No, the free market keeps prices low and competition high. Regulation only fucks things up.
No, the free market keeps prices low and competition high. Regulation only fucks things up.
Expand QuoteNo, the free market keeps prices low and competition high. Regulation only fucks things up.[close]
How's that free market healthcare working out for you? Is it cheap and high quality? Don't tell me it's bad because regulation, because the more free market it is, the better it should be, right? US health insurance is a creature of the market, pure and simple, and it sucks ass while bankrupting people every day.
With all this shit going on in the world, should brands/distributors stop selling direct to the consumers and only sell to skate shops, forcing everyone to go support their local shop?
I support this.
Discuss.
Expand QuoteNo, the free market keeps prices low and competition high. Regulation only fucks things up.[close]
How's that free market healthcare working out for you? Is it cheap and high quality? Don't tell me it's bad because regulation, because the more free market it is, the better it should be, right? US health insurance is a creature of the market, pure and simple, and it sucks ass while bankrupting people every day.
Expand QuoteExpand QuoteNo, the free market keeps prices low and competition high. Regulation only fucks things up.[close]
How's that free market healthcare working out for you? Is it cheap and high quality? Don't tell me it's bad because regulation, because the more free market it is, the better it should be, right? US health insurance is a creature of the market, pure and simple, and it sucks ass while bankrupting people every day.[close]
Exactly, TONS of government intervention has made it unaffordable. If it was truly free market and mostly not employer dependent, it would be more competitive and lower priced. Then you could buy it like you do car insurance, which is affordable and competitive.
I do agree that there’s a non monetary benefit that shops provide and for that reason I try to support my local scene, but more regulation is never the answer
Ask yourself why skate decks have remained the same price for 20+ years.
Expand QuoteNo, the free market keeps prices low and competition high. Regulation only fucks things up.[close]
Although I appreciate your high school economics lesson, you're overlooking the enormous cultural benefit shops provide to their respective skate scenes, a benefit that is largely not able to be monitized and which suffers when only economic competition, effficiency and widening of choice are considered. Anyway, everyone please just go buy some shit from your local.
THIS IS WHY YOU'VE GOTTA SUPPORT DLXSF they don't sell shit on their website, and have always been super shop focused. They're like the opposite of Primitive.
let's hear your reasoning for this one...Expand QuoteTHIS IS WHY YOU'VE GOTTA SUPPORT DLXSF they don't sell shit on their website, and have always been super shop focused. They're like the opposite of Primitive.[close]
DLXSF is fucking garbage bro
Expand QuoteExpand QuoteNo, the free market keeps prices low and competition high. Regulation only fucks things up.[close]
How's that free market healthcare working out for you? Is it cheap and high quality? Don't tell me it's bad because regulation, because the more free market it is, the better it should be, right? US health insurance is a creature of the market, pure and simple, and it sucks ass while bankrupting people every day.[close]
TRUE TRUE
Big companies like Zumiez would buy bulk and price small shops out of the market.I've always found this pretty funny how all these brands sold so heavily to Zumiez or other similar stores, but now that they are battling huge corporations everything is buy "core." Like I didn't see DC, Sole Tech, Fallen, Lakai etc at West 49 (Canada's biggest mall shop).
I know your intentions are noble, but running a small business is always difficult and never that profitable.
The only aspects of privatized health-care that could lead someone to come to the conclusion it is better are that America has a significant portion of the best hospitals in the world (Johns Hopkins, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinc, Sloan-Kettering, etc) and the ease of getting immediate treatment for certain procedures. Coming from a country where we have universal health-care and a city that has a couple of world-class hospitals, I'd obviously take what I currently have. So, America in some ways does have the best health-care in the world, it is just far from accessible to a large portion of people.Expand QuoteExpand QuoteExpand QuoteNo, the free market keeps prices low and competition high. Regulation only fucks things up.[close]
How's that free market healthcare working out for you? Is it cheap and high quality? Don't tell me it's bad because regulation, because the more free market it is, the better it should be, right? US health insurance is a creature of the market, pure and simple, and it sucks ass while bankrupting people every day.[close]
Exactly, TONS of government intervention has made it unaffordable. If it was truly free market and mostly not employer dependent, it would be more competitive and lower priced. Then you could buy it like you do car insurance, which is affordable and competitive.
