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Buy and Sell Used Climbing Gear Please do not post retail SPAM.

Author

rip off merchant

doulman

3-Mar-2011
6:11:33 PM

Just a heads up to all those who buy gear from overseas, don't use ebay seller 'summit-to-sea-anglesey', a shop based in Wales (UK), they took me for a $170.00 on a pair of La Sportiva Katana's. Also don't wait more than 45 days for anything from overseas as after that point ebay will do nothing to help you.


BoulderBaby

3-Mar-2011
7:22:51 PM

Thats why you should have paid the extra 40 bucks and bought them here...


Miguel75

3-Mar-2011
8:13:46 PM

eBay can be a gamble and your tale of woe sucks!

White Gold

3-Mar-2011
8:39:40 PM

http://www.gearexpress.com/

Wouldn't shop anywhere else! Sorry Australian retailers. Took 7 days for delivery first time. 14 the second time I used them.

La Sportiva Katana Climbing Shoe $135

Wendy

4-Mar-2011
8:15:55 AM

How do they rip you off? Surely you say how much you are prepared to bid on ebay? And authorised a certain price on your credit card? I'm not feeling like the retailer is at fault here.


rodw

4-Mar-2011
9:11:55 AM

If you paid with Credit card via paypal you can dispute it directly with your CC provider..you dont have to go through paypal. Your CC provider will kick it back to paypal who will have to prove the goods were delivered.....end result you'll get your money back.

Ebay & Paypal are technically the same company...you used there service to provide shoes which they did not deliver...irrespective that they were using a third party to deliver....it was they who charged your CC so they are ultimately responsible.

Doulman

5-Mar-2011
6:35:39 PM

They didn't deliver goods that were paid for in full. Furthermore after agreeing to refund the money they renigged on that too. As the transaction was funded straight from paypal from other goods sold there is no credit card transaction to appeal too. Anyway it sux and thats why the mention to save others from the same trap.


Macciza

6-Mar-2011
2:12:05 AM

Caveat Emptor . . .


sliamese

6-Mar-2011
6:33:51 AM

On 3/03/2011 Victorious Secret wrote:
>http://www.gearexpress.com/
>
>Wouldn't shop anywhere else! Sorry Australian retailers. Took 7 days for
>delivery first time. 14 the second time I used them.
>
>La Sportiva Katana Climbing Shoe $135

Maybe its just about time importers stopped charging ridiculous amounts so that gear in Australia isnt so insanely expensive. Ive also used MTNTools a bit and rate them! A lil slow, 14ish days, but ship everything!! They answer any questions on gear too!


Macciza

6-Mar-2011
12:45:53 PM

Hi
Quite frankly I find this thread a tad disgusting and even insultive to not only Rock Hardware, who sponsor this site, but other Australian climbing equipment manufacturers and retailers. Yes there are certain import duties that they pay that you are able to get around in order to save a few bucks. And yes they have a 'mark-up' that is needed in order to make a profit for their business, but diminishing sales due to punters buying off-shore will only force these higher. So much for 'Buy Australian' . . .

I think the only bit of climbing gear I have bought from overseas was an 130l Ocun haulbag, but that purchase was actually organised through there Australian rep as a special purchase as it was not on there stocklist here so I guess it doesn't count.

How many of you buy other products from overseas? I'm sure you could save yourself a packet buying an old Mustang from the States, or maybe a kit home from China or any number of other items you need. You could 'save' heaps more on those purchases.

Frankly I find these piddling savings on climbing gear pathetic and counter-productive for the climbing industry in Australia. Support local jobs, don't send money overseas.

I think this thread should be DELETED . . .

