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 #1 Interesting article regarding online snowboard retail Posted 10/03/2010 @ 00:59 |
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| #2 Re: Interesting article regarding online snowboard retail Posted 10/03/2010 @ 07:46 |
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| In reply to post #1
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In France sales are set by the local council. In 2 Alpes it's a real clusterfuck since half the village is run by Mont de Lans and the other half is run by Venosc, which means one half goes on sale two weeks before the other. As far as brands are concerned, certain ones will never undersell, but they tend to be the higher end stuff Like Halti and Goldwin. |
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| Posts: 652 |
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Clackmannanshire |
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| #3 Re: Interesting article regarding online snowboard retail Posted 10/03/2010 @ 09:37 |
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| In reply to post #1
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Doesn't read like Burton are doing much to move away from the "corporate" big brand reputation that a lot of people seem to hold them in. The transcript of the telephone interview kinda says it all (They think comparing their boards to Capita boards is like comparing a Porsche to a Chevy).
I have quite a bit of Burton stuff, mainly hoodies and outerwear but I also have a set of Cartels. I would never have bought any of it at full price and if it isn't on sale the next time I need something I'll happily buy another brand.
In my opinion their stuff is not manufactured well enough to warrant the "premium" tag they are looking for. Of all the stuff I have bought, the hoodies were threaded after a few wears, the metal washer type strip on the side of the Cartels snapped off (both feet) the first time they were used in deep powder and my brown field jacket was completely scoured by snow burn (to teh stage its got white scrapes all over it) after 1 week on the mountain.
I don't hate Burton as a company (actually find their customer service really good, had an audex kit replaced for free when I lost it) but I wont lose any sleep over not buying anything from them again if their prices are too high. What it seems they don't get is that there are so many other brands in our sport that can make just as good or better gear that none of us really need to buy Burton if we don't want to.
I'll happily give my money to Ride/Dakine/Westbeach/Atomic/K2/Nitro/Special Blend/, all of whom I currently have kit from that has been superb and priced accordingly. |
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| Posts: 10 |
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Buckinghamshire |
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| #4 Re: Interesting article regarding online snowboard retail Posted 10/03/2010 @ 13:03 |
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| In reply to post #3
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I'm sure in the U.K that would be deemed as price fixing?!
Retailers can do what they want, just don't expect any stock under a distribution policy next season!! |
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| #5 Re: Interesting article regarding online snowboard retail Posted 10/03/2010 @ 13:41 |
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Sierra signed an agreement with Burton and then broke it, now they're trying to make out like their the victims. They made extra cash from breaking a legally binding document and undercutting all the other stores who were sticking to the agreement, and then they bitch about it when they get found out. |
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| Posts: 652 |
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Clackmannanshire |
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| #6 Re: Interesting article regarding online snowboard retail Posted 10/03/2010 @ 13:55 |
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| In reply to post #5
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Thats not how I read it Nick.
I read it that Sierra signed a contract, paid for the first batch and received all the stock then Burton tried to change the deal at that point and Sierra (quite rightly) told them to fcuk off.
As a result of Sierra not bowing down and allowing Burton to change the contract half way through its agreed period, Burton are refusing to agree a new contract thus telling Sierra they cant stock Burton.
To be fair though, to me, none of that was the most important bit. I thought that was where Burton seem to be wanting to head as a brand. I can kinda see their plan as a lot of newbs coming into the sport go for Burton because its pretty much all they know so they're more likely to buy it (and spend a premium for it).
But for people who know a bit, would we purchase Burton over another brand if it were twice the price?
Personally, I am pro price as opposed to pro brand. I've had gear from a lot of places and I know what I'd be willing to pay for again based on how it performed. Regardless though, I'd always look at price and there will always be a limit as to what I'm willing to pay for a particular item. Sounds as if Burton are gonna position themselves deliberately above that price point for most people to try and make themselves "exclusive".
Personally, I don't think that will translate particularly well to snowboarding. |
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| #7 Re: Interesting article regarding online snowboard retail Posted 10/03/2010 @ 14:23 |
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Revision #4 (Last edited: 10/03/2010 @ 14:26) |
| In reply to post #6
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Have you read the whole thread? Even Sierra themselves admit this is the case, Burton changed the terms after they informed Sierra that they woudn't be supplying them with any more stock because they've been breaking the terms of agreement and selling bellow the agreed price for ages. They agreed not to discount below 40% which they have been doing, thus breaking the terms of conctract |
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| Posts: 652 |
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Clackmannanshire |
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| #8 Re: Interesting article regarding online snowboard retail Posted 10/03/2010 @ 14:28 |
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| In reply to post #7
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I did read the whole thread, yeah. Though most of it was people just throwing in pointless nonsense just for the sake of it.
