Tell it how it is bovka.
When a customer walks into one of our stores, we serve them, we don't make them feel bad about anything.
Sure in a perfect world everyone should buy local, but the worlds not perfect is it?
We always see these threads when the exchange rate improves, don't remember seeing one when the exchange rates take a dive though?
We agreed to the pricing of 90% of our stock for this season in June July and we actually pay for a lot of it in Euros too.
Some people will always shop around its human nature, personally I tend to shop where I get good service and reasonable prices. No-one in kites retal is driving around in porches and ferraris, we all work had for the $$ we eventually get to keep after paying all the overheads that help make our society what it is.
Local business buys from local business, employs local people, pays local taxes, and supports the local kite and general community, and the people in this thread who just want to make retailers look like greedy pigs suck balls LOL's.
And now its time for a reality check - A Naish AR3.5 9.0M was $1800 retail back in 1999, now you can buy bigger, far better kites for the same or less, so prices are actually coming down and value has gone through the roof.
I will agree with you Steve exept the reality check thing has no merrit.
How many kiters were there in 1999 compared to now?.
In perth we had max two dozend guys on foils wipis and Naish.
Puts a diffrent prospective on the point you are trying to make.
Support your local shop
How much has the price of all the raw materials increased by in 10 years?
How much have real labor costs risen - not just in China either - right through the distribution chain?
The last industry estimate was that there are approx 140,000 kites being produced worldwide, per year.
That number does not equate to volume in comparison to any other mass produced goods. Business profits can increase in a high volume market. Prices can reduce when there is massive sales volume and a large marketplace, but this is not the reality of the kiteboarding (or windsurfing) industries.
Kiteboarding is not the fastest growing sport in the world, it is actually one of the smallest growth sports.
I guess I should have added those and possibly even more facts to my previous post RayQ 
The truth about profits in kitesurfing is obvious.
Most shops have diversified into SUP and from what I've seen the volume sales are in SUP boards and accessories, especially on the east coast where la nina is having a great time.
If someone did a survey of number of kiters to number of SUP riders I reckon the SUP numbers would be greater. Not bad for a sport thats only 3 years old.
well it arrived on my door , saved around $600 so i am happy . Although having said that after going up and talking to darren at his place a couple of weeks ago and the service i got just buying a simple travel bag i will be going to him for any future purchases
got myself a xmas gift from the missus should be here wednesday did the sums for getting her to bring a kite back from the US as she will be there for xmas and the hassel , my money has gone to a shop in gero helpful and competitive price
thanks tim
reg bill and her c/card
Don't let them get to ya Steve, Most of us would buy our gear from YOU regardless of a few dollars to be saved.
Most of us are smart enough to realise what good service is worth.
Buy local ppl!
Sure you can save a few dollars(and it would only be a few dollars), but I say support the good small businesses that are there when you need the little things(fast).
Imagine having to trust a PO box for all your gear?! God knows how many scammers are out there...
Local shop, Go in, see the gear(maybe test it even) and buy.... Simple.
Ive noticed since I started this thread that prices have gone down a bit. I guess I coulda just waited and saved some of the agro!
Cool opinions and points though, some switched on kiters around, I thought all kiters were just beach bums like me...
Nice steady northerly on the Goldy today, bit light but was nice to finaly get out on the water again.... Tipped to stay that way for the next week so my boss is gonna be pissed...
