"While I'm not on a mission to upset people, I would like to know some answers. Current Australian Prices for Class approved laser sails are $1025 and $850 respectively. Our U.S friends get theres alot cheaper Taxes aside. Now there's a generic option availbe which is not class approved but is very afforable."
that doesent sound right....
An AUS sail in the US would cost $ 851.21 and $705.88.
Here a North goes for $530, and Hyde fro $620, from APS, fuck prices went up.....
and I dont know about AUS/NZL, but it seems to me that club particpation is steady, but at times it does go in cycles, families have kids, or a washer and dryer break so you gotta take it easy, that kinda stuff, I havent been racing because of my wrist, but I will be back out there
but I fully agree with you, these shitty sails cost waaaaay to much, and certinly arent helping the class, 350 American sounds right or the quality of the cloth, and the length that they last
I only know of the intensity sails (and the prize of those), as a sailmaker I can say that the prize of those sails are as low as it gets. I even have a hard time to understand how they make enough from selling those sails.It makes you wonder how much cost is in a sail really.
I don't want to keep people from sailing, especially in MY fleet! It ended up that 3 people bought Intensity sails, but those same 3 bought new Norths too. With the Intensity they can conserve their investment in the class legal sails. BTW, I bought an Intensity Radial and have sailed with it a couple of times. At my level of sailing (low), I can't tell any difference.
Thats the very point we are trying to push. I will buy an Intensity sail for all other sailing and inport a US Laser approved sail for Offical events . If Anything I would just like to see the prices dropped to a level affordable by all, and or an explanation of costs.
It is a business. I don't understand why you think you will get an explanation or have any say in the pricing.????
Well I just don't understand that statement. You must be able to replace your sail when you feel the need.
Good for you.
Alot of us can't. Not a Laser approved anyway.
Fuel here is $1.28 a litre....
Thats $4.86 a gallon.
It is a business. I don't understand why you think you will get an explanation or have any say in the pricing.????
Well I just don't understand that statement. You must be able to replace your sail when you feel the need.
Good for you.
Alot of us can't. Not a Laser approved anyway.
No, I don't replace my sails as often as needed.
If you really want an explanation of pricing and quality of Laser sails, this is the wrong place to ask for it. The Laser Forum is a privately owned independent forum. It's a good place to blow off steam and share ideas. Once in a while the ILCA-NA president (SFBayLaser) checks in, but just because he wants to. If I were to ask about pricing and quality of sails, I'd write snail mail to the ILCA, in England. Write to the international board members to push for changes in the class, I would guess. Here you are just a gnat buzzing the wrong body. At least there you'd be buzzing the right one. But if you get enough gnats. . .
And correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that the Boathouse was quoting the price of gas to point out that everything is expensive, not just Laser stuff.
Thoughts on Pricing of class approved Sails.
While I'm not on a mission to upset people, I would like to know some answers. Current Australian Prices for Class approved laser sails are $1025 and $850 respectively. Our U.S friends get theres alot cheaper Taxes aside. Now there's a generic option availbe which is not class approved but is very afforable.
It makes you wonder how much cost is in a sail really.
We are now at the point were Laser sails are becoming very expensive in a time when I personaly believe sailing is generally at a low point especially with the youth. Less poeple are learning to sail, clubs are shutting down.
I also believe we are preventing poeple from enjoying the sport. Having good equipment or a higher standard of equipment is out of reach.
If we all use an intensity for practice/club level and are able to extend the life of our class sails by 1-2 years that will drop the demand/reorders the class sail makers see and they will have to drop prices to generate sales.
Supply and demand folks. Let's stand together give Intensity some business and let North and Hyde sit on some inventory for a while.
It would be the builders (who also determine the price you and I pay for sails and all the other class approved stuff)
Wrong!!
You determine what you pay for stuff.
If you don't like the giving price the money to the seller, you don't buy.
Every single one of you who has bought a Laser or parts or sails for your Laser made a personal decision that the price was fair.
for spars, look for the Laser approved sticker
2. Maybe somebody should establish how the price of a sail is divided-up.
( that has been done and we already have prices)
For example, the more expensive UK sails purchased from PSE (manufacturer) have relatively few people taking their cut in the cost. Maybe if you buy through a dealer then the price has to be split further (i.e. you are paying for the convenience of walking into you local shop and buying a new sail there and then (and holding stock does cost money). ( and if we want that service we must be willing to pay for that service. Also. Don't ask whether you in particular want that service for yourself. Ask whether the game of sailing in your area can benefit from having sails in stock at a local dealer. Is the value to your gsame worth the price?)Maybe somebody should publish what the manufacturer gets, what the Laser Class Assn gets, what Vanguard/PSE get, what the dealer gets, etc. (If you want to do that, Why don't you find out those answers and publish them yourself)Should it be cheaper getting a sail from Vanguard/PSE (fewer people taking their cut) ? (I am a stocking dealer for many products. If I ever find out Vanguard or any other supplier who also supplies me is selling backdoor product and underpricing me, I will most certainly drop their line of product instantly! How the hell can I pay my flootrrplan and stocking costs when the very people whgo benefit from my marketing are undercutting my efforts?)(Maybe the Class Assn should start selling sails directly (again. lower stock, fewer people taking a cut so cheaper ?) and at least that way profit goes to the class and thus back into regattas, newsletters, etc.(If the class goes into the business of selling the products its advertisers currently sell. who the hell will advertise in and pay for the newsletters and websites we have now? Our class already has so little manpower that hundrreds of Laser events go on with no advance Class promotion or support. he last thing our class needs is more work and an adversarial relationship with former advertisers.
Ian
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woof