I honestly didn't take that away from it though. Not saying I'm not wrong by the way, it's quite possible I've misread or misunderstood that part of it. I'll need to read it again.
That said, I have no real interest in Sierra or whether they do or dont sell Burton. As I said, what I found most interesting about the entire thread was the responses that came from Burton when they were asked about their policies.
The bits about being a premium brand and them thinking their boards v Capita are like Porsche v Chevy et al. |
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| #9 Re: Interesting article regarding online snowboard retail Posted 10/03/2010 @ 15:39 |
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| In reply to post #4
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QUOTE (chrisbill86 - 10/03/2010 @ 13:03) I'm sure in the U.K that would be deemed as price fixing?! Retailers can do what they want, just don't expect any stock under a distribution policy next season!!
Actually no and no.
You're confusing "cartel" type scenarios, where a group of suppliers who should compete get together to fix prices.
With cars setting a minimum retail price is very common - the supplier sets the maximum discount level and the retail price. Also with other products - Canon camera gear for example, where the minimum UK/US prices are set by the manufacturer. In the US dealers often sell "grey" imports to get around this; it's less common in the UK.
"Retailers can do what they want".
I think not. Canon UK won't allow you to be a Pro dealer if you sell Canon gear under their price minimum - trust me on this, been there, tried that. BMW dealers will not remain BMW dealers if they break the suppliers' rules. Sure, it shouldn't be legal to try to control the market like this, but it obviously is because it happens all the time. |
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| Posts: 360 |
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North Yorkshire |
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| #10 Re: Interesting article regarding online snowboard retail Posted 10/03/2010 @ 16:03 |
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| In reply to post #8
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Nick has it right. Sierra broke the agreement first by having a 50% off sale, they've done this before and Burton pulled out as a consequence. The agreement was changed after this all happened. I suggest you read around more than on the Sierra forum for a less biased point of view.
I'm not particularly big Burton fan, I've had some very good B products and some very bad ones but I'm with them on this - business is business. I don't agree with the whole premium brand strategy though... |
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| #11 Re: Interesting article regarding online snowboard retail Posted 10/03/2010 @ 18:00 |
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| #12 Re: Interesting article regarding online snowboard retail Posted 10/03/2010 @ 18:02 |
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| In reply to post #9
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QUOTE (philw - 10/03/2010 @ 15:39) Also with other products - Canon camera gear for example, where the minimum UK/US prices are set by the manufacturer. In the US dealers often sell "grey" imports to get around this; it's less common in the UK.
That's a really good analogy - I bought my Canon Flash on ebay through a 'grey market' seller from which, I assume, was US stock imported into the UK - check on ebay, gumtree and it looks as though a cottage industry has sprung up to exploit the pricing differential. |
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http://www.phunction.net/ |
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| #13 Re: Interesting article regarding online snowboard retail Posted 10/03/2010 @ 18:41 |
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Revision #1 (Last edited: 10/03/2010 @ 18:42) |
| In reply to post #4
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QUOTE (chrisbill86 - 10/03/2010 @ 13:03) I'm sure in the U.K that would be deemed as price fixing?! Retailers can do what they want, just don't expect any stock under a distribution policy next season!!
Just what I was going to say after reading that. |
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Still Loving my Nidecker Platinum
Karl Goldsmith
Biofuels The Myths and Lies! Food Crisis - What a bloody surprise.
I Want Those Flashing Lights |
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| #14 Re: Interesting article regarding online snowboard retail Posted 10/03/2010 @ 18:50 |
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| In reply to post #13
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But retailers can't do whatever they want, if they sign a contract with a company then they have to abide by that. If they had no intention of sticking to the terms then why sign it. |
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| #15 Re: Interesting article regarding online snowboard retail Posted 10/03/2010 @ 18:55 |
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| In reply to post #14
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QUOTE (inactive_16115 - 10/03/2010 @ 18:50) But retailers can't do whatever they want, if they sign a contract with a company then they have to abide by that. If they had no intention of sticking to the terms then why sign it.
Nick - you make a good point - just wondering if anyone knows, from a legal perspective, what's the difference between a dealer stipulating 'you must sell at a specific point' and 'price fixing'? Seems like a grey area to me, but I aint legally trained or working in retail.
Seem to remember there was some issue about supermarkets selling England footy shirts couple of years ago at lower prices than sports shop chainstores, can't remember how it turned out though. |
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http://www.phunction.net/ |
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