Comments on: Sierra vs. Burton http://www.agnarchy.com/sierra-vs-burton/ agnarchy: no rules, just gnar. Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:08:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: David Zemens http://www.agnarchy.com/sierra-vs-burton/#comment-10206 David Zemens Sat, 05 Feb 2011 20:42:57 +0000 http://www.agnarchy.com/?p=711#comment-10206 Right. It's the manufacturers essentially roping in all of the middlemen/retailers in to a price-fixing agreement, which otherwise (i.e., if the retailers had made such an agreement by, for and among themselves) would be subject to anti-trust scrutiny. Right. It’s the manufacturers essentially roping in all of the middlemen/retailers in to a price-fixing agreement, which otherwise (i.e., if the retailers had made such an agreement by, for and among themselves) would be subject to anti-trust scrutiny.

]]> By: tom http://www.agnarchy.com/sierra-vs-burton/#comment-10201 tom Sat, 05 Feb 2011 17:40:17 +0000 http://www.agnarchy.com/?p=711#comment-10201 has anyone heard of the free market economy? this corporations are using artificial price control. consumers should be alert to these marketing methods. has anyone heard of the free market economy? this corporations are using artificial price control. consumers should be alert to these marketing methods.

]]> By: David Z http://www.agnarchy.com/sierra-vs-burton/#comment-454 David Z Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:35:25 +0000 http://www.agnarchy.com/?p=711#comment-454 Exactly, Brett. If you want to enter the retail game and cut out the middleman, then cut out the middleman and open up your own brick & mortar shops in every state and your own website. Otherwise, you're biting the hand that feeds... Exactly, Brett. If you want to enter the retail game and cut out the middleman, then cut out the middleman and open up your own brick & mortar shops in every state and your own website. Otherwise, you’re biting the hand that feeds…

]]> By: Brett http://www.agnarchy.com/sierra-vs-burton/#comment-448 Brett Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:38:58 +0000 http://www.agnarchy.com/?p=711#comment-448 And don't forget that Burton is selling it's own boards direct. They'd much rather 'discount' their boards %20 off retail than compete with Sierra who bought the boards wholesale and is selling them %50 off retail, and probably still being profitable. And don’t forget that Burton is selling it’s own boards direct. They’d much rather ‘discount’ their boards %20 off retail than compete with Sierra who bought the boards wholesale and is selling them %50 off retail, and probably still being profitable.

]]> By: David Z http://www.agnarchy.com/sierra-vs-burton/#comment-446 David Z Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:14:38 +0000 http://www.agnarchy.com/?p=711#comment-446 Hi Jacob - thanks for stopping by and thanks for the comment. <blockquote> The vendors have these rules for a reason, and part of it is so that large retailers looking to whore out the market cannot just become loss leaders, mark the product down as low as possible right out of the gates. </Blockquote> All the vendors have to do is restrict the amount that they sell to any of the "large" retailers. Problem solved. It's not like the vendors' hands are totally clean in this issue :) they're out to make money just like the retailers. Hi Jacob – thanks for stopping by and thanks for the comment.

The vendors have these rules for a reason, and part of it is so that large retailers looking to whore out the market cannot just become loss leaders, mark the product down as low as possible right out of the gates.

All the vendors have to do is restrict the amount that they sell to any of the “large” retailers. Problem solved. It’s not like the vendors’ hands are totally clean in this issue :) they’re out to make money just like the retailers.

]]> By: Jacob http://www.agnarchy.com/sierra-vs-burton/#comment-445 Jacob Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:39:59 +0000 http://www.agnarchy.com/?p=711#comment-445 The problem with this is what it does to the other retailers. When you sell snowboards, you are already working on a smaller margin than with most products, even skis. After advertising, and everything else that goes into selling a product, you are left with very little profit as it is, let alone when you have to drastically discount it. Don't get me wrong, discounting is great, but for those who don't know, Sierra starting breaking discount in early February when the season was still in full swing. When one retailer breaks pricing, especially online, everyone else has to follow regardless of if they were still selling the product well or not. I have been riding for 12 years now, but I am also retailer so I see this from both sides. The last thing I want is for the consumer to pay more than necessary for a product, but also understand that this is an industry like anything else. Retailers have to make a certain amount of profit to still be able to function. Discounting product because you bought too much and are overloaded doesn't mean that the demand isn't still there for other retailers. There is a time and place for 40% and 50% off discounts and unfortunately it isn't in February/early March. It is simple supply and demand, and one retailer going rogue and disobeying a dealer agreement (which is not just Burton by the way, they all have similar discounting rules) screws up the entire market, more than likely for the rest of the year. The vendors have these rules for a reason, and part of it is so that large retailers looking to whore out the market cannot just become loss leaders, mark the product down as low as possible right out of the gates. Yes, they would then sell massive quantities, but they will also low both product image and value. Anyways, I'm sorry if I am starting to rant, but please keep in mind that whatever Sierra says,posts,whatever this was not their choice, and they were not doing this to "look out for the consumer". The simple fact of the matter is they bought way too much product and needed to dump it when they realized they were in trouble. It has been a constant battle between retailers who are actually following the rules and Burton this whole season because Sierra has been trying to stretch and break every rule out there. Plain and simple, Sierra is hurting the industry that they "love so much". Support real retailers that are honestly in it for the sport, but understand they still have a business to run. The deals and discounts maybe not be ridiculous in February, but will still come, the snowboard market will be able to stay healthy and grow. The problem with this is what it does to the other retailers. When you sell snowboards, you are already working on a smaller margin than with most products, even skis. After advertising, and everything else that goes into selling a product, you are left with very little profit as it is, let alone when you have to drastically discount it. Don’t get me wrong, discounting is great, but for those who don’t know, Sierra starting breaking discount in early February when the season was still in full swing. When one retailer breaks pricing, especially online, everyone else has to follow regardless of if they were still selling the product well or not. I have been riding for 12 years now, but I am also retailer so I see this from both sides. The last thing I want is for the consumer to pay more than necessary for a product, but also understand that this is an industry like anything else. Retailers have to make a certain amount of profit to still be able to function. Discounting product because you bought too much and are overloaded doesn’t mean that the demand isn’t still there for other retailers. There is a time and place for 40% and 50% off discounts and unfortunately it isn’t in February/early March. It is simple supply and demand, and one retailer going rogue and disobeying a dealer agreement (which is not just Burton by the way, they all have similar discounting rules) screws up the entire market, more than likely for the rest of the year. The vendors have these rules for a reason, and part of it is so that large retailers looking to whore out the market cannot just become loss leaders, mark the product down as low as possible right out of the gates. Yes, they would then sell massive quantities, but they will also low both product image and value.

Anyways, I’m sorry if I am starting to rant, but please keep in mind that whatever Sierra says,posts,whatever this was not their choice, and they were not doing this to “look out for the consumer”. The simple fact of the matter is they bought way too much product and needed to dump it when they realized they were in trouble. It has been a constant battle between retailers who are actually following the rules and Burton this whole season because Sierra has been trying to stretch and break every rule out there.

Plain and simple, Sierra is hurting the industry that they “love so much”. Support real retailers that are honestly in it for the sport, but understand they still have a business to run. The deals and discounts maybe not be ridiculous in February, but will still come, the snowboard market will be able to stay healthy and grow.

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