dizzy 0 Posted October 27, 2006 Share Posted October 27, 2006 Is there a serial number on your snowboard? It's usually near the back binding holes on the left or right side of the deck. And are the serial numbers still intact? Link to post Share on other sites
Kumapix 0 Posted October 27, 2006 Share Posted October 27, 2006 not sure whether it's on the right or left side, but it's definitely intact. Sounds like you're looking at a grey market board or a second. There is a shop in Kanda called Liberty that used to have seconds/grey market boards. DOn't know if they still do. Link to post Share on other sites
dizzy 0 Posted October 27, 2006 Author Share Posted October 27, 2006 that's the term i was looking for: grey market / second boards thx! Link to post Share on other sites
boardbaka 3 Posted October 27, 2006 Share Posted October 27, 2006 yes- (as they should be)- hologram type thingy Link to post Share on other sites
AK 77 0 Posted October 27, 2006 Share Posted October 27, 2006 are grey market boards ones originally destined for US or Euro market, but re-wholesaled here for bigger profit margins? still Burton, but no warranty? Link to post Share on other sites
Kumapix 0 Posted October 27, 2006 Share Posted October 27, 2006 sometimes. also seconds are sometimes a good deal if it's only a topsheet imperfection. sometimes you can't even tell what's wrong. or if a graphic gets messed up a little I'd say if you do lots of park or are used to breaking boards, then get a warrantied one. If you look after your boards or just ride groomers/pow then a grey or second would be a decent gamble Link to post Share on other sites
kaiser soce 0 Posted October 27, 2006 Share Posted October 27, 2006 I have 2 different burton decks. One has the serial number on the right and the other board has it on the left. Link to post Share on other sites
indosnm 0 Posted October 28, 2006 Share Posted October 28, 2006 I have a few that have serials but some that don't because the ones that don't are promo boards that they let the crew test before they come out with all the pretty graffix on 'em. Link to post Share on other sites
nagpants 1 Posted October 28, 2006 Share Posted October 28, 2006 On the left mine, still there. Link to post Share on other sites
ibk6020 0 Posted October 29, 2006 Share Posted October 29, 2006 Burton seconds That come from the factories are normally stamped with a brand that burns into the first top sheet! the brand is depressed to about 1mm depth but does not mean the board is a failiure but just not up to high factory standards! I my self have owned a second standard Fish for the last 2 seasons but the only fault is within the graphics! Link to post Share on other sites
ibk6020 0 Posted October 29, 2006 Share Posted October 29, 2006 also have a look at where the board was manafactured! Austrian production is usually the best indicator of a good board! Link to post Share on other sites
kaiser soce 0 Posted October 29, 2006 Share Posted October 29, 2006 Thats odd, I thought all their top end boards were made in NA. I know the facilty in Austria the pumps out boards for many manufacturers pumps out quality decks but are you implying NA made boards are crap? Link to post Share on other sites
dizzy 0 Posted October 29, 2006 Author Share Posted October 29, 2006 i went to a snowboard sale the other day and found it strange that ALL of the serial numbers on the Burton boards either had the last 6 or so numbers scratched out or had a gray/silver sticker covering the numbers. i thought these boards could be a rip-off courtesy of mr. wiggles from a few years ago on the forums: Quote: Originally posted by Mr Wiggles: Many Burton boards have their serial numbers erased to prevent Burton from finding out which US wholesalers are unofficially selling them to Japanese retailers. Burton boards sold through the recognized channel of Burton Japan are more expensive than such parallel imports. According to a guy I know who worked at an official Burton Japan dealer, most of the big stores that previously carried parallel imported Burtons (Xebio etc) will all be selling official gear this year. Burton Japan has lowered its prices to try to discourage such imports, but they'll still appear no doubt. I seem to remember seeing a board with "second" stamped into the P-tex at the tip. Mine has "demo" written there, but still has the serial number. I bought it in Canada. Link to post Share on other sites
cal 6 Posted October 31, 2006 Share Posted October 31, 2006 Where are all the Japan-sold ones coming from? NA? Link to post Share on other sites
mina2 6 Posted November 4, 2006 Share Posted November 4, 2006 Mine is. Link to post Share on other sites
XilR8 0 Posted November 6, 2006 Share Posted November 6, 2006 I have a student who works making snowboards here in Japan (Asakusa area). He claims that he is making snowboards for Burton and K2, and that the manufacturing process is in fact pretty cheap! Link to post Share on other sites
dizzy 0 Posted November 6, 2006 Author Share Posted November 6, 2006 so your student is one of the people scratching off Burton serial numbers! yes, as it's been mentioned in other threads, making pretty much anything is cheap, outdoor equipment is no exception. middle men have to get their cut, and that is part of the reason things are so expensive in japan. so when japanese go abroad, they think, oh my goodness gaikokuland is sooo cheap. Link to post Share on other sites
AK 77 0 Posted November 6, 2006 Share Posted November 6, 2006 Quote: Originally posted by XilR8: I have a student who works making snowboards here in Japan (Asakusa area). He claims that he is making snowboards for Burton and K2, and that the manufacturing process is in fact pretty cheap! Hmmm, that's interesting. I always thought Burton boards are officially only made in Vermont or Insbruck, but after a look at the website, it says that the BMC Vermont place is only 'one of their worldwide manufacturing locations', so maybe not.... I would guess that with the number of 'Japan specific flex model versions being released, and Japan limited models, it would be those ones that are being made here. On a side note, I have met Japanese riders who have made their own boards here, to pro brand standard - small scale production. I would love to try that.... Link to post Share on other sites
Oyuki kigan 0 Posted November 6, 2006 Share Posted November 6, 2006 Ask him how he is making boards for 2 differnt HUGE companies. I know that smaller companies get boards pressed at the same factories (i heard that the majority of the world`s boards are made it one of 4 different factories, but that is heresay) I would be interested in knowing just what your friend makes. Link to post Share on other sites
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