What is the problem with the Ozone distributor here in the US? Windzup is a pain in the a#$ to deal with. Don't get me wrong, I love Ozone kites, probably more so than any other kite out there, but to have to deal with the B.S. to get any answers from them is not worth it . I emailed Windzup, with a few questions in January when I was in the process of buying my Access XT 8m, and was more or less told to leave them alone, they did not have time for me and to contact my local shop, instead. I work in the service industry for the US's largest chemical distributor (2nd largest world wide) and have learned the ins and outs of good quality customer service/care and from what I experienced from Windzup, I will say that they will not keep customers with an attitude like that. That is my rant, feel free to input anything you have. I am just curious to see how many other people have had bad experiences with Windzup.

Bad experiences through dealers (not the dealers fault- they were honest about the problem.) I bought a different brand as a result. Love Ozone, not the hassle.

I dropped Ozone because of its distribution in the US. I must give props to the shops that still deal with them. I can not support a product where the company does not support me!

I'm not talking down Ozone as a product. I think its a very good product. I'm just saying I think it would be much more main stream if they had a good distribution in the states.

Flexifoil as seen the light and they are going to have a distribution center right here in California. No more making the shops wait and pay crazy shipping prices from the UK. I love it! The warehouse is only about a 2 hour drive from me. I might just make a little drive and pick up what I need

Amen Brothers.

Truly great kites. But waiting 2+ months for orders gets old fast.

Has the hold up for Ozone products been with Windzup or with Ozone being able to get product over stateside in a timely manner?

Quote:

Originally posted by DAKITEZ Flexifoil as seen the light and they are going to have a distribution center right here in California. No more making the shops wait and pay crazy shipping prices from the UK. I love it! The warehouse is only about a 2 hour drive from me. I might just make a little drive and pick up what I need

1. Pierce my ears and call me Breezy.
   
2. About <* fill in expletive *> time...
   
3. Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus.
   
4. This is kind of interesting in light of some of the speculation on KiteCrowd about Flexi selling gearing on eBay.
   
5. Wonder if the price penduluum is going to swing back like last year's price cuts.
   
6. Wonder if they are going to have any mid-year releases for additional land kites. Seemed kind of lackluster this year with the Quark and Blade V.
   

Was starting to seriously wonder about Flexi when dealers started dropping them right and left, except for special orders.

ATB,
Sam

Regardless,

As a Dealer with over $1000 on order, I would like an update on an order if I ask for one. After all, I have customers asking me and I like to keep them informed. Always being ignored is the distributors fault. If the product isn't in, say something about when it is expected.

When responses come, 'they will be here next weeS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-. That next week is about 7 weeks away.

I get product from The Netherlands in less than a week. THANKS -MJ- and Peter Lynn!!!

Oh, now I'm wondering if the SEVEN MONTH WAIT for an Axcess XC harness is the plonker at the local shop or Ozone Japan ...

SEVEN MONTHS!!? :shocked2::shocked2::shocked2:

I don't know what I'd do if I had to wait seven months for a harness. Cancel the order and buy from somewhere else? :puzzled:

Yeah I said "I really want the harness. Order it please." just to be sure ... but next time I talk to Mr. Miyachi I'm gonna just cancel if he hasn't heard anything ... and go trolling the internet. Whee It'll suck if none of the shop guys on here have them eh

Man, I'm sad for you, for I truly love my harness. But then I remember that you've got a heckofa bigger quivver than I, and I feel better about the whole thing.

I hope you get one soon!

Angus at coastal told me they sell as fast as he gets them and there is no real guarantee about when they are available. Worth getting though, Kam.

The word of the man with Borat's old kite is good enough for me I'll be putting the hard word down then

I think there are actually two problems. One is that Ozone isn't managing to get the stock to Windzup, the other is that Windzup does a really bad job of giving ETA's to the retailers. I was strung along for about a month and a half for my Mantas. It was always "they're supposed to show up tomorrow", "we'll have them next Tuesday", "they're sitting in customs right now" (followed by, "oh, they weren't in that box..."). Though... I suppose it's just an assumption that Ozone isn't managing to keep Windzup in product, it could be Windzup isn't doing a good job of ordering things in when they should... but I don't think that's it.

I agree with the rest of you, I love my Ozone stuff, but I'd own more if it were ever in stock.

Brian and Heather of Windzup are great people. I would say that Ozone popularity in the US is mainly due to their efforts. In the beginning those guys were on the road for about 8 months out of the year stopping in shops, attending every kite event in the US, and giving non-stop demos of gear. They worked so hard at making Ozone kites so great that I think they've established a demand in the US that the Ozone factory may not be able to keep up with.

