Burton pricing
I thought that the “gap” between US and Aussie prices had widened a bit this year if anything. Most boards seem to have gone up around $70-$100 I would think mostly to do with the drop in the dollar. Given burton run their own business here in aus they are probably able to adjust their pricing more than most of the other importers. They in effect are the importer and manufacture, unlike most of the others that are run independently and have to pay wholesale US prices, then add on shipping/profit costs etc.
I say well done to Burton for taking on this type of business model, its obviously cut their costs and made there product more competitive against others. Id think there should also be a higher profit margin in it for them also as they have taken out a 3rd party cost.
Before est it was the 3 hole mounts.
Kicking solid riders off your team so you can pay the salary of 1 guy. Remember why yes started? They fucked over those guys.
I believe they wanted Torah to go head to toe Burton as well so she left back in the day.
As much as Jake Burton did in the early days he sure is doing a lot to turn the place to shit now.
They throw money into events just so they know can get double back not because they think its good for the sport. Why do you think they stopped the Australian open.
- so you don’t like Burton because they use a different mounting system?
- it’s a business. Sometimes the marketing guys make some weird moves, but the uninc team were all aging and commanding large salaries. But hey, if they hadn’t been cut, the snowboard world wouldn’t have YES or Slash, or Gigi’s 9191 video etc. So you could say it’s been a positive move for snowboarding!
- was Torah ever sponsored by Burton? Why is it such a bad thing to be sponsored head to toe by a company?
- Burton is as successful as ever, with a solid team, quality products, massive r&d projects, sponsoring major events and community programs (Chill & LTR)
- Do you think any snowboard company is a non-profit?
Torah used to be sponsored by Burton before she went to Roxy (head-to-toe with Roxy if I’m not mistaken?).
The other thing Burton has always focussed on was reducing grey imports, and their strong policies in the States to protect Australian retailers is evident of this. You can’t get Burton shipped to Australia otherwise the offending retailer in the States will lose their account—and true to their word, this has happened.
This is true and while it’s important for local stores to be viable, the price difference between the States and Australia is borderline ridiculous at times. I purchased a 2014 Burton Name Dropper here in Aus which is currently retailing at MainPeak for $549.95. Conversely, in the States it’s currently retailing for US $337.45. Had I been able to ship it in from a US retailer I would have.
It’s unfortunate in regards to the brands that are a year behind in Australia, i.e., the price on the 2014 board you’re looking at in the states is a discounted end-of-season leftover board. That’s why more brands are bringing their gear into Australia a year ahead. YES for example, the current range in Australia is 2015. Newer tech, new graphics, not available anywhere else in the world yet. That’s the type of situation we want in Australia. Newer products, a high level of customer service, and warranties (boards purchased overseas don’t have a warranty in Australia). That’s what we have going for us here and a lot of customers respect that and feel it’s worth the extra money, thankfully. Otherwise the industry here would completely die.
I can’t hate on burton as much as some. But I think some of their ideas are a lot more hype than anything else. The company has too many damn buzz words. I went into a store the other day and the guy starts telling me about all this technology they have using all their terms for it and not going into great detail. I was just kinda smiling and nodding (what the fuck is frostbite technology?). Also it gives me the shits that 9/10 shops want to just refer you straight to a burton board.
I haven’t tried est since it first came out but honestly how many times a day would you change your stance? I don’t think I’ve changed mine in about 3 years. Make it as wide as possible then just adjust your riding.
I get that its a business though so 99% of their decisions are purely financial so I cant hate on them for drama with riders etc. It’s the same as firing/hiring employees based on performance. It’s nothing personal.
My daughter was in the rigglet park the other day and I’ll probably pick her up an after school special. No one can really touch them when it comes to boards for really little kids(she’s only 2).
You know what? Now all the companies have every little bit of tech, real or imagined, named with a little logo. I’ve got the Burton tech down but looking at a different company’s catalogue means I have to look up all the blurbs. This says a lot for the importance of graphics - if I’m turned off by the graphics, which is the first thing I notice, I won’t even bother looking up the tech.
I agree with you that once you set up your stance, that’s it…unless you have a quiver of 10 boards and you have to flip bindings during the season.
You know what? Now all the companies have every little bit of tech, real or imagined, named with a little logo. I’ve got the Burton tech down but looking at a different company’s catalogue means I have to look up all the blurbs. This says a lot for the importance of graphics - if I’m turned off by the graphics, which is the first thing I notice, I won’t even bother looking up the tech.
This. I used to not really care about graphics but now I care a lot. A lot of boards now days are really good anyways, it comes down to what stokes you the most. It can have the most tech in the world and rides like a dream but if it has a graphic like one of those Lobster boards, I will not buy it.
My decision making really goes,
1. Price
2. Graphics
3. Reputation of the brand/not aldi
4. Tech.
If its a no on any of those i’m not buying. Majority of tech doesn’t enhance or change riding enough to make me want to buy something, with the exception of the camber. I still remember when reverse came out, it felt revolutionary, cant remember most the names of any other tech I have ridden.