International Shipping ban

[Edwards38 0]

My website will be online within the month. I'm based in Oxford tho.

[est 0]

I work at www.justhockey.co.uk

we never claim to be the cheapest ......... but allways have the latest !

Hey Edwards i hear were sharing the Farnbrough kit sales slot from now on !

[Edwards38 0]

Indeed we are.

[odp 0]

I use www.shopthestates.com for things that people won't export. Basically, with a free account, they charge you $4.95US/package to receive and then the actual shipping price for USPS shipping to you. (you can ask for special things like insurance, repackaging, getting rid of excess packaging, etc...) The standard quotes are for surface (yuck), air (most economical), and express.

In addition, if they won't even sell it to you, Shop The States has a buying service in which they buy things for you, for a nominal fee too.

[ChrisGP 0]

I work at www.justhockey.co.uk

we never claim to be the cheapest ......... but allways have the latest !

Hey Edwards i hear were sharing the Farnbrough kit sales slot from now on !

I've ordered stuff from you before! You have the honor of being the only UK hockey supplier I've used in a loooooong time! :P

Sorry for being part of the problem of UK hockey players ordering stuff from the US (and infecting others with the disease)...it just always seems to work out cheaper because I order older gear when it goes on closeout for $cheap!

[est 0]

Hey thanks mate, we'v tried to provide a decent service for Uk players the past 8 years, this will be the 6th year in a row we'v had Mission 06 available 6 months before the so called " offical Mission Importer" , what a joke !

[Aussie Joe 0]

I use www.shopthestates.com for things that people won't export. Basically, with a free account, they charge you $4.95US/package to receive and then the actual shipping price for USPS shipping to you. (you can ask for special things like insurance, repackaging, getting rid of excess packaging, etc...) The standard quotes are for surface (yuck), air (most economical), and express.

In addition, if they won't even sell it to you, Shop The States has a buying service in which they buy things for you, for a nominal fee too.

Hey dude, thanks for this, I will be looking into this method very shortly for gear. If it works out to be true and decent, I will be one hapy chappy! ;-)

[Sticks of Fury 0]

I wonder if this service would work for Hockey promotions valid in the US. For example the "Buy the high end skate and recieve a stick" promotion.

[Finlay82uk 0]

for most of my small needs(or a quick stickblade) I pop to my local hockey shop here in the UK

theyve just got there website up+ running and I havent really had a look at prices but the site is www.hockeymania.co.uk

[pantherfan 0]

They seem to have some pretty decent prices ima bookmark that ;)

[inder 0]

im from england and i can tell u that it is cheaper to buy from N.America even with taxs and even more so if you buy in bulck

bauer xx £60 from N.America

bauer xx from england is £220

so your telling me its gonna cost £160 for postage and taxes lol

[Aussie Joe 0]

bauer xx £60 from N.America

bauer xx from england is £220

so your telling me its gonna cost £160 for postage and taxes lol

Nope, thats profit margin, cost of running premesis/business, marketting etc included. Strictly from the distributor's point of view of course.

[crutesie 0]

I Feel For the UK LHS with all this patience with setting up a small business but just now there is no way i will buy from my LHS unless i need to (broken Blade, tape etc)

[pantherfan 0]

Yeh thats about as far as it goes for me aswell, when i get a job it might change but only a bit

[HockeyMad 0]

First search I did on the 8090 found them at Demon Xtreme for £333.49

Skate attack and others are of a similar price but are all competitive.

Student? deduct 10% instantly

I assume you found the skates at hockey giant for that price? £249? if so add your shipping on in dollars then add 17.5% for when it comes into the uk. At your $90 shipping price (without UPS service charge) thats already $399 convert this using XE.com and today you get about £212 which although is cheaper you would have to wait upto a month delivery with hockeygiant and you dont always get the required item. (my personal experience)

A UK shop will service and repair if needed and you have a warranty US product warranty is void the second it leaves the US though many shops still warrant defects it costs you the difference to ship it back to them!

It may save you a bit on this instance but in the UK you will definatly get the skate you want in the size you want hassle free.

