Why Are Meraki Access Points and Other Network Hardware So Hard to Get Right Now?

Yes, lead times have been rough across enterprise hardware for years, and anything containing DRAM or other components competing with memory production has been especially affected. Laptop, server, storage, and networking prices have all climbed, while common configurations can suddenly become unavailable or get replaced by a renamed model.

A recent order illustrates the problem: the switches and security appliance arrived about a month after ordering, but the access points took several additional months. We had started planning roughly six months ahead and still barely made the upgrade deadline. For larger deployments, nine months of lead time may be safer right now.

Meraki availability is extremely inconsistent. Some products may show a few days, while others are quoted at 60, 90, 120, or even 180-plus days. One order can arrive quickly while another placed at the same time is delayed for months, so the quoted date is worth checking with a reseller before committing.

There are several factors besides the general chip shortage: component demand, consolidated fulfillment warehouses, government and compliance-related demand, and seasonal staffing slowdowns can all affect shipping. Inventory also fluctuates, so a model listed as backordered can occasionally appear and ship much sooner than expected. Check current availability for specific models rather than assuming every Meraki product has the same lead time.

We ordered Meraki access points in the spring and kept getting postponement notices. We eventually canceled and switched to Aruba, which arrived sooner, although even that order took a couple of months. If the project deadline matters, it may be worth getting quotes from multiple vendors and considering an alternative platform.