Message
par coolas » lun. juin 14, 2021 6:31 am
First, I am not part of the Gong team. I have been actively following them for more than 10 years however, so I can share some knowledge on how Gong operates. This is not a statement on their part, not reflect their current position, just some background external info gathered during the years.
Second, if customers want a product, it would be silly not to sell it to them. Gong is not reducing production just on a whim. Building thousands of boards is a constant production challenge, even more in these covid times, where a shortage of a resin can prevent FCS to provide fin boxes for months, and then prevent Gong to produce boards. Same at some time with the shortage of zippers for the bags, etc...
Third, Patrice is constantly in creative mode (but he cannot focus on everything at the same time, some time it is on SUP, or surf, or kites, or wings, or foils, ...), so advances (and tests) happen in random times, just like for all creative activities. And when he is satisfied ona good enhacement on a design, what can he do? just wait till next year models, or offer it immediately? Gong chose to make innovations immediately available, and they gained fiercely loyal customers this way. For instance, there would have been no way for us heavyweight to enjoy the insanely fun world of sub-7' SUPs if Gong hadn't existed. Even if this meant that some models stayed available only 3 months because the state of the art was progressing so fast.
Fourth, Gong had been burned a lot by unreliable factories (mostly their unreliable managers). I personally pre-ordered a model (Electric 911 L), and waited... 18 months for it to be finally cancelled, as the Tunisian factory just promised them but never delivered them, and Gong had to go to China for production. And factories went bankrupt, or their manager fled with the money, or employees fled bad management, etc... sh*t happens constantly. If you are only producing 10 boards a week, it is not the same world.
And Believe me, I prefer A LOT not being able to order than ordering a board and then being told each month that it will be coming the next week... for months, even years (as I experienced with other brands than Gong). If you cannot order, it is clearer, you can find solution elsewhere if you have constraints, such as an upcoming trip.
2019: 7'3" Fatal 105L, Alley 7'8" 105L & 8'1" 120L, Zero 9'0" 115L
2022: Mob 7'6" cool 120L, Alleys custom 7'10" 112L & 8'1" 114L
2023: Karmen custom 7'11" 118L
Surf: 9'1" XTR proto glider