Sweetwater Surf Shop at Wrightsville Beach hooked it up on a new Sharp Eye! Gave me a good deal on my trade in and 10% off. Its the only shop that didn't jack up their prices then try to act like their giving you a deal when they lower it, like I'm some tourist! Maybe Joe Blow from Raleigh can drop $600 to $700 and feel good about it but not me.
Something to consider: 6 or 7 hundred dollars for a surfboard that insn't made in a huge Chinese factory is extremely cheap--it's almost nothing. I've been making boards for myself for a number of years now, and honestly, if i were to make one on commission, I wouldn't touch the job for less than 2000.00, when I think about what goes into making a surfboard. Granted, I make them one at a time, which could not be done on any basis other than as a hobby. Still, it really surprises me that any surfboard in any shop in the United States costs less than a thousand dollars.
Absolutely.... I mean, it's true that it takes me a long time to make a board. But for 550, after materials, after commercial space to make it in, after retail mark-up, etc., it seems like you would start to loose money on the board after like 2 or 3 hours of working on it. Not to mention that making a board can be nasty work with toxic materials.
Sweetwater I love sweetwater a few months ago they helped me pick out a sick board (ajw x-stump) for a hundred bucks less than normal. I got it for like $475. I still ride it and it's awesome.
you would think that companies using auto cad systems would be able to make boards more efficiently and cheaper. Money talks, bullshat walks. I will NEVER pay more than 500 for a new off the rack board. it's just ridiculous. I'd rather buy a slightly used board for 350 or so.
I can see dropping a $1000 on a log or something. Jimmy Keith shaped my last board for $500. It took him a few months but did a good job. There is alot of overhead that goes into boards from start to finish. But demand will drive cost. Its not like these things are flying off the shelves. The amount on boards some of these shops have is ridiculous! I've always bought used boards. Just wanted off the rack for once.
Personally I think the best thing is to make boards for oneself. This might sound corny and hippyish, but I think of surfing partially as an art form, and making a board for yourself is a big part of that. It's a tradition that goes way back in surfing. Plus riding your own board is some serious stoke! I don't even know if I'm that great of a shaper, but I can't tell the difference between my boards and any of the rustys or Al Merricks I'ver ever had.
I've made a couple boards and spoken with a few shapers. Shapers aren't rich. The cost effective ones have a bit of cash but by no standards are they rich. I mean Al Merrick has to have fund raisers to get money for his grandaughters radiation and chemo treatment. He sold his company to Burton Snow boards for a pretty good wad a few years back. Even the really well known ones in Encenitas have to pay for Socal living so they contract with Firewire, Tuflite, and so on because they have more cost effetive factories in Thailand and china to make boards more cheaply just to make enough to live the dream. It would have been easier to get a realestate license and try to sell OC, LA, and San Diego property for $$$$ commisions. Instead they are shaping and marketing as best they can. These guys are lucky they don't make boards in MP3 format and people can't down load them over the INTERWEB! Buy your shaper a six pack when you pick up your board!
Glad to hear they are still treating people right at Sweet Water after Tony left. That has always been my favorite surf shop. Not this Joe Blow, but there are tons that will.
