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Photoshop??
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Mike
Should you have to write “Prooduct of CHINA” on your boards ?
Because there is a VERY big chance that your Fins, Fin plugs, Leash cup, Paint, sandpaper, tape, tools, rice paper, ink, was made in china
Not to forget that the raw materials to Blow Foam, Make Resin or Weave Cloth probably came from here too
In some countries you Have to write on the product where the majority of the materials originated from.
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I know lot’s of Chinese guys and gals that surf, actually seem them too. Imagine that.
I think you guys are making a lot of generalizations
time to turn the dial.
Does that make it any better than the other way around ?
**relax the thing that causes the prblm is called a level playing field?**
**nothing to do with race or colour
**
So Mitch builds 'em just the way his ‘‘customers’’ want them, no permanent markings. IMO the intent to deceive is obvious. He can try to muddy up the water as much as he wants by talking about where components originate, but that’s just more smoke to hide behind. What’s next, figure out which oil well the plastics came from?
obproud has the right idea and knows what the law says. ''Herding the cats" of the US industry is unlikely, though. Individual action through people with the proper information is probably more viable.
Mitch could fix this by putting a 2 cent decal in his boards, but his ‘‘customers’’ don’t want it. Why they don’t want it is the real question. IMO the answer is clear.
Hi Huie – I’m fine, and not trying to stop you guys from trying to get even. DS’s getting over the top with generalizations and rants, but really the balance will fall more so now that the flood of the market has happened and the balance swinging back to the custom board market. I can understand the frustration and need to grab the small local percentage of loyal buyers, or with some, hold their ego in check because they don’t have any leverage to do anything about it but rant a bit. It’s understandable.
Firewire comes to mind, and how their bait and switch ultra custom PR then turns to outsourcing. I’m also wondering how those guys sleep at night, watching their business plan / marketing strategy day to day to see when might be the right time to dump the idea. Lots of people are on the ropes for many factors revolving around the central issue. $$$. I think SUP production is saving many.
My point though was that it’s pretty naive to still use China and Chinese in such broad terms in relation to surfboards and surfers. There are probably more of your mates and expats who are worthy of the rants. All is fare game here.
==ep
But realistically why should mitch change how he runs his buisiness becuase ppl who are not even buying off him dont like what is happening?whatever he does surely must be customer driven in which case, that is where the change must come from?.
I would find it hard to believe that you(or most other buisness) would make changes to your buisiness practices because some guy who isnt even a customer doesnt like what you are doing.
I liken it to a work force and employer situation where the workforce is unhappy, they can all sit around fragmented complaining. or they can unionise and drive change through industrial action.
In otherwords, complaining here to mitchfromoz probably wont get you anywhere.
…hello,
talking about answering questions
why not answer one of the questions that I did?
that is: who is the guy that sign the shapes?
with what name?
a fake one of course…I doubt to find a Chinese name signed in the shape…
thanks
Would you find it hard to believe that mitch would make changes to his business to comply with laws? The product should be clearly and permanently marked.
I’m not trying to ‘‘get anywhere’’ by complaining to mitch, unless we could convince him to mark the product over the objections of his customers.
I’d like to see more ethics in this business. I’m not going to apologize for that.
We abide by all laws in each country.
Perhaps not all companies do, But I do, To the latest information I can find in each countries import rules and regs.
Mike, you are just poking at a subject you dislike, I will thank you for bumping an ADVERT set by me, but thats it
You dont need to apologise for voicing opinions on a forum designed for voicing opinions,Thats what its for… der…
I do not mean to offend anyone here, The idea was to get opinions, and answer some questions for the public to view.
and of course see if anyone was interested in BECOMING A DISTRIBUTER OR SALES STAFF for my company
Just dont push your imformation drive too far in a public place,
I can see what your getting at, You dont like me boucing your questions with hidden agendas back at you,
Everyone can see it, we know what you want.
All is good people, Much insight has been spoken, there are some great writers online here,
Yeah i do understand what you are getting at.i didnt make the comment cause i thought you should apologise and please excuse me if i came across somewhat strongly as that was not the intention.im merely trying to point out that we blame suppliers like mitch when realistically without the Ppl down the road from us selling these things.and its not something confined to this industry alone and i think there are a range of different issues.but for me imo the Ppl importing the products are the driving force behind it.
I want the same thing. I have been getting a lot of customers who want to know where their boards are made, good for them, and when there are “hidden” imported boards all over the place it makes it hard to be “knowledgeable”.
If someone is willing to import boards making anything their customer wants, hiding origin, are they also willing to copy any board design and logos because it is what the customer wants?
I had a board company that was getting their boards made in China pounce on me at a trade show recently and tell me that they were going to be putting their stuff in the small shop where I have a shaping room. When I asked them if they wanted to know what I really thought about that especially when some of their stuff was very close to my “niche” market stuff and that that would really hurt me especially since I only have that one shop representing my boards, and theirs were all over the place the basically said “TOO BAD IT IS ONLY BUSINESS BRO”. I had to have a very “heart to heart” talk with the shop owner.
I would like to see imported boards labeled whether it be China, Thailand, Mexico, whatever, so that the end retail customer can make a informed choice. Just like any other product. Not everyone is a “label reader” I am. As board builders we are the “Davids” this this fight, hell even The Surfers Journel is printed in China so maybe they would not be on our “side”. Otherwise “Its just business bro”!
Mike we have never met, I am on your side! ACE
Ace, thanks. I think you and huie get it.
Hunty and Mitch, you’re right I don’t really have a problem with Mitch. It’s his customers who are involved in the deception.
If that was true then you would put a lam of “Made in China” on your boards. Do you?
.
When has there ever been a level playing field in this industry? or anywhere? survival of the fittest as far as I’m concerned.
There have always been people who sell their product cheaper.
There are a few who seem intent on giving Mitch a hard time for doing something he loves and trying to expand his business. And the only problem they have is that he is in China!
You can walk into any so called surfshop and see racks of boards with “designed in Australia Made in Thailand” on them and no one bats an eyelid because the logos on them are a respected name in the industry.
As for whose products he uses to manufacture his boards I dont think it should matter as long as the quality is there.
I know someone who was at an Asian surfboard factory and saw a room with boards in it. Asked what they were and was told they were rejects. when asked what was wrong the spray designs weren’t perfect maybe crooked pin lines etc. Asked if they were for sale and was told they were all being sawn in half and scrapped. Bet not many factories in my country would have such strict QC.
But keep going fellas give Mitch heaps because he is not on the North Shore or the Northern Beaches or Goldy.
Custom boards will always be the go.
remember its supposed to be fun, and if you get your fun from an imported surfboard all good.
Cheers
Daren