I love PL, but let's not forget that they introduced the Charger at NABX last year and constantly kept pushing back the date on when they would be available too. I didn't see my first Charger until Dec. That's 8 months. So I don't think it's just an Ozone problem.

I think the entire distribution scene for kiting in the US is fairly non-efficient. If kites didn't have to exchanges hands through so many channels I think prices could be more affordable. It goes from factory, to company, in some cases a distributor, then a dealer, then to the kiter. That's alot of people trying to make a dollar off a product in a sport that really isn't that popular overall as compared to other industries. Makes it pretty tough for someone who doesn't want to invest over $1000 in one kite hard to get into it.

I digress.. Brian and Heather at Windzup are great people. Known them for years and I just think the problem is beyond them and stuck at the factory/demand level.

I've had some email communications with Heather and she was nice and helpful. Had I been told at the beginning that It would take a month and a half to get the kites, I would have been okay with that. It's the constantly moving ETA that annoyed me.

Ozone directly owns the factory that their kites are made in, so Ozone doesn't have an extra cut of profit to go between the factory and the company. But there is definitely an issue in their supply chain when even kites like the Flow are becoming hard for the dealers to keep stocked.

I have just caved in and decided to drop Ozone. I just can't run the risk of disappointing customers and the risk of losing good will that I have worked hard to build. Dino, I know you warned me.

I have a few SB Harnesses Turbo Bars left and then that's it. I was holding on because of the popular SB Harness, but Peter Lynn is about to release a line of new harnesses that are buggy friendly, so we will be covered there.

I am not one to fling poo at individuals, so I will try to be careful and simply say that Ozone supply issues are the result of problems THROUGHOUT the organization, from distribution to CEO, and this hurts dealers and the sport. Insomuch as these guys own their own factory, they really are screwing up a wet dream.

Matt Taggart of New Zealand is one of the founders and the current CEO. I have tried to reach out to him via e-mail with every effort to be courteous and professional, but his only response was to forward the e-mails back to Heather.

Let me end on a positive, and thank all my other suppliers for their courteous, professional and prompt support that affords their dealers the opportunity to look good.

as a distributor ... i think its meanly because they may not stock everything. most distributors are placing orders long before production begins so they have it when available and its all batched produced too. I cant see the Euro Market buying up everything before it comes to Canada / USA. i could be wrong since the G. and H. riders have a fleet of Yak GT.
Ozone owns their factory and by the looks of their video they can produce lots.

PL manufacturing fall back of the CH was "too much too soon" with RII, Vapors, CH and TR Vapors, they just couldnt do it all. Not to mention still produce all the current models too.

maybe the way of the future for dealers is to buy direct?

i've spoken to Matt T. before, and he's been paraglider first, kite second.

I am still a bit bewildered.

I understand when there is a new product and there is pent up demand and pre-ordered.

As for delayed roll-outs.... well heck.... that's pretty much the nature of the beast. Every year on another forum, there is a lot of speculation on when new products will release and there is a lot of hand wringing while waiting under the street lights at the corner. Generally untill a fair number of the established retailers are taking pre-orders, it's generally not worth wastiing any hair pulling on.

The Prism Tensor was originally announced last year and then pulled from the 2009 releases, put on indefinite hold and then suddenly (relatively) appeared in the 2010 lineup.

It's a little off putting when we are moving towards the end of March and not only new products, but products that have been in the Ozone catalog for a couple of years are still lagging so far behind.

Given the turnover of both Flexi and Ozone products on Kite Crowd, it definitely seems like North America is several tiers down on the supply chain.

I seem to recall receiving the Flow, Access XC(D) Harness and Turbo Bar in fairly quick order. Actually, I received the Turbo Bar while I was away from home at an alternate address, so the delivery window was fairly tight and still went without a hiccup. It could just be that they were already on the respective dealers' shelves.

I considered an Access 8M over the winter, but hearing about interminable waits on the 2010 Access, Frenzy and Manta put the kibosh on that. Then the supply of harnesses went wispy and vaporish.

If it's a matter of shipping items in dribs and drabs incurring too heavy a ding, I would have no problem with Ozone/WindzUp establishing order windows. If a dealer has the item in stock, get it based on how fast UPS/USPS can get it to you. If not, set a time, gather all the US orders put them in with a fairly set delivery date. I think most people are fine with waiting when the delivery date is fairly concrete or has the odd push due to acts of pagan deities (not enough marshmallow sacrifices to the Easter Bunny and all that).

