Callaway Golf Restructuring

[JB]

not a single ping club is made here? that might be worthy of it's own thread too

I knew the metal woods, and multi-metal irons were being made overseas (I guess that's all the current clubheads, leaving I guess putters and classic clubs still in production still being made in AZ? )

is Ping assembling outside of the USA as well?

It was a typo, I was referring to the woods and hybrids.

[C-Tech]

Business flows towards the lowest cost producer since consumers demand low cost goods with high value. I understand the human misery this shift toward offshore manufacturing causes to the workers who are displaced. On the other hand, the fastest growing consumer markets in the world are in China and India. Those manufacturing jobs being moved to those countries are creating demand and there are opportunities for American workers to take advantage of these new markets. We just have to figure out how. It will take some time and there will be more misery for individuals as this shift continues, but it is not necessarily a bad thing for our economy in the long run. I know that is little consolation for the guy worried about feeding his family when his plant closes, but it is a reality we have to face and try to bend to our advantage.

[HoosierGolfer]

not a single ping club is made here? that might be worthy of it's own thread too

I knew the metal woods, and multi-metal irons were being made overseas (I guess that's all the current clubheads, leaving I guess putters and classic clubs still in production still being made in AZ? )

is Ping assembling outside of the USA as well?

No. Pings (at least for the US market) are assembled in the US. It is all good with me. As they say....it is what it is.
As much as anything, I'm loyal to my course owning PGA Professional who has decided after nearly 20 years to drop Callaway. I buy all of my golf equipment from him because he is a friend first and a small dealer second and he needs the support. I also get much better prices through him than I can at a big box store like Golfsmith or Golfgalaxy. Ping's are very well made and they have super customer service and they fit my game and style of play. Callaway has been getting my money for a long time and I'm ready to try something new. Politics aside, I always say buy and play what you like and I know I'll be happy with Ping.

[HoosierGolfer]

Business flows towards the lowest cost producer since consumers demand low cost goods with high value. I understand the human misery this shift toward offshore manufacturing causes to the workers who are displaced. On the other hand, the fastest growing consumer markets in the world are in China and India. Those manufacturing jobs being moved to those countries are creating demand and there are opportunities for American workers to take advantage of these new markets. We just have to figure out how. It will take some time and there will be more misery for individuals as this shift continues, but it is not necessarily a bad thing for our economy in the long run. I know that is little consolation for the guy worried about feeding his family when his plant closes, but it is a reality we have to face and try to bend to our advantage.

Very well said. Painful but true.

[BigLeftyinAZ]

I'm still wondering,If I'll ever see that set of special ordered Diablo Forged irons with PX shafts?Ordered them way back in march and still on back order?Just fantastic

[HoosierGolfer]

I'm still wondering,If I'll ever see that set of special ordered Diablo Forged irons with PX shafts?Ordered them way back in march and still on back order?Just fantastic

I think I would be burning up their phone lines and asking for a refund.

[JRod]

I'm still wondering,If I'll ever see that set of special ordered Diablo Forged irons with PX shafts?Ordered them way back in march and still on back order?Just fantastic

Ick that sucks.

[Sunday_Hacker]

ouch not good

I'm still wondering,If I'll ever see that set of special ordered Diablo Forged irons with PX shafts?Ordered them way back in march and still on back order?Just fantastic

[BigLeftyinAZ]

I think I would be burning up their phone lines and asking for a refund.

Already gave customer refund and he bought 09 Burners.Gave him refund 21 days after order was placed

[TwoSolitudes]

The 'race to the bottom' continues. I bet they keep getting tax breaks after the move as well. Corporations have no national loyalties or priorities, people seem to forget that. They should be hit with import duties and be excluded from any tax breaks so that the move ends up making the products more expensive or at least the same as they would have been if they stayed. But there is just no effort being made to protect good paying jobs in any industry.

Anyway they are a strong enough brand that they will survive well in Mexico paying people next to nothing. Expect the rest to follow to even cheaper places (Cambodia? Vietnam? Indonesia). Soon clubs will all cost 1.99 at Wallmart, but the US will have 50% unemployment!

