True that... But shipping can be a *****. I have made like 10 websites for my company recently, some with online stores, and man... that shipping is a hassle. Especially for small business. It costs money monthly to have a live inventory system. If you dont have one, you have to cross reference and know how to manage an online store. And when there isn't a big market for surfshops online, you will probably lose more money than you sell and have headaches. IMO, most surf shops, especially on the EC are geared towards spur of the moment spending. Tourists that have money to burn and want a rash guard for 3 days. Or that want to buy a nice pair of boardies for their kinds on the beach, or will pay $80 for reef sandals with a bottle opener on them. They are impulse buyers. Sure, a lot of us know great shops, that give us great service, but I can't imagine too many shops that stay alive catering to the winter warriors.... People don't think, Im going to the Jersey shore in two months, I better order boardies online and all that. They just say, man, i'm at the beach now, let me run in there and grab a pair of shades, or boardies, or whatever.
I hear ya. It's definitely not a walk in the park and takes a good model to make it profitable and easy to keep up with. For those who can't seem to figure it out, It might be worth hiring someone with experience to run the e-commerce side of the business if the owner isn't savvy enough or can't seem to make it work. It can be done, it's 2014, and the internet isn't going anywhere. Surf shops are just another retail business, like most others, but what I find is most surf shop owners don't treat it like a REAL business. They treat it like a flea market shop that can be closed at the drop of a hat because there are waves or something more important at the moment. With that type of mentality, the business will always be more of a hobby than anything.
People all have their own reason for buying local... or not. (Great grammar, huh?) Some people buy local boards just because it makes them feel good... pride, loyalty, whatever. Some people buy local boards because they have a history with the shaper... or they get a good deal... or they like to have input into what they're buying. I'm saying all of these things because all of these things have "value."... whether it's monetary or otherwise. Personally, I think a small time, local shaper is more likely to give you a good deal if you give him good, honest information about how and where you surf, show him what you ride and tell him what the board doesn't do that you want it to do better, and give him some idea of basic dims you're looking for. At that point you get out of his way, and let the shaper put his local knowledge and skills to work. If you do that, you're likely to get a board that's well under the price of an off the rack name brand, and has a very good chance of being better than the board you currently ride. And when I say "shaper," I mean board builder... and one with more than 3 boards and a logo to to his name. Do NOT expect to get that same price, and ask for extra fin boxes, fins, leash, traction pad, free repairs, resin tint, pinlines, and gloss and polish. If you want all that at a bargain basement price... go to a corporate shop and you'll find tons of computer designed, machine shaped, mass-produced boards of varying quality craftsmanship (some quite excellent), with or without a few feebees, because they can do it all for cheap. They have a factory, they buy in bulk, and they line up a dozen boards a day and glass them all at once. If... on the other hand... you want to bring your shaper a particular color sample, a picture of your current girlfriend's butt printed out on rice paper, customize your glass schedule, request specific combinations of resin, request a specific density of foam, and give him foil thickness and rocker measurements in mm every 6 inches, don't expect a board that's $100 less than the Big Name Brand. Expect to pay MORE. But then again... to YOU... it may have more "value.' Oh... and my blanks, resin, cloth, and vast majority of my tools are all made in the US. Here's why... If you can't read what that says, it says... Stainless Pakistan
buying quiksiver volcom boardies and ts are for rich people.i don't mind rocking the op's from walmart,they used to be a big surf sponser in the 90s
can't miss one either...they're everywhere. Support small business, it's the driving force that keeps this country going.
All my gear I buy local. Sort of. I'll head down to the OBX for a board or a wetsuit just because I can get stuff cheaper and there's more shops to shop around in. Then I just use it as an excuse to see my uncle. My last trip down I was looking for a single fin, found a nice 6'3 that is now my favorite shortboard. Any way, I don't know if that's still considered local but it's my way of getting a more reasonable price. There's really only a handful of shops around me. Small stuff like leashes, traction pads, yada yada I'll buy at my local shop. My dad actually grew up across the street from the family that owns the shop so I feel the need to throw my money there way if I need something, and they have it. With all that being said, cloths and boardshorts are ridiculous. I just straight up don't wear that stuff. I'm in a wetsuit year round, I actually don't own any trunks. If I go swimming its in basketball shorts. Plus that crap is just way over priced, and I don't need it so I can't justify spending money on it
I've bought custom boards, talked about my needs and had him shape a board for me. Board was great but I crushed the deck in less than a year. Shaped a bunch of boards for myself, some rode great others not, crushed all the decks in less than a year. Bought a bunch of Bings, crushed all the decks in less than a year, all except one that was super glassed and weighed a ton. Same for other brands off the rack, all virtually destroyed in under 12 months. Last year I bought a firewire, mostly because a friend had one that I tried and loved. Rode it for the last year and it looks brand new other than a few dents on the bottom from my sons boney butt sitting on it at the beach. How you view value is the key, firewires are expensive as hell but for me they are worth it for the simple fact that they resist crushing better than any other board I have ever owned. I know I could go local and would prefer to keep my money local but I have yet to ride aboard as solid as my firewires and despite the hate for them they are the best value for my limited money. Pop out, china junk etc aside they ride great.
