A Sorry Day in the world of camping

I was in Freedom last month, and they told me they were closing down. It is a pity, because their product was fantastic. I also own a Freedom tent, 5 years old, and going strong. I checked out Southern Cross, and all the others, and chose this one because I liked the attached fly, and they had a special on for the 4 x 4 show at Jeffs shed. Been up to Cape York, Gale force winds in Whyalla, S.A., and had it up by Walhalla on Grand Final day. Rained 50mm the night before, and 35mm that night. Was dry inside, with the exception of muddy footprints from my son. Great product, and I won't be passing it on any time soon.

Cheers,

Ken

I phoned my local distributor yesterday and apparently Freedom is going to be taken over by someone and they will continue trading. They will reduce the model range considerably, but at least they are to continue! :)

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Originally Posted by incisor

evolution

adapt or die

goodnight mr darwin...

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Sounds like something straight out of the animal kingdom!

How thoughtful, wonder if anyone on here will have same view should the GFC ever impact on your business.

:(:(:(

Its easy to blame the GFC for everything but to do this is wrong in the vast majoriy of cases.

The fact is cheap imports and high wages paid to Australian workers compared to a worker in India or China is the reason why many Aussie businesses are in trouble. This was always going to get worse with the ever increasing amount of imports, GFC or not.

We all look for and expect bargains, so we are all causing things like this to happen.

Terry

I heard about this too with some sadness.

About a year ago I went to Freedom in the city and notices Ray's Outdoors had opend a place about 3 doors down. Typical big firm attitude to little fella competition. Build next door and starve them out. Doesn't matter if the general public loses out with the cheap rubbish.

We bought our first Freedom tent about 1989, a big family one. My sister in law and her young family still use that tent every year. Still as good as new.

The problem is, it will put young families off camping if all they can buy is leaky, short lasting tents out of China. Their children will not experience the joys of waking up to the sounds of the bush or the waves, the clean air and sleeping close to the earth that sustains us all.

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Originally Posted by TerryO

Its easy to blame the GFC for everything but to do this is wrong in the vast majoriy of cases.

The fact is cheap imports and high wages paid to Australian workers compared to a worker in India or China is the reason why many Aussie businesses are in trouble. This was always going to get worse with the ever increasing amount of imports, GFC or not.

We all look for and expect bargains, so we are all causing things like this to happen.

Terry

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Agree, however when time are tough, luxury items suffer first and essentials take priority.
The current labour gov is pushing wages up so small business simply can't compete so either shuts shop or imports as said above.

Here in Australia we are so sheltered from what is happening in the rest of the world.

People are spraying their lawns green in America to make them look alive and healthy so potential buyers from overseas or locals will buy them.
Their water has either been cut off or they simply can not afford it or the banks have taken possesion and are doing quick fix up.

The GFC is there but in everyday living we do not notice it.
Bigger business feels the pinch and construction ha come to almost standstill as banks will no longer lend.
Sure schools are getting make overs etc due to Gov incentives but that is a false sense of security as in 12-18 months time that too will stop and the Gov is hoping business confidence will be back and money will flow again.
The good times we have all experienced the last ten years will never ever be repeated.

Its very sad to see that to buy quality equipment is getting so much harder because of cheap imports, it makes me very sad.
Soon there will probably be tents that we simply leave at each camp site and after 4 weeks they turn to mulch.

I love buying quality, I always aid- A poor man pays twice-

I bought a Land Rover because of their original mission statement that you buy a Land Rover for life and everything just un-bolts and new bits fit straight back on.

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Originally Posted by big guy

Agree, however when time are tough, luxury items suffer first and essentials take priority.
The current labour gov is pushing wages up so small business simply can't compete so either shuts shop or imports as said above.

Here in Australia we are so sheltered from what is happening in the rest of the world.

People are spraying their lawns green in America to make them look alive and healthy so potential buyers from overseas or locals will buy them.
Their water has either been cut off or they simply can not afford it or the banks have taken possesion and are doing quick fix up.

The GFC is there but in everyday living we do not notice it.
Bigger business feels the pinch and construction ha come to almost standstill as banks will no longer lend.
Sure schools are getting make overs etc due to Gov incentives but that is a false sense of security as in 12-18 months time that too will stop and the Gov is hoping business confidence will be back and money will flow again.
The good times we have all experienced the last ten years will never ever be repeated.

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I don't want to do a hi-jack here.. but telling an American citizen all is good is like telling a woman childbirth doesn't hurt. Things are far more messed up out there than anyone here is saying and it will come to our shores.

Anyway, our Freedom rocks :)

I have been chasing a sidepole kit for my northern tourer. Apparently Freedom is still definitely closing down in March now, so if you want any bits you should phone them directly NOW.

They have another batch of sidepoles so looks like we'll be ok. :)