jmacdaununder2
Legend
I think it's more TW supports Prince.
Boycott Wilson Rackets....
- Thread starter tennisaskashad
- Start date
I'm sure TW gets their cut of the pie. Either way it supports both TW and Prince.
Notice how other online US retailers don't sell prince? Probably due to the fees / having to go through TW in order to sell Prince.
I could be wrong and they don't want to sell Prince.
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kimguroo
Legend
Honestly, I don’t like the situation regarding on Prince and US distribute right from TW.
I don’t know what is the deal but something is not positive.
US local tennis stores stop selling prince rackets. TW said when they became US distributor, Any US retailer can sell prince products with agreements. I am very curious about agreements because several local stores said they don’t like the deal and prefer to stop carrying prince products. Seems like there is a reason for it. I don’t like monopolizing prince products in US because still there are many people who does not know TW and many people go to local tennis stores especially women players. One of my mixed team mate who played EXO3 black rackets for years and she cracked rackets with many chips etc... so she wanted to try new rackets and seems like she prefers to stay with prince.
I thought prince beast o3 100 might be a good choice but when she went to local tennis shop, the store tried to push hard on Wilson rackets and ended up with Clash. She prefers to have 3 same rackets but she only got one clash because of price. I told her that prince beast o3 version might be good fit and she can buy almost two rackets for Clash price but she told me the local store does not have prince products even if she can buy from TW.
In my opinion, TW US distributor right might be good for TW but it might hurt the prince brand because local stores refused to carry prince products. I am seeing less and less players with new prince rackets nowadays.
As far as Wilson price, it’s too much and too quick. Almost it caught Japanese market racket price which is one of the highest in the world. I buy rackets from overseas and if I want Wilson rackets, it won’t be US stores.
several Asian countries has much better price than US with express shipping.
My guess is Prince wanted to pull out of the US market due to increasing competition / declining sales.
Instead of exiting entirely they "partnered" up with TW.
I always thought TW / Prince charges other shops a fee to sell Prince, but you confirmed my suspicions.
jmacdaununder2
Legend
They are the whole pie, at least as far as the US and Aus goes, not sure re grey/semi grey imports world wide. Once you are both a wholesaler and retailer you're invariably going to end up as the only retailer, but Prince was flat lining well before TW picked them up from the roadside and rushed them to the ER. Prince would be dead as a Donnay in 'the wild' - separate Japanese operation excepted - without TW though, so I'm greatful there's a captive breeding program in place at present.
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deaner2211
Semi-Pro
deaner2211
Semi-Pro
There is no need to boycott Wilson. I bought 3 rackets back in 2014 and I use 2 of them and still have a brand new one in my closet. It will be a long time before I buy another. The problem is that there are people that have to have the latest models. Those people are the ones that drive up prices. If people would buy 2-3 rackets and not buy more for the next 10 years then prices will drop.
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
You can also thank the tariffs. Once the tariffs go back down the prices will stay the same.
mizzougorlok
New User
Not a true boycott but I have recently purchased 4 head racquets after previously essentially using only the pro staff six.one 95 and its subsequent variations ever since the n code days.
Their line now with the clash, ultra, burn and zebra stripes or camo is so gimmicky.
Their line now with the clash, ultra, burn and zebra stripes or camo is so gimmicky.
No you can’t, it’s economics. They raised prices before trump was elected. But if it gives you another reason to hate him ok then
ask
you need to understand that wilson racquets are made in china. guess what, our wonderful leader put a hefty tariff on chinese imports, tennis racquets are on the list, so the price is what it is. i was told early in 2018 wilson and other manufacturers
raised the prices in anticipation of the tariffs coming soon, the LTS guy seemed to know. his advice was to buy now and not expect a price reduction in the future. i guess he was right
most racquets are made in china, so we will suffer high prices as long as Trump keeps tariffs.
when the tariffs are removed, the manufacturers wont reduce the prices, as they will say "the market is use to high prices."
people will view a price reduction as a "degradation in quality", or some other "marketing justification "
we would have to not buy anymore tennis racquets and keep playing with the same racquet
unfortunately as long as people pay the high prices, there is no incentive for manufacturers.
z
Lol. You are just laughable. I’m glad you found another reason to hate someone. Were the tariffs the reasons for the 279.99$ limited edition RF97? 249.99$ for the rf97? Because they fly off the shelves. How about the 229.99$ for a Rafa painted decima?
I mean it can’t be that manufacturers have realized they can make more money.
