Like other headsets, the Valve Index has been in high demand but limited supply due to the Coronavirus pandemic. While we’ve seen stock of Oculus Quest and Rift starting to return over the two months or so, Index has been backordered globally. Though the headset is still backordered, today we spotted the first indication that Valve is starting to catch up.
Updated – July 6th, 2020
We checked stock availability for all Index packages across all 31 regions where sold. While previous checks over the last several months consistently showed a shipping estimate of “8 weeks or more,” our latest check shows an estimate of “3 to 5 weeks” for new orders of the headset-only package.
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“We are continuing to make every effort possible to keep up with the ongoing demand and deliver units in a timely fashion, while navigating the challenges of shipping during the pandemic. We appreciate everyone’s patience, and we’ll let you know when we have more specifics to share,” a Valve spokesperson recently told Road to VR.
Index had been backordered by eight weeks or more in all regions since a small supply of new stock was gobbled up just before Half-Life: Alyx launched in late March. Today is the first time we’ve seen the shipping estimates on the headset package shift to something other than “8 or more weeks.”
Despite the backorder, it’s been possible to register your interest in any of the Index packages (except for the base stations). To reserve a spot in line, check out the Index store page and click the order button.
Valve is then sending out notifications by email when stock is available, giving customers one week to pull the trigger. Even so, when offered the option to buy, no specific estimate for delivery is provided leaving, customers wondering how long they’ll be waiting.
Like other headsets, the Chinese-manufactured Index has seen a double-whammy due to the Coronavirus pandemic: supply decreasing due to manufacturing disruptions and demand increasing due to shelter-in-place orders in many parts of the globe.
Oculus had been in the same boat; in the last two months however we’ve seen a surge of new Quest stock, showing that manufacturing of the headset has picked up significant steam. When the same might happen for Index isn’t clear, but we’ve got our eye on the situation.
Source: https://www.roadtovr.com/valve-index-stock-check-headset-availability-shipping-countries/