I do agree that there’s a non monetary benefit that shops provide and for that reason I try to support my local scene, but more regulation is never the answer
Ask yourself why skate decks have remained the same price for 20+ years.[close]
Explain, then, why it's not better than socialized medicine. If I follow you, competition and markets are just flat out better. So, our health care system should be the best in the world since it uses competitive markets, unlike the supposedly inferior socialized model. So why isn't it better, dude? Why is it actually worse?
let's hear your reasoning for this one...Expand QuoteExpand QuoteTHIS IS WHY YOU'VE GOTTA SUPPORT DLXSF they don't sell shit on their website, and have always been super shop focused. They're like the opposite of Primitive.[close]
DLXSF is fucking garbage bro[close]
Anyone who says “well my local shop is this” or “that dude who owns my local is a this or that” can shut the fuck up. There are a TON of fucking local shops all over the country. Ever try calling one or checking a website to a local shop that isnt your local? I literally buy stuff from shops around the country. So maybe we need to push to support skate shops and not just your “local” skate shop.
Skate shops are of great benefit to skateboarding but if they all were gone, skateboarding would continue and people would find another place to hang out.I almost feel like the skatepark has turned into the hangout spot for the new generation of kids ready. Ya people won’t learn as much about the history of skating or be able to get a sponsor like from the park but idk just kinda seems like the direction it’s headed
I support direct to consumer. I support skate shops.
But I think lots of people overstate the benefits of skate shops especially here in the future, 2019/2020 where everything is online now. Skate shops aren’t needed as much.
Expand QuoteNo, the free market keeps prices low and competition high. Regulation only fucks things up.[close]
Although I appreciate your high school economics lesson, you're overlooking the enormous cultural benefit shops provide to their respective skate scenes, a benefit that is largely not able to be monitized and which suffers when only economic competition, effficiency and widening of choice are considered. Anyway, everyone please just go buy some shit from your local.
My town does not have a skate shop and the nearest shop is 2 hours away... I need to buy online.
Anyone who says “well my local shop is this” or “that dude who owns my local is a this or that” can shut the fuck up. There are a TON of fucking local shops all over the country. Ever try calling one or checking a website to a local shop that isnt your local? I literally buy stuff from shops around the country. So maybe we need to push to support skate shops and not just your “local” skate shop.
Anyone who says “well my local shop is this” or “that dude who owns my local is a this or that” can shut the fuck up. There are a TON of fucking local shops all over the country. Ever try calling one or checking a website to a local shop that isnt your local? I literally buy stuff from shops around the country. So maybe we need to push to support skate shops and not just your “local” skate shop.This. I balance between my local and Other shops via their web store. Literally got two decks in the mail from Blacksheep this morning. I buy direct when I’m really hyped on something or it’s not available elsewhere. Buying direct gives us a way to support brands and people we are stoked on.
Anyone who says “well my local shop is this” or “that dude who owns my local is a this or that” can shut the fuck up. There are a TON of fucking local shops all over the country. Ever try calling one or checking a website to a local shop that isnt your local? I literally buy stuff from shops around the country. So maybe we need to push to support skate shops and not just your “local” skate shop.
Expand QuoteAnyone who says “well my local shop is this” or “that dude who owns my local is a this or that” can shut the fuck up. There are a TON of fucking local shops all over the country. Ever try calling one or checking a website to a local shop that isnt your local? I literally buy stuff from shops around the country. So maybe we need to push to support skate shops and not just your “local” skate shop.[close]
No offense, but I find that logic weak.
The whole point of buying from a local skateshop is either for convenience (you just cracked a deck and need another one ASAP) or to support your skate scene. They're supposed to host events/contests, chip in on the DIY park, and connect the local talent to some sponsors if they're interested.
If I'm buying shit from another state, might as well buy from skatewarehouse as they probably have a better infrastructure to handle online orders. If I'm buying shit from skatewarehouse then fuck it, I might as well buy it directly from Quasiskateboards.com.
I own a small brand that lives partly in independent brick and mortar shops, and we would not be in business at all if we didn't start selling direct. We don't even sell to my local shop because they have a history of not paying their bills. I'd 100% just sell to awesome indy shops if it was possible, but its not.
Expand QuoteI own a small brand that lives partly in independent brick and mortar shops, and we would not be in business at all if we didn't start selling direct. We don't even sell to my local shop because they have a history of not paying their bills. I'd 100% just sell to awesome indy shops if it was possible, but its not.[close]
) /thread
it's really understandable why brands sell direct to consumer.
selling it directly to timmy for $50 gives them basically free profitscompared to selling the same board to a shop for less, so that the shop can sell it for $50. you can sell DTC goods at 75% of retail prices at no loss.
in skateboarding the community aspect is so important, so these brands shouldn't do DTC in areas where they have shops. they are basically shitting on their own feet and making dumbass timmy grow up without a local shop. shops shouldn't sell product from brands that do DTC either, but i can understand that shops are forced to sell bullshit brands to timmy to stay alive.
