Select to expand quotecrustt said..ToshAuer said..
I would ever buy a foreign board until I wanted to buy a mini Simmons recently after asking what noosa longboards would do one for, shaped by Tom Wegener a longtime family friend they came back with $1100 now I must say pricing has nothing to do with Tom and he is imo one of the best shapers in the country. But for that money I had to look elsewhere.
Cheers
Tosh
I have a hard time with the logic of what you just wrote, I have a hard time with the logic about "mates rates". If you were going to buy a board off of a long time friend, wouldn't you be happy to pay the full price for his services so the a "mates" business can prosper as he has enough people coming in off the street and screwing him on price?
spot on crustt!!
anyone who has ever dealt in small business /retail knows what a sh8te fight it is!
not too many people ask the checkout dude at woolies or coles is that the best deal you can do!
Why not go to your local beach, and if your not sure of what you want, see what the guys are riding there and ask a few questions..most guys are happy to rave or pay out on theirs and others boards..
If you know what you want you can go online and choose from the above..or Ebay/Gumtree..freight comes into play then 
Local shaper wins IMO...but $$ are higher for sure 
