskInfo and SeaTools, and performed file transfers to verify there were no tampered or defective units.
The only challenge remaining was logistics. He carefully packed ten hard drives with protective foam in his carry-on and stored the outer boxes and power adapters in a separate suitcase.
Bigger Picture
While this effort saved him over $3,000 on hard drive costs and proved to be a success for him, it also underscores a growing issue. Hard drive prices for high-capacity models have surged by an average of 46% compared to the same timeframe in 2025.
Although SSDs offer better speeds, they’re significantly pricier per terabyte, causing data hoarders and hyperscalers to revert back to traditional hard drives.
To make matters worse, Western Digital has reportedly sold out its entire production line for 2026, with some customers securing supplies that extend into 2027 and 2028.
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