Blame Trump's tariffs?
Tough days, these, for United States of Americans. Once a gilded economic wonderland, the past few years have seen skyrocketing inflation, stagnant or declining incomes and the potential for major doll and pencil shortages under Trump’s tariff seesaw. While many brands and companies have attempted to, at least, put forward sensitive messaging, feeling the consumer’s pain etc., the surf forecasting giant Surfline is allegedly not one of them.
The lid was blown right off the predatory scheme on Reddit where a US user shared news of Surfline’s most recent price increase, sharing, “Craziest move they made yet, they already get 99% of their forecasts wrong and now an upcharge? I can’t find any excuses to keep paying for this app. Not worth my money and effort to keep using this app.”
Well, global Surfline users came swinging in, shocked at the whopping $120 a year (up from $99) that Yankees pay. Australians, for example, pay $50 USD per year, Britons $46 USD and New Zealanders $56 USD. The more than double bill for the same access to the same cameras, forecasts had those in the forum scratching heads.
“Hey man they’re having to pay tariffs on all their imported waves, they can’t help it,” one opined.
Are they physically creating the waves for you in the USA?” another wondered.
Frustration quickly boiled over and the comment section soon became a safe space for the economically abused.
A sampling:
Giving me day old cam footage was the end for me. The current footage wasn’t very useful anyway, but the total corporate dick move of buying up all the local cams then giving day old footage was enough to make me boycott. I literally just go directly to the buoy from NOAA now. It’s better data anyway.
Thanks for canceling. They count the number of people who cancel and the number who just pay. That’s how they learn how much they can get away with. You are doing your part! I will do mine when my yearly renew comes up.
They’re pulling a Netflix on you
Hey. Let’s all cancel. I’ll start. Site blows anyway.
Literally the only value they add is cameras. I feel like this group puts too much importance on access to cameras. Just read the free forecasts and go when you think it will be good. If it’s not as good as you thought, oh well. At least you got a good workout.
Etc.
Kelly Slater even made a surprise appearance with one frustrated soul announcing, “Fuk Surflies and Slater !
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‘Long periods short periods variable winds in my lower pressure system’ talking like a meteorologist surfing like a clown.
Fuck surf cams. And I say this as someone who will occasionally dally on a free one to see conditions with little expectation of having the opportunity go get wet at that particular time.
They’ve fucking ruined far too many spots.
Haven’t actually visited the site in years, it used to be a daily go to…
If Surline says its 2 foot I wax up my rhino chaser.
New cam, forecast & report site in NZ that is less than half the price of Surfline. It’s pretty good
https://www.goodsurfnow.co.nz
Been sponging Surfline off a friend since like 2017. I am immune to price hikes on this “service”!
BTW that last comment wasn’t me. Don’t care about either
Ahaaaa
So in fact you’ve inadvertently been affected by EVERYTHING Surfline has ever done, or you wouldn’t be “often scoring alone when the ‘forecasters’ say it’s flat” etc…
Haha busted
Surfline is to blame for the overcrowding and lack of the surfer spirit.
some of my best memories in California and other parts of the world were the search road trips.
helped to know how to read a map and have knowledge of swell direction and weather systems.
Always had a cooler of coldies in the truck to share with the locals, post surf.
Great way to make friends and get phone numbers so you had someone to call for a surf report, or to call when your local was firing.
good times even if you got skunked….and that’s why I have a bygone days badge.
The skunks made the scores that much sweeter!
And no answers!
I had a buddy who lived oceanfront. RJs. I lived across PCH. I would call him every morning and he would often BS me about conditions to get me to surf with him. The original Surfline.
I used to live at RJ’s, and had a friend that lived on the other side of PCH who would call me to get the surf report.
I used to suck on my Mom’s titties when I was a baby. Still do!
sounds like some weird Norman Bates type thing
all time favorite!!
Was there also a lot of INXS on the Walkman throuout the 80s?
That’s cos all Americans (especially those in the Southwesern bit) know there’s only one place to get a real surf report.
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And a great meeting place too, for quiet political discussions OR food and drink contests…
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P.S.
Who here reckons Chas went there once but never returned as he thought it seemed too low rent for someone who lives Encinitas adjacent ?
And who here reckons he’s never been there ever cos his wife told him not to, as it seemed too low rent for someone who lives Encinitas adjacent ?
Ha!
There you go far travellin’ southern hemi
So JP Currie and Jen See have left the building ?
I’m a “no to The Cure” kinda guy. Just one of those things. Growing up listening to music so far from that type resulted in a distaste for that band. My apologies to all the The Cure lovers out there but I can’t stand that band, singer, or music.
But how pretty sure?
That was pretty enigmatic chas. Maybe i’m just having a stupid day, but can’t make out the cure reference.
Eye gouging coming next. Jools and Tolly in their next meeting.
Yeah but think of all the money you are saving on FCS fins you can’t buy anymore. (Full Disclosure I am a Futures man)…. WINNNING!
Did anyone else in Oz get on that crazy fcs discount code recently? 50-70% off everything including fins pads leashes board bags accessories etc. I thought it was too good to be true so only got a couple of things but some mates stocked up with thousands of dollars of gear for less than cost price. All delivered within a few days. Was weird.
Its good to have extras since they fall out so easily.
Weird. I saw they announced they were going to stop selling to the U.S. because of tariffs but maybe there are bigger issues with their business
made in China , which is where the FCS product gets made….yeah business model to USA was sunk by tariffs….as is any surf business which makes products in china and sells to the USA.
But wait…this week donny folded and this week tariffs are less……but donny is in the ME picking up some $’s from the Saudi’s and Qatar…..hopefully that makes him feel richer….and tariifs to china might have shaken him as he ralizes he played a shitty hand!
Guy folds like a cheap suit everytime.