Wendy

6-Mar-2011
1:30:57 PM

Phil has all his Sportivas on sale for $199 at the moment. This is because he's selling them all off as he's sick of people trying his shoes on then buying on the net. Buy on the net all you like, but it's a bit rude to use tiny businesses like Phil's in the process.


mattjr

6-Mar-2011
6:16:41 PM

On 6/03/2011 Macciza wrote:
>Hi
>Quite frankly I find this thread a tad disgusting and even insultive to
>not only Rock Hardware, who sponsor this site, but other Australian climbing
>equipment manufacturers and retailers. Yes there are certain import duties
>that they pay that you are able to get around in order to save a few bucks.
>And yes they have a 'mark-up' that is needed in order to make a profit
>for their business, but diminishing sales due to punters buying off-shore
>will only force these higher. So much for 'Buy Australian' . . .
>
>I think the only bit of climbing gear I have bought from overseas was
>an 130l Ocun haulbag, but that purchase was actually organised through
>there Australian rep as a special purchase as it was not on there stocklist
>here so I guess it doesn't count.
>
>How many of you buy other products from overseas? I'm sure you could save
>yourself a packet buying an old Mustang from the States, or maybe a kit
>home from China or any number of other items you need. You could 'save'
>heaps more on those purchases.
>
>Frankly I find these piddling savings on climbing gear pathetic and counter-productive
>for the climbing industry in Australia. Support local jobs, don't send
>money overseas.
>
>I think this thread should be DELETED . . .

Harsh words Macciza..

Yes we are in a dilemma, as the AUD $ becomes stronger than ever and internet shopping is becoming the norm it is all too easy to find a better price from overseas.

and Yes, this is tough on Australian retailers who are desperately trying to adapt the way they do business in order to stay afloat

But remember that we are buying predominantly foreign products so the majority of our dollars are going overseas anyway. I also understand that alot of the distribution companies are foreign owned so even that portion is probably heading offshore.

I'm personally angered at a distributors attempts to stop me buying certain products overseas just so they can make a killing selling to me via retail in Australia at unreasonably inflated prices. I understand that the retailers are pretty much forced into buying a product at a set price and mark it up accordingly, so if they pay a premium for certain brands/products they have to charge us a premium in order to stay in business.

Local retailers are able to provide good support and advise on products that online retailers cannot BUT bottom dollar is bottom dollar, i'm not rolling in money and I feel I would be a fool to pay more money than I have to..

I believe things need to change.. retail price in Australia has to conform more closely to foreign retail pricing and this would involve less slice of the pie for distribution companies(not retailers).


Miguel75

6-Mar-2011
7:45:25 PM

On 6/03/2011 Macciza wrote:
>... Yes there are certain import duties that they pay that you are able to get around in order to save >a few bucks. And yes they have a 'mark-up' that is needed in order to make a profit for their >business, but diminishing sales due to punters buying off-shore will only force these higher. So >much for 'Buy Australian' . . .

The main issue lies with importers/distributors, and their static sales model rather than the retailers. As part of a global economy (regardless of your feelings about this) Rock Hardware is competing against Amazon, Gearexpress, Summit Hut and a million other retailers for a finite supply of money. I for one will buy as much as possible from local retailers though will happily buy from OS when savings outweigh convenience. For example my latest hardware purchase; Kong resetable load limiters, the KISA & Slyde. Bogong advised they might be able to get these items at a cost of AUS$40 each. The same 3 items cost me AUS$29 from a US retailer (2x Slyde -$14, 1x KISA -$15) Add up the savings, AUS$43 inc. shipping from the US verses $120 from an Aussie retailer. $77 might be a piddly saving to some but to me that's huge! The same goes for my new portaledge; the savings I made buying this OS paid for the deluxe fly.

I don't expect retailers to make a pittance, especially guys who, like Steve, are passionate and helpful, and my expectation is for distributors to refine their sales models to better reflect the new sales landscape, helping Steve and other retailers keep sales in Aus. What that means, I don't know, but it shouldn't mean losing local shops.

And for the record I'm against wasting a retailers time trying on shoes when you are planning on buying them OS. If you're going to spend the retailers time and money helping you fit your shoes, buy them locally and be happy supporting the local scene.
>
>I think this thread should be DELETED . . .

If anything I reckon this thread shows why buying shoes from OS for $170, when you can find them in Aus for not much more, is an unwise decision.

