i keep reading this and support the idea in principle. all of my gear was bought here and the board was made here. but, and it's a big but (think oprah) i am just about to add to my quiver (within days). the kite i want is $350 less, delivered, if i import from the US. full retail. i dont mind paying a little more, but $350 is just rude.

a bar upgrade is a 10 pound ($24) option in the uk, (now) $109 here. it was originally $145

why does australia get jammed on pricing? the dollar is strong, has been for quite a while and isnt going anyway but up in the forseeable future.
it cant be freight, cause mine is being delivered as a one off. it cant be bulk purchase power, cause we are talking rrp. could it be greed?

and from these posts i gat the impression that at least some of the stores ARE the licenced importer. that seems a good place to start looking.

because by ripping off their customers, they are hurting the local industry, not the poor bugger scraping pennies to feed the addiction.

YEP GET THE PADLOCK OUT