Hockey sticks have been going up for years and it has nothing to do with tariffs and guess what!! They actually broke 329.99 a twig and had to drop back to the 279.99 point due to the market. Hockey sticks use a lot more materials than a tennis racquet but keep believing whatever you want. Heck you already have a ready made excuse for them not to go down
I couldn’t care less about the president but to blame tariffs that haven’t been implemented for a price than has been 250$ Since before tariffs where mentioned, on my website that I get mine discounted product from... it’s just fun to laugh at you now.
I had access to the red Rf97 and the new zebra painted and paisley clash and they were all over 250$ for months now.
I mean it can’t be that manufacturers have realized they can make more money.
Hockey sticks have been going up for years and it has nothing to do with tariffs and guess what!! They actually broke 329.99 a twig and had to drop back to the 279.99 point due to the market. Hockey sticks use a lot more materials than a tennis racquet but keep believing whatever you want. Heck you already have a ready made excuse for them not to go down
I couldn’t care less about the president but to blame tariffs that haven’t been implemented for a price than has been 250$ Since before tariffs where mentioned, on my website that I get mine discounted product from... it’s just fun to laugh at you now.
I had access to the red Rf97 and the new zebra painted and paisley clash and they were all over 250$ for months now.
Pros get new batches of racquets every 3 months or so because they string their racquets almost every day. The graphite fibers in the pros racquets break down faster than rec players because of the stress the stringing machine puts on the racquets. Their frames “flex out” and will not feel the same which in turn will not allow them to perform at their best
vsbabolat
G.O.A.T.
It’s actually the epoxy resin holding the carbon fibers together that break down.
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
Something is wrong with that equation. If a company goes from selling expensive racquets frequently to selling cheap racquets infrequently, how is that going to help their bottom line? That's a recipe for bankruptcy right there.
Unless there is a consumable they can drive up the price on to compensate. And given the string and over grip market is pretty saturated and competitive, that's not likely to happen. You'd have to design grommets that only work with your brands strings, like the shaver companies.
If you want Racquet and String R&D, then you have to pay. Of course Wilson is over pricing things because people will buy Wilson so I'd suggest any thrifty consumer strongly look at Prince or Technifibre if they want to save a bit. Either that or save less and go with the other big brands of Head, Babolat or Yonex. About $30 cheaper for the newest and shiniest.
Or just buy last years technology.
ChaelAZ
G.O.A.T.
I see boatloads of those Clash racquets on court, so supply and demand pricing is working perfectly for Wilson. No matter if you think the price is too much. No matter what the cost is to the manufacturer. They are selling out in shops and it is a successful product.
I am play testing the new Blades, but most likely won’t buy the newest yet. Might finally be time to upgrade my 2015 Blades though to the CV since I can gab those around $100 lightly used.
Vote with your dollars. That is the only boycott you have, but realize that means YOU don’t get the latest product only - everyone else might cote different.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I am play testing the new Blades, but most likely won’t buy the newest yet. Might finally be time to upgrade my 2015 Blades though to the CV since I can gab those around $100 lightly used.
Vote with your dollars. That is the only boycott you have, but realize that means YOU don’t get the latest product only - everyone else might cote different.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
deaner2211
Semi-Pro
You are talking about long term Im talking about short term. If rackets are not selling in the short term prices will drop due to demand.
Harry_Wild
G.O.A.T.
Wilson is the heavily invested in the club teaching pro circuit! It seems they are signing up everyone of them and giving each Clash and Blade demos racquets to to them before they are release to do pre-hype! Extremely smart move on Wilson part because makes the teaching pro feel special and they in turn hype up their Wilson prototypes too! So when the racquet get release, the teaching pros get the new racquets the same day as the pro shop maybe even a day or two sooner so the promotion continues with the new colors, models, etc...
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
Then the company response will be to raise retail prices even higher and make sale prices even less steep to still allow a profit in the bottom line. If the entire world were to become bargain hunters that only bought discounter rackets, the businesses only feasible response other than going out of business is to lessen the discount and raise the original price.
Companies rely on people who pay full retail to sustain their bottom line. Remove those people from the equation and the consumer driven economy falls apart.
deaner2211
Semi-Pro
I guess you are too young to remember when gasoline was almost 5 dollars a gallon. When people stopped taking unnecessary trips (including holiday travel) to cut down on usage, prices began to drop until they stabilized due to the decline in consumer usage. If what you said is true then gasoline would be 15 dollars a gallon now.
