Everyone complains about the proliferation of Chinese "Popouts". I agree that we need to support our locas US shapers and buy products made here in America. However, what really urks me is that so many exceptional boards are going overseas to Asian collectors. Let them make thier own boards. Don't get me wrong, Im not talking about every American shaper here, and custom orders aside, I understand business is business. However, when I hear comments about how a board: "won't last, get it before the Japanese collectors get it", it makes me sick!
They get all the rad VW’s too , lol 
Wait, what? This has me confused. Popouts are no fun, that I get. So people should support US shapers, but only Americans are allowed now since shapers suddenly cant keep up with the market? Or is it just the Japanese this concerns? If so let me know if Swedes end up on that list and what I should do to not piss anyone off when buying American made surfboards I cant build myself.
Wow...did you miss the point. It has nothing to do with anyone from another country buying American products. Forest for the trees huh?
So if americans are so cheap that they will only buy Chinese popouts then why shouldn’t we sell to the Japanese if they will pay the price ! It keeps the american shapers working and they don’t have to try to compete with Chinese crap. I make a point of buying made in the USA products. Stay away from made in China as much as possible. So chickenplucker try buying made in the USA !!! If everyone bought made in the USA then there wouldn’t be any made in China !!!
This is Rubbish Chickenmang!! Lighten up, you sound like a racist biggot. Two posts in and your slagging buyers of quality collectables??
Ogerer...read the initial posting again...it might make more sense the second time around...BTW...I do buy American as much as I can, and I do support my local shapers and other craftsmen. And, not to burst your bubble, but as far as your last sentence goes, there will ALWAYS be Chinese products. Check global population stats. You think that computer you typed your response into was made here? or every piece of your car, or your cell phone? Dream on buddy! In my posting, there are some key words for you to be aware of: American, Handmade, Quality. I value quality American products, and want them to stay here as much as possible; However, as stated in my post, it is the individuals who use verbage such as: "if you don't get it now, it goes overseas" (like a cheap threat) who I was speaking of. The post was not intended to minimalize the shapers who need to income b/c of stupid americans who don't invest in thier communities and local craftsmen.
i know a number of shapers that ship there boards to japan, and why, well they could sell there board here for around 600 bucks or so but if they were to ship that same board to japan it would sell for around 800 to 1000 bucks, so if you do the math you could see why alot of high end boards end up there
oh ya and its been my experience with the Japanese that they are really picky with the quality and cosmetics of the board so thats why i think only the really nice high end boards end up there
Thanks SDrepairman,
I appreciate your feedback and honesty. My comments were not intended to offend, as some have taken them. More or less vent a point of frustration. I guess in the current state of our economy, everyone has to do what they have to do. As with any business, saving or making money is what keeps shapers and board manufacturers from closing up shop. I just wish more Americans were as picky, and concerned with quality handmade products. Thanks.
If i want to buy something and whoever is trying to sell it tells me "Buy it now before it goes overseas", i walk away instantly. What kind of idiot falls for that?. Salesman tactics has nothing to do with surfboards.
Japanese culture is based on the idea of making everything you do in life into an art that pursues perfection. You can see it in their culinary arts, music, architechture etc… In every aspect of their life. They pay $1,500 for a Josh Hall log with a flawless Moonlight glass job. How many middle class blue collar here can afford that. I am no rich dude and still I would rather pay $1,000+ for 1 log that will last me several years than to buy one low quality log a year. Boards that get destroyed in tubes are another story, that’s why I decided to start shaping. I beleive that not many people appreciate or are willing to pay for quality what a board is really worth. Japanese pay what a board is worth so if someone wants to make a living, why not sell to them? We also need to consider the value of the Yen…
I’m sure the small shops who tend to work with the premium log shapers are loving the business, as are the shapers, and if it wasn’t your custom order they bagged, why would you even care?
from what I have observed the Japanese are purely stoked on hand-crafted boards and surfing culture. I think its great !!! If a shaper can expand his bussiness and expose others to his boards why not ??
I don’t see Japan snapping up all of the vintage boards if that’s what you’re beefing but I’m kind of reading that it’s just the age old “get it while it lasts” marketing spew that you don’t like. As far as new boards go, the Japanese market doesn’t keep anybody from buying them here. I sell about half of the few boards that I make to Japan and I’m just thrilled when anybody that buys one is stoked.
There’s a difference between Chinese made boards and Japanese bought boards- Japan has a deeply ingrained surf culture. China doesn’t (…yet…watch out when that happens). So the boards the Japanese are buying are being bought by surfers. Instead, the boards China is making are not being made by surfers. Japanese are connoisseurs (sp?). They appreciate quality. They’re willing to pay for it. And that’s a bad thing???
Also, the boards made in Japan are made by surfer labor.
Oh and “urk” is spelled “irk.”
double post
You obviously don't have a basic knowledge of economics and interenational trade.There's always some degree of Export /Import gap. An economy is weakened when it has little if any international demand for home grown and manufactured products. Export of products made in the USA is a good thing provided it doesn't deprive US citizens of the opportunity to buy said product. High quality shapers have been exporting and making trips to Japan to shape over there for years. I have NEVER heard anyone say; "get it before the Japanese collectors do." We need to export more of anything and everything this country manufactures, in order to close our trade deficit with countries like China. We import way too much China crap. You sound more as though you are defending Chinese "popouts". Trying to justify their purchase. So what are you? A Chinese importer?
Japanese have great respect for quality. They will snatch up anything they believe is a high quality product. They are also into buying “name brands” and they don’t care if they pay a little more for the higher end product. Smart Chinese don’t buy anything made in China, they buy foreign made products. The Japan owned surf shops here carry all the best name shapers boards, and they don’t come cheap.
Most of the US doesn’t care about quality, they just want the lowest cost. That’s why we ended up with VHS video recorders and not betamax, and so many other items that weren’t better, just cheaper to make and sell.
The US gave it all away to China and other third world countries looking for a way to make their products at lower costs. Now it’s biting back and worse there’s no way to control the intellectual property theft because they didn’t even think about it when they gave it all away. There’s a lot of crying out now for US manufacturers to bring back the manufacturing but the costs will never work out.
Just wait until the rich Chinese come over and start buying boards. They’ll pay more than the japanese if they think there’s value, and don’t blame the manufacturers or owners for selling because their getting a lot more than what cheapskates will pay. And with all the surf travel going on, it’s only a matter of time before foreigners start crowding out your best surf spots. It happened here in Hawaii a long time ago, and it’s going on all over the world.
I don’t charge a penny more to my Japanese dealers, the exact same price as those in the good old US of A. What they order from me just can’t be obtained by the Japanese shapers / craftsmen, they know good work and will pay for it, no need to try and F them.
would you be saying the same thing if it was Australia or Canada importing US boards? what is wrong with exporting boards to Japan? maybe US customers should start to understand the time, labor, and skill that goes into a surfboard and pay accordingly. I’m with Mcding on this