Having just purchased my tent, so no sales pressure, got talking to manager at shop. He confirmed what I had already heard, that prices for next year were going to be silly high compared to this. Something about chinese workers having more rights and more pay etc. He said that to keep prices down suppliers were going to produce tents with less extras on such as porches and annexes. Has anybody else heard this?
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Maunfacturing costs have sky rocketed recently so it was inevitable that the price increases would be passed on to consumers. Looking at some of the 2011 tent prices, there has been quite a dramatic increase by some manufacturers.
I guess some manufacturers will try to keep prices keen by not adding on "extras" in an attempt to get more buyers. We'll have to see if that approach is a)true and b)works!
in some products you can see it has already happening
my other hobby is Open Canoes, nearly bought a C-Tug trolley last year for £72, rrp for new stock now is £110 (darn it I should have got it last year). Last year a Grey Owl Guide Paddle was £60, this year £78. Old Town Appalacian Canoe was £1100 two years ago, now some dealers are quoting £1350
add a bit of extra VAT and some increased transport costs (global and local) and the relentless globalisation of trade starts to look uneasy - my next purchases will mostly be UK (or at least EU) made
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Damn those pesky Chinese wanting to earn a living! Maybe manufacturers really need to look to UK for workforce - go through the job centre and get a load of people to work on minimum wage, factor in the savings in freight from China (about £800/container) and the import duty and vat, and they could come out ok.
pete - not sure UK has much of a manufacturing sector left, for 30 years this country has said it is focussing on a service based economy
in terms of UK made producs I already do see individuals and small businesses respondng to this opportunity, one example is imported Canoe Paddles, they are getting pricey but there are now at least 2 people who make lovely custom made products at little more than imported mass market prices - the internet lets these little niche manufacturers get their product in the marketplace and make a living. Got to be more eco friendly too making a product from local materials rather than sending it half way round the world
Quote: Originally posted by petemillis on 09/10/2010
Damn those pesky Chinese wanting to earn a living! Maybe manufacturers really need to look to UK for workforce - go through the job centre and get a load of people to work on minimum wage, factor in the savings in freight from China (about £800/container) and the import duty and vat, and they could come out ok.
Have to say the Chinese have kept me in a job over the past few year especially when they needed new engines for all their buses before the Olympics.
------------- John
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I would be inclined to buy now,unless you are waiting for a new model.
I seem to remember Gary Cross saying that the 2011 Bearlake 6 will sell for around £999(not rrp).
Which makes our BL6 purchased in August for £597 seem an absolute steal.
------------- Sue & Phil
--------------------- I Love My AeroBed
Hi all... Yep, about 25% increases across the brands. Some are higher some are lower but the average for tents is about a 25% increase. Most other products are going up as well, anything with metal in it, raw materials are at an all time high. Yes wages in china have increased in the last 9 month by as much as 100 - 200%, I know that's a huge amount but believe me its happening. There are many other reasons to do with export taxes etc etc in china also.
Its not just in the camping trade but food, transport and even clothing prices are going up, that's a first for many years.. We all need to get ready for the squeeze. Gary Cross
------------- Gary Cross - The masked camping guru.
Can put a lot of the blame on the US for forcing China to keep the value of their currency artifically low. The US have also been making China buy US treasury bonds in exchange for exporting goods to the US, and they weren't allowed to sell them. But now the Chinese government have sold of tens of billions of dollars of US treasury bonds as they've lost faith in the US economy and now see the US for what it is. The tide is starting to turn after many many years!
Looks like we are all aware. I am glad I have just purchased my Vario 600. Paid 299, so saved 50 quid but if same tent might be 400 next year then I have saved 100 quid buying now.
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Have a look at the new tents going up on Norwich Camping's website - price rises are there but may be not so extreme as imagined (at the more affordable tent end that is!).
Worrying thread this. Mind you, I think tent prices have been artificially low recently - there have been some fantastic value-for-money bargains to be had. It couldn't last forever.
I'm releived I bought new earlier this year after putting it off a while: at under forty quid, my three-berth Vango was a giveaway.