haha too true, i sold my perfectly fine used kite for $250 although thats what the flooded market has resulted in

quote:

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Originally posted by silviu

believe it or not, this is the true value of the gear!
When you buy new gear, you pay for the 4 - 5 middle man in between.
The original cost, including the R&D ammortisation, should be between 250 and 300.
They pay the Chinese manufactureres 150 for a kite (including materials).

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Guys I regularly see these kind of posts and shake my head

This is a very optimistic costing and simplistic view to the costs of these products.

Here are just some of the hidden costs which we conveniently forget are added to make the landed costs of these items

Import duty
Freight handling
Customs
Interest on stocked items (yes the shops pay for this gear up front)
Wages for staff (to be the conveniently waiting for you.) and hidden cost behind that.
Shop rental or lease.
GST

These are some of the other costs which are incurred which retailers add into the price which they get accused of profiteering from.

For an excersize, one day go into your local shop with a note pad and make a quick list of contents of store and quickly calculate the value of the stock that shop has committed to servicing that market. What you are looking at is unusable money, I think it'l scare the schidt out of most people how much money is needed to Run Open a shop.

Now you can go and buy it through the internet from supposed supplier direct, but what support are you going to get. You won't be able to walk into your local shop and get any sympathy.

My point is please be "Realistic" about what the true costs are.

Support your local shops and they will support you.

Be cool and may the winds blow steady for you.

Alby


ps
I come from 20 years of industrial sales an manufacturing so I've got a rough idea of costings

quote:

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Originally posted by kurt

Thanks, I'll feel better now when I go into a kite shop and buy some sandshoes for $150.

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Clothing is a different story, like surfwear only the Wannabees buy it most surfers don't.

Back to what this post was originally about was resale value, unfortunately Kiting hasn't been around for long but the development has been exponential, making a kite from 2 years ago feel like a car from 15 years ago.

The newbee's and the people with limited budgets like the situation though.

Alby

Alby,

Maybe you are right, I should be more specific.
This is the real price the original seller gets, than applies his markup, than the middleman get it again apply his markup......... the N-middleman applies his N-mark-up than the retailer in Australia ends with the Black Cat and has to make some money too!
Is that OK with you now?