Although I've never actually investigated whether any kite MANUFACTURERS sell anchors or include them with kite purchases (like they do with pumps), my impression is that NONE do so.
Since it seems that anchors come close to making users into apparently INDEPENDENT kiters and kite manufacturers undoubtedly know that
being able to RELIABLY self launch and land REASONABLY SAFELY is a highly desirable feature which increases marketability and kite value, a manufacturer could easily gain a significant competitive advantage by spending less than the cost of a pump and including an anchor (or 2) with their kites. And of course they could also sell them as accessories.
If it is true that kite manufacturers are neglecting to make their products more marketable and profitable, I wonder why.
POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS:
1. Plain stupidity.
2. They don't want the extra effort.
3. They don't need more profits.
4. They want kiters to be dependent on each other.
5. They deliberately make their kites difficult to safely self launch and land because they secretly own the anchor manufacturers and this way they can keep 2 profitable industries going.
6. They're actually a complacent and happy cartel where no member wants to be mean to the others by getting a competitive advantage.
7. OR, since it's likely that kite manufacturers are somewhat more knowledgeable about their products than their typical customer,
maybe THEY KNOW SOMETHING we don't know. For example, maybe they know that the risk of something going seriously wrong is high enough so that there is an excessive risk that they might be held liable for damages resulting from INJURIES caused while their anchor was being used.
If anyone has some additional possible explanations, I hope they post them.
Of course, it would be much more helpful to hear some MANUFACTURERS' explanations and/or opinions. If it was true that they had some reason(s) to believe that anchor use was noticeably risky, by sharing this information, their CUSTOMERS would be better educated and able to make a more informed choice as to whether to continue using anchors. After all, the potential problems can't be so severe as to cause the loss of a sale or 2 to foil manufacturers or we would have heard about anchor accidents.
Richard M.
Malibu Kitesurfing - since 2002
(310) - 430 - KITE (5483)
http://www.MalibuKitesurfing.NET
kfRichard@MalibuKitesurfing.NET
