THINGS CHANGE

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

I remember when the Best boy first started selling his brand of capitalism
There was a lot of bad mouthing
I didn't really care as the early kites didn't seem so special
JUST LESS EXPENSIVE
So What !( a few bucks)
Now With the $ AND the hot Kite(S)?
He's looking a lot smarter
Now he has some fans

AS MUCH FUN AS KITING IS
It's just another business
one staring at THE 21st century business model
it's nice to look at things in a shop
and hang out
BUT I WOULD RATHER BE ON THE WATER !!
I have been able to get by without a shop
ever since I started in 1999
no demos other than what my pals let me ride
although I admit the Naish X-4 was a disappointment as was the Aero-2
and the V-4,,kites I purchased from shops without a demo ,
ahead of release

Bad mouthing Competitors has never worked ,(my expierence )
Funny I don't hear bad stuff from the Best troops
about thier competitors Very Happy

Looks like they are having some fun

sorry shopkeepers Crying or Very sad

get a website (interactive)
just as when the Windsurf thing took off there was a lot of sorting out in the beginning
many after the few
Are there enough kiters for all the shops,multinationals
probably not (yet)
what will it take
same as always
better products Very Happy

colby · Since 23 Apr 2005 613 Posts Celebrity Photographer

love these kind of topics...thanks for the writeup blowhard!

a humble opinion...I think it all comes down to service and where you are located...knowing that we have AirTime in Hood River takes a lot of the worry out of kiteastrophies, but having a store nearby is helpful for parts, and especially if they have knowledgeable riders that you can trust for an opinion. Maybe the most important thing to a kiter is to minimize the time they are off the water dealing with a breakdown or part they are missing,
so having all these options is key...having to send a kite back (if under warranty) and waiting two weeks off the water is painful!

Another similar problem...our little business relies entirely on our laptop computers working...if one goes down then the world stops. We started purchasing our computers at Costco awhile back because their return policy was so forgiving compared to paying $350 for a Best Buy/Circuit City/CompUSA replacement policy that can be a 10 day turnaround. We had instances where one would break after the manufacturer's warranty and Costco would take the computer and ask what size $$bills we wanted!

So we could turn right around and buy another computer - I know, I know, 'why didn't you buy a Mac!'...This happened with a couple of printers that also went bad and we got the same great service, but now Costco wizened up, plus they lose something like 2 million a year on technology hardware, and have a strict 90 day return policy...but other specific items I will only buy from them. If you look at how dependent we are on computers and how many of us have them they almost equate to how dependent we are on cars and the little shops that service them...I just wonder why so few businesses are doing this - Geek Squad can not be the end all be all of service for computers.

So enough ranting, I'm just saying that ordering certain things online is out of the question if you don't have someone local to support it if it breaks...service should still be king for a lot of businesses, but is often greatly neglected.

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

Blowhard - so do you have a website where you sell kites or were you just speaking in general terms?

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Isn't your perspective a little unique Blowhard? how far are you from the nearest kiteboarding shop?

Unless you want to carry two of everything having shops who can support your gear and get you back on the water ASAP when stuff gets lost / breaks etc. is a good thing. Its cool though now Best is in shops you can support the shops and get the good deals.

The recent article in Kiteboarding Magazine really does tell both sides, its worth the read.

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

don't sell
just an obs.
I enjoy the shops as much as anyone ( chose New Wind for kites over the BEST website)
As far as my money goes I hold no preference who gets it just as long as the product delivers
yes I do carry spares of everything
I bet there is a lot of us out away from shops (Surviving in the wilds somehow )
Except kites , they overlap some ,
I fix my bladders usally
my wife sews up my blow-outs
including a leading edge seam on my 12.0
and there was no perceptible difference
I also use Costco and disliked the return policy .
A pals school friends were buying everything needed for the school year and then return it at the end of the year .
Of course the folks who don't do this are the ones paying for thier way

I would hope that the competition would bring us all up
I hear a lot of good things about the new Naishs'
maybe it's working already

barfly · Since 31 Mar 2005 1216 Posts Portland BRACKISH

What prompted this topic? Is there someone popping-off about how great it is to have a shop nearbye and how it just sucks that there are actually websites selling equipment?

