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King or water sports UK

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Created by gdownie > 9 months ago, 16 Aug 2018
gdownie
NSW, 141 posts
16 Aug 2018 6:09PM
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Dont make the mistake with trying to deal with these guys in UK,stick to local suppliers.
These guys stuffed around totally to fob me off till they sold all there sale kites locally as they advertise free shipping on kites.
agreed on a kite price then ignored all emails,txt messages and Facebook messages when i asked for payment details.
Very unprofessional and one big time waister.
Dont bother.........shop localy.

cauncy
WA, 8407 posts
16 Aug 2018 8:41PM
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What did you try and order kite brand wise and why didn't you just get one locally
did you pay them and not receive goods, some brands have made it so Charlie owner of KOWS
carnt sell to AUS, all Aus branded wetsuits have stopped him doing so
this is a load of w..k imho,I've never bothered with ripcurl, O'Neil, billabong etc but some locals used to buy the latest greatest Aus brands 1/2 price compared to here from KOWS in the uk
That didn't look good an Australian brand costing you half price in the uk, damn it almost looks like they've been ripping you of over here for years, so they put a block on him exporting,

Surfer62
1357 posts
17 Aug 2018 5:27PM
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I've actually purchased from KOW 4 times and no probs at all, they even sent me a latest release kite ( 6 months before Oz release ) when I had ordered a previous year runout model, nice surprise on opening that one, free international shipping every time and delivered within 10 days. I've had almost immediate email replies from KOW when emailing and on the other hand have been shafted by a local dealer so I dont believe that buy local crap, buy what you want from whoever you want, free trade and democracy.

Swavek
WA, 393 posts
18 Aug 2018 9:51PM
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I've done ok with them - fins were missing from a twintip but got them a week later at no cost. They can have very good prices on run out gear.

Hybrid_Z
VIC, 381 posts
20 Aug 2018 2:54PM
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Bought from them previously and had a flawless transaction.

20 Aug 2018 5:01PM
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We get asked to price match them a fair bit, with the current exchange rate Australian pricing is pretty even on current model equipment. Clearance gear can be a whole different story though, sometimes we can match, sometimes we can get close... other times it's just too good a deal and they should buy from KOW immediately haha.

Nutdip
WA, 64 posts
20 Aug 2018 9:03PM
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My last transaction with them I ordered a 2017 neo on sale, like $400 off. They delivered 2018 model, freeshipping with an apology note for upgrading the order.

cauncy
WA, 8407 posts
21 Aug 2018 7:16AM
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Select to expand quote
Nutdip said..
My last transaction with them I ordered a 2017 neo on sale, like $400 off. They delivered 2018 model, freeshipping with an apology note for upgrading the order.


Weird as they don't sell north
you did well there

eppo
WA, 9372 posts
21 Aug 2018 8:12AM
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Pretty sure they don't sell north ?

Never had any probs with KWS. Still on my
mystic warrior harness after 3 seasons actually from there.

Always try local of course first.

21 Aug 2018 11:43AM
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I'm not sure if people check their bank accounts after paying for goods from overseas, you will always find it is more than what that website displays as the "converted" AUD price. You should always use a tool like

www.mastercard.us/en-us/consumers/get-support/convert-currency.html your bank fee will usually be around 3% (CBA for example - www.commbank.com.au/support.credit-cards.what-is-an-international-transaction-fee.html)

Then, as of July 1st 2018, everything is slugged with 10% GST at customs (even if the overseas shop undervalues it) you will quickly find that the price saving isn't very large, if anything compared to your local unless it's some sort of super duper special.

Nutdip
WA, 64 posts
21 Aug 2018 3:45PM
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Select to expand quote
cauncy said..

Nutdip said..
My last transaction with them I ordered a 2017 neo on sale, like $400 off. They delivered 2018 model, freeshipping with an apology note for upgrading the order.



Weird as they don't sell north
you did well there

Correct.... I just checked my emails- it was www.you-love-it.eu not KOWS.

Got mixed up because it was the first time buying kite gear online OTHER than KOWS.

Sorry if I upset you.

bjw
NSW, 3568 posts
21 Aug 2018 6:00PM
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They seriously have a kite shop called www.you-love-it.eu ?

dachopper
WA, 1784 posts
21 Aug 2018 4:18PM
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Kitepower Australia said..
I'm not sure if people check their bank accounts after paying for goods from overseas, you will always find it is more than what that website displays as the "converted" AUD price. You should always use a tool like

www.mastercard.us/en-us/consumers/get-support/convert-currency.html your bank fee will usually be around 3% (CBA for example - www.commbank.com.au/support.credit-cards.what-is-an-international-transaction-fee.html)

Then, as of July 1st 2018, everything is slugged with 10% GST at customs (even if the overseas shop undervalues it) you will quickly find that the price saving isn't very large, if anything compared to your local unless it's some sort of super duper special.


Did someone say super duper deal.