Strawbewwy
Rookie
the way i see it, sure tariffs and all are coming in, but it's all relative
current top of the lines from: wilson = 249, babolat = 249, head = 229, prince = 189, volkl = 249 (although i think their "main lines players frames" are cheaper?), yonex = 219, dunlop = 219, prokennex=199, tecnifibre = 199
all the "cheaper" companies make some nice sticks too
if some companies are able to sell brand new line at 199, I don't see a reason why wilson/babolat need to sell it at 249. most of our cost is going right back to their heavy marketing price.
current top of the lines from: wilson = 249, babolat = 249, head = 229, prince = 189, volkl = 249 (although i think their "main lines players frames" are cheaper?), yonex = 219, dunlop = 219, prokennex=199, tecnifibre = 199
all the "cheaper" companies make some nice sticks too
if some companies are able to sell brand new line at 199, I don't see a reason why wilson/babolat need to sell it at 249. most of our cost is going right back to their heavy marketing price.
Not on racquets, but you can believe it all day. Guess how much hockey stick prices have increased? ZERO guess how muhc fishing rods increased ZERO! You are blinded by emotion. You don't like the price increase complain to the company. A friend showed me his discount price, which BTW is the SAME price it always was, one was up 10$.
Hey, but you wanna blame your lousy tennis game on politics go ahead. Because you would get a new racquet which would transform your game if ONLY TRUMP hadn't tariffed the stick that keeps you from a 4.5 rating!!!!
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
I did briefly try to go through the hundreds and hundreds of pages of specific items affected by the tariffs, but I never got to the end.
I doubt that you ever started so you have no idea about the tariffs, but I have read nothing about any exclusion regarding sporting goods.
You are the one with the political problem. The tariffs are a fact. You could even make an argument for them, rather than simply engaging in denialism.
I doubt that you ever started so you have no idea about the tariffs, but I have read nothing about any exclusion regarding sporting goods.
You are the one with the political problem. The tariffs are a fact. You could even make an argument for them, rather than simply engaging in denialism.
I don't think you understand...
Nobody is saying tariffs are not real.
They are saying the Wilson jacked prices happened before tariffs and/or the tariffs have not affected sporting goods.
Completely separate issues...
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
I do know what people are trying to argue, but they are failing.
1. Prices have gone up in the past, but that's not how the topic evolved. The topic that emerged is tariff-related increases.
2. Companies don't explain price rises, but I don't see how tariffs would not affect sporting goods. No one has shown they don't.
1. Prices have gone up in the past, but that's not how the topic evolved. The topic that emerged is tariff-related increases.
2. Companies don't explain price rises, but I don't see how tariffs would not affect sporting goods. No one has shown they don't.
And you haven’t shown they do! You’ve just decided this is the reason. Yonex is made in Japan and jumped up 20$! You keep ignoring my comments that a composite hockey stick sourced in China has not increased and some models went down. There is more composite and graphite in hockey stocks than tennis racquets
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
You are endlessly speculating on things you know nothing about. Tariffs are going up and they seem to apply to sporting goods and therefore American companies need to absorb the cost or pass it on.
It's very simple. That's the way tariffs work. I know what I am saying is accurate because the rate of tariff increases, both in the past and future, is in most newspapers.
They increase the cost of imported goods in the hope that manufacture will shift onshore or simply elsewhere. But that takes time. People need to know tariffs are permanent and then the process of changing manufacturing sites happens.
It's very simple. That's the way tariffs work. I know what I am saying is accurate because the rate of tariff increases, both in the past and future, is in most newspapers.
They increase the cost of imported goods in the hope that manufacture will shift onshore or simply elsewhere. But that takes time. People need to know tariffs are permanent and then the process of changing manufacturing sites happens.
You are insane. You are speculating and trying to gaslight tm make yourself seem smarter than you are. You have no evidence except tariffs are going up. You keep ranting about tariffs and one manufacturer is raising prices when two other sports that use the same materials have no increases and one has a decrease. You are in love with screaming about tariffs.
You know Wilson hasn’t said why it’s raising prices and won’t which is the only way you can continue to whine about tariffs
You are complete long unhinged. You use words like seem. Then tell me I’m speculating. No you are. You are even using speculative words.
You also think every piece of an item is covered by a tariff. No it’s not. You are utterly clueless when it comes to this and you are going to die on this hill that you think is worth dying on.
Again you are speculating the tariffs caused Wilson to raise prices when other companies are NOT. Other industries using the same materials are not.
But keep ranting. No one seems to care but you.
