Rays and BCF to close stores

[Bird]

No one should be going to Coles to get milk (or any other Australian grown produce for that matter), I am surprised you went to two of them, are there no independent stores over that side of the island?

Wasn't there for milk, but walked through that section...
Very few independent places though

Then in ten years we will all be complaining

10 years?? I'd say more like 3-5 tops.

We were in Country Vic years ago and found an awesome camping store that only had 2-3 stores all in country vic.. but they had EVERYTHING.. put Rays and Anna to shame.. wish I could remember the name of the place..

[alnjan]

Our one decent camping store closed last year, for no other reason then the lady running the store had been doing it for long enough and due to family reasons needed a change, so that left us with BCF, the army disposal and one other camping shop that is attached to a fishing tackle shop and recently Kathmandu. 

BCF is as good as useless and when they do have something we would like, they don't have it. 

The army disposal has a good range of what it carries but not a lot of what we would like.

The camping place attached to the fishing tackle shop has a great selection other some good brand name gear, but their range and service or lack of, make it really hard to do business with. 

Kathmandu, some great over priced stuff that can leave a lot to be desired. 

While I prefer to buy something I can see and check for myself, unless we go travelling wide and far,  unfortunately  there is not much option but to buy online, particularly if you are after something specific which local shops don't show much interest in getting in for you because you want buy something else they have on the shelf.

[Cruiser 105Tvan]

Camping and outdoor equipment stores Western Vic. "Lyal Eales Stores".
Main Street Ararat (Barkly Street) as well as other towns.

[tk421]

Our local high-street camping store just closed down. Was sad to see the old guy go but he's retired, I've bought stuff ranging from compasses to Ex-German Army Jerry cans from him (yes buying a German 'Jerry' Can made me laugh)

Went to Ray's once, it was rubbish. Sometimes go to BCF and have bought online from BCF - usually have to send something back due to damage in transit. Now mostly buy from Snowys (never had an issue) and have bought online from Drifta. (I actually think Drifta is exy and possibly overpriced tbh, but the quality of their snowpeak gear is awesome and I will pay for quality).

[Paddler Ed]

I'm lucky here in town we have 2 good independents, and therefore rarely need to go to BCF.

Armidale Outdoors: Range of brand names for Aussie bush camping, good local knowledge and some good products they have had made for themselves. Pretty keen pricing, and some interesting product lines from named brands

Adventure195: Lightweight backpacking gear; honest with prices (will tell me when stuff is about to go up as the dollar is diving - expect anything imported to keep going up at the moment)

I try to buy one thing one month from each of them, even if it's just something that's $40 or $50 - other times I'll spend a bit more in them, depending on what we need at the time.

I also use local saddlery's for things like bags as they'll make them to order for me.

With regards to the Snowpeak gear; it's always been expensive, but is beautifully made...

I do miss some of the shops I had in the UK for camping gear - Tamarack Outdoors and Trekkitt were both awesome and would make some of you guys cry at the prices and range they had - but the generic chain stores were much the same; an ordinary range that was more geared towards recreational festival campers (I saw it with one of the stores I used to work for - I worked in outdoor retail for about 4 years) rather than the more serious campers.

Lastly, one problem I find with Kathmandu/Anaconda (part of the Spotlight group)/Mountain Designs is that they all have the same (very Australian) practice of running high prices, and then doing "sales" to bring them down to sane prices.

[JohnT]

To pick up on the point of buying online v bricks n mortar because we all want a bargain.. I put my hand up. If I can find it cheaper online or overseas Im going to buy it. Why?

Because someone in the supply chain is taking the piss out of Australia. Here is an example:

A coleman Hot Water on Demand H2Oasis will be used for this comparison

Amazon price $295.99 USD converts to $367.80 (Retail)

Rays price $449.00 (Retail)

Now I know I haven't included shipping in this cost, but you cant tell me a container full of these things adds $50 odd dollars to each item in that container.

An example closer to home.

Im in the market for a Black Wolf Turbo 300 Plus Lite.

I range Rays the other day and was told a price around $1250 (I was quickly told that they can price match though). Snowy's everyday price for the same product $1085 (Ill be seeing you soon Snowy's )

With this much variation and the addition of the Australian Tax you will have to forgive me for shopping smart.

[GBC]

To pick up on the point of buying online v bricks n mortar because we all want a bargain.. I put my hand up. If I can find it cheaper online or overseas Im going to buy it. Why?