EDIT: I corrected the prices I paid as I don't add so good.


atreyudelacy

6-Mar-2011
8:33:15 PM

On 6/03/2011 Miguel75 wrote:

>The main issue lies with importers/distributors, and their static sales
>model rather than the retailers.

Couldn't agree more.

martym

6-Mar-2011
8:39:42 PM

On 6/03/2011 Macciza wrote:
> So much for 'Buy Australian' . . .
UM - Honestly, how much gear sold at Rock Hardware is MADE IN OZ?

>for the climbing industry in Australia. Support local jobs, don't send
>money overseas.
That's the ONLY reason for the high mark up - Aussie retailers have already sent the money overseas! So now they have to charge extra to make a profit here!
We're not talking about handmade gear made in Natimuk - this is ALL about US/UK/Chinese made gear being bought and sold; is it so important who the middle man is?

>I think this thread should be DELETED . . .
Surely you're not advocating censorship macca?

martym

6-Mar-2011
8:46:06 PM

On 6/03/2011 Miguel75 wrote:
>And for the record I'm against wasting a retailers time trying on shoes
>when you are planning on buying them OS. If you're going to spend the retailers
>time and money helping you fit your shoes, buy them locally and be happy
>supporting the local scene.
On the other hand, I totally agree - if you're going to go try on boots in a shop wasting their time (and the service you should be paying for); then you should go the extra few bucks. I'd NEVER buy boots online; clothing is something I want to see in my hands when the cash is put on the counter.

>If anything I reckon this thread shows why buying shoes from OS for $170,
>when you can find them in Aus for not much more, is an unwise decision.

Agreed - the whole point of this thread has been to highlight the "Caveat Emptor" issue raised when shopping online!


BoulderBaby

6-Mar-2011
9:48:44 PM

Have you not noticed the prices of gear going down here, because of how good our dollar is?
Have you not noticed how almost all outdoor stores seem to be constantly on sale (and there for not making 'full' margins in order to keep business?)

Suppliers like Spelean for example, have passed on the price reduction as best as they can - it's very evident in their MSR gear.

This difference is very noticeable for me, as when I left Oz things were quite expensive - to now that the prices in the store are pretty much matching the same price as in Britain - That being said not ALL gear is, but a hell of a lot of it is!! (and considering our minimum wage is substantially higher than both in America and the UK's...)

We need to weigh up what is right, and what is ethical.

patto

6-Mar-2011
10:08:11 PM

It is a fact that to a certain extent the the bricks and mortar retail store market will shrink. The internet has changed the way people shop and research their purchases.

However as some people have said it is the distributors in Australia that are keeping the prices high. Unfortunately the only way this is going to change is for overseas competition and in the meantime retailers will suffer. This isn't unique to climbing, cycling is just as bad if not worse. Books sellers have already folded.

The timing of this thread is coincidental, RockHardware certainly hasn't been helped by the rising dollar and overseas competitiion. Steve is an incredibly wonderful guy and his current sale deserves the attention of chockstone.

If you need any new equipment please consider RockHardware and its massive sale:
SALE ON THIS WEEKEND

(If this sound like an advertisement it is because it is. Steve has supported this site and I think its users should support him.)


Miguel75

6-Mar-2011
10:25:15 PM

On 6/03/2011 patto wrote:
>The timing of this thread is coincidental, RockHardware certainly hasn't
>been helped by the rising dollar and overseas competitiion. Steve is an
>incredibly wonderful guy and his current sale deserves the attention of
>chockstone.
>
>If you need any new equipment please consider RockHardware and its massive
>sale:
>SALE
>ON THIS WEEKEND
>
>(If this sound like an advertisement it is because it is. Steve has supported
>this site and I think its users should support him.)
>
Hell yeah. I've got a few more toys that need to be bought and this sale is looking good... Thanks Steve.


Miguel75

7-Mar-2011
12:52:57 AM

This thread reminds me of this one about price discrepancies between OS and Aus:

http://www.chockstone.org/Forum/Forum.asp?Action=Display&ForumID=10&MessageID=5814&Replies=1

There are 34 messages in this topic.