My first board I bought was from a smaller business in san Diego. Customer service was great. Enjoyed the board. Still have it but its a seven foot and epoxy. I found I like poly better. Most of the shops here sell used on consignment. I got my 9' single fin Becker, used and highly damaged for 100 bucks. Also got a 6'3" 7S for 200. Its ok. Got it from a local shop too that was selling it on consignment. Its in good condition but I'm not crazy about it. The board I love is my 6'9" custom. I told the guy what I liked and didnt like about my other boards and he really hooked me up. He has been shaping here for almost 30 years. Its a great board. I will probably try to do that again next time. He gave me a really good deal on my wetsuit too so I was happy. I don't feel bad about asking what's on sale. Thats the only way I get clothes from local shops. No way I'm paying 60 for boardshorts. I just got a pair for 35. I still feel like thats kinda high. I guess the consignment deal supports local shops and surfers. I definitely like to support them but I'm not gonna just throw my money away. And if there are some super cheap boardies online I will pick them up.
Never had real stretch of good luck working directly with a shaper. Ive made purchases from shapers in MD, NC, FL, CA and HI. Best two were Lynn shell at HIC and Robert Strickland in FL (sadly he passed away). I am a man of larger carriage so I like epoxy for the float. I basically buy right off the rack now. I get a little bro discount from my local shop but that is about it. I am in the market for a new high performance longboard so if someone on here has suggestions please provide. I am looking to replace one of the best longboards on the planet - Walden Magic model. I still think they are some of the best lb made but prices are friggin ridiculous. Board I paid $850 for 4yrs ago is $1300 now. Thus, I am willing to try something new.
I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for and once I find a shaper who is makes a good product I stick with them. That being said I don't shop for clothes locally, mostly because the shops are catering to kids spending their parents money, that and I may be alone here, but it seems that most surf fashion is over priced and ugly as hell. Every kid in and around the shops have the baggy boardies, the tank top and the weird flat billed hat in some form of angle on their head. I grew up with the idea of surfing as just a part of being a waterman along with fishing and the gear was for functionality and less for fashion.
Go to Ross, TJ Maxx or Marshalls man. You can grab a pair of name brand boardies for around $10 bucks. They will be brand new, but a model from a couple years ago... Who cares though, I can't follow the new boardies market. My favorite pair, that I rock a lot are an old pair of Andy Irons Billabong boardies. I have had them for probably 7 years, and I got them for $9.99 in San Diego.
I just looked at my super stretchy Billabong Platimum boardies made out of recycled poly that I was so proud of in a past post. It is made in China. Damn it!!! Now what? My di(k will probably fall off from lead and arsnic in another month. And I had an Australian Shepherd I named Billabong back in the 80s. They have sullied his name. Damn it!!!
Smitty - If you like Lynn Shell's work you might want to talk to Scott Busbey @ In the Eye down in Buxton. I believe he taught Lynn about shaping - he does some great work with EPS and epoxy-. You will probably have to pick it up at his shop but hey that is a bonus with where it is located. Good guy, excellent shaper and has really fair prices. I have had 2 of his boards both worked great Jim
Funny you said that. I bought those exact same boardies online like 3years ago. The pocket on the ripped and I've grown just a little so thats why I bought my other pair. I paid 25 for the Andy Irons. My new ones are Rusty and they were 37. Cheapest in the shop. The guy said he had a pair in there one time for 120. Thats freaking crazy. Probably paid sweatshop workers like 2 cents an hour to make them. Thanks for the tip about Ross and Marshalls. I have seen some at Academy but they weren't much cheaper.
Guys at surf shops are generally d*cks. . .there so local and all-knowing and everyone else is such a kook. Iv lived in OC my entire life I just don't get into the whole surf scene, I just surf. I buy the best deals, I don't owe anyone anything. if you have a local shop that hooks you up then by all means support them, but that has never been the case for me.
Side note, I been riding Tim Nolte boards for 10 years and don't plan on riding anything else. His boards are perfect for the east coast and more importantly perfect for me. I found the shaper I liked after many trial and error's and stuck to the board that got me my first barrel. I have no affiliation with Tim Nolte either I just tried his board one day from a friend and it was all over.
When my shaper and his crew would go to Indo every year, he would come back with an entire quit case of knockoff sunglasses and boardies and stuff. He said they were a $1 per pair of boardies, so he would give the local guys an extra $1 per pair and he would just give me like 3 pairs. Although they were knockoffs, they were IDENTICAL quality to the legit ones. I mean, they may have been legit, just taken right off the line from the sweatshop source.