Curious is all. I know alot of people who go to a shop to figure out if this is a sport they want to get into. Maybe it's not all about the ability to demo gear.

Good for you blowhard! Admittedly, you live in paradise where your wife sews your blownout warpoos, the waves are huge and perfect and the lilliputians rub your sore feet when you've sailed all day b/c you have nothing else to do. Yes, good for you.

Signed,
"Sucks to be anyone else but blowhard" Cool

ps. take it lightly, just having a few laughs on a Friday Laughing

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

glad you made the week ?
just get tired of the me me stuff

it was a NAISH that she sewed up
but pretty much right on with the rest
exception for the better than anyone else !?
my massage chair rubs my feet
FYI

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

Life is good in blowbys world these days hes a new skipper.

if only he had wind to fly.

a kite shop within two hours would be nice or 3.5 hours for blowhard.

mail order is good for sure. Being proactive with repairs is good for break down or lots of gear between all the clan to use if times are dire.

the massage chair is worth more than all his warroes,.... no really.

this has been a blowhard promotional post.. Wink

barfly · Since 31 Mar 2005 1216 Posts Portland BRACKISH

OK, I'm back in Blowhard's camp. Good to be back. Very Happy

Mocean · Since 21 Sep 2005 343 Posts Newport Obsessed

Breakdown can mean a few days delay for us on the central coast. For us old guys (40+) a hot tub takes the place of the Liliputians, and thaws out the feet! the delay in north winds has been OK as I'm still on the injured list.....Hope to make down to give BH some company later on this season!
Newport Steve

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

i glanced at the article
and saw where it said that
Best was a low price discounter

Thier kites don't seem cheaply built
they look like they have some dough
I know what it cost to run around in a bus
and I also know what it cost to operate a large catamaran
both some of the most fun and expensive modes of transportation
on earth !

I read a clip once about the first discounter it was Gutenburg (he invented the printing press)
He starts cranking out bibles at the rate of one a month
what had taken a year before
The article stated that he was broke within a year
people were cutting HIS price
I'll bet it was a fun year(not)
I've also went broke , it aint good
but I think perhaps kites BEST aren't all that cheap
others may be too expensive !
I doubt we have seen the bottom of this classic battle

Lilliputions now theres an IDEA Exclamation

I'll bet they could do a great job cleaning the bilge

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Dude there is a thread about this about every 3 days on Kiteforum. The debate has been going on for 3 years (since Best came out.) It goes ON AND ON AND ON and it just doesn't really add any value or stoke people out.

Besides glancing at the article, read it... Very Happy

... It tells a good story and explains why this debate probably won't be resolved any time soon.

I'd much rather get another thread going about how sweet Florence is...

DrScoles · Since 13 Nov 2006 25 Posts Sammamish, WA

I read that article in the kite magazine, didn't realize Best was viewed in that light??? I'm fairly new to the kite world, everyone recommended waroo's, didn't feel like they were cut rate kites..... I love Best's presence, and the customer service appears to be top notch.

I've been to Maui 3 times recently, and see a ton of Waroo's out there... Doesn't seem like that many kiters would be flying low quality kites???

As far as supporting the local shops, in other hobbies, I can see mail order being far superior, but it seems vital to the health of the sport to keep the human to human interaction as high as possible. This isn't something you can go out and do by yourself!

Mike

dcrowe · Sat Apr 07, 07 8:41 am

Florence is sweet.

dcrowe · Sat Apr 07, 07 8:41 am

pacifichigh · Since 11 May 2005 1004 Posts ATX Texan

Flo must not be blowing eh John

pjc · Since 06 Mar 2005 649 Posts Addicted

john likes to say florence blows as often as the gorge, but right now it is hard for me to believe him, reading about the rides you guys are getting and looking at the coastal forecast.

i think i will buy a powered paraglider so i can get a stoke during these lengthy periods of becalm-ment..