No, the free market keeps prices low and competition high. Regulation only fucks things up.
Expand QuoteAnyone who says “well my local shop is this” or “that dude who owns my local is a this or that” can shut the fuck up. There are a TON of fucking local shops all over the country. Ever try calling one or checking a website to a local shop that isnt your local? I literally buy stuff from shops around the country. So maybe we need to push to support skate shops and not just your “local” skate shop.[close]
Best post on this topic, thank you for keeping skating good in your country. I do the same
Good point, yeah the skatepark basically is the hangout now that most towns have one.I almost feel like the skatepark has turned into the hangout spot for the new generation of kids ready. Ya people won’t learn as much about the history of skating or be able to get a sponsor like from the park but idk just kinda seems like the direction it’s headedExpand QuoteSkate shops are of great benefit to skateboarding but if they all were gone, skateboarding would continue and people would find another place to hang out.
I support direct to consumer. I support skate shops.
But I think lots of people overstate the benefits of skate shops especially here in the future, 2019/2020 where everything is online now. Skate shops aren’t needed as much.[close]
How the fuck do people plan on supporting skate shops when they can barely pay their rent at this moment? People are legit going broke and were supposed to think about non essential shit? Lol ass backwards.
I like Quasi's model, they get all their product for most recent releases into shops first, shops have the first go at selling that gear, for what seems like a week or so before Quasi drops the stuff onto their own site.
Bronze56k seems to do the opposite of that , where they release a line of gear on their site, and then that next week it seems like the shops start to get their orders in .
How the fuck do people plan on supporting skate shops when they can barely pay their rent at this moment? People are legit going broke and were supposed to think about non essential shit? Lol ass backwards.
If they are going broke I'm guessing copping the newest Formula 4s or Acid Ply Quasi deck is not at the top of their priorities, and they can probably skate with the shit they have now.Expand QuoteHow the fuck do people plan on supporting skate shops when they can barely pay their rent at this moment? People are legit going broke and were supposed to think about non essential shit? Lol ass backwards.[close]
Lots of people might still want to skate while going broke.
How the fuck do people plan on supporting skate shops when they can barely pay their rent at this moment? People are legit going broke and were supposed to think about non essential shit? Lol ass backwards.
If they are going broke I'm guessing copping the newest Formula 4s or Acid Ply Quasi deck is not at the top of their priorities, and they can probably skate with the shit they have now.Expand QuoteExpand QuoteHow the fuck do people plan on supporting skate shops when they can barely pay their rent at this moment? People are legit going broke and were supposed to think about non essential shit? Lol ass backwards.[close]
Lots of people might still want to skate while going broke.[close]
No, the free market keeps prices low and competition high. Regulation only fucks things up.That’s not regulation it would be businesses deciding to act a certain way on their own
That’s not regulation it would be businesses deciding to act a certain way on their ownExpand QuoteNo, the free market keeps prices low and competition high. Regulation only fucks things up.[close]
what if your local shop was ran by two fat Nazis? Wouldn’t it be better to just buy directly from the brand and not give those Nazis any money? I think so.The brand sells to two fat nazis. Double profit for them so the nazis get nothing?
it's good for small brands that don't have a distro, popular brands will be distributed either way and good skateshops curate their brand selection in regards to their local customer base. a small brand that is forced to sell only through shops might not even get off the ground unless it's backed by corporate money. direct to customer also usually means better margins for the brand since they can ship out of their warehouse.
i think every brand should sell their wares in whatever way they want and is good for them, and if i think their product and business model sucks i still can choose not to support them. but i try to buy everything at my shop or have it ordered if that's possible.
as someone else said, noble intentions, but it would hurt small brands and shops in the long, seeing as that could actually dry out the ground for new small brands to actually grow beyond locality through d2c. i can't buy proper shoes anywhere in europe afaik since no one carries them, but i can order them on their own site and get them shipped to me.
apart from all that, that is a pretty harsh rule, even if the thought behind it is beneficial. it's almost communism levels of economic control. you want to make it easier for the little guys, but these regulations benefit the big skate cos that have no trouble getting distributed. having worked in a shop for years, i remember i often really wanted to order a bunch of stuff from a sick small company, but sometimes budget or something comes in the way. i still was happy to talk about and refere to them to customers in the shop if i felt they would like them. a shop can't carry everything you might want it to carry simply due to space/money reasons, so i don't think it makes sense to clutter shops up with even more product that's forced onto them.
