Kuiu 4th Sale?

[69ChrisCraft]

2 weeks ago I bought a Merino 1/4 zip, Attack pants, cotton tee, hat, and bino harness.... All in stock, arrived in a matter of days.

 

[KMD]

Wait a minute - you're saying that offering 20% off of purchases over $500 is meant to move in-stock (usually excess) items you have plenty of and that's it? A little discount I'll buy, but go to kuiu's site and find over $500 of in stock clothing that isn't on clearance or outlet (which sale didn't apply to, they're already discounted.) Not saying it's impossible, but it seemed like more of a "...fire sale!!! That's right, huge sale on in stock items!!! Note: the only thing we have in stock are solid color XXS/short and 3 wolf moon shirts"

If you never have stock, and you know it, I'd say that's at least misdemeanor shady. Like bragging about lowering prices on some gear but failing to mention it's because you bought a Chinese sweatshop on the cheap from Nike.

(Notice: I have no real heartburn with it, I wasn't personally affected by it. Just kinda humorous reading the justification. OP got suckered in (no one hires shitty ad consultants on purpose) and was miffed it was "too good to be true.")

Bluto, it happens all the time.
Look in the newspaper and you'll see some crazy sale items at outrageously low prices. Those items are designed to get you TO THE STORE, and/or get you in a 'buying mood'. Once they have you there, or in the mood, its all the more easy to lure you into spending $$$ on other items. Kind of a bait & switch, for lack of a better term. Sometimes you'll see the fine print say 'limited quantities', so the business has their azz covered, and there's no guarantee that the seller has to accommodate every consumer if they've sold out of what they wanted gone.
I agree, it is a 'shady' tactic, but its rampant EVERYWHERE. So, I'm certainly not leveling comments at any one entity. Its the nature of business in general, so educating one's self to these marketing tactics makes for a wise consumer.

If one is smart enough to evade the emotional & impulse pitfalls, wait for 'sales', buy only what you want, on your terms, there are certainly wonderful deals to be found. And a community such as RS is great for getting that word out in the Gear Deals forum!

 

[Bluto]

CC - I don't think it's ever been a case of "never," but Kuiu stock is a pretty widely documented issue overall.

KMD - I certainly agree on the last point! The info, both via experience and shared info to others here is top notch. As far as the tactic, I also agree but I think we tend to expect at least somewhat different from a direct order manufacturer of Kuiu's caliber vice Walmart. (Or other giant retailer.) But, there will be more sales. I just decided what I wanted a year ago and pieced what I found available as I went, but sometimes it would be nice for too good to be true to actually be true. Not to the point of losing money, but a buy 1 shoelace get one free ad is another class than getting a discount IF you spend over $500. That's a pretty serious commitment to spend some serious money (i.e., that shouldn't be a merchant selling off unwanted junk stock, just in terms of good faith, if nothing else.)

I added it up on this sale in particular - for my preferred clothing system via Kuiu last weekend, I would have tallied WELL over $500 MSRP, and paid a little over $500 post discount. My guess is that still leaves a decent profit margin - and some hella good (rad, bitchin, swell) word of mouth advertising. But, I suppose I'll trudge along in this crappy ol' Kryptek...

 

[KMD]

bluto, I can sympathize with your sentiments, and think it safe to speculate that many of us here have pieced our gear together, over time. Sure, it would be nice to drop $$$ on a full high end system, but that's just not in the cards for many of us workin' folk. Personally, I've done pretty well over the last few years, surfing various online classifieds, webstore 'clearance' sections, sites like Camofire, etc. and have amassed some decent stuff that works for me. But its a 'dog eat dog' world out there, and you have to watch out for deals with the eyes of a falcon to reap the rewards. If the deal doesn't tickle your fancy, just wait it out and maybe ya get lucky and catch a future 'sale'...

Heck, I just compromised, and bought a piece of clothing for 15% off 'retail', thinking it was a deal. Happy enough, but two months later, I see a comparable piece in 'clearance' for almost 50% off. What's a fella to do? Just laugh it off, cuz ya can't win 'em all Certainly isn't worth gettin' upset over, or questioning how a company chooses to run a 'sale'. Just do the best you can and take advantage of the info-net-highway to find a deal when it pops up...