PLUS the more people buy from a UK shop the more they order from suppliers bringing the prices down. If your whole team buys skates from the US your local shop is hiking up the prices to cover cost from missed sales.

= Less sponsorships given out

= No advertising for tournaments

= No advertising in supporting media

Dave

I agree totally with what you are saying here. I have Contacts with the Sydney Based Distributors and it isn't them making all of the Money.

Some of the Prices offered may seem high but look at the bigger picture. The Distributors support local Teams and Local Events, Do overseas retailers support Local Events? They are the ones taking all the risks to help the sport.

In the US look at the number of People compared to Australia?

In the US retailers Deal Directly with the Companies like Easton, Mission-Itech etc.

In the US Retailers work on a 30% Mark-up.

In Australia Retailer Demand a 100% mark up.

Also Look at some of the Promotions that have been run this year "Free Stealth Sticks" With the Synergy 900 / 1100 / 1300 Ice Skates

Or Free Syn 700 Gloves with a Purchase of a Stealth Stick.

Or Free Easton The One Stick with Syn 500 / 700 Ice Skates.

Can you get these deals over the Net?

At the end of the Day if you don't support Local Suppliers the Prices will just go up more.

Shops at Rinks help subsidies rink fees.

If you don't support the Shops fees will go up.

Fees Go up and Less People will Play

Less People Playing = No Comp.

No Comp = No Sport.

[Aussie Joe 0]

I know all the mark up figures, I have been shown by one of the biggest in Aus and to be honest I either don't agree for the most part or don't care. The Distributors don't do any real sponsorship in my part of Aus. They may chase up the odd "talented kid" and offer him a discount but really the vast majority of "fun hockey" players (those that buy over the net) cannot afford the mark ups. As I've said before the distributors themselves are both ignorant and arrogant when it comes to their product.

At the end of the day it really comes down to cost for me. Its time the distributors saw the net as a legitimate competitor. If this isn't possible then pressure the companies into lowering prices. If this doesn't work then get a real job like the rest of us. I have no sympathy for BS artists who don't want to contribute to growing hockey in Aus. They just want to "protect" their slice of the pie which is ripping off hard working parents

As for rinks, most rinks get their dollars through public sessions, birthday parties or if they smart bringing in other sports like Indoor Soccer. I know a rink owner who shares my views on the distributors who force them to sign quantity based contracts and constantly take months to supply products ordered. Their level of customer service from one end to the other in intolerable.

PS: Hockey started in the country without gear distributors and will survive if they go. My views will not change and neither will those smart enough to buy over the net... In the words of one major rink owner "Shit, if you can get your skates into the country 300 bucks cheaper then what I can at cost then do it!"

[monoclub 5]

I am a distributor for a couple of major brands based in Asia.

US prices are too low. Many of the crazy priced items online have very small mark ups and often for the manufacturer were sold at cost or there abouts just to make room for new stock. I know this won't be a popular comment but it's true - some US internet prices and deals are ridiculously low. The manufacturers are whoring themsleves to the hockeygiants of the world to move inventory - its all simply a numbers game for them, and no one outside of N. America can help them to clear large amounts of stock in a simple one contact deal.

Nowadays when companies are bringing out a whole line every year, they are practically getting it all made in one run, shipping out of China and have about a 7 month window to move it. If you buy in that 7 month window they make a good margin as its close to retail. But then come September you will see see prices drop 20% and 30% or more after October, they need to move the stock in time for the new line hitting stores in November or so.

The example of 8090 is a classic, 8 months ago it was still on HG for about US$300, but seeing as it is a finished line (after what 3 years?) I guess Bauer did a deal for them to clear out the rest of their inventory and well the rest is history (I have about 4 pairs in my w/house which at my distributors pricing, landed here cost the same as current sale price on HG, so I add 30%.....).

Distributors may be guilty of some of the padding in prices (obviously in Australia they are as I have seen their ridiculous prices) but we also need to consider exchange rates (the Candian$ has improved almost 30% on my $ here in 2 years), less than generous prices from the manufacturers, shipping, tax and as pointed out, sponsorships, a small player base etc.

