Macpac Sales

[etrangere]

Just browsing at Macpac on Facebook:

Feb 25 25 - 33% off child carriers
March 4 25% off everything
March 17 up to 50% off easter sales
April 29 25% off all womens gear
May 14 30% off everything web sales
June winter sales
Sept 9 30% off tents
Sept 23 20 - 50 % off sleeping bags, 30 - 50% off merino, 50% off caspade and esprit packs
Nov 24 25 - 50% off whole range


Macpac may have higher quality gear than Kathmandu but their sales tactics are just as bad. Are their recommended retail prices over inflated and misleading. If the quality of the products hasnt dropped how are they able to discount them so much and so often and still make a profit?

For those interested in aspects of value and discounting I recommend the book:
Cheap, The high Cost of Discount Culture by Ellen Ruppel Shell

http://www.amazon.com/Cheap-High-Cost-D ... 00-3270750

http://www.ellenruppelshell.com/cheap.html

[ollster]

Consider that they used to not sell direct. So that accounts for a chunk of the cost that they can discount.

I think judging by the comparison costs of same items in overseas markets and australia I think you'll find we get reamed across the board when it comes to outdoors gear. Macpac are just priced comparitively with the rest of the market.

Don't know about you, but I'm now conditioned to buying on sale. Can't recall the last time I bought great not on sale.

[etrangere]

If a product is RRP $200 all year round people will buy it if the need it and decide it suits their purpose. If you inflate the RRP to $400 and put it on sale at 50% off, $200, you create a false value and you also create the psychology that you will "miss out" if you dont buy it. There is a thought that people are driven not by winning but it the desire not to lose, i.e. not to "lose out" and this has a strong effect on their shopping practices.......retail psychologist know this. In many cases we are flying blind because we dont know the "true value" of products, ie manufacturing costs, marks ups etc etc.... we only know what we are told via marketing. Personally I will only ever buy from Macpac when it is on sale and ONLY if I really need it and it suits the purpose for which I need it.

[Drifting]

Consider that they used to not sell direct. So that accounts for a chunk of the cost that they can discount.

I think judging by the comparison costs of same items in overseas markets and australia I think you'll find we get reamed across the board when it comes to outdoors gear. Macpac are just priced comparitively with the rest of the market.

Don't know about you, but I'm now conditioned to buying on sale. Can't recall the last time I bought great not on sale.

Oh yeah. I agree with this. I buy my gear on sale from the US- super super cheap! A sleeping bag that would cost me upwards of $300 here for $75. Exped Downmat 9 Pump for $110. Thank goodness for the Net!

[blacksheep]

well, name 3 retailers that do not have sales or special offers throughout the year (not counting those with closing down or for lease on the window front).
When we became a retailer as well as manufacturer, we simply had to go into the same retail model as Pallins/snowgum/MD's/ Mountain Equipment/Adlers/Kathmandu/Bivouac/ R&R as well as all the other stores and have sales periods where we cut our margins if we want to be competitive and get some sell through (previously a 3rd party retailer looked after all that)- we learnt very quickly that customers won't walk in to the only store on the street that isn't on sale.

Last edited by blacksheep on Mon 29 Nov, 2010 11:36 am, edited 2 times in total.

[Franco]

No matter what the advertised price is, someone will think that there is a buck in it.
I was in town the other day and spotted a particularly "cheap" print offer.
Turns out that it is so below cost that the staff are not allowed to use it..
However since Harvey N has started advertising the 9c prints (below the real cost) customers expect to pay that or less.
In this age of Internet purchases as soon as someone advertises a crazy deal , that becomes the "real retail price" no matter how that deal is done.
Franco

[Dazza45]

I think that part of the problem is that we have a population of 22million and that in itself is a limiting factor for retail in both volume and range of products offered. I was in Seattle a couple of weeks ago and was taken to REI which is an amazing operation. It is a co-operative started in 1938 (I think) that now has over 3 million members. The range and prices offered (with the Australian dollar then at almost parity with the US dollar) made everything seem so cheap. For instance BD walking poles that retail here for $140 sell for US$80. If you are a member (membership costs $20) then you receive a further 10% discount plus a dividend at the end of the year. They also had KEEN boots that retail at $269 at PP's in Melbourne for US$129 less members discount. However like anything else in the retail game, unfortunately it is all a matter of numbers.

[johnw]

I was in the city (Sydney CBD) last Sunday to do some Christmas shopping.
Called in to Macpac among other places and noticed this Solo Ano Pot Set on sale for $29-95.
http://www.macpac.com.au/shop/en_au/gear-and-clothing/accessories/camping-stoves/solo-ano-pot-set.html?___SID=U.
Seems well made. Very compact, built in handles (no need for separate spondonicles/billy lifters). And I should be able to fit one of my small gas stoves inside it. All packs into a small mesh stuff sack. Weighs 280 gms total although I would possibly just take one of the pots plus lid sometimes. Anyway I couldn't resist so I now own a set...

[mynameisjason]

The trouble with Tasmania and possibly Australia, is that we are inundated with 'home brand' suppliers and are missing out on quality international brands because of this. Brands like Macpac, Mountain Designs, Snowgum, Kathmandu and Paddy Pallin are more interested in the selling of their product rather than worrying about whether the product will be up to the challenge of surviving in the wild.

I'd be interested to hear from Black sheep to know if he can confirm or deny the rumour I heard that Macpac were changing their suppliers in Asia. Their gear always had a good reputation but a friend just got back from Mt Read with a Macpac Plateau on its second trip. Admittedly they were camped on a swamp with water trickling beneath the tent but he was able to push down on the floor only to find water push up through!

I was camped in similar conditions last October with my 2005 Olympus near Mt Hobhouse and didn't have any issue with water coming through the floor!

Because we support 'cheaper' brands down here we miss out on having an array of quality brands to choose from. Some of you may notice that MD's have stopped selling Mountain Hardware. This was also due to the fact the Mountain Hardware wanted to pull out of Australia because we weren't considered worth the effort.

[etrangere]

I just checked the macpac website. Specs say a 10,000mm hydrostatic head floor. Bit of a shock to have that happen on a $1000 tent.

I have the older model Apollo, Eclipse and Microlight tents. Got rid of the Microlight due to cramped fit/condensation/poor air flow in summer. The Apollo I love, its a bit heavy but has been a great freestanding tent, the floor is outstandingly waterproof. But in saying that I have seen the new ones and if my old one wore out i dont think I would be replacing it with one of the newer models.

The only other Macpac gear I have are Ascent Classic and Explorer packs that i have bought recently which appear to be of high quality. So in saying that I havent really made up my mind either way with Macpac gear overall.

[blacksheep]

......I'd be interested to hear from Black sheep to know if he can confirm or deny the rumour I heard that Macpac were changing their suppliers in Asia. Their gear always had a good reputation but a friend just got back from Mt Read with a Macpac Plateau on its second trip. Admittedly they were camped on a swamp with water trickling beneath the tent but he was able to push down on the floor only to find water push up through!.

No idea what you are referring in regard to change of supplier. Since we bough the company the supply chain is unchanged- just added a few suppliers for garments that were previously not in the range (socks/ underwear/merino/eVent etc)
The episode of a floor leaking isn't unbeleiveable, but a 10,000mm floor is really thne best available. If your friend can spare the tent we can inspect the floor to see if we can find any issues with coating, or puncture spots etc.
cheers
Cam