Oh and If you could see beyond your emotional attachment to a hate of tariffs you could understand that China is no ones friend so this is all worth it. China is Walmart to all the mom and pop countries out there. Why do you read what they have done to African and South American nations and then decide if you want the same done to you. They are trying to take ports and businesses as collateral for loans they maser and the county involved wasn’t aware that they would actually lose the port in their own country.
But no Wilson isn’t raising prices just because of tariffs or they’d be raising the price of the pro staff97 to over 300$. Which they have and didn’t. So there goes that theory.
Good luck oh clueless one. You know absolutely nothing about what you are saying. All you know is what people tell you. Read a newspaper....lol
You know Wilson hasn’t said why it’s raising prices and won’t which is the only way you can continue to whine about tariffs
You are complete long unhinged. You use words like seem. Then tell me I’m speculating. No you are. You are even using speculative words.
You also think every piece of an item is covered by a tariff. No it’s not. You are utterly clueless when it comes to this and you are going to die on this hill that you think is worth dying on.
Again you are speculating the tariffs caused Wilson to raise prices when other companies are NOT. Other industries using the same materials are not.
But keep ranting. No one seems to care but you.
Oh and If you could see beyond your emotional attachment to a hate of tariffs you could understand that China is no ones friend so this is all worth it. China is Walmart to all the mom and pop countries out there. Why do you read what they have done to African and South American nations and then decide if you want the same done to you. They are trying to take ports and businesses as collateral for loans they maser and the county involved wasn’t aware that they would actually lose the port in their own country.
But no Wilson isn’t raising prices just because of tariffs or they’d be raising the price of the pro staff97 to over 300$. Which they have and didn’t. So there goes that theory.
Good luck oh clueless one. You know absolutely nothing about what you are saying. All you know is what people tell you. Read a newspaper....lol
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
I've read that tariffs are definitely being applied to imported bicycles, so that is a sporting good. I can't see why tennis racquets would not be included in the tariff. That's not speculation.
It's an assumption based on political statements. I've also read that rare mineral earths are excluded from the tariff because American high-tech needs them and therefore they got a free pass.
I am not speculating on why Wilson is raising prices. I'm only stating that a tariff on any of its imported product results in a cost increase which is either absorbed or passed on as higher prices.
Wilson is not even an American company so who knows how it operates? I just don't know what that means for the products that it imports into America. They could be imported from a third country.
As further evidence of tariffs being applied to sporting equipment we read the following, which unfortunately does not mention tennis but why would golf get a tariff and tennis escape?:
Another 1,000-odd items that were subject to a 10% tariff will see that increase to 20%, including other food items, baking condiments, some construction equipment, books, and a range of consumer products like golf clubs, bowling pins, and roller skates.
It's an assumption based on political statements. I've also read that rare mineral earths are excluded from the tariff because American high-tech needs them and therefore they got a free pass.
I am not speculating on why Wilson is raising prices. I'm only stating that a tariff on any of its imported product results in a cost increase which is either absorbed or passed on as higher prices.
Wilson is not even an American company so who knows how it operates? I just don't know what that means for the products that it imports into America. They could be imported from a third country.
As further evidence of tariffs being applied to sporting equipment we read the following, which unfortunately does not mention tennis but why would golf get a tariff and tennis escape?:
Another 1,000-odd items that were subject to a 10% tariff will see that increase to 20%, including other food items, baking condiments, some construction equipment, books, and a range of consumer products like golf clubs, bowling pins, and roller skates.
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No you are saying tariffs which EVERY ONE knows are here are the reason the Wilson, the only one currently, is raising prices 50$ on its NEWLY released racquets. its NOT raising prices across the board on racquets that are currently being produced therefore subjec to the SAME tariffs.
Bicycles? are you serious? I just gave you 2 industries that use the SAME components as tennis racquets and you completely ignore this. Ice hockey sticks and Fishing rods use the SAME comopents as tennis racquets and they are not increasing.
The point that YOU have been arguing is that WILSON is raising prices due to the tariffs. I am saying there is NO way to say that. You are speculating. I have listed the fact that pro prices are the SAME! except one new racquet was higher than expected. I gave you two industries using the same products. We told you that other companies are not following Wilson quite yet with massive hikes but I expect they will add 20$ here and there until they are close. Yonex jacked it up 20$ over the summer Babolat added 30$ for a paint job, and then made their must buy two for 498$ which is a shaft job. Because that means the sticks are more if purchased seperately.
