Kite prices are going to go up!!!!! Holy Crap!!

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1692 Posts XTreme Poster

OK, so I've accepted the fact that a significant portion of my income is going towards things I need. Home, car, gym, cable etc., but gas is starting to move in on my expendable money and it's forcing me to make choices that I've not had to make in the past.

This being said my economist friend is telling me that goods manufactured abroad are going to increase signifigantly over the next 3 to 5 quarters. Prices of ram materials used in making them etc. will lead to higher kite prices.

I know that Pepi already mentioned this, but I'm interested in hearing what everyone else is thinking with regards to their quiver 08 quiver.

How long do you hold;use your kites?

Is this based on your income, or just your preference?

If you knew kite prices, board prices, and all related gear was going up would this motivate a deferred purchase?

Does T-bone Picken's kite?

Kodiak · Since 01 Aug 2005 1114 Posts Slidey

Why start a new thread if this is already in a different one? Just bump the other thread.

tekko · Since 20 Feb 2006 376 Posts White Salmon Liquid Force

I will chime in with an industry perspective...

You are %100 right. EVERYTHING is going up with the arrival of 09 gear this fall.

The prices of kite material, board resins, etc are all on the rise.. and all cost more to ship from supplier to factory, cost more to manufacture the goods then more to ship from manufacturer to distributor, distributor to shops and then to you.

From initial #'s i have seen from our 09 products I would say be ready to expect %10-%20 increase across the board on everything for 2009.

This means.. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO BUY KITE GEAR!!!

With 09 pricing increases and 08 gear being the best ever built to date.. with most companies already using their best tech in their 08 gear, with slight developments/improvements in 09, the best value in kite gear over the next few years will be on the remaining 08 gear available in shops for the next 3 months until 09 starts trickling in with the higher prices.

Luckily, the gear has also improved so much in the past few years that gone are the days of needing a 4-5 kite quiver. The increased range in the kites most people are riding now allow a 2 or 3 kite quiver for most people.. so even though stuff costs more.. there is less of a need to buy so much of it...

rich · Since 30 Nov 2005 306 Posts portland Obsessed

i got my t2's on closeout last month for a good price, 9m & 11m. I'll ride these as long as they hold up, though I'll be looking to add a 7m & possibly a 14m when the cash is there or the right opportunity arises.

Costs will rise in everything. Kiting will just be right alongside the rest of the economy. basically, your dollar isn't worth what it used to be.