Flexi has raised their prices again. I'm curious to find out how much people are willing to pay to get one. Throw me your input on the poll.

Thanks
Dino

Great poll, kinda up in the air on this... I guess if I didn't have a blade IV I suppose I'd pay what it takes or find a used one... that should be another option... I'm wanting a Blade IV 8.5M but now I have to look for used... but the rest they can keep'em... so I went with the option "I would love to have one, but can't see spending the money"

I suppose the "I would spend less money on something comparable, even if I know its not quite as good" would have been better choice in this case, but the damage is done...

another question, how about spending less money on a better kite.... hmmm that could be an option too...

sorry to throw a wrench into the mix... I see where your coming from though...

The prices are just silly as it is, but even more so now? lol...

Well, they had a price reduction at the beginning of the year, so it was only a matter of time before the pendulum swung the other way.

Still would like a Rage in Midnight, but since it's a discontinued color, that would have been a "new to me" purchase anyway.

Still like some of their stuff, but it doesn't quite make the "price is no object" list.

ATB,
Sam

seeing as how i only used fixed bridles for buggying anymore, i would rather spend the same money on a lesser known kite, and get more out of it... i still like my flexi accessories, though... they are great.... i would pay the price on those, just buy less of them

you can buy some high grade race kites for the prices of the blades

I think someday I might get a 6.5 blade for static jumping, but only if they really meet up to their name.

?

What are the current pricing you're all seeing these days? I don't watch Flexi too much but when I started kiting I didn't think they were all that overpriced and I love the Rages....seems like good bit of kit for the price, no? I must be outta touch here.

Me? um. Well I like my flexis... but after flying a bunch of other kites this summer I'd certianly hit up a kite-that's-as-well-build-but-priced-lower. However, if I'm every physically in the UK i'd certianly hit up a local store to avoid the over the pond surcharges :D

What % price hick was announced?

Quote:

Originally posted by power I think someday I might get a 6.5 blade for static jumping, but only if they really meet up to their name.

My Blade III 6.6 is a lift monster ... I'm thinking of selling it cos it's almost unusable for my little area

How much will they be increasing? Are you at liberty to say?

Quote:

Originally posted by power I think someday I might get a 6.5 blade for static jumping, but only if they really meet up to their name.

They do with out a doubt!!! a phenomenal jump machine, in "my opinion" the best in a fixed bridal, hands down...

my first 3 kites were flexis, they are very well built and you get a really nice bag. However in this economy ,I have a hard time spending that amount on yet another fixed bridle kite. you would think in this day of arcs and inflatables they would be trying to attract the few people who are into FBs

Flexifoil sure is PROUD of their gear

I voted for option 3 (can't see spending the money) because I don't know what you mean by "comparable but not quite as good". I think flexi make great kites and have great workmanship but I hated the gauze cell covers on the 3 series and I think their lines are just OK (mine all show friction burns from when the kite has looped and the lines twisted). My Laser Pro lines haven't done that nor have my Ozone lines (or Gin or Flysurfer) and the LP and Ozone definitely have more hours on them than the flexi lines so they are "comparable" but I would say "at least as good".

I also think Flexi (and Ozone) do great jobs marketing their products but most riders can get by with something like a HQ or PL or PKD or Gin, etc. I'm not saying that all those are "not quite as good" kite makers but I don't think they are marketed as aggressively and promoted as "the best" and I have seen quite a few videos of impressive riding on the HQ lineup though if an inquiry was posted on a forum across the pond about whether one should by HQ or Flexi (or Ozone), the majority of the responses would be to not waste your money on HQ as its an inferior product. Maybe, but will it suffice for the average rider.... probably.

Based on the riding I do and the limited funds I have I want the best product I can afford but I can't afford what is marketed as the best (got a killer deal on my FS but could never see spending the money for a FS or Flexi brand new at the prices listed on the retailers websites). Which brings me to another point for you retailers... if you know most of us shop the web looking for deals and you give out deals that aren't listed on your website, just list what the kite is actually going to cost us when we call. I can't stand asking the dealer for the bro discount, "hey, I know what it lists on your website, but what's it going to cost me, bro?". I appreciate the discount but really wish the prices would just be listed so we can decide at a glance if the kite is overpriced or just overpriced on the website but not what we are actually going to pay.

Flexifoils are probably the best fixed-bridle kites on the market. I love flying them, but I have a hard time paying for them. I also fly depower almost exclusively. I still want a small (1.8m) rage for those nuking days. Buying on e-bay is one way to get one, I suppose. I have a hard time with the high prices...

