$155 for new Chinese imports

[dogbert]

I didn't say I wouldn't outsource, but I will always choose to NOT, as long as I can. I will always buy local, when I can, etc. Its a matter of preference, not conviction.

Sorry, didn't mean to imply that you wouldn't. I try to support my local economies wherever I can. It's a preference thing.

I just don't understand the whole knee-jerk reaction to outsourcing.

[ragboy]

Sorry, didn't mean to imply that you wouldn't. I try to support my local economies wherever I can. It's a preference thing.

I just don't understand the whole knee-jerk reaction to outsourcing.

It wasn't outsourcing they were referring to. It is the theft of intellectual property. When a chinese manufacturer steals a design from another company that spent all the time and money on R & D, then just stamps them out at lower quality, I don't like it. Outsourcing is like what surfdad said inland surfer is doing. They design and do r & d, and outsource manufacturing. I am ok with that, but I would hope that any company would first weigh their US options first. If outsourcing is by far the best choice, good choice.

Do you see the difference?

[dogbert]

It wasn't outsourcing they were referring to. It is the theft of intellectual property. When a chinese manufacturer steals a design from another company that spent all the time and money on R & D, then just stamps them out at lower quality, I don't like it. Outsourcing is like what surfdad said inland surfer is doing. They design and do r & d, and outsource manufacturing. I am ok with that, but I would hope that any company would first weigh their US options first. If outsourcing is by far the best choice, good choice.

Do you see the difference?

Well, theft of IP is a different story. You have to know what you're doing if you're going to do it. I'd be very concerned about sending stuff to China. Less so, India or parts of Eastern Europe.

[Surfdad]

So an update on this. I may get ripped off, but I think it's worth the risk trying. I got a quote for $155 a board and I asked if they could do a sub 5' board and that wasn't a problem. I asked for the shipping quote and it came back $180 to my door. I wasn't real interested in pursuing it so I just fired back - that's a bunch of crap, you can do 2 boards in the same box for that price.

And they said - yes, two board shipping for 180 and 155 each. For a total of $490. My favorite question in the broken english: How you think?

I wasn't going to follow thru so I thought what the heck, I just told them no..that is too expensive, I couldn't justify more than $400 for the two boards shipped to my door. They said ok!!!!!!

You have to figure the 180 shipping is pretty much out of their pocket, which brings two boards down to 220 or $110 per unit. I may just be burning 4 bills, but I have to see if they can deliver. I build a ton of boards and I can't buy the MATERIALS at retail to build one that cheap. I have a number of Asian clients and they have an expectation of negotiation on any price - even for my CPA services. It makes sense that they would negotiate on the price of product.

Anyone want to take bets? Will I get ripped off for the 4 bills or not?

[Timmy!]

I think you'll get the boards....by August! LOL!

[Surfdad]

What year? I know it's going to be something freakish, I can feel it.

[larryueckert]

400.00 is a big chunk of change i would blow the whole contry up for 400.00 bucks.

[Jason B]

400.00 is a big chunk of change i would blow the whole contry up for 400.00 bucks.

That makes a bunch of sense
Go ahead and do that..then where do we get our children's toys with lead based paint from? Not to mention all those awesome products in roadside souvenier (sp?) stands-- who'd make those if you blew them up??

[larryueckert]

the U.S.A

[Dan and Christy]

What year? I know it's going to be something freakish, I can feel it.

Surfdad, I am wrapping up a big project and we were forced to use a Chinese supplier for our exterior metal panels and glass. The upfront work, shop drawings and samples were a huge pain but the actual material that showed up to the jobsite was high quality. When you are in the design process just know that they will agree and say yes to anything if they think that is what you want but in reality that information will likely not get back to the factory accurately. Take your time upfront with them and I would expect a quality product. One last note, everything shuts down for an entire month for Chinese New Year, if things get dragged out that long. Good luck.

[matte]

Jeff

Matt E here. I got the same quote however, I got the quote of one board including shipping of $370. You and I must have seen that site on swaylocks about the same time. I too responded with I can shape the board alot cheaper than that. They offered to throw in a "sample board" in the same box for a total of $400.

[whitlock87]

I frequent a website called swaylocks.com. It's focused on board building. To the point, they have a classifieds section and there was a post from a Chinese manufacturer of surfboards. So I sent them an email and go this response back (direct cut n' paste)

Hello Jeff,

Thanks for your inquiry in Swaylocks.com It is only USD 155 for a short board in our factory. Would you like to get one? We are surfboards manufacturer in China. We offer to make any size of surfboards using the PU blanks, EPS foams and IXPS foams. All of them are with high quality and excellent price. If you have interests in ordering one, please provide the specs for the board that you like, as well as the designs and logos. We will arrange to make one for you. Looking forward to hear from you soon.

Thanks & Best regards



Jessica



UCSports Co.,Ltd.
Tell: +86-755-2716-4085
Fax: +86-755-2716-4085
Mobile: +86-132-6657-6905
www.ucsport.cn
skype:ucsports755

I happen to be in Huizhou China, (1.5 hours north of Hong Kong). I will give them a call and see if i can get a tour of there factory. If it works out i will take some pics and post them.
David

[whitlock87]

Ok i found out that they are about 2 hours from us, We are going to see if they will let us stop by on Monday.

[Surfdad]

Hey Matt,

Good to see you posting here. So you got the same deal that did. That's interesting - I think we are probably at the bottom end of the negotiation for them. Did you pull the trigger?

David/Whitloc87 - that would be great! Keep us posted on what you find, please.

Dan and Christy - I've seen some of the Chinese made boards and it's not like it used to be 5 years ago when the quality was crap. The current crop of boards is as good as anything manufactured here. Like you say - the final product is good, it's getting the details TO THEM so that you can get the desired board back. It sure seems that they are anxious and they have pretty much said OK to everything I ask for. What concerns me is delivery later - I can't imagine that I would front them the money, so that will be a hurdle, I'm sure.

I wonder if having a rep, like David, in country would be the way to go? Even $250 for a custom board is pretty cheap.

[matte]

Jeff, I found this site when I was researching different boats. I did not pull the trigger yet. They offered to send me one of their samples in addition to the one shape I've sent them. I'd do it if they would do 2 boards for 400 bucks shipped. Let's see what she says.