Ricky: AS-1 & Other Carlton products

[Pete]

Hi Ricky:

Thanks for telling me where to purchase a AS-Ti or AS-1. Is Sogo in Wan Chai the only place to purchase the AS-1 and AS-Ti. What about Luxis, Emmy or Rose Sports Goods? Any other places? Anyone out there knows where else I can get the AS-1 and AS-Ti besides Sogo in in Wan Chai?

Regards,

Pete

[Ricky]

Luxis doesn't sell Carlton racquets. As far as I remember, Emmy does not sell it too. Rose may have some, but definitely not full range (Yonex is still the most popular brand). However, some other sports shops in Mongkok may have Carlton racquets.

AS-1 shouldn't be too difficult to find, but I just can't remember exactly which shops in Mongkok have it. However for AS-Ti, the only place I saw this racquet is on Sogo, it costs HK$550 * 0.9, still not an expensive racquet in my opinion.

[Mag]

Whoa -- that's just crazy! You'd have to double that to buy one here in Sweden...

[harry]

where is rose and emmy? which one is cheaping in price? doesn't matter for service

[Pete]

Mag,

Carltons are made in Mainland China. From China, one can mass purchase badminton racquets for CIF CDN20 to CDN40 dollars. Then you can resell them in Canada for CDN80 to CDN150. You have to look at the import tariff too and other costs of retailing the racquets. Once you tally the total cost, you will understand why it costs twice to buy a Carlton racquet in the West. HK is a different story. Given a lack of import tariff, a lack of sales taxes and a low rate of taxation on business income, operating cost isn't high compared to the West. So, a retailer in HK can afford to low price their products, even after taking into account of high rent (fixed expenses). So, it is a high volume but a thin margin operation for most sports-equipment retailer in HK. Plus the competition is really stiff in HK too. Hope this enlighten you a bit. :)

Pete

[Mag]

Yes, I can see the "logic" in this... but it still sucks. After all, Carlton is a European company, so the products ought to be cheaper on the home market. Hey, I guess it's just yet another reason to visit HK :) When's the best time of year to visit?

[Brett]

Pete, I think the situation has changed over the past several months - not all (or any?) Carltons are made in China anymore. See my post in the more recent Carlton message thread.

[Pete]

Dear Mag,

Come to Hong Kong during winter time. Summer is unbearably hot and humid! If you like the wet and boiling effect, then come in July. Expect 29C to 35C with humidity of 85% and up! I will go to HK in October. The weather is much better at that time.

Pete

[Pete]

Dear Brett,

Could you post the linke for me since the threads are very hard to manage? It takes a long time to search.

Pete

[Brett]

Pete, it's in the thread "airblade 900 again" from the last several days which I believe you have already read.

[modious]

That buying Carlton rackets from China are much cheaper as compared to HK or Singapore?