I for one am pleased that these bans are being enforced, now what we need to see is better prices from the manufacturers (they should be offering us the same deals as they do the online stores!) AND competition between distributors in these countries to keep prices from becoming inflated - just as what is driving the low prices in N America. This is what will grow the sport in our countries - NOT buying from the US online stores.

[The Wizard 0]

its easy for you to say that as you are involved with selling and shipping ofequipment so it is easily accesible for you. but for the majority of players who live outside the us, how can these bans be a good thing?!

[Chadd 916]

its easy for you to say that as you are involved with selling and shipping ofequipment so it is easily accesible for you. but for the majority of players who live outside the us, how can these bans be a good thing?!

In the long run, it's better for the sport and better for you.

In reality all of the manufacturers need to produce a little less or hold product lines longer to reduce the damage to shops and distributors.

[monoclub 5]

We have access to everything. We may be at the end of the line but we usually get to it within a reasonable amount of time. The real bargins online are the close out stuff. Synergy or Vapor XXX sticks are just ridiculously cheap on some sites, all of you know what the retail price on the current model is, so imagine adding 50% to that, this is the reasonable kind of mark up you get outside of N America, but then compare that with the crazy close out prices you see on line and thats what pisses people off - the problem is we never get offered this stuff from the manufacturers, just as you are unlikely to see them at your local rink in Canada. These are deal sweetners that the manufacturers offer their major accounts like HG, Epuck etc.

I think most distributors will agree, there is a pecking order with manufacturers, the bigger the orders, the better the deals - both for new and close out goods, most of us outside of N. AMerica, with the exception of Germany, Sweden etc. are doing the same kind of volumes as a hockey store in Toronto so we aren't getting priority.

[HockeyMad 0]

As I pointed out Earlier, Easton in Australia Offered FREE Stealth Sticks Earlier this Year on the Top three models of Skates and FREE the One Sticks on 2 Mid Priced Products. Were these Deals Offered online? NO

The Distrutors do Offer Crazy Prices to Retailers in Australia but the retialers don't always pass them on.

Some Retailers Pass on GOOD Deals to Customers Other Don't.

What Rink do you play at "Aussie Joe"

[Jim A 4]

who can blame any company for getting rid of most their warehouse inventory to a handful of vendors, one-stop closeout shopping....what is the cost of getting it from Canada or the US to a distributor..they should be utilizing their key N.A accounts who do such large dollars with them year after year..its called good business...

[monoclub 5]

Jim A, you make some good points. However in my experience its not quite as black and white as that. They don't usually clear all of their stock and still offer it to their international distributors at the usual price, this has seen me accepting delivery for goods one week and then seeing the same goods slashed by 30% online the next week, and watching for months the same product/models available to me at the original higher price - sometimes within 10% of the online price! Additonally your point on the cost of shipping is of no relevance to the manufacturer as they don't meet those costs. Lastly, what is good for business isn't always so straight forward either, realistically, the N.A. market is pretty well developed. Arguably the greater potential for development in the sport lies outside of N.A. and the fact that all of the major manufactuers are trying to enforce these bans may be an indication that they realise this.

[Ron 0]

classic example of "the more you buy, the better discount you get"

as a retailer, if i know a good customer who will buy 10 of a certain item, of course i will give him a good discount over the customer who buys only 1 or 2, to ensure that the first customer will keep coming back.

[Aussie Joe 0]

As I pointed out Earlier, Easton in Australia Offered FREE Stealth Sticks Earlier this Year on the Top three models of Skates and FREE the One Sticks on 2 Mid Priced Products. Were these Deals Offered online? NO

The Distrutors do Offer Crazy Prices to Retailers in Australia but the retialers don't always pass them on.

Some Retailers Pass on GOOD Deals to Customers Other Don't.

What Rink do you play at "Aussie Joe"

I play at all rinks in Melb that have regualr Hockey games on. Puckhandlers is the place Im at the most. But Im not talking about Ross in my most previous quote from a rink owner