Because someone in the supply chain is taking the piss out of Australia. Here is an example:

A coleman Hot Water on Demand H2Oasis will be used for this comparison

Amazon price $295.99 USD converts to $367.80 (Retail)

Rays price $449.00 (Retail)

Now I know I haven't included shipping in this cost, but you cant tell me a container full of these things adds $50 odd dollars to each item in that container.

An example closer to home.

Im in the market for a Black Wolf Turbo 300 Plus Lite.

I range Rays the other day and was told a price around $1250 (I was quickly told that they can price match though). Snowy's everyday price for the same product $1085

With this much variation and the addition of the Australian Tax you will have to forgive me for shopping smart.

They have lost their point of difference and have created a business model for short term gain (rebranding cheap crap) which has now placed them in the same market as the online importers. They have had this coming for quite some time - we built the Lawnton facility for them a long time ago and have watched this happen over a lot of years since the old boy started selling batteries under his house.

[Alan Loy]

I went in to a new branded Rays it was crap!

X2

went there on Saturday, 1st time for a long time.  Very pretty but a lot less stock, nothing I would want 

[D4D]

Because someone in the supply chain is taking the piss out of Australia.

Agreed, I needed quickly a small part for my Fox shocks, options were $10 delivered online from the UK 7-10 days delivery or $25 from a local bike shop. As I needed it quickly I paid the AU supply chain tax. I asked the dude in the bike shop if it was made from rare ubotonium, he said quote 'that's aussie wholesalers for you'.

[Swannie]

Wasn't there for milk, but walked through that section...
Very few independent places though

10 years?? I'd say more like 3-5 tops.

We were in Country Vic years ago and found an awesome camping store that only had 2-3 stores all in country vic.. but they had EVERYTHING.. put Rays and Anna to shame.. wish I could remember the name of the place..

GTS George Taylor Stores

Starsky

[wilson79]

As consumers and Australians we cant continue to purchase items online from overseas and then complain that there is no manufacturing and or limited job prospects for Australians. We are all guilty of this including myself.

Unless as a whole country we agree to all take a pay cut and reduce our labour costs and get local manufacturing going again and to help reduce costs for retailers due to high wages we need to consider paying extra at the checkout to help keep fellow Australians employed.

I have worked in a number of industries including Retail and the number one cost for every industry I have worked in is labour..

[JohnT]

I doubt that people taking a pay cut would decrease how much I pay at the checkout. However I would bet that profit margins increase expediently.

[geopaj]

Snowys in Adelaide the only way to go

X100

Snowys is a small independent business with staff that actually camp/hike/etc and know their stuff, quality stock, and good prices (I particularly like their "dark room" where you can try and compare their various stocked torches).

They also have a nice online shop - http://www.snowys.com.au

[achjimmy]

Our rays closed up a couple of years ago. Akin to a $2 shop in the end. I don't see BCfs as anything other than tackle stores. The boating and camping bit are jokes. But generally the fishing gear and knowledge is okay cause a pimply faced 17yo can actually now a lot about fishing. Anaconda 5h1+ me to tears.

We don't have the population to compete with OS retailers. As they get bigger and offer better shipping deals the locals are screwed. With Aussie rents and labour the need for reps/support in each state it's a akin to distrubting across the USA or Eu but to only 20m people.

[Joff]

We used to love Rays. Bought heaps of stuff over the years but when Super Retail got their hands on it that all changed. I was surprised just how smartly they watered down the range and replaced the knowledgeable staff with pimply kids.

[wakychapmans]

Thats why stores are closing.  We all want bargains for reputable brands. Then in ten years we will all be complaining that everything is online and no stores to visit. Next we will be complaining everything is coming from China..... hang on we do that now 

Mark

yes but no.

I'm, I suppose, "not normal" in that despite minimal finances, I'm happy to pay "normal" price. I'm not chasing super deals. I just want the brands and products I want.

If for example, I want Keen sandals, (which I wear every single day, yes, even at work) and I'm happy to pay $169 (or more) for them, then no amount of Wild Country sandals at $39 is going to tempt me. If all the (within reasonable distance... say... 50-80 klm) camping/outdoor stores want to sell me house branded rubbish, then I'll go online to find them.

My first option is always local stores with an online presence.

[kylarama]

Drove past Rays in South Morang  (Vic) this morning.  Looks like it's either being refurbished / rebranded,  or stripped out and closed down.  A Super Cheap Auto opened up some 20 metres from it a few months back.