As far as the whole Kites/Paraglider thing.... aren't they two different divisions of Ozone that operate fairly autonomously? Would hate to this a lot of Peter/Paul borrowing of assets and resources monkey wrenching things.

ATB,
Sam

I haven't checked the forum in a little while but when I saw this post today I thought I'd chime in. As Angus knows I've talked with Matt and stirred the poo heavily. The end result on this whole issue in my opinion is to vote with your dollar everyone. We live in a monetary system. No one's changed that fact yet. Companies and their affiliates who do not give consumers what they want will find themselves quickly lagging in the marketplace and eventually gone. There are plenty of great products out there by very capable companies of which I'm sure would be glad to provide you with products and service you would be happy to pay for. Support them and let the rest fall to the waste side. Recognizing friendly individuals is a component of human relationships. Recognizing sound business and effective money management is a component of the monetary system. Mixing up the two will always be hazardous to your bottom line. Vote with your dollar people,,,,vote with your dollar. Its the only vote your going to get.

Sadly makes sense... although sometimes it's hard to walk away from a kite you have lusted after for a bit. The scent of fresh ripstop can be a bit of a narcotic (with a bit of giggle gas tossed in).

On a less serious note:
Awwww crap.... and I just bought a case of marshmallows (see my last post).

ATB,
Sam

I see a huge opportunity here for Jonesband :eureka:

Ozone knock-offs... coming to an internet auction site near you soon

Quote:

Originally posted by ripsessionkites as a distributor ... i think its meanly because they may not stock everything.

That's just part of it and I would be OK with that if I could just be told when to expect a product with some marginal degree of accuracy. That way I can manage my customer's expectations.

With my other suppliers, for most routine orders, I not know not only the date but THE TIME OF DAY it will arrive. In rare events when it is back-ordered to the factory, I still get an estimate that is accurate to within a week or so if not a day or so.

Rips accurately points out that new product roll-outs appear to be the exception for all manufactures and that appears to be an accepted law of the jungle.

But when a promise on a routine order turns from "two weeks" to two MONTHS, with little or no contact in between, that constitutes a failure of the whole supply chain. In today's small world there is no excuse for that.

Quote:

Originally posted by indigo_wolf Sadly makes sense... although sometimes it's hard to walk away from a kite you have lusted after for a bit. The scent of fresh ripstop can be a bit of a narcotic (with a bit of giggle gas tossed in). On a less serious note: Awwww crap.... and I just bought a case of marshmallows (see my last post). ATB, Sam

Now how many times have I told you about the marshmallows Sam

Jonesband Ozone knockoffs :o...... Now your really stirring the poo B-roc

Quote:

Originally posted by acampbell Quote: Originally posted by ripsessionkites as a distributor ... i think its meanly because they may not stock everything. That's just part of it and I would be OK with that if I could just be told when to expect a product with some marginal degree of accuracy. That way I can manage my customer's expectations. With my other suppliers, for most routine orders, I not know not only the date but THE TIME OF DAY it will arrive. In rare events when it is back-ordered to the factory, I still get an estimate that is accurate to within a week or so if not a day or so. Rips accurately points out that new product roll-outs appear to be the exception for all manufactures and that appears to be an accepted law of the jungle. But when a promise on a routine order turns from "two weeks" to two MONTHS, with little or no contact in between, that constitutes a failure of the whole supply chain. In today's small world there is no excuse for that.

I've got to agree with Angus.

I think if Ozone supply is low and every dealer is feeling the effects of long waits for delivery of Ozone products, you've got to be a fool to drop them. Ozone products are in demand and if you don't carry them, someone else will. If a customer has to wait for an item from you or your competition, what's the difference? I can see dropping it so you don't have to deal with the headache, but poor distribution or not, Ozone kites are in demand. If you want one, prepare to wait for it. If you want a kite right away, get one that isn't in such demand. You can vote with your wallet if you don't have the patience to wait for a product. But don't expect it to have as big of an impact as you think it might. You know that factory is cranking out kites as fast as they can and they're all going somewhere which means plenty of demand and plenty of money coming in.

This is speculation, but I know Ozone did a big push on the inflato kites last year marketing wise. Maybe sales in that area have increased enough that it's hindering output of foils. Lots of tube fliers out there.

Quote:

Originally posted by rudeboysaude I think if Ozone supply is low and every dealer is feeling the effects of long waits for delivery of Ozone products, you've got to be a fool to drop them.

