JD / Ratz_azzz of Shred Factor eBay Store is great to deal with. Huge range of fins. Really fast postage, cheap postage from California too. He lives in Pacific Palisades CA, and his awesome service lived up the awesome sounding suburb he lives in! Well done. It's "wake up time" for Aussie Retailers... I saved 43% from him. At peak exchange rates I would have saved 47%.

http://stores.ebay.com.au/Shred-Factor?_rdc=1

These days, I have no issue in burning retailers who think it is still OK to sell "International Produce" in Australia at the old effective Exchange Rate.... Wake up retailers....

AUD was hovering around USD$0.65 to $0.80 for a very long time.... We've been outside that bracket for WAY too long now... It's time to see retail price adjustment....

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FCS-KELLY-SLATER-K-2-1-QUAD-SURFBOARD-4-FIN-SET-P-CORE-BRAND-NEW-SURFING-KEEL-/230684978728?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35b5e56e28#ht_1185wt_907

He can deliver these fins to your door for pretty much exactly AUD$100, maybe $102 tops... Retail here is AUD$199.95 / $199. Pretty much 50% to 48% off!!

Sorry retailers, like Board Culture, Noose Longboards, etc... But this price gouge needs to stop.... Even if most of the gouging is being done at Wholesale Level....

Pimp it mate all good try take in the stickup room

Haha Mac!

PS - I have nothing to gain. It was pure decent service at the right price. I knew we were paying too much across the counter here, and I hunted for a better deal, and received an exceptionally good deal!

As I said, "wake up retailers and wholesalers!".

Vanders would be proud of you mate he is a keen hunter,come to think of it,hope he is ok I haven't heard from him since he arrived up NT way at the start of his hunting trip.

Hey Simondo, for the record its the manufactures and wholesalers (NOT retailers) who need to wake up here. I cannot buy most of these fins off FCS Australia for these prices, let alone sell for this!!
As a retailer who strives to provide excellent quality and service, it irks me no end to see this. Its soul destroying.
So how do we compete? Well obviously not on price. What we have done is invest in a "demo" stock of fins where surfers can actually try the fins and get advice on what will suit their needs before they spend their money.
In the current economic climate everyone seems to be focusing on price rather than quality or service (and thats understandable). But the end game is that all the independent retailers (i.e. your local surfshop) will fold and the likes of BillaRipQuik will turn it into a Coles/Woolies scenario and you wont get service, quality or price. Its already happening and most surfers don't realise it. You'd be amazed at how many (so called) surfshops that Billa owns! Sorry if this sounds like a whinge, its meant to be objective - Mark

Select to expand quote

Simondo said...

Haha Mac!

PS - I have nothing to gain. It was pure decent service at the right price. I knew we were paying too much across the counter here, and I hunted for a better deal, and received an exceptionally good deal!

As I said, "wake up retailers and wholesalers!".

Mark, good on you for adding the fin trial service. There is one flaw in that though. Some surfers will come in to your store, trial the fins and then still go buy them online. I don't know what the answer is, but that's the reality.

Service is one thing, but if there isn't sufficient cash in one's pocket for the product that one desires, one will find cheaper ways to get it.

It's happening with more than just surfing kit, I have a sail boat and motorcycles, it's all the same. I can get a fully battened mainsail for my 25 footer in Hong Kong, that is as good or better and half the price than I can get in Australia. Sad, but true. Although I do still try to buy local as often as I can.

Michael.

Stay tuned for a MAK rant

Select to expand quote

Simondo said...

JD / Ratz_azzz of Shred Factor eBay Store is great to deal with. Huge range of fins. Really fast postage, cheap postage from California too. He lives in Pacific Palisades CA, and his awesome service lived up the awesome sounding suburb he lives in! Well done. It's "wake up time" for Aussie Retailers... I saved 43% from him. At peak exchange rates I would have saved 47%.

http://stores.ebay.com.au/Shred-Factor?_rdc=1

These days, I have no issue in burning retailers who think it is still OK to sell "International Produce" in Australia at the old effective Exchange Rate.... Wake up retailers....

AUD was hovering around USD$0.65 to $0.80 for a very long time.... We've been outside that bracket for WAY too long now... It's time to see retail price adjustment....

In my opinion - uneducated and mis-guided comments about Australian retailers.

Select to expand quote

BoardCulture said...

