freight is pretty expensive in perth you know..

Same year model, same construction?

Which shop was the cheapest? We might be able to put on some customer pressure.
I am looking for a new board at the moment and would not pay over $2000 unless I was getting a free sail or mast with it.
What did you buy?
Some shops may buy in bulk and thus receive a discount for freight and bulk discount, smaller shops often can not afford to have too much stock on the floor and thus have to charge more. Though $800 is a huge difference.
I discovered similar variations when buying a bike last year and the guy at Balmoral bikes told me why there is such a variation. Small shops have difficulty affording the purchases of large amounts of stock.

Maddog49 said...
Which shop was the cheapest? We might be able to put on some customer pressure.
I am looking for a new board at the moment and would not pay over $2000 unless I was getting a free sail or mast with it.
What did you buy?
Some shops may buy in bulk and thus receive a discount for freight and bulk discount, smaller shops often can not afford to have too much stock on the floor and thus have to charge more. Though $800 is a huge difference.
I discovered similar variations when buying a bike last year and the guy at Balmoral bikes told me why there is such a variation. Small shops have difficulty affording the purchases of large amounts of stock.

Hey Maddog49,

I got a starboard Carve 121, Ill mail you the name of the shops, don't want to name and shame anyone because I don't know the real circumstances of why is more expensive. But one thing is for sure the expensive shop wont have my business ever. ;)

EternalNoob said...
just wondering why the prices could vary around 800 dollars from store to store? I just bought a board and in one store got quoted 2500 for it, then went to a different shop and got it for 1700(both new).

Why does one dealer sell a brand new car for $5000 more than a dealer in another town or state? Beats me... but perhaps they have more stock to move or simply need to pay some bills so require the cash flow.

Why buy new anyway?

Buy a 1y/o board in good nick and;
* if it was going to snap it probably would have by now
* you have a multitude of reviews available, not just what the company claims it does soooo well or what paid magazines say about it
* save $1000 and it is still almost as new! If not, 10mins with Jif and a sponge and then it is

Yes I used Jiff and a high pressure hose to clean my 30 year old board and after replacing the footstraps it doesnt look too bad. I think if people look after their gear wash it in fresh water after every use and pack it away in a garage or shed , your gear will stay in good condition for many years to come. The second hand market is definately a cheaper option when you are learning or developing your skills. I am looking at a Starboard Carve 131 litre for my size.
Tell us how you go on your new board Eternalnoob.
Hope for some wind soon. Thursday and Friday is looking promising. If I can get away from work early. I will be sailing my retro board down at Melville waters and checking out all the other guys gear.

I got caught at work on Thursday and did not get a sail in.
I managed to get down to Melville on Friday. Sailed for an hour and then spent time talking to all the regulars. I am suffering from gear envy at the moment. The racing team with their $2000 sails and big boards were able to sail on barely a breath of wind. The equipment today has really gone high tech. I think I need to find some coin and buy me a piece of that action.
Where to start??? Sails with cams or without cams? Gust pockets? Different size fins? Wood board or carbon boards etc.
All the guys are really friendly and willing to give advice. One even offered me a try on his board. I declined due to my sailing ability/swimming ability saying that I managed to reduce my time in the water and increase my time above the water.
I am still looking for that second hand 130 litre board. I may have to bite the bullet and buy something new.

Gozzo,

Please can you let me know who you use for freight?

If you can get a pallet from the east coast to Perth for $80 I would dearly love to know who you're using. If they're any good they'll get all my business. I pay minimum four times that.

Cheers,

Flicky

FlickySpinny said...
Gozzo,

Please can you let me know who you use for freight?

If you can get a pallet from the east coast to Perth for $80 I would dearly love to know who you're using. If they're any good they'll get all my business. I pay minimum four times that.

Cheers,

Flicky

Hey Flicky, slight clarification. The $80 per pallet was within WA, (Esperance to Perth), still equivalent to interstate distances on the east coast, 700 k's plus. I did get a pallet of the mother in law's stuff brought over a while ago by WA freightlines though they aren't owned in WA any more, some yank investment mob bought them out, so probably won't have the flexibility to price "backloading" any more. Bottom line is shop around I guess, you may be just what someone needs to fill a truck and get a cheaper rate. Star Trak brought over our last lot of surfboards, 5 of for $350, you'd probably equate that to a couple of windsurf boards so still not an $800 difference in the shop. Getting stuff picked up adds cost and is probably disproportionate to the rest of the charge, take it to their depot if you can. Other than that you could pretend you're from another freight company, you'll definitely get a better rate but you didn't hear that from me
It surprises me that people just accept the "freight costs" story so readily but I guess if you don't know, you don't know. Hope you get a better deal

Cheers Gozzo. Good to know. Thanks for the tip as well.

Um seriously? i was joking, as if a $800 difference would be freight, every shop in perth is in a 10km radius of each other.. i'm no genius but pretty sure frieght would be exactly the same for all the shops..

Hey P.C. I wasn't having a go at you mate, I get you were joking, it's just that I've heard that line heaps in the past and people just nod, smile and accept it. Classic price gouge strategy for WA

stehsegler said...

Jungo said...
...and my house in 2002 cost $79000. Easy to find a car for that but good luck finding a new home anywhere near that price.

you can't even buy a garage for that price these days. As a matter of fact I recently worked out that in the centre of Berlin you can buy a 2 bedroom apartment that needs renovating for less than what a garage costs in Sydney.

I'd rather live in your garage and go windsurfing, than live in the centre of Berlin

FINMEISTER said...

stehsegler said...

Jungo said...
...and my house in 2002 cost $79000. Easy to find a car for that but good luck finding a new home anywhere near that price.

you can't even buy a garage for that price these days. As a matter of fact I recently worked out that in the centre of Berlin you can buy a 2 bedroom apartment that needs renovating for less than what a garage costs in Sydney.

I'd rather live in your garage and go windsurfing, than live in the centre of Berlin

Bloody oath