the 1966 dollar as a base.
?the dollar is worth a penny.
it didnt happen overnite .
it has been a slow slide.
if the dollar was worth 10cents the 1988 surfboard at 140.00
would now be 1400.00
do your own math
the quantity of materials is at approx.10%
$150. a feet is still low.
…ambrose…
play first,then pay?
500$=5.oo 1966
{(–)} look closer
we are the economy
raise prices
sell expensive stuff
to china.
…the concept of value only comes from some segment of the surfers
the problem is surfing now is a mass product so surfboards
the “new” people dont have a clue and don know about whats a surfboard and his heritage
they dont interested in the process or what process or the contact with a real person behind the product (board)
Swaylocks is a bubble
you name Cooperfish, like G Cooper posted, he sold his factory and only produce 20 or so boards per year…
Moonlight is not so big glass factory
they do not too much boards compared with thousands and thousands that are made
M Campbell is only a shaper and not shape too much boards in a year too
so the reality is other
for me, like with everything now, is a time who provides no return
we re living in the past
I must say I’m enjoying the insightful posts from both you Nels and Ambrose.
In Aus it is kind of the reverse : ST’s sell for a premium : $800-900 for shorties and $1200-1600 for longboards.
I can walk into any local manufacturer here and get a custom pu/pe from an internationally recognised shaper for $500-600.
Epoxy/carbon tech for $700-800.
Off the rack prices are $650-750 for shorties.
I think the pop-out phenom has definitely given custom shapers more room to move in what they charge…for some reason they seem reluctant to do so.
There’s definitely some work to be done in what Nels’ called value perception by the general public.
As a general observation most of the ST’s I see ridden are by older crew (ie 40+).
The other important point about custom equipment is that it sometimes takes a committment of 2-3 boards to get it right…if the customer is paying a price premium for that process it will truly deter all but the diehard fanatics.
Give me custom or give me death.
Steve
The majority of the crew that we (as an Industry ) build boards for dont surf well enough to care whether their board was hand shaped or not. They still see value for dollar and longevity of the product as their main influence.
The handful of people who do surf well enough will usually get a deal anyway.
Lots of people going back to 6oz glass.
Cheers
Daren.
“We offer a Two week warranty.But if you ride it within a fortnight you’ll void it”
...the concept of value only comes from some segment of the surfersthe problem is surfing now is a mass product so surfboards
the “new” people dont have a clue and don know about whats a surfboard and his heritage
they dont interested in the process or what process or the contact with a real person behind the product (board)
Swaylocks is a bubble
Yep, surfboard builders sure do appreciate how much work goes into making a board…
Yep, surfboard builders sure do appreciate how much work goes into making a board…
Well, this is the key when it comes to pricing boards and for board builders and shop owners to make a living…who knows better? But that knowledge can’t just be translated into a price tag that makes people gasp…it has to be readily apparent why.
Earlier I mentioned Cooperfish and Moonlight as examples…to be more specific than I was earlier they are but two of many examples of end product that can itself make people gasp…the best of their work looks like freaking stargates into another world, yes? Anybody with an I.Q. higher than their waist size can scan a wall of boards and pick them out as being something special. Worth twice the price of standard boards? Most anyone would say yes, even if they didn’t buy. But then going down through the rest of the boards by price…that gets less easy to sort and harder and harder depending on the experience and background of the customer.
Now, it’s fine and dandy for a builder or shop owner to run things the way they want to. Everybody here has dealt with a variety of shops and the business owners have dealt with a variety of customers. There are heaps of outside influences on the whole show, too…and things are always changing. We’re in a shakeout right now that in many ways won’t be like when the shortboard thing went down, due to the piles of mass-produced equipment floating around. The way to survive or perhaps eventually thrive is for the knowledgeable people to welcome customers, make sure they aren’t running an elitist environment, and educate the customers who may need or want increased knowledge.
Or see if they can get on the management training program at Taco Bell…
so the reality is other
for me, like with everything now, is a time who provides no return
we re living in the past
-reverb
These are for sure lean times, and getting leaner. The thing is to survive the closeout and see what’s coming next…one never knows
This most on-point article from the Los Angeles Time Friday May 30, 2008:
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-surfboards30-2008may30,0,7502354.story
Nels