Hey Simondo, for the record its the manufactures and wholesalers (NOT retailers) who need to wake up here. I cannot buy most of these fins off FCS Australia for these prices, let alone sell for this!!
As a retailer who strives to provide excellent quality and service, it irks me no end to see this. Its soul destroying.
So how do we compete? Well obviously not on price. What we have done is invest in a "demo" stock of fins where surfers can actually try the fins and get advice on what will suit their needs before they spend their money.
In the current economic climate everyone seems to be focusing on price rather than quality or service (and thats understandable). But the end game is that all the independent retailers (i.e. your local surfshop) will fold and the likes of BillaRipQuik will turn it into a Coles/Woolies scenario and you wont get service, quality or price. Its already happening and most surfers don't realise it. You'd be amazed at how many (so called) surfshops that Billa owns! Sorry if this sounds like a whinge, its meant to be objective - Mark

Simondo said...

Haha Mac!

PS - I have nothing to gain. It was pure decent service at the right price. I knew we were paying too much across the counter here, and I hunted for a better deal, and received an exceptionally good deal!

As I said, "wake up retailers and wholesalers!".

If I was in retail I would contact FCS and let them know what I can buy their fins for from x @ y price. If they cant match that price I would buy my stock from the cheaper option. Their hands are tied a bit I think if you do this.
I have people shopping me for prices all the time and if I put pressure on my suplier they give me better prices.

I am caught in two minds on this one......I take pride in spending the least amount of time and money in my local Coles. I hate having to pay over my hard earned to them. I hate what they have done to the smaller retailers and the suppliers.

Surf brands are just as bad. Is it because we the Aussie public have always been willing to pay the higher prices so that's what we get charged? I have always wondered why I can buy everything so much cheaper elsewhere......I would love to know if this is because of taxes, rents, freight, exc rates or just greed from the retailer or wholesaler.........or is a combo of both.

As Simondo said - exchange rates have been high enough now for long enough for things to be passed on. So what really is the reason?

I can not believe that it costs 50% less to do business in the states or europe.....everytime I am away I can not believe how cheap everything is in relation to surf products in diff places relative to Aust. Also take trainers and outdoor stuff - those are a ****eload cheaper in the States. Now you can not argue the point that it is the size of the market as Australia is large enough for scale-ability for these products. GST - well VAT is 17.5 in England yet I can get a wetsuit cheaper there than here in AUD $$$$. State taxes are higher than the GST in places throughout the states. Frieght should not be too different. As for rents - well shops in the UK and California pay some pretty decent rents as well - esp in some of the stores that I have been into and are making my un-scientific comparison with.

Plus most of these companies were started in Aust........shocking. They really do not give a toss abt consumers over here. I try to not buy there products if I can avoid it. I think they have failed to give back. Not that they are even really owned by Aussies anymore. Simondo - you should read Salts and Suits by Phill Jarrat. Its a good read and I think you will enjoy it.

And on another point - FCS fins are a classic example of a good old fashioned Mac Bank rip off. Why don't they drop their prices to stimulate demand........if fins were half as much I would probably own 3 times as many - and I am sure most others would as well. Not sure of the elasticity ratio on surfboard fins but I would think it would be pretty in-elastic at the lower end but this would taper off very quickly. I can not see why I should pay $140 for a set that's - 23% the cost of a $600 board. Its a total p*ss take I reckon. Its a mass manufactured product with STUPID margins.

So here is my dilemma - I want to support the nice bloke who owns the surf shop but I can not see why I should if I want to stay afloat myself. If what Mark says is true re FCS wholesale prices to him then he needs to take up the beef with them and fast. You the shop owners need to challenge them to reduce prices or at the very least get yourselves a reasonable explanation why others can retail them below what u can buy them for because as time goes on the consumer is only getting smarter with the options it has available - which will further impact you on items like this. Stock some other fins - or maybe its time for another company to step in and challenge them to keep them honest. Similar to how the real estate companies are talking about setting up their own website to challenge Domain and Real Estate.com.au as they are sick of the high prices they have to pay to advertise their properties...........but as they have a representative body they can now see that they can do it themselves. So maybe surf businesses could get together and collectively source their own product.

We have all seen the prices on Alibab.com and it makes us cringe.

ok here i go. for one our rent in australia is far too overprice along with electricity and other outgoings. some big guys in the skate scene in usa have tried to avoid this cheaper online stuff by only allowing shops to sell in usa and if you want to buy online in oz or in a shop you can only get that product through whoever has the distribution rights. there are loop holes in this as i can still buy alot of my gear through the usa, i dont though as if i have a faulty product warranty becomes a massive pain in the rear end, i can walk straight back into my local and have them deal with any issue straight awayplus my local flows alot of gear to the grommies and organises a lot of events..thank you boardshop australia for what you do so if i did not support them all of that would stop first rant over i will be for more soon this issue is far greater than most will know unless you own a shop and pay a lot of greedy taxes and can see the picture in a different light of what being a store owner has to face, that is part of the reason our government has to step and protect small bus, as about 70% of employees are employed through them. yet with the crushing they face daily a lot of small bus are going bust and the big boys take more market share i have so much more i will say but will finish on this.... i would prefer to go into my local and support the guys who look after me and put coin back into the area and keep local events going. i know when i go into a large chain the 16 year ol kid knows sweet fa and is being exploited themselves so dont care about research or product knowledge, yet if go to a store such as board culture which i have and spend three hours talking about board, which i have, now that is sweet. i did not buy my board from them that day but would go to them for anything else i need for that particular reason. phhhheeeeewwwwww

I haven't had a rant for awhile but here goes.

