2016 Year of the $1000 Kite Bar

[JJL]

On 19 June 2016 at 0:27 PM, .Joel said:

So they built the next personal space shuttle and they're about to experience what "limited demand" means  

Unless this new bar is operating via wifi i'm quite certain it has front and back lines attached, and therefor functions like any other bar lengthening or shortening those lines. How any design achieves this I hardly believe is worth forking over $1000 for.  If they really release it over $1000 they're taking the piss.

Totally agree, the keep it simple way is pleasant and safer as well more economical; as far as I am concerned the Flysurfer Infinity 3.00 would be a good example of the KIS principle!

[andy666]

Totally agree, the once over priced flysurfer gear is now becoming the cheaper option. 

[.Joel]

Finally, some real innovation....

[Jason]

On 7/9/2016 at 6:14 PM, JJL said:

Totally agree, the keep it simple way is pleasant and safer as well more economical; as far as I am concerned the Flysurfer Infinity 3.00 would be a good example of the KIS principle!

Really?? I don't see it. There is nothing simple and clean about it. 

Not that there is anything wrong with the bar but there are less complex versions around.

[JJL]

All right then, be my guest 

23 minutes ago, .Joel said:

Finally, some real innovation....

 

GPS and turn indicators are missing!

[igeighty]

It is also missing a fleshlight

[the_hatman]

1 hour ago, JJL said:

GPS and turn indicators are missing!

GPS gos on the wrist, you can stick your hand out to turn

 

58 minutes ago, igeighty said:

missing a fleshlight

that's what head torches are for

Honestly some people.

[Mfwetu]

13 hours ago, igeighty said:

It is also missing a fleshlight

It's attached to the leash - look at his expression

Unless this is a misprint on the KP site, they're also hinting that the depower bar is due to change

[igeighty]

@Mfwetu saw fleshlight wasn't a typo

[.Joel]

We're getting close  

 

[Kamikuza]

Nope. More is less.

[Jfletch]

On 28 June 2016 at 2:46 AM, .Joel said:

Problem I see here in Australia is that generally the "substantial margin" no longer exists. Where that "substantial margin" does still exist, those products on their own today won't sustain a business where in the past it was possible.  Many of the businesses selling last years product at "substantial discount" aren't going to be around next season, because all they've managed to do is unlock their capital in time to buy gear which is more expensive than the previous year.  The result, less stock, less volume to sell, less income.  Rinse and repeat until they go broke.

This whole process will continue until the number of kite stores actually reduces in total, and those that remain do so with far more efficient business models.

Coming from someone that works in the industry, i totally agree.
The trouble with retail in Australia, is that the overhead costs of running a shop are the real killer. And having to run the margin to cover this, means the RRP goes up.

Excessive rent in sea side areas, excessive wages and entitlements for staff and the fluctuating dollar don't help the cause at all.
And then customers that try and compare the price to the US or EU, were they run totally different margins and overheads to Australia doesn't help either.
Sure there are items that are expensive, but all sports have price categories.
If you don't have the cash (like me with MTB) then buy something that costs less. If you're lucky enough to being doing financially well, then you can afford to buy some high dollar value items.

It's an interesting game, but trying to compare prices to 10 or even 5 years ago is silly.

Enjoy!
 

 

[the_hatman]

On 19/07/2016 at 5:00 PM, Kamikuza said:

Nope. More is less.

totally disagree less is more

[Daniel Kleinberg]

I have been a kitesurfer for the past 10 years. Indeed, the retail prices are increasing every year.

I was trying to get a quote for the New 2017 Rebel with the North rep here in Brazil, and just found out that they lost the North representantion down here, because they couldn't reach the quota. Less people are being able to afford a new kite gear.

US$ 1.000,00 for a bar is a lot of money.

At the time (09/2010), I bought a 2011 12m Rebel complete for US$ 1.680,00. Now just the bar will cost around US$ 1.000,00 ? Time to find a new sport...

[the_hatman]

7 hours ago, Daniel Kleinberg said:

Time to find a new sport...

or time to get inventive.

[socommk233]

[Northern Kites Australia]

22 hours ago, the_hatman OBE said:

or time to get inventive.

or time to simply fix up your old gear, rework the bar to a simple cleat system, if not already, and just kite!

All that mechanical fiddling, you'll see this Click bar will one day be a relic like the IDS bars and even North in 2022 will say yet again - "... an even simpler bar that does not have any mechanical parts.... it can ready your mind and auto adjust the trim!".