Can someone tell me why the kit in oz is soooo expensive compared to europe? Examples - sails that cost A$600 in europe are A$850 here, nearly A$2900 for a Fanatic Newwave TE here that costs the equivalent of A$2000 in europe? It cant be transport, as the sails and boards are made closer to oz than europe, its not GST as this is about 20% in most european countries as well. are we just getting fleeced, or is it because volumes are so small. Its put me right off buying gear here, and long term means shops will do less business.

We are doing alright - board prices have not gone up very much in real terms in the last 10yrs or so. Especially considering the carbon fibre shortage (and thus price rises) in last couple of years.

Freight should not be relevant as they are not sending 3 boards in a shipping container. As long as the containers are full, and the voyage is much shorter to Oz that .eu it should be cheaper freight surely?

Thus the only excuse must be lower volume = retailers need higher margins to make running a windsurf shop a living....?

Its a pretty expensive and risky thing doing retail in OZ. Higher minimum wage of staff and need to pay their super. Running a store is also more expensive with more complex taxation involved in running the backoffice. And beachfromt realestate is not cheap either, which is what you want for a watersport based shop.

Its not just windsurfing, its everything. Food, Clothes, cars, you name it (with the exeption of realestate and petrol). Despite the Oz dollar going up, prices are not coming down. This is becuase most of the costs and expences are local.

Also retail is up and down all the time so the shops need to save enough money to get them through the lulls.

It would take 20 million more people to get a comparable ratio of people per m2 in our cities, that could potentially put us on par with our european friends. Our beaches would be even more crowded, even less parking (and more expensive), more expensive realestate, especially anywhere near the beach. The list would go on...

So in the grand scheme of things its not so bad. Think of the extra as paying for your standard of living. Not like a tax, but like a tip.

Might also be because too many actors are involved.

We're a tiny country (200 000 people) with high wages and expensive living but we still get cheap prices ....
(cheaper than europe/oz)
I asked the local dealers why it was so, the answer was they buy directly from the factory.

The pryde/jp/staboard/severne/gaastra dealer was telling me that Cobra had increased their prices quite a lot this year and the companies have no choice than to include the rise in their prices.

Don't mention high prices.

Here in NZ, a boom that in the UK costs 125 quid (equiv NZ$250) costs just shy of NZ$500!!

I'm wondering if the retailers are taking a big hit on smaller stuff that you can get a lot cheaper from overseas on the interwebby, so have hiked their prices even high to keep their takings up on the big stuff that you can't easily buy online and get shipped?

I for one would never personally go into retail, becuase I know how difficult it can be. Its nice to be able to walk into a store try someting and never consider the what it costs just to give you that pleasure. Dont fool yourselves, no one is making a killing in this industry.

Managing a storefront, stocklevels, making sure you have variety, the store being open at times which are convenient for customers all takes a toll. Most of these places are owner staffed, and the guys are doing crazy hours.

I have a rough idea what these sorts of places make and I wouldn't do it.

Also, every now and then some knob comes in with a brand new stuck mast and expect you to sort it out under warrantee. And you do, becuase thats what is expected and the customer is 'apparently' always right.

Dezza said...

More expensive kit is more than offset by sunshine during winter, less people, clean water to windsurf in, and better quality of life generally.

You are obviously not talking about Sydney?

My mate who is the rrd/loft dealer does rental during the day on the beach and opens his store from 6pm to 8pm...
People can come up to him during the day to chat about gear and prices, try it and come at night to close the deal.

Sometimes looks like rush hour after a strong wind session but I like the idea of those "relax" hours....

Just saw a story about this on today tonight.... It's not just windsurfing, it's everything cars, beers, books, even bananas, the uk imports all it's bananas from the other side of the world, the most expensive they were last year was about $2.50 /kg while here they reached $14/ kg.


But wait for it BEER ..... Twice as expensive in Australia as in UK and 3 or 4 times more than mainland Europe????

Australia doesn't have McJobs in quite the same way as the UK. It means people tend to respect one another more.

UK is great and cheap but the person in the shop, behind the bar or at the counter is being properly ****ed on wages. They feel sub human and they act sub human... hence more social problems and crime.

Australians have it really good...... and most of them appreciate it.... apart from the ones who whinge about not being able to take all of their sick leave.

Interesting to see no retailer has responded to this, I'm a tea bagger,my best price from oz for my 3 new ozone edges7 9 11 mtr was $6000 complete,after hassling them with call after call,I got them from the UK for $3500 tracked insured 5 day service,oh and they gave me a couple of shirts a couple of fleece jackets wind socks and other ozone free stuff now that's someone who appreciates your business,

Stuthepirate said...

What pisses me off is that i can't fit my hand into a pringles container, forcing me to tip them out.

Stop eating pringles for awhile... you hand will get skinner and fit once again inside the container. Speaking from my own experience.

you should go for an RRD FreeStyle Wave (V3 2012) Steve. It's only $39 more than the UK price ... Pay cash and I'll knock that off. :-)

I "third" that. RRD FSW 2012 LTD RRP in Europe is ?1.799,00 ( http://www.maximum-surf.de/RRD-FREESTYLE-WAVE-V2-LTD-2012_1 ) . Subtract German VAT, multiply by 1.246, add Australian GST, take Jez's cash discount, and it's actually cheaper here.

I was also after a Fanatic Freewave but ended up with the RRD. Black and yellow - it's the bee's knees!

I'm wondering if Jez has a $39 board he can do the same discount on?

When I rock up to the Woolies checkout with $200 trolley of items why don't they give me discount? I spend a lot of money with them each year.