 

[TD1]

I've never had them NOT ship me something even when ordered and out of stock. I haven't had them charge my card for backordered items until they shipped, or thay haven't so far. And the only time I've needed customer service was a sizing issue that was fixed very simply and quickly. Some pieces are the best gear I've ever used. Very high quality technical gear.

If I want it I order it. If not in stock it will be eventually. They have pre-order sales as well, my Yukon jacket was a sale pre-order. My buddy pre-ordered his backpack (that just now came in....)

It's a small company. Manufacturing orders are nowhere near a science, an educated guess at best, sometimes just a hunch or a wish. Not as many folks in some shape or size out there interested in that gear as you thought there were. Or more of them than you thought there would be. The former means you're gonna eat some inventory for dinner that night, and believe me, it tastes like crap. The latter is much better for a company but means you better get on the stick and see what can be done to try and meet demand.... and do so without having the former happen..... it's a tricky balance.

I would guess far more companies have gone under by overstocking and not being able to move things they have already paid for while the monthly fixed cost for it sitting there doing nothing continues (tick, tick, tick...) than by having to scramble to meet a demand they didn't anticipate. Neither is good, but the former is lethal. It's where the vultures that are always circling get their inventory to sell at fractions of the true costs.... picking the bones of the overstocks.....

 

[Josh Wright]

my 4th experience

My 4th experience with KUIU.....

I had $350.00 of gift certificates from my wife and mother-in-law for my birthday. My intention was to by the KUIU Pamir boots and another item to get the 20% discount. When I go to order, my 10.5 size boot was not in stock.

I called and left a message and received a call after the sale. I told them the situation and what the intended purchase was going to be. They gave me a similar Zamberlan boot to find and try on for fit in case I could fit in an 11. They then we're going to give me 2 weeks to get back in touch with them. The 10.5 would not be in by hunting season.

I waited a day and decided to scrap all that and just buy an Ultra pack, the new merino, and more items. I spent over $700.00 and they then still gave me the 20% discount for my in stock purchases. I believe there were 3 items on back order.

I have never had an issue with their service and I have been with them from the beginning.

 

[SethH]

I'm still waiting on my attack pants, chugach jacket, merino gloves, and guide beanie from nearly a month ago. This sale made me wonder what the deal was to be completely honest. I mean a sale is great and all but now they are taking orders on stuff that I haven't even received yet.

 

[Weekender]

I'm still waiting on my attack pants, chugach jacket, merino gloves, and guide beanie from nearly a month ago. This sale made me wonder what the deal was to be completely honest. I mean a sale is great and all but now they are taking orders on stuff that I haven't even received yet.

Gloves are on back order so you won't receive anything until they come in. If you need the stuff now just cancel the gloves since they weren't on sell and put them on a separate order so you can receive everything else.

 

[idig4au]

These Kuiu threads are tiresome.

My exact same thoughts

 

[idig4au]

These threads amaze me. Apparently nothing is ever in stock, but every where I look people sporting brand new Kuiu gear.

Yeah, I don't understand as I've never had an issue with getting their gear and I wear common sizes....L tops and M bottoms. Sure, I've had to wait a few weeks or even a couple months on a few things but not a show stopper by any means. The key is don't wait until the last minute right before when you need it. I always make my orders early in the year. I do that with all manufacturers, not just Kuiu. Poor planning on your part is not the manufacturers fault!

A good example of their CS? I had some merino bottoms on backorder...and they automatically upgraded me to the new Ultra Merino style. And they arrived a few weeks ago, well in advance of hunting season. All of my gaps in my clothing system are covered for my upcoming hunting season.

 

[realunlucky]

My exact same thoughts

Yet you just had to post up?

 

[SethH]

Gloves are on back order so you won't receive anything until they come in. If you need the stuff now just cancel the gloves since they weren't on sell and put them on a separate order so you can receive everything else.

They sent my 210 bottoms that were ordered with my hat and gloves. Not sure why they wouldn't do the same with the rest of it.