what boots should I be looking at
The prices for snow gear in Australia, soft and hardgoods, are an absolute joke. Like most people, I like to buy Aus and my threshold is usually about 20% - no one likes sending money o/s or having to wait, but I’ve never found an item locally that ever comes close. Usually prices are at least 40% cheaper, even after shipping.
^^ I don’t think your RRP comparison is realistic. It is quite easy to shop around online nowadays, not to mention take advantage of the clearance sales at the end of the NOHO season.
I’m actually interested as to why gear cost so much more here? Doesn’t it all come from the same place anyways?
i think its import tax + gst + some other bs tax + goverment tax + tax on top of the tax
but no really i think that is why i think aus is just shit with taxes.
Deano,
i dunno might as well be i am not sure what to say about bindings i got flux ds30 in medium size so no idea and have no other bindings to try it on, i guess the only thing i can do is get new boots and hope for the best, and if it happens again maybe try changing the bindings, but if this is the case its a bloody joke, how are you suppose to buy gear for first time and know it will not give you any problems and on top of all i got most of the things top of the range, and yes i know sometimes buying best aint always the best but you think to your self if i buy little better gear i can keep it for longer and i shouldnt have much pain.
now i have lost about 500$ on boots and if the bindings are problem i have lost again around $400 or what ever they cost me .. its bloody joke ..
Can you link me to your original post please.
I think deano might me on to something with the bindings.
Do the boots hurt when done up tight, but not in the bindings (i.e, around the house)?
How tight do you have your bindings?
What boots did you have before?
Have you been to a foot specialist?
Can you link me to your original post please.
I think deano might me on to something with the bindings.
Do the boots hurt when done up tight, but not in the bindings (i.e, around the house)?
How tight do you have your bindings?
What boots did you have before?
Have you been to a foot specialist?
Hey mate
Do the boots hurt when done up tight, but not in the bindings (i.e, around the house)?
NO i had no pain at all
How tight do you have your bindings?
Hrm i guess tight enough so i feel strapped in not really sure how to answer this question just enough i thing.
What boots did you have before?
i did not have any SLX was my first boot.
let me try and find the post i am not sure where i post it as it was in random thread that someone else had similar issue. and it was just a picture of a foot and circled where my pain is,
cheers
sorry if you have said this before but what size are your boots?
Since you got medium bindings id say you are between 8-10 size?
sorry if you have said this before but what size are your boots?
Since you got medium bindings id say you are between 8-10 size?
i got flux ds30 in medium size.
and i got burton slx in size 10.
i think i did mention this in page before this one.
oh ok cool, i run a size 10 boot and i use large bindings, i havent ahd medium bindings for about 3 years now.
I dont know mate, on paper your boots “should” fit those bindings, they are at the upper end of the scale but they should still fit.
Without actually riding in a different pair of bindings your going to have to hazard a guess and decide on either new boots or bindings. Either way is going to be a gamble until you actually get on snow to try them out…
oh ok cool, i run a size 10 boot and i use large bindings, i havent ahd medium bindings for about 3 years now.
I dont know mate, on paper your boots “should” fit those bindings, they are at the upper end of the scale but they should still fit.
Without actually riding in a different pair of bindings your going to have to hazard a guess and decide on either new boots or bindings. Either way is going to be a gamble until you actually get on snow to try them out…
yeah i know well it didnt take long, i sold my boots so i will get new boots now and see how i go.
ah well hope you made some of your money back mate!
On comparing prices to overseas, you have to compare the full retail prices. The Burton SLX for example retails for $550 in the USA and $650 in Australia. That’s $100 difference on a fairly large purchase. Just like the States, Australia also gives big discounts (40% on average) on boots at the end of the season. Of course there is the odd bargain floating around but I don’t think it’s the norm. Many brands won’t ship to Australia. I know some will but I hope those brands crack down like the other brands have.
Why do you have to compare full retail price in US? I meant “buying overseas” as in, Online shopping, specialist sites etc. And yes, certain boots are going to have different margins. My 32 Lashed retail for $500. Online I pay $70.
Now, here’s the other thing. I tried these boots on in a store in Canada, liked them, bought them for $90 at this shop and now that I know this boot fits me, I buy it online every time for two reasons. Number 1. being the price is significantly cheaper. 2. being it is impossible, and I mean impossible to find any boots in my size in stores.
I also recently bought my Union Contact Pro’s online for the same reasons. No one in NZ imports bindings in Small/mediums (except it seems for Rome 390’s).