I can understand going for the cheapest possible option if you are on the bones of your arze (sic). When money is extremely tight you'll do anything to save a buck.

However if that's not the case, nothing beats supporting the little guy and getting decent customer service. If we all don't support these guys all we'll end up with is the market controlled by the big players, much like Coles and Woolies, and they can then dictate how much you will pay and what type of boring rubbish you can buy. All surfshops will become a glorified clothes shop for wannabies with a couple of boring boards for show.

As for your local surf shop, use it or lose it .

I only use the internet for something obscure you cant get anywhere else.

Select to expand quote

rune said...

I haven't had a rant for awhile but here goes.

I can understand going for the cheapest possible option if you are on the bones of your arze (sic). When money is extremely tight you'll do anything to save a buck.

However if that's not the case, nothing beats supporting the little guy and getting decent customer service. If we all don't support these guys all we'll end up with is the market controlled by the big players, much like Coles and Woolies, and they can then dictate how much you will pay and what type of boring rubbish you can buy. All surfshops will become a glorified clothes shop for wannabies with a couple of boring boards for show.

As for your local surf shop, use it or lose it .

I only use the internet for something obscure you cant get anywhere else.

Hi mate - good to hear from you after so long

Fully agree with you mate, and I also must add that it seems so often to be the people who CAN afford the little luxuries that tend to be the tightest and wanna squeeze the people who can least afford to be squeezed - saw it so often in my time in shops and still see it and hear about it daily in mates shops.

Get over here Rune and de-frost mate

I so want to rant on this topic,coming from an X manufacture/wholesaler employing over 100 locals,screwed by big retailers and competing with cheap imported products Now a retailer and I have so much to say but I wont go there.

Good to heard from you Rune also

Billboard is right,its the people driving the 100k cars who haggle over price the most

I like Wiz's fins better.

I tried to write a big post on this but my internet dropped out! Here's the summary...

Thx for all the comments, so good we can discuss this. Agree with everyone including Simondo who started the thread.

No probs with experienced guys like Simondo getting the best price on equipment (assuming they don't need the "service/advice" aspect some retailers like us provide). We all probably do similar things for our non surfing purchases.

The biggest problem we have is how come companies (be they FCS, Nike, Apple, Canon, etc) can sell their exact same product for almost double in Australia compared to USA or elsewhere? You can't tell me that freight costs and/or low volumes is the reason.
The second biggest problem I have is how come I can buy a product online from O/seas and NOT pay gst but go and support my local retailer for the same item and have to pay gst on it?

I guess all we want as a non-corporate, independent retailer is a level playing field on which to compete (especially on price). From what we have seen in this thread, that simply aint happening courtesy of the manufacturers/wholesalers and the Fed Gov't. Dunno the full solution but blind freddy can see whats gonna happen if it continues - more jobs and businesses gone. Rant over. - Mark

I never buy my fins from a shop or the net. Well the net sometimes if I cant get what I want from my bloke but generally he has all the fin joy I need at the right price, which is generally 20% off retail cheaper for folding

Always think of the Wheel of Fortune.


What goes around comes around.

Spend your money locally and the people you spend your money with will spend it locally = more success for business = more employment.

Go the Wheel,not a rant but if everyone stuck to this,we would all be fortunate.

The very end of 2nd Post on Thread say "wholesalers"... Eluding to the fact the the wholesalers are probably the ones to blame.

But retailers need to stand up and demand a better deal.... Otherwise people like me will just slowly spend more "online".

I don't buy much online... But I see "Kelly Quad 5 Fin Set" for $200 retail, look at the product, and go... That's not worth $200... Then buy it for $100 elsewhere....

nah you rule simgromdo bout to give you a red thumb for not giving me back my invite to the torquey office

I'm a big fan of The Wheel too Mac. But sometimes "the gap" is too big.

Trust me, we spend in Aus...

Local Surfshops rock! I love them to death. It's probably the FCS Fin Prices which is the biggest pain in the bum.

Select to expand quote

chrispychru said...

nah you rule simgromdo bout to give you a red thumb for not giving me back my invite to the torquey office

Ok, you can come along. But when you learn how to spell Torquay !! But I like your spelling too. It's kind of French Torquey... I like French Girls when they nude it up on the beach!

You're welcome Chrispy!

Time for a more fun topic like "Beach Babes & French Babes". Stay tuned....