Your point is the reason for the increase is tariffs. My point is wilson is raising prices to see what the market can handle. There is NO way to know if the prices are due to tariffs which is what you are saying. Then you post a quota with specific items, dont you think they would put a specific item like a tennis racquet as well? Given Wilsons increases ON ONE LINE!
Bicycles? are you serious? I just gave you 2 industries that use the SAME components as tennis racquets and you completely ignore this. Ice hockey sticks and Fishing rods use the SAME comopents as tennis racquets and they are not increasing.
The point that YOU have been arguing is that WILSON is raising prices due to the tariffs. I am saying there is NO way to say that. You are speculating. I have listed the fact that pro prices are the SAME! except one new racquet was higher than expected. I gave you two industries using the same products. We told you that other companies are not following Wilson quite yet with massive hikes but I expect they will add 20$ here and there until they are close. Yonex jacked it up 20$ over the summer Babolat added 30$ for a paint job, and then made their must buy two for 498$ which is a shaft job. Because that means the sticks are more if purchased seperately.
Your point is the reason for the increase is tariffs. My point is wilson is raising prices to see what the market can handle. There is NO way to know if the prices are due to tariffs which is what you are saying. Then you post a quota with specific items, dont you think they would put a specific item like a tennis racquet as well? Given Wilsons increases ON ONE LINE!
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
I am not saying what you claim me to be saying. You obviously don't read what I write or much of anything else. You seem to have an obsession with hockey sticks and fishing rods. And no knowledge of this topic.
If this is your point ... 'My point is wilson is raising prices to see what the market can handle' ... then all you are saying is that Wilson is raising prices because they can. Any manufacturer can raise prices at any time. Tell us something we don't know!
If this is your point ... 'My point is wilson is raising prices to see what the market can handle' ... then all you are saying is that Wilson is raising prices because they can. Any manufacturer can raise prices at any time. Tell us something we don't know!
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
Wilson may be turning Japanese or at least it was turning Chinese, not that it was really 100%American before, of course:
A few months ago, a Chinese investor group led by Anta Sports Products agreed to buy Finland’s Amer Sports, the parent of Chicago-based Wilson Sporting Goods. The deal also will deliver Salomon ski boots and Atomic skis to the Chinese. That’s right, Wilson tennis rackets and other gear would come under Chinese control. China’s increasing affluence means a growing market for sporting goods, which should benefit Wilson and other brands in Amer’s portfolio. All good.
A few months ago, a Chinese investor group led by Anta Sports Products agreed to buy Finland’s Amer Sports, the parent of Chicago-based Wilson Sporting Goods. The deal also will deliver Salomon ski boots and Atomic skis to the Chinese. That’s right, Wilson tennis rackets and other gear would come under Chinese control. China’s increasing affluence means a growing market for sporting goods, which should benefit Wilson and other brands in Amer’s portfolio. All good.
Bartelby
Bionic Poster
Maybe Wilson has already turned Chinese ... as have many other brands:
Chinese Sportswear brands Xtep and Anta are making big moves to challenge Nike and Adidas in China’s sportswear market, which grew by 12% to ¥212.1 billion ($31.4 billion) in 2017, making it the second-largest sportswear market globally after the US, according to a study by Euromonitor International.
At the end of March, Anta Sports closed a landmark US$5.2 billion acquisition of Finland-based conglomerate Amer Sports. Amer Sports owns Wilson tennis racquets and other sports brands such as Arc’teryx, and Anta plans to grow these brands in the China market.
On March 5, Xtep announced its partnership with conglomerate Wolverine Worldwide to sell outdoor footwear brand Merrell and running shoe brand Saucony in mainland China. The company will invest US$23 million in the 50/50 joint venture and open 400 to 500 stores for each brand within the next five years.
Chinese Sportswear brands Xtep and Anta are making big moves to challenge Nike and Adidas in China’s sportswear market, which grew by 12% to ¥212.1 billion ($31.4 billion) in 2017, making it the second-largest sportswear market globally after the US, according to a study by Euromonitor International.
At the end of March, Anta Sports closed a landmark US$5.2 billion acquisition of Finland-based conglomerate Amer Sports. Amer Sports owns Wilson tennis racquets and other sports brands such as Arc’teryx, and Anta plans to grow these brands in the China market.
On March 5, Xtep announced its partnership with conglomerate Wolverine Worldwide to sell outdoor footwear brand Merrell and running shoe brand Saucony in mainland China. The company will invest US$23 million in the 50/50 joint venture and open 400 to 500 stores for each brand within the next five years.
No! $250 is never fine for any racquet
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