As I peruse the Web looking at big name boards in Australia, I am left wondering where they are actually made, by who and to what quality standard if I was to order one online.

It seems you often end up at a similar generic order menu asking for size, glassing which then goes somewhere and the board appears at your doorstep. There is often a wait, depending on stock. These ordering menus seem suspiciously similar no matter the brand or "middle man" online shop used.

Here are some examples.
Let's look at a Pyzel
www.pyzelsurf.com.au/surfboards/daily-drivers/phantom-xl

Or a Lost/Mayhem
www.lostsurfboards.com.au/uber-driver-xl

Or a Chilli through Boardcave
www.boardcave.com.au/black-vulture

Are the shaping files just sent to a nameless factory and persons unknown finish, glass and sand them? Or are they actually made by the company whose sticker is on the board? How can you be sure of the quality of blank and glass used?

I usually like to put a board under my arm and feel it up for quality before buying, but with some of the lesser sold models and sizes, this isn't possible.

Hey enuenu, If you're concerned about the quality of the boards through the online stores maybe you give making your own a try? Something like this:

createyourownboard.com

mocha1 said..
I think you may have answered your own question mate
Ghost shapers...!!!! finish off machined shapes then gets glassed at glass shop..... seems to be the way

read the post about Surfboard Warehouse and Bert Burger's reply

Found it
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Surfing/Shortboards/Surfboard-warehouse-boards--?page=2