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[tk421]

As consumers and Australians we cant continue to purchase items online from overseas and then complain that there is no manufacturing and or limited job prospects for Australians. We are all guilty of this including myself.

Unless as a whole country we agree to all take a pay cut and reduce our labour costs and get local manufacturing going again and to help reduce costs for retailers due to high wages we need to consider paying extra at the checkout to help keep fellow Australians employed.

I have worked in a number of industries including Retail and the number one cost for every industry I have worked in is labour..

Manufacturing is changing. .  They need to focus on specialist and advanced tech systems and advanced services. eg Building warships. The simple metal banging to make the hull can be done cheaper elsewhere, Australia just can't compete with cheap labour. The manufacturing money in Australia can be made by making the internal combat systems, propulsion systems etc. Manufacturers need to focus on those industries to remain viable. 

And they are doing it. There's a suspension company in SA that makes shock absorbers for the mining industry. They do it really well.  They now also make all the shock absorbers for most of the F1 teams. They've just increased their workforce from 10 to 40 staff.

Its not all doom and gloom (govt) figures show that between 2006-2011, 400,000 jobs were lost from older firms, but 1.5million were created by start-ups.

[kylarama]

Thats why stores are closing.  We all want bargains for reputable brands.

We all want value for money. 
Pre internet / online shopping, you'd either spend a few hours ringing around the stores in your area, or visiting them in person.  Might find it cheaper on the other side of town, but the extra fuel cost, or travel time negated that saving and you sucked it up and paid the premium.

Fast forward to now and you don't just look at the 2-3 stores in your area, you look at the 2-300 stores in Australia!
Some of the best online stores are bricks & mortar business that were proactive and watched consumer behaviour and changed with the times.  Alot of the stores that close, were reactive, or never changed to make themselves standout.  Some business owners to need realise their market is no longer their suburb and surrounding areas anymore, its the entire nation.

Last year I wanted a Fiamma F45 awning.  Went to 3 caravan parts / accessory places in my area, all 3 had minimal to no online presence.  None had any in stock, fair enough, but all just quoted me the RRP.  "can you do any better?"  "Nupe" was the answer.
Checked out GreenRV's website (2000km from my place) and they were a few hundred cheaper, even with freight!  Contacted Adam via Myswag and got an even better deal.  Then he arranged for me to pick it up direct from their wholesaler in Melbourne to save freight.  The wholesaler is a 10-15 minute drive from all 3 caravan places I visited.
So now a business has a new customer who lives 2000km away.

The other weekend I had a late night 4 figure eBay shopping spree for the new 4by.  I could have spent 4-5 hours on my Saturday driving to 4-5 different stores to get everything I needed. 
Went to 4 different eBay sellers, who are all bricks and mortar stores.  Selected everything I needed, added it to the shopping cart and paid for it all in 1 hit.  That was Friday night and by the following Thursday, received everything.

Business need to stay 1 step ahead of the consumer.  Not just rely on 'old fashion service'.

[terravista]

Just got an email from Ray's advising a 25% discount store wide.
Pretty much what Dick Smith stores did recently.
Look gone to me.

[Bird]

Just got an email from Ray's advising a 25% discount store wide.
Pretty much what Dick Smith stores did recently.
Look gone to me.

if only I needed stuff...

[barrel01]

That's the thing,  with the broken business model they have at 25% off they are probably still more expensive than some others


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[Big Damo]

Always stop in at Bartons of Barmera. Not the biggest camping store around but have some great gear and whenever we have been there looking at a particular item if it is coming on to a catalogue sale soon they will discount it as we live over 100km away. Good service if you ask me
Also find the Spot on at Berri to have a great range of camping fishing kayaks etc. Long way to travel but would have to be my favourite camping and fishing store

[clarky]

 I was in the local Ray's last week with a gift card and the shop assistant told me that if I had any more then I only had a couple of months to use it. A pity, I agree with most of the above comments re reagent and price etc. but he staff at this particular store have always given excellent service and nothing has ever been too much trouble. Interestingly the BCF is a couple of hundred metres away ( if that ) and is the opposite.

[woftam]

I also use local saddlery's for things like bags as they'll make them to order for me.

Paddler Ed, anyone in particular you would recommend ? I am looking to get a scabbard made for my camp knife - which is a large blade and an odd shape.