"Support your local surf shop"...

At surf shops I get wax, replacement fins, wetsuit accessories and repair supplies. Bought my first board, a used one, from a local shop.

 

I don't know if sports authority and ****s and box stores in general own their inventory or take it on consignment, but I do know that box stores dictate their pricing to their suppliers. So ordering 20,000 boards at the price they want will cause surfboard suppliers to have to use cheap(er) materials and crank production, or find cheaper production sources. This happens with every company that goes box store. No company goes into a big box and sees their quality improve.

Not just with hard goods but soft goods as well. Ever wonder why you can get a Body Glove spring suit at Sports Authority for $45? Because a one eyed drunken Viatnamese newborn stitched it.

Supporting the local economy benefits everybody. Supporting box stores means supporting your corporate overlords who fund the FEMA camps that trained Bill Cosby to be a rapist, and don't pay decent wages or offer full time work and subsequent benefits.

Now a smart shop owner should be giving surfers bro deals left and right. My go-to shops will shave the excess $$ off and make a slimmer margin on me, and charge the tourist up the twang hole. Maybe you've gotta shake your local shoppies down for a bro deal.

 

I reckon the going rate for that building is over a mil, which makes him a millionaire.

I've eaten at every other surf shop I buy goods at. And I have the eating habits of a starving blind wolf with opposable thumbs.

 

I generally buy into the philosophy of support the local shop. I like being able to buy wax and other odds and ends there when I need it.

But I will only go so far. One shop where I have shopped frequently in the past just refused to take a return from me. In the past, I have bought a surfboard there, several pairs of boardshorts and gift certificates for my friends and family. The store is NOT well priced. I could have easily bought anything I got there online and have it shipped to me for less than what I paid.

The owner's policy is no returns- only exchanges. This is even for full priced merchandise returned within a day with tags still on it and everything.

In my case, I tried to return a Patagonia vest that I paid close to $200 for. Never worn, tags still on it and I only bought it 2 days prior. It was a gift and the person wanted something else.

The guy told me his policy. I told him that his policy was his choice, but if that's how he wants to do business I wouldn't be shopping there going forward. He just lost a loyal customer. I can get wax shipped by the case.

 

i know of this shop.... will never go there again after a similar experiance with a pair of trunks that had small tear on the inside only noticed when i took them home...

 

Heres the deal, the surf industry is dead. There was once a time when surf shops could make money & surfers were actually loyal supporters. Those days are gone & so with it the true essence of surfing. Most surfers use the shops as windows into the online world where they can price match in an instance & purchase at discount. It consumerism at best. In the end the surf shops will close & communities will be at a loss. Who would want to be a surf shop owner anyway? Constantly dealing with whining surfers, not making money, & constantly having to deal with helpless surf companies. Owning a shop ain't what it used to be, but hey neither is surfing.

 

I vote "support your local shaper" over "support your local shop". That being said, I try to shop small as much as possible. Nothing helps your community more than keeping money in it. If you pay a few extra dollars, so be it. It's worth it down the road.

 

I know it wasnt exactly on the beach, but I had the same issue with the 17th St store in Kempsville. The guy gave me an empty look as I asked, and then told me they didnt sell any kind of surf equipment.

The smarter, more embarassed employees will just lie and say they "ran out" so he won't feel stupid for working in a surf shop that doesnt sell wax

 

someone discussed utilizing the Internet to move product....I would bet that almost all companies prohibit you from selling their ish in any other way than brick and mortar.

If anyone has any input on this I would love to hear.

The other shops in the area would complain to the brands that they can't pay their bills because another shop is stealing their business online. The companies want to sell as much ish to as many shops as possible so they would be 1000% anti-online.

Ever notice how reps who sell the most get fired bc they do their job? Companies will hire some chick out of college and fire the good rep. They'll pay her 25k and dont have to pay the good rep the 6% of gross that he was earning.

This industry is terrible. It's anti-money and pro-old guy/family business. Besides realwatersports, name a website where you can browse in stock boards to buy and get shipped to your house.

Don't work in the surf industry. Just get a regular job where you make less money but have time to get waves. Working for these chump companies will make surfing seem wack.

Evo, the-house, backcountry, skis.com, Peter Glenn.....why can they sell online but your smart, entrepreneurial minded surf shop owner can't? Ask your regional rep, he'll repeat this post.

 

(sigh)...

 

I actually agree with this post- I believe all the surf shops around have this policy and I have been caught too many times trying to return something and ended up with store credit and having to buy somewhere else. I remember buying a pair of 5mil gloves- wrong size... When back and of coarse they didn't have the right size in the style I wanted(loberster claw) so ended up having to buy else where- and had 59 bucks at the original store...

 

shops make close to nothing on boards, I dont care about shopping around for boards. But I do try to support local shapers as much as possible.

If I can get a locally shaped board and a local shop great. If I cant Ill buy whatever.

I get a deal on Oniel wetsuits through work, so chances are I go that route, but everything else comes from my local shop. Id like to see them stay in business and provide a bit of culture into our big box society (which I work in). If I had more money I would do more, but unfortunately I dont and I want to buy a house.

 

At the end of the day, it's all about value. If you can't compete on price (which most local stores cant) you need to deliver better somewhere else. If your prices suck and your customer service sucks and you don't sell any unique products, then the only thing you've got going for you is you're close to the beach. You better hope you sell enough T shirts and sunscreen to tourists.

 

Local surf shops will go the same way as local speed shops. Jegs & Summit basically put the little guys out of business with their online pricing. Now if you need a part real quick your 3 or 4 days out. If you over night it its the same price you could have got it from your local guy. Its great having a local surf shop to get what you need right away. I tore a glove yesterday morning and had a new pair on and back in in 40 min thanks to my local shop. I don't buy clothes there but any surf gear I do just for that reason.

 

2 pages of used boards lools

cmon guy

 

http://www.realwatersports.com/surfing/surfboards/

 

A robin red breast in a cage, puts all of heaven in a rage.

 

30th Street. Not the other one (total tourist shop). I would put mailbus in with the good ones.

 

I wish when I was starting out that I developed a relationship with a local shaper(s), instead of buying used boards from sponsored friends or from surf shops used racks. i would have learned alot more, gotten a better product, and would have had a clue much earlier on what works for me in different types of surf. If you are kind of new, and looking to get to the next level in your surfing, it will help alot to spend some time with a respected shaper in your locale. Buy everything else online, or at flea markets / thrift shops if you want to save $$$.