Thinking retail would be a breeze compared to manufacturing, haha nope its the same hard yards.

I import and have some wholesalers / agents hitting me up for more than their fair share which in my game is 15% on top of the purchase price from the manufacture,I am now in a battle with two who want 25% which is a total ripoff and I would need to sell those products at a higher sell price than I believe is a fair price.

So I go to a sh-t load of trouble fighting these middle guys to give my customers the best value for money.

With great product a killer smile I've got it all,but it hard work trying to control the outside forces.

Select to expand quote

Simondo said...

I'm a big fan of The Wheel too Mac. But sometimes "the gap" is too big.

Trust me, we spend in Aus...

Local Surfshops rock! I love them to death. It's probably the FCS Fin Prices which is the biggest pain in the bum.

Mate I know you spend heaps locally.

Now there is an issue here on the grand GC,not one longboard shop worth going to.
There are a couple but I want 100% longboard not a mixture.One that stocks quality boards,Mct,Southcoast,Laguna,RA and some of those awesome Cali sharpers.
A longboard lifestyle shop,cool funky music,cloths,dvd's,now your got me just do it someone or I'll beat you to it.

viva le nudie chickies mac your the aussie version of james bond mate

Ah Mac, I wish we could do a 100% longboard shop too. Really do. But look at the history. Two good ones have closed here on the Goldy. There is just not the built in obsolescence with mals compared to shorties, not to mention the margins, or lack thereof!
All this means that if you are a surfboard retailer on the main coastal drag somewhere (and paying a min $60k for the privilege) you have to sell a min 250 longboards just to cover the rent, let alone staff costs, taxes, advertising, overheads etc. We just don't have those volumes here to make it viable. Really wish we did.
So our new shop (opening Dec) will have nearly everything you mentioned PLUS some shorties and bodyboards (and coffee) to help pay the rent and remind us of all of surfings beautiful sub-disciplines. - Mark

Select to expand quote

62mac said...

Simondo said...

I'm a big fan of The Wheel too Mac. But sometimes "the gap" is too big.

Trust me, we spend in Aus...

Local Surfshops rock! I love them to death. It's probably the FCS Fin Prices which is the biggest pain in the bum.

Mate I know you spend heaps locally.

Now there is an issue here on the grand GC,not one longboard shop worth going to.
There are a couple but I want 100% longboard not a mixture.One that stocks quality boards,Mct,Southcoast,Laguna,RA and some of those awesome Cali sharpers.
A longboard lifestyle shop,cool funky music,cloths,dvd's,now your got me just do it someone or I'll beat you to it.

Well Mark,sounds like your on the right track,funky music and cloths.
Check out Dues one amazing store in Indo at night it turns into live
music and party house with great food.You should fly over and do
some research of how a super cool store can look and ride it off to
boot

Good to hear someones having a good go at this as I've said before
its a unbelievable that the GC does not have a REAL surf shop.
Looking forward to the launch party,and wish you all the best,done
right your on a winner.

Select to expand quote

62mac said...

Well Mark,sounds like your on the right track,funky music and cloths.
Check out Dues one amazing store in Indo at night it turns into live
music and party house with great food.You should fly over and do
some research of how a super cool store can look and ride it off to
boot

Yes thanks for this tip Mac - will be there next week and looking forward to checking it out. Actually that bar on the cliff top looks even better!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for all yr insights Mark and co on this thread. I have found it a great read. I am an economist by trade and grew up thinking that the free market was the only way to go. I hated the concept of protectionism. I used to think that restraint of trade was unfair to consumers and would be a blight on our society, restricting the shiffting of economic capital to those areas in which we had a competetive advantage. Well its fair to say that I have mellowed from this view over the last 7 years or so. Yes I still support capitalism but have developed a social justice principle to my work as well. The local surf shop example highlights the broader issues facing this economy on the whole. The food supply issue is the one that always dominates the news with Coles and Woollies but small business is the back bone of the community and one that needs some attention fast.

There was a wonderful opportunity for the government to look at reforming the whole tax system to make life a lot easier on all who contribute but the present lot decided that the GST could not even be considered in the debate. How you can overhaul a tax system without looking at the GST is beyond me. How good would it make a small businesses life if they could wipe out 250 plus stupid taxes, stamp duties and other rubbish to make their lives a lot more simple.

Sadly the present lot seemed more concerened with protecting their own backsides than improving the place. The governments favourite word seems to be 'compensation' these days sadly.

Well news in,Dukes Longboard store closed a couple of months ago after trading for 11 years,Base a massive company hit the receivers last week and today Darcy a well known and long term surf industry figure closed yesterday.

Ted,my wife was over indo a month ago and the only thing I asked for was a Dues truckers cap a couple of Dues Tees