Yeah your spot on AFB the pricing regarding the pricing of the GM's mad, but if the kooka is Indian made that just takes it to a new level. I made the point a few times last year on the forum that the pricing in AUS from the cricket retailers has become obscene. I purchased a kooka ghost last year from the UK retailer rather than in Aus, willow same grade, same factory, apart from the handle same bat even with freight I save over $300, so I raise the question on the forum trying to determine how that money is divided between the retailers/importers/manufacturers.
I guess if people in AUS are silly enough to pay those prices they (who ever that is) will continue to cash in.
As from what we have seen posted above, the more knowledgeable buyers will just compare what they would get from the likes of B3/L&W/ Uk retailers etc
For me , i just won't buy bats from oz retailers anymore unless they are heavily discounted and something special ( like an xp80 ) . If the difference was $50 i could cop it , but its usually hundreds . This is not just bats though . I plan on replacing my old aero standup bag ..... if i buy from uk i can save $30-50 compared to if i go to a local store . When the saving from buying overseas ( even after shipping) is about 25% of the oz retail price ( on an item this big and heavy ) then something is seriously wrong .
At my club there are fewer and fewer people buying from the big local retailers . That is sad . What I've noticed is that the only people buying from these retailers are parents of juniors , or anglo adults over 35 . Young anglo adults are more used to buying cricket gear online and the subcontinental players , of all ages , are used to it too .....when the older anglo players see what these folk are getting /what they paid etc , then they jump on board and buy online from overseas too , and then thats yet one more person not buying from a local retailer . I wish all of this wasn't so , but when you have option a) buy a quality bat locally , or b) buy a quality bat and full kit online/overseas for the same price , you can see why so many people take option b .
It's at a point now where if someone says ' i bought this from ( insert local retailer name ) ' you often here a response of laughter or people perplexingly asking 'why' ?