How about north team series for under 199 euro :)

Surfer62
1357 posts
21 Aug 2018 4:55PM
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Kitepower Australia said..
I'm not sure if people check their bank accounts after paying for goods from overseas, you will always find it is more than what that website displays as the "converted" AUD price. You should always use a tool like

www.mastercard.us/en-us/consumers/get-support/convert-currency.html your bank fee will usually be around 3% (CBA for example - www.commbank.com.au/support.credit-cards.what-is-an-international-transaction-fee.html)

Then, as of July 1st 2018, everything is slugged with 10% GST at customs (even if the overseas shop undervalues it) you will quickly find that the price saving isn't very large, if anything compared to your local unless it's some sort of super duper special.



Not quite right there KP, the 10 % gst was already in for buys over $1000, an extra little bonus is that KOWS deduct the british version of gst - VAT at checkout so its a win win and my bank didnt charge a currency conversion, last kite I bought from KOWS was $950 less than here and that was the latest model upgrade surprise I mentioned previously so in reality probably $1500 less, I tried a few oz retailers in 3 states selling the particular kite before buying from KOWS and no movement on price.

Honestly up to 3 grand for a product with no moving parts, really ? Bar humbug the R & D bull****, every product has it done. The oz dealers need to push back on the kite company cash grab, but our oz market is nothing compared to the rest of the world so we need to be buyer savvy.

In the last 11 years or so ive bought a lot of kites and boards from oz retailers, including KP, probably 95 % of my hard earned kite cash has gone to local and interstate retailers but if I see a bargain I'll take it.

Kite businesses complaining about us buying overseas is like greenies whining about global warming whilst driving around in ****e boxes guzzling fuel and blowing smoke contributing to the mess.

cauncy
WA, 8407 posts
22 Aug 2018 7:44PM
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Select to expand quote
Nutdip said..


cauncy said..



Nutdip said..
My last transaction with them I ordered a 2017 neo on sale, like $400 off. They delivered 2018 model, freeshipping with an apology note for upgrading the order.





Weird as they don't sell north
you did well there



Correct.... I just checked my emails- it was www.you-love-it.eu not KOWS.

Got mixed up because it was the first time buying kite gear online OTHER than KOWS.

Sorry if I upset you.



Don't be sorry I'm here to help
Wa Surf and Action sports sell north/ duotone both in WA
cheers

Livit
WA, 542 posts
28 Aug 2018 5:48PM
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Select to expand quote
Kitepower Australia said..

Then, as of July 1st 2018, everything is slugged with 10% GST at customs (even if the overseas shop undervalues it) you will quickly find that the price saving isn't very large, if anything compared to your local unless it's some sort of super duper special.


For what I know this is only partially correct.

It applies to businesses exporting to Oz in excess of $70k/yearly . Not sure how they'd enforce this to a company like KOWS though...

I import a fair bit from a photography megastore located in the US and haven't got hit by the 10% gst on import yet. Last 2 orders were just short of $1k, both after 01/07/18.

Rango
WA, 667 posts
28 Aug 2018 6:19PM
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Thats good to know .Hard to find defined information on that tax.

cauncy
WA, 8407 posts
28 Aug 2018 7:23PM
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Righto
if it's over $1000 you will pay gst, kows deduct the current vat rate uk, if you have any dramas ie warranty good luck, most shops will tell you to kiss it and rightfully so, if you have an issue your liable to pay freight both ways on products
back in the day I used to use surface tension uk for my early ozone and shinn gear as nobody sold it here, I'd dealt with them for years and built a great relationship , Times are better now for choice and especially price in Australia, I've been buying all my equipment in Aus apart from my mystic wetsuits for 6/7 years, just done a reference on price with my latest kites, I paid less here than they can sell for, tbh I take more satisfaction knowing I'm keeping a local or state buisness going than making a small saving back in the uk speak to your retailers , make a deal and start a friendship, they appreciate it,

CJ2478
NSW, 482 posts
29 Aug 2018 8:50AM
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My advice on the matter if you're a serious buyer and know what you want is to call a few shops and see what deals they can do. When you find a good shop keep going back to them and develop a relationship.

In all aspects of business I like the negotiation, in this case verbally over the phone or face to face. It shows that yore a serious buyer and you can often negotiate a better deal in some way that usually benefits both parties. I would rarely buy something like this straight from the website without asking if there is some deal that can be arranged.

29 Aug 2018 12:27PM
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Select to expand quote
Livit said..

Kitepower Australia said..

Then, as of July 1st 2018, everything is slugged with 10% GST at customs (even if the overseas shop undervalues it) you will quickly find that the price saving isn't very large, if anything compared to your local unless it's some sort of super duper special.



For what I know this is only partially correct.

It applies to businesses exporting to Oz in excess of $70k/yearly . Not sure how they'd enforce this to a company like KOWS though...

I import a fair bit from a photography megastore located in the US and haven't got hit by the 10% gst on import yet. Last 2 orders were just short of $1k, both after 01/07/18.


Yep you are right, it actually only applies to businesses that are importing on behalf of their customers.... they have only released a "recommendation" on an enquiry to capture the 10% GST on all other "low value" imports in an economical/affordable way...

So basically its currently the same until the government pulls their finger out and figures how to collect it on sub 1k consumer imports.



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"King or water sports UK" started by gdownie