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insane gear prices! 13-May-2010 At 7:33:49 PM voodoo

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Yeah, we get royally reamed when it comes to climbing gear. Why? Presumably because the market will support those prices - ie we keep ponying up the cash.

I bought from the US a 5 cam set of BD C4s for $270 Australian - that's $55 per cam! Try doing that here...

Another example - Petzl Tikka XP2 $120 here, plenty available on ebay for $65 including the postage.

From what I hear it's not the retailer bumping the price, it's the manufacturers pricing their wares differentially depending on where you live (and, presumably, what people are willing to pay). This is why many overseas websites tell you they can't send certain brands here (because of a contractual obligation they have with the gear companies). Hopefully some others with inside knowledge will chime in on this point.

It's not a great situation for local gear shops, who do provide additional service through advice and letting you try on / handle the goods before purchase - but this only goes so far and differences in price of 200-300% strain the relationship. So I have to admit that I now do my very best to get gear cheaper overseas these days, which is a real pity.