Quote:

Originally posted by burritobandit How much will they be increasing? Are you at liberty to say?

I would be at liberty to say if i knew. I just ordered a kite for a customer and the price was up about 15%. I had warning the prices were going up, but got no official word or price list. As soon as I get a price list I will have them posted on my site.

i love the flexi blades, but i dont really want to spend the money for a new one,so i try to buy used........

Quote:

Originally posted by B-Roc I voted for option 3 (can't see spending the money) because I don't know what you mean by "comparable but not quite as good". I also think Flexi (and Ozone) do great jobs marketing their products but most riders can get by with something like a HQ or PL or PKD or Gin, etc. I'm not saying that all those are "not quite as good" kite makers but I don't think they are marketed as aggressively and promoted as "the best"

That is what I had in mind when I said not quite as good. HQ, Peter Lynn Access range, etc. These are all still very good kites, but like you said not marketed as the best.

I cant see spending the money on a new one. I'd rather keep saving and turn to the D'Arc side :roll:

I've owned my share of Flexi's but would have to say my biggest beef is a lack of support and service since they moved everything to a third world country. My Sabre comes to mind, they knew they had a problem and were handing out fixes at meets in the Uk and Europe for free and wanted me to send mine across the pond at a cost of nearly half the value of the kite. Personally I would never buy another Flexi kite but love my buggy.

I think they're overpriced for what you get was my vote. I remember when the Blurr came out and I got a chance to fly it. I remember thinking,, "you want me to pay how much for this thing???" Your kidding me right?? It was touted as a stable race kite, when it really is just a different looking Rage in my opinion. Same flight charachteristics, same speed, same everything as a rage for twice the price. Same thing with the pro link handles. When they first came out the price was ridiculous. They might be a nice bombproof handle but not worth the price they were asking. They've since come down in price just like the blurr. Sadly my opinion of Flexi (which I used to love) has become the company that overmarkets and underdelivers. "Tout some greatness in your product when it first comes out and fleece the goobers that believe it,,,,,,,,,then when sales drop bring the price back into reality." Don't get me wrong,,,,,,,I love my old BIV's and the construction quality is great but when you relate it to the price now a days it's not even remotely worth it. And with what they've done to the BV's I don't see myself buying anything from Flexi in the future. There are plenty of great products out there with less B.S. attatched. Just my 2 cents, which might only be worth 1 cent Can we get out and ride now :wee:

You're the second dealer who has said the Flexifoil prices are going up soon. So, I would believe it's pretty much a done deal for anything new that has to be shipped from the UK

Timing is weird.... just emailed Matt a few days ago and got an automated email back saying he no longer works there :sniff:, and a list of alternative emails.

ATB,
Sam

didn't vote in the poll... yet.

I'd like to fly a few more kites before saying how good the blade is, but for now I am very happy when the wind blows hard enough to allow me to shift up from the ace 8 to the blade, it's like going from a schoolbus to a sports car.

but yes I feel I pay a hefty fee for the marketing. now PL markets very little it seems and i kinda like that, and their kites reflect that lower cost in their pricing.

no I wouldn't buy another blade new, and there's actually no other flexi kites I'm interested in....

so OK ended up going for option c, d would have been OK worded something like "maybe" not quite as good.

anyone here flown a twister and a blade back to back?

edit... oh yeah and on option b maybe the flexifoil is higher quality, but i've read somewhere on here that the PL's are easier to repair because the construction is simpler.. taped seams vs simply stitched ones?

I started out with the blades - hence my call sign, but over time and with experience have moved on to what most folks have come to call the d'arc side. The blades were and still are an impressive kite in the right winds - tons of power and lift. After a few close calls (some so close they hurt, really bad) I went with gear that was much more manageable in different conditions. Are the flexi's worth the cash? If they ever came out with a depower (non-inflatable) I would be very interested - until then - no way I'd pay that much for a fixed bridle, what am I saying - I wouldn't buy a fixed bridle for any price.

We just got a Blade III 10.5m depowered, never even flew it and shipped it out for the 18m Guerilla Trade... I will try to get another in the near future (used) if the price is right.

a 10.5 blade III depower could have been a really nice kite. I would of definitely took it for a fly, before I traded it.

I'll make a post about it

Yes please let me know how it is, been raining ever since we got it in Chicago. Weather sucks over here.

Quote:

Originally posted by trancein1 We just got a Blade III 10.5m depowered,

hey-- you got a mouse in your pocket or something???

huh ?

Quote:

Originally posted by trancein1 huh ?

Who is "we"?