Kite retailer death match

> 10 years ago
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onemorehuey
onemorehuey
NSW
158 posts
NSW, 158 posts
17 May 2008 2:21am
Please laurie can we start it again - it was just like eastenders ... BJ goes down and dirty on Stevo...
Most amusing thread i read in ages
sharkbait
sharkbait
VIC
134 posts
VIC, 134 posts
17 May 2008 10:34am
Please Laurie, can i have some more....


onemorehuey
onemorehuey
NSW
158 posts
NSW, 158 posts
17 May 2008 7:59pm
Doesnt look like its working.....
Steve is it true that you only pay 50c for those stickers that you sell in your shop for $5????
user
user
WA
1140 posts
WA, 1140 posts
17 May 2008 6:20pm
Steve.....is it true you are making a profit from us poor,destitute kitesurfers ?
manicskier
manicskier
VIC
772 posts
VIC, 772 posts
18 May 2008 5:02am
What you think he is gonna stand in a shop all day mumbling on about how great kiting is... for free (ie no profit) then go and work a night job in order to have a feed and a beer and a life in general? All shops/businesses must make a profit other wise they stop being shops and businesses. Kapish
user
user
WA
1140 posts
WA, 1140 posts
18 May 2008 7:03am
He has beer as well ????
stabber
stabber
NSW
1114 posts
NSW, 1114 posts
18 May 2008 10:47am
i've always gotten a good deal from steve!
BigFatMick
BigFatMick
273 posts
273 posts
18 May 2008 12:46pm
onemorehuey said...

Please laurie can we start it again - it was just like eastenders ... BJ goes down and dirty on Stevo...
Most amusing thread i read in ages



"Stevo" and "BJ" in the one sentence... are we still talking about kites?
NSW, 4382 posts
18 May 2008 2:49pm
manicskier said...

What you think he is gonna stand in a shop all day mumbling on about how great kiting is... for free (ie no profit) then go and work a night job in order to have a feed and a beer and a life in general? All shops/businesses must make a profit other wise they stop being shops and businesses. Kapish



Well to be fair, what is standing in the shop is a multi million dollar robot that is programmed to look like me.
I actually live in a tax haven overseas (like all kiteshop owners), I have to, because I make so much money from running a kiteshop.

The robot is amazing eh?
He can take all sorts of abuse from youse 2868's and keep on smiling, he never tells anyone about my secret stash of cash, the garage full of exotic cars, my several enhanced wives, etc.

And he sends me all the beer he gets for rescuing people and finding boards etc.

Its a good system, so now you know, go and open up a kite shop of your own and I'll tel you where to find the robot.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve (the robot)
poor relative
poor relative
WA
9106 posts
WA, 9106 posts
18 May 2008 4:33pm
Are any of your enhanced wives for sale?
Can you do a cash deal?
BrisKites
BrisKites
QLD
1293 posts
QLD, 1293 posts
18 May 2008 7:38pm
Nah, I think Steve has issues with re-sale of his enhanced wives as they are all modified to his height
Saffer
Saffer
VIC
4501 posts
VIC, 4501 posts
18 May 2008 9:16pm
Never get married, you got to trade them in every couple of years for a younger sleeker model with dual airbags or the maintenance gets too high.
NSW, 4382 posts
18 May 2008 10:52pm
Hey, short robot wives with enhancements are cheaper, and they quoted me another mill for a 6 foot version of me too!

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve McRobot
spot1
spot1
WA
1588 posts
WA, 1588 posts
19 May 2008 8:44am
HE steve put your price up 12% per month.
my steel supply do it to me all the time,not to mention coles and woolys
and my clients say to me, why does it cost that much
NSW, 4382 posts
19 May 2008 11:24am
Yeah good idea Spot1, I'll get a prices board outside th shops, like the petrol stations have, and then advertise how many percentage points my prices have gone up or down, but you can guarantee that little robot will put up prices on the windy weekends (he gets direct boroadband feeds of wind info from laurie).

So come on down on a Monday or Tuesday, unless its windy.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Artificial Steve

awetdog
awetdog
NSW
59 posts
NSW, 59 posts
19 May 2008 8:57pm
i read somewhere kites were made of plastics, as these come from oil. so i guess the price board out the front is fitting[}:)]
kitecrazzzy
kitecrazzzy
WA
2184 posts
WA, 2184 posts
19 May 2008 7:19pm
awetdog said...

i read somewhere kites were made of plastics, as these come from oil. so i guess the price board out the front is fitting[}:)]


i want a croc skin bar and leather kite. the lines can be made from the tails of puppies and kittens. an african slave child can personally blow up the pig intestine bladders
then i can really be reducing my use of fossil fuels
BJ
BJ
WA
58 posts
BJ BJ
WA, 58 posts
20 May 2008 9:32am
As fun as it is to see a couple of retailers going for it I really think many of you missed the point I was trying to make.

Retailers don't like customers buying their gear from overseas because it is cheaper.