I have never advocated buying a boot online before trying it on. As seems to be peoples assumption with buying online - that one doesn’t try the boot on first.
I haven’t heard of a “fitting fee” before, however, I kind of like this idea. Now you can go in, pay a fee to try a boot on and then not feel guilty for “free services” when you buy it online. I assume it would be waived if you ended up buying the boots at the store as well.
A little bit stink if the store genuinely has nothing that fits you right, but at the end of the day - you still used their services, didn’t you?
Good to hear you recovered something out of those boots Lanox, hope the next ones treat you better! Are you going for the Hails? You might also be able to talk to a store about borrowing some bindings next time you go riding if you think the bindings could be causing the problem also.
I’m not entirely sure what the situation in New Zealand is like, so I can’t comment. I do know the industry in Australia and many of the brands selling their products here have made a huge effort to reduce the price in Australia and bring the prices closer to that of the States. Of course it will never quite match for obvious reasons, but the stores and brands have significantly reduced the margin. Prices are now the cheapest they have ever been.
The Lashed retails here for $369. At the end of the season with 40% discount, the price comes down to $241. I have no idea where you’ve seen these boots for $70. I did a quick search of major online retailers in the States and the cheapest I could find was $140. $70 is obviously a bargain and someone must clearing super old stock at a loss. The store I worked at often sells boots up to 60% off if they are a couple of seasons old (this is at a loss). It does sound like you wear a very uncommon size which is maybe why there are some bargains out there. Don’t expect this to be the norm though. You’re also in the very fortunate situation of knowing exactly what you want and what works for your feet.
So in my mind, we’re comparing $241 to $140. Granted there is a $100 difference, but you’re getting a complete boot fitting service, free adjustments and heat molding, a full warranty (where the store goes in the bat for you and make things happen), and you’re supporting the local industry. Additionally, you’re not paying for shipping or freight forwarding. Just say someone needs to pay the boot fitting fee then shipping from overseas. That pretty much eliminates the $100 difference. I don’t see why anyone would choose to support the overseas industry and not receive a warranty if the prices are comparable, which I believe they are on most purchases. Discounted gear needs to be compared to discounted gear, and there is plenty of discounted gear in Australia for the bargain hunters.
I’m not having a go at you. I just think all the facts need to be put on the table. Everything stated above is specific to Australia. I can confirm the boot fitting fee gets credited if you buy a pair of boots from the store. I’m currently living in Canada and the prices here are also very similar to that of Australia. I’m talking less than $50 difference on a $700 purchase.
Obviously I can’t say the websites name where I got them, but they aren’t a sports only seller. The first time I bought them I paid about $80us online. They were the 2011 Lashed. This year they were about $60us and are still the 2011 Lashed.
And now that I think about it, I believe these prices are retail prices as the online website lists real stores products.
You’re right that yes, my feet are an obscure size and do offer good deals, but as I also said I got my Union Contact pros online. I paid about $170us. Almost all bindings in NZ retail at $500+. I’ve also seen sessions pants that I bought online for $100us retailing at $300 in stores.
People seem to have picked up the impression that I’m saying everything on line is going to be 80% cheaper than what you find locally. I originally only stated that you can pick up 32 products for much cheaper and the brand does not have shipping restrictions - however yes, there are other brands also super cheap online and can be shipped internationally.
As I said earlier, I can buy 4 pairs of my boots online for the price of one in store, making any warranty pointless.
When I have bought locally, warranty’s have been nothing but fights for me. Every time I want to warranty an item I am asked to pay ridiculous amounts as an “inspection fee” or what seems to be an excessive shipping fee by the shops. I always end up emailing the rep or company directly. That applies to Canada as well.
I wouldn’t suggest you’re having a go. You’ve put forward valid points - there is obviously a difference between NZ and Oz prices. My original statement was that if Lanox didn’t want to waste large amounts of money on boot that could fix his problem, then he might look into ordering 32’s from overseas as an option as they’re cheap, offer heat molding liners, and do not restrict shipping on that brand. The rest of what I’ve said is personal opinion in support of “why buying locally doesn’t work for everyone” in response to Mizu’s comment that “Buying online is the worst thing anyone can do.”
Buyin boots online is probably the worst thing ya can do anyways!!!!! Go into ya local and get them fitted/blown out and then to walk away knowin that they should endeavour to help ya out if things go wrong for some reason, is a worth any extra cent that ya might have to pay!!!!!