[HoosierGolfer]

The 'race to the bottom' continues. I bet they keep getting tax breaks after the move as well. Corporations have no national loyalties or priorities, people seem to forget that. They should be hit with import duties and be excluded from any tax breaks so that the move ends up making the products more expensive or at least the same as they would have been if they stayed. But there is just no effort being made to protect good paying jobs in any industry.

Anyway they are a strong enough brand that they will survive well in Mexico paying people next to nothing. Expect the rest to follow to even cheaper places (Cambodia? Vietnam? Indonesia). Soon clubs will all cost 1.99 at Wallmart, but the US will have 50% unemployment!

MacGregor and Wilson were once king. Both are still here but no longer the powers they once were. I see the same thing happening to Callaway.

[JB]

MacGregor and Wilson were once king. Both are still here but no longer the powers they once were. I see the same thing happening to Callaway.

I wouldnt compare Wilson to being at the bottom. They still sell the largest amount of complete sets (beginner sets), and the Wilson Staff brand is going strong. The biggest golf brand in the world is now Taylormade (passed Titleist because of sale of Cobra) and they ship out almost everything.

But like I said, shoes, apparel, balls, accessories, it is all done, because the consumer demands it the cost savings. We want to have our cake and eat it too.

[HoosierGolfer]

I wouldnt compare Wilson to being at the bottom. They still sell the largest amount of complete sets (beginner sets), and the Wilson Staff brand is going strong. The biggest golf brand in the world is now Taylormade (passed Titleist because of sale of Cobra) and they ship out almost everything.

But like I said, shoes, apparel, balls, accessories, it is all done, because the consumer demands it the cost savings. We want to have our cake and eat it too.

I agree. I know Wilson is doing fair these days but still not like the days when they and MacGregor were king. I just see Callaways market share falling even further and I know the sales rep for my home course is worried about the future.
They are killing the small dealers with the release of of these cheaper "NG" or "R" lines of irons like X-18 and X-20's. They will not let their dealers have these clubs, only the discount houses. The sales rep says there is a huge shippment of the "NG" version of the X-22's on the way soon and that will hurt the small dealers with the "real" X-22's still on the rack. It has become a sorry state of affairs fro sure. I love new clubs, but I just can't afford $499 drivers and $899 iron sets. Maybe if Callaway would drop Phils $8 million a year sponsorship, they could find a way to drop prices. He made $61 million this year. I'm sure he could live with a little pay cut like the rest of us.

[JB]

I agree. I know Wilson is doing fair these days but still not like the days when they and MacGregor were king. I just see Callaways market share falling even further and I know the sales rep for my home course is worried about the future.
They are killing the small dealers with the release of of these cheaper "NG" or "R" lines of irons like X-18 and X-20's. They will not let their dealers have these clubs, only the discount houses. The sales rep says there is a huge shippment of the "NG" version of the X-22's on the way soon and that will hurt the small dealers with the "real" X-22's still on the rack. It has become a sorry state of affairs fro sure. I love new clubs, but I just can't afford $499 drivers and $899 iron sets. Maybe if Callaway would drop Phils $8 million a year sponsorship, they could find a way to drop prices. He made $61 million this year. I'm sure he could live with a little pay cut like the rest of us.

You have to remember that when they were king, there was less competition. And while the small dealers are getting hurt, marketshare is created with the huge stores unfortunately.

And I will say it again, they JUST dropped prices. Their latest set of irons came out at $699 and they just dropped the prices of their entire driver line!

Im also not sure why they would have a huge shipment of the X-22 NG version coming out when they already replaced the line with the X-24s. Maybe the rest of the pallets left over. But they are already a discontinued club due to being replaced in the line.

[HoosierGolfer]

There has been a couple of people who brought in their "NG" versions of X0-20's to my course wanting our pro to send in the irons because of quality issues. One guy tried to have his adjusted and they cracked the hosel one two irons. The place where he bought them wouldn't help him, so he wanted our pro to help him. Our pro felt that because he is not allowed to sell these "HG" versions, he was under no obligation to contact Callaway or send them back for the guy.
This stuff puts the little dealer in a bad situation with the consumers who buys these irons not knowing they are not as good as the real irons. It is a situation Callaway has created so now they must sleep in this bed.