Expand Quoteit's good for small brands that don't have a distro, popular brands will be distributed either way and good skateshops curate their brand selection in regards to their local customer base. a small brand that is forced to sell only through shops might not even get off the ground unless it's backed by corporate money. direct to customer also usually means better margins for the brand since they can ship out of their warehouse.
i think every brand should sell their wares in whatever way they want and is good for them, and if i think their product and business model sucks i still can choose not to support them. but i try to buy everything at my shop or have it ordered if that's possible.
as someone else said, noble intentions, but it would hurt small brands and shops in the long, seeing as that could actually dry out the ground for new small brands to actually grow beyond locality through d2c. i can't buy proper shoes anywhere in europe afaik since no one carries them, but i can order them on their own site and get them shipped to me.
apart from all that, that is a pretty harsh rule, even if the thought behind it is beneficial. it's almost communism levels of economic control. you want to make it easier for the little guys, but these regulations benefit the big skate cos that have no trouble getting distributed. having worked in a shop for years, i remember i often really wanted to order a bunch of stuff from a sick small company, but sometimes budget or something comes in the way. i still was happy to talk about and refere to them to customers in the shop if i felt they would like them. a shop can't carry everything you might want it to carry simply due to space/money reasons, so i don't think it makes sense to clutter shops up with even more product that's forced onto them.[close]
corporate skateboarding sucks bro. they shouldn't sell you a deck that cost $3 to make and sell it for $60,
With all this shit going on in the world, should brands/distributors stop selling direct to the consumers and only sell to skate shops, forcing everyone to go support their local shop?yes and no. on one hand it would be great to support shops all the time, but on the other as someone mentioned not everyone has a local shop and shops cant carry everything that everyone wants.
I support this.
Discuss.
west49 has sold all of those brands in the past, had big smu's with most too. currently they dont because they are owned by the same company as bluenotes and most legit brands are pulling out.I've always found this pretty funny how all these brands sold so heavily to Zumiez or other similar stores, but now that they are battling huge corporations everything is buy "core." Like I didn't see DC, Sole Tech, Fallen, Lakai etc at West 49 (Canada's biggest mall shop).Expand QuoteBig companies like Zumiez would buy bulk and price small shops out of the market.
I know your intentions are noble, but running a small business is always difficult and never that profitable.[close]
most skate shops are on borrowed time, surprised they lasted this long. Get ur plan b ready boysss.
Expand Quoteit's good for small brands that don't have a distro, popular brands will be distributed either way and good skateshops curate their brand selection in regards to their local customer base. a small brand that is forced to sell only through shops might not even get off the ground unless it's backed by corporate money. direct to customer also usually means better margins for the brand since they can ship out of their warehouse.
i think every brand should sell their wares in whatever way they want and is good for them, and if i think their product and business model sucks i still can choose not to support them. but i try to buy everything at my shop or have it ordered if that's possible.
as someone else said, noble intentions, but it would hurt small brands and shops in the long, seeing as that could actually dry out the ground for new small brands to actually grow beyond locality through d2c. i can't buy proper shoes anywhere in europe afaik since no one carries them, but i can order them on their own site and get them shipped to me.
apart from all that, that is a pretty harsh rule, even if the thought behind it is beneficial. it's almost communism levels of economic control. you want to make it easier for the little guys, but these regulations benefit the big skate cos that have no trouble getting distributed. having worked in a shop for years, i remember i often really wanted to order a bunch of stuff from a sick small company, but sometimes budget or something comes in the way. i still was happy to talk about and refere to them to customers in the shop if i felt they would like them. a shop can't carry everything you might want it to carry simply due to space/money reasons, so i don't think it makes sense to clutter shops up with even more product that's forced onto them.[close]
corporate skateboarding sucks bro. they shouldn't sell you a deck that cost $3 to make and sell it for $60,
why not ignoring a guy who thinks a board cost 3$ to make ?
Expand Quotewhy not ignoring a guy who thinks a board cost 3$ to make ?[close]
how much does it really cost than bro?
I buy local when it comes to trucks, bearings, wheels, the occasional shirt. BUT shoes and boards I usually buy online. They never have shoes I want in my size and I'm a picky bitch about boards too. So I don't mind. Back in the day, you had to settle for shirts in shitty colors or a wrong size just to have the shirt, always hated that.
Expand Quotemost skate shops are on borrowed time, surprised they lasted this long. Get ur plan b ready boysss.[close]
True of basically every retailer that runs on credit terms. Especially true of skate shops though. The entire distribution/wholesale/retail structure is crumbling across the entire country.