There is no good reason why kites should be cheaper overseas. If someone can put forward a good reason I would like to hear it. Its not the retailers that are making all the money, our margins have been about the same for the past few years.

My questions for anyone who thinks they have a good answer is Who is making all the money and why are prices in Australia so much higher than overseas.
sharkbait
sharkbait
VIC
134 posts
VIC, 134 posts
20 May 2008 12:10pm


Yeah....

NSW, 4382 posts
20 May 2008 2:34pm
http://www.kite-line.com/kiteboarding/kites.php?brand=Slingshot
Rev 11M price is virtually identical to Oz, when our Gst and their local taxes are factored into their price.

www.realkiteboarding.com/index.cfm?page=detail&catID=475&productID=9330

Same price

Its a figment of your imagination BJ. Sure there are close out deals, and some companies are have big sales, but overall prices around the world are very similar.

You have an alterior agenda here, that is becoming well known now, my advice is give it a rest, stop attacking your fellow retailers and kite brands generally.

There are 40 something inflato kite brands, way too many, its a buyers market. None of the inflato kite brands are doing exceptionally well, none of the brands owners I have met are dripping in gold, same goes for retailers.

Do you complain on other forums about the occassional inequality of pricing, of other products that your store sells, compared to prices overseas?
Doubt it.

No-one is making squillions in the kite game, give us all a break.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve the android
bigmark100
bigmark100
NSW
584 posts
NSW, 584 posts
20 May 2008 3:16pm
Generally speaking, most products you buy from overseas (US,ASIA) are a lot cheaper than Australia. From clothing to electronic equipment..... You can hardly go point your finger at kite retailters alone.....
Things are cheaper in US,
Part of this is because of exchange rate - however a big part of this is because of customer base, put simply - US retailers can afford to buy in bulk and have huge warehouses to store this bulk, this means they can afford to discount.
The entire market in australia probably doenst come even close to a single state in the US. Think about it.

As Steve has commented - prices of kites are similar, and its mostly true, shop around, negotiate with the shop and you are likely to get a deal just as good as anywhere else, plus the bonus of a local distributer who can sort out any warranty issues. .....
Karve
Karve
VIC
197 posts
VIC, 197 posts
20 May 2008 4:00pm
The cost of the kite is over $1000 aud so you should pay 10% gst on import into Australia.

Otherwise you are a very naughty boy for not paying your taxes!!
890Falcon
890Falcon
NSW
383 posts
NSW, 383 posts
20 May 2008 4:31pm
I just heard steel is going up 30% because China is sucking it dry and the suppliers cant keep up with the demand not good it happenned with copper last year it doubled in price.Imagine that happenned with kites no one would be kiting , it would be to expensive.

Anyone in business is in it to make money and of course to create a lifestyle for themselves, if your not happy with a price from a shop , shop around competition keeps prices down.

There was an article in the papers that our dollar will be dollar for dollar with the US and buyers are flocking to the net and saving up to 30% so I guess the same could be said about kites , thats not good for the Aussie retailers as they are finding it hard to compete with, but it means savings for the consumer.
awetdog
awetdog
NSW
59 posts
NSW, 59 posts
20 May 2008 9:40pm
i lack tact, so sorry if i bump your nose out of joint.
there were some ordinary arguements put up in the last thread for high prices. and to suggest all prices are near equal based on one example is not showing much respect for the forums intelligence. surely you wouldnt practice these tactics in your store?? you wouldnt, i believe you. you did wonders for your integrity there. so much for added value.
.
it is not the exchange rate,the AUS$ is at highs against most of the leading currencies not seen in decades. travel, our dollar goes a long way right now.
the US$ is weakening at the same time. cross that one off
.
it is not freight costs, as those who have bought from retailers such as kiteline can deliver one kite from oregon to remote locations in australia at very competitive prices. (actually 2 days faster than from sydney, same kite and all.) and their point of sale service left all the aus retalers i contacted in the shade. (CardBoards excepted, they have service you only get in stupidly expensive hotels. and they are internationally price competitive with an outstanding product)

buying power from larger markets is a valid arguement, but at what percentage? still the best arguement i have seen raised
run a smaller margin, you may sell more kites, and end up with a bigger share the existing market, and may even increase overall demand. around $2000 is some serious coin for a high school kid, and beyond comprehension for a uni student not still at home. you got kids, they chew through some coin too.

oh then add 2 to 4 hours of lessons. (which are awesome value regardless)

double dipping and wholesalers running percentage markup instead of nominal are my guess. but its a guess.

manufacturers do run bonuses to close out in most retail sectors. i have seen a jap car maker throw more than 20% at dealers to move stock. bicycles too. cant speak for kites.

but australia does get jabbed, itunes charge $1.69 here or 99c US. about a 60% markup.
soon wholesalers will realise it is 2008 and it is a world market.

i feel for the poor retailer, even the one with robots. cause overheads in australia are high, particularly wages. its not fair. innovate. or learn how to add value to your product. "it keeps me in business to help you" is not enough. why? damn it. why? do you really know why i would want to buy from you? its not sympathy.

i have gone on far too long.

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