Hobie AI sad news

With massive regret i'm cancelling my order for a Hobie AI, reason, I've been on forums and discovered that in Australia you can buy an AI for $3,600 thats Australian dollars! overhere the exact same model is £2,999 thats a massive $6,600+ Australian dollars! and here in the UK you wont get a RRP discount!

The AI's have to be shipped to Europe as they do Australia, having lived in OZ it's very rare for boats cars etc to be cheaper in Australia than England! infact when I told a few members on Aussie forums the price they were very taken back! money isn't an problem for me, its the principle!

Absolutely gutted

Roller

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Every day is an Adventure Island day

That is a bummer! I am really fed up with living in "Rip Off Britain", we seem to get screwed everytime we turn round. I am suprised at the price difference, I thought it would be closer than that..
I could have bought a brand new one for the price I have just paid for a secondhand one (£2000). The guy I bought it from paid £3400 for it a year ago!!!

However, life is too short and I wanted to get one on the water now, not wait for a bargain to possibly come along later .

I hope you manage to find one at a price you are prepared to pay, they are great fun!

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Either lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way!

£3,400 would be the price if outriggers and sail are bought after the intial yak purchase, ie an after market sale..

Like you I'm sick of living in this ''Rip off culture'' I'm gutted, some ones taking the pee imo

At 3k no wonder we don't see many here, heres a link with the obscene price http://www.cornwall-canoes.co.uk/hobie- ... island.htm

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Every day is an Adventure Island day

Mate, don't give up. Don't get angry, get even. There must be a way round this. Can't you buy it in France, Belgium, Netherlands and pick it up and drive it home. Or the Isle of Man. Or somewhere else close enough that hasn't got rip off tax laws that you can just drive down and pick up. I had to drive almost 2,000kms to pick up mine to get a substantial saving. Just trying to think outside the square. I know these tax laws can be a real pi55er. That's why I'm liv'n here now and not there. Mind you it ain't a hell of a lot better here tax wise. Best of luck with it. Don't ditch the forum though mate.

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Don't take life too seriously................it ain't permanent.

Actually, it's $4200 in Australia if that makes you feel any better. The surprising thing is that that was the price when the exchange rate was 98 cents US to the Australian dollar and they held the price constant when the Australian dollar crashed to below 60 cents US at the beginning of the GFC. Having said that, the situation in the UK is ridiculous. Hobie only lists one dealer in the UK, but about 12 in France. Would it be worth getting a few quotes across the Channel, where there is hopefully a bit more competition? I think I have previously related the story my Hobie dealer told me of a guy who spends 3 months every year in Australia. He buys a new AI, sails for 3 months, then ships it back to the UK and sells it at a profit, even after shipping costs! Also, there is something weird about the exchange rate - the UK pound has always gone a lot further in Australia than it has in the UK.

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VAT is down to 15% here,I don't think its a tax import or otherwise issue, being a nosey so and so could you give an incling to how much you paid for your AI

I dunno mate I'll see if I can buy cheaper elsewhere in Europe, i'm guessing you got yours up on the Sunshine or Goldcoast......

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Every day is an Adventure Island day

I'm here, you're there mate, but a guy on an Aussie forum said AI's were on a deal at the moment with a dealer, I'm sure he said $3,600

We have two dealers in the UK one is poor the other is worse lol put it like this they didn't push for a Hobie sale....

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Every day is an Adventure Island day

Roller - Warning gratuitous advice follows:
If money isn't the issue and it is a matter of principle, aren't you cutting off your nose to spite your face? Those ripoff UK Hobie dealers aren't even going to know that you are sitting around feeling miserable and wishing you were out sailing with nothing to keep you warm but the knowledge you have denied them a sale. Carpe Diem I say!!!

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G'Day Roller,
That is disappointing.
I met the Irish guy Chris mentioned launching his AI at one of our local spots a while ago. He told me he holidays out here and buys an AI then takes it back with him to sell. It must be worth it because has done it at least twice!
I doubt you'll get a much better deal in Europe as I seem to recall, I think, Arno reporting his AI cost the equivalent of AU$7000!
Chris is right about the price being around AU$4200 here for an AI.

Stringy, don't forget Arno's was boat was built from an Adventure kayak plus a conversion kit, which would have added at least $A1000 to the price

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Has anyone heard of the Big Mac index? Economists invented it to get around some of the anomalies in international exchange rates. Basically, it compares the price of a Big Mac in different countries. For example, I believe a Big Mac costs about $A2.50 = £1 in Australia. So, if a Big Mac costs around £1.50 in the UK, that means the AI is about the right price, by that standard.

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Can't beleive i'm writing this, sod it i'm going to get the AI even though I feel i'm being mugged, but thats life I guess...

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Every day is an Adventure Island day

If I am reading this right Roller, then good luck to you and go for it despite the price. We only live once my friend and it is not like a decision to purchase an expensive car or aircraft or whatever. This little plastic fantastic is good insurance for quality of life, fitness and mental health issues and worth the pounds you will have to pay for it. And after all, (swallow), it's only money. ....Pirate

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Master of the galleon 'Pirates Lot'

What Pirate said .

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Hey guys,

Not on the topic but I noticed that a few of you are in the UK. I might be living in England for a year and I'm wondering if I should take my AI? Not sure where I exactly I'm going yet. Could be a couple of hours east of London or could be a few hours north near Harrogate. Any ideas of the best places to take the AI to from these locations?

Glenn

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When in doubt, let it out.
- Anonymous