Online surf gear UK versus Aus

[monkeyman]

Perhaps someone from an Aussie retailer can comment about the following:

(a) I have just bought a bunch of non-sale items for half the price that they sell online in Australia (bought from shore.co.uk and I compared prices to the online site that advertises here and on other local surfing websites... you know the one)?

I've always bought my wetsuits from the UK because they are half the price - but not everything else. Postage was $20 and the stuff was sent the same day I ordered it...

(b) When will the strength of the Aussie dollar contribute to lower local prices on imported items. Don't tell me that the retailer are not currently benefitting from the windfall. They haven't passed the savings on... products here should be 25% cheaper than 18 months ago (not counting inflation)?

and my wetties have always arrived in less than a week (and I have had no worries with returns, they even paid the postage back to aus with the new wettie when one didn't fit... and rip curl honoured the warranty for repairs...).

seems like we are being taken for a bit of a ride to me??

[dUg]

We've covered this before.

Look at who the "players" are and the manner in which prices are controlled (illegally) in Australia and it's pretty obvious. Once upon a time, when our dollar was weaker, heads of Aussie sales for majors could ( and did ) stick their heads in the sand over online sellers outside Aus.

It's now gone well beyond the joke it was 4 years ago...

[longbum]

indy retailers see jack my freind.
say bye to these stores supporting community clubs, organisations, employment etc etc......

[oldman]

I've always bought my wetsuits from the UK because they are half the price - but not everything else. Postage was $20 and the stuff was sent the same day I ordered it...

What brands are made in the UK? Unless they were made in a country where our dollar appreciated against their dollar, then the difference should be negligible.

(b) When will the strength of the Aussie dollar contribute to lower local prices on imported items.

How much of Quikripabong's wetsuits are manufactured locally?

If not locally made, are they mostly made in Asia?

If so, there hasn't been much variation in the Aussie dollar to Asian currencies except where the Asian countries are tied to US dollar or have tried to keep their dollar low, which is really only China and Japan.

Don't tell me that the retailer are not currently benefitting from the windfall. They haven't passed the savings on... products here should be 25% cheaper than 18 months ago (not counting inflation)?

Not even a pimple on the butt of an elephant compared to how we are curently being screwed over petrol prices, which are almost always traded in US dollars.

[monkeyman]

Realistically the retail lanscape has altered with the advent of mega-players and online shopping.
Smaller retailers will only survive with specialist service and offering.
It's dog eat dog.
There will always be new niches to exploit and those players will tend to be supportive of community etc. But this is not about that. This is about why we pay more for products than other countries and whether the additional payments are a result of tariffs, GST and higher local wage costs, or as a result of duopoly/monopoly type behaviour combined with geographical isolation and the wish for a higher profit margin than retailers expect in other countries.

[dUg]

It's harder / impossible to impart price maintenance offshore, plus majors still have the old state / regional rep structure in Aus. If you overtly sell Rip Curl, Billabong, or Quiksilver product below RRP, repeatedly, then you should expect a "visit" or a phone call suggesting you might wanna stop it. Typically, these "reminders" are the result of a bigger retailler complaning about a smaller one not towing the line.

[oldman]

So monkeyman, what brands are you buying.

Genuine question.

[mustkillmulloway]

with the strong oz dollor.....

i prefer shop locally, i don't see any surfshop owners getting rich quick

saying that.....mate just got a wetty for a third it cost him locally out the states

thats including postage

i can understand people buying o/s with such good deals

but i think it's rooted for our local shops trying stay a float

my 2c

p.s

How much of Quikripabong's wetsuits are manufactured locally?

If not locally made, are they mostly made in Asia?

.

only for the last twenty years

[lovenutz]

anyone know good sites to buy surf hardware etc from the states?
beckersurf.com is pretty good

[Beanpole]

Yeah just in the process of doing that. Just hit Amazon if you don't have a better option.

[monkeyman]

Brands I'm buying at the mo:

Nixon watch
Aquapac waterproof case for my key
DaKine backpack (the price difference on this is rediculuous)
Balin leggie (made in aus, cheaper from england)

Previously bought stuff
rip curl wettie
c-skins wettie
o'neill wettie
burton jacket
burton pants
and a million clothes over the years - especially double cuffed shirts from tmlewin.co.uk and loake shoes from pediware.o.uk... ok only applicable to those who are city types and wear the double cuffed, leather sole and suit uniform.