I can understand how it looks like this is something recent. i dealt with this exact situation over 2 years ago. So I can see in 2 years nothing has changed. This is why I gave props to the shops that do carry them, because they are seriously jumping through hoops to carry this product. I feel whoever puts forth the effort to do this deserves the sale. My bet is if it keeps continuing on the same coarse these guys are going to get tired of jumping.

I don't want to speak for others. I can only speak for myself. I just want to say I don't think Windzup are bad people. They seam like cool people. But the bottom line is they were not getting the job done for me.

The way i see it is if Ozone is having a supply issue or extreme delays to get product here then the distributor needs to carry that much more stock to account for the delays. This is not the case. windzup carries very little to no stock. this is the reason for the long delays and un-known delivery dates. They do not have it in stock themselves so they don't know when they will have it either.

When i was selling Ozone Windzup had a policy that you can not offer any kite for sale on your website that you do not physically have in stock. I think they should apply that same policy to themselves for their dealers.

This is not a rant, because I don't care. i just want to share my experience to try and bring some light on the subject.

My kiting season is too short to stand around waiting. I was after a couple of lower end kites (flows- not trying to make flow owners mad, they're just not Yaks,) tried to order them more than a month before NABX, and was told they wouldn't be available. So I took a chance and went with another brand and was quite pleased with what I got. Still love Ozone gear, and if the supply issues get resolved in the future, then MAYBE I'll come back. But at this point, I have what I need. I'm just one customer though, so who cares?

It's not worth the effort. You know it's bad when you get a new order (always a good thing) and then your read the items and see "...Ozone...", and your heart sinks and you go "Oh no, here we go again...".

You know it's funny. At first I thought "Ah, they're French..." (jk, I love the French, but you know the joke) and then I find out the owner is a Kiwi. Oh well.

One of Windup's excuses over the holidays was that they were moving their "warehouse" (yes the one with nothing in it) over the "next few days" That dragged out for weeks. I had to laugh, because HQ USA had just moved a 10,000+ sq. ft. warehouse over a holiday weekend and were up and taking calls and filing orders on Monday morning.

Quote:

Originally posted by DAKITEZ When i was selling Ozone Windzup had a policy that you can not offer any kite for sale on your website that you do not physically have in stock. I think they should apply that same policy to themselves for their dealers.

I think I remember hearing something to that effect last year. In some ways that policy seems to get chucked to the wayside to some degree. Before they were fully in the supply chain, there were quite a few sites up that had the 2010 Ozone harnesses listed with the new descriptions, but 2009 photos. I expect the actual shelves were pretty empty.

If you Google an Ozone Foil (Access, Frenzy, Manta) the hits will fall into several catagories:

1. Ozone's Site
   
2. Forums discussing Ozone Products/Reviews
   
3. Non-US retailers
   
4. US Retailers that have the product in stock
   
5. US Retailers that don't have the product in stock, but list it on their website (sometimes with an "In Stock" notation)
   

Unfortunately #4 lags waaaaaay behind.

If you are a manufacturer trying to sell product, shouldn't 1 & 4 top the list?

Not meant to be rude.... Ozone might be selling kites as fast as they are making them, but are they selling them in the US or Canada?

Like I said... the turnover for Ozone and Flexi seems to be much higher on KiteCrowd. I don't think that is soley because everyone in North America has a death grip on theirs. I think Ozone pool is just that much deeper in the UK/EU.

ATB,
Sam

@ Dakitz
"When i was selling Ozone Windzup had a policy that you can not offer any kite for sale on your website that you do not physically have in stock. I think they should apply that same policy to themselves for their dealers."

Cut it out,,, you want them to walk the talk???:D

@ Rudeboy
I can understand some of your points as Ozone kites are great products. There is no doubt about it. I don't think anyone here is arguing that. Its all the other components of the business model that are having problems. I don't want to come across as sounding rude or anything but after more than 15 years in the financial industry I can assure you that voting with your dollar is how absolutely everything works. If Ozone and its affiliates are experiencing banner years back to back with continual consistent growth to their bottom line they have no reason to change anything in that environment. When profits become stagnant,,,, when growth slows,,, they will be forced to change one way or another. This is a fundamental aspect to a monetary system as we all need to acquire capital to live. If people end up buying other products it doesn't take long before critical mass is reached and Ozone will be forced to address many issues. Even if the critical mass comes as a component of Ozone seeing other companies experience a growth rate far higher than their own. If they're intelligent business people they will move into action at that point in order to take back a greater portion of the marketplace. Til that point is reached I don't think you'll see anything out of them.

Just my 2c of course.

Good winds
Dean