At a press conference today, Rebel Sport’s Managing Director Rod Duke announced the company will reduce the cost of the overpriced All Blacks replica jersey from $189.99 to just $149.50.
Here is a statement by Mr Duke:
“The Rugby World Cup is the biggest sporting event this country has ever hosted.
It’s my view that this is an event that every New Zealander has the right to share in.
These are exciting times for us all.
At Rebel Sport we know only too well that times are tough for many Kiwis.
We’ve always set out to make sporting goods readily available at prices that work for the average Kiwi household.
Imagine our dismay when we discovered that All Black rugby jerseys were available for a lower price online than in retail stores in this country. We happen to believe that this jersey belongs to the New Zealand rugby public. The NZRU are custodians on behalf of all of us and Adidas for the time being are the sponsors of this jersey. They don’t own it. We all do. We cannot have a situation where New Zealanders would pay more for All Black jerseys than almost any other country in the world. Quite frankly, this is an intolerable circumstance and we will not accept it.
Yesterday afternoon I met with Adidas in an attempt to convince them to reduce the price down to a level below the online price. They point blank refused to reduce the price by even one cent. I just don’t understand this position and have decided to make a stand for the benefit of the New Zealand sporting public.
I am here today to announce that Rebel Sport will, with immediate effect, reduce the price of the All Black replica players jersey from $189.99 to $149.50. (That is $130 pre GST.)Further, we have opted to reduce the price of the Rugby World Cup replica All Black jersey from $220 down to $170 (or $147.80 pre GST).
Adidas are in the process of delivering more stock to our stores. We’re inviting customers to purchase now, and if there’s no stock, to accept a rain check because stock will be in our stores by Saturday.
And for those customers who have purchased an All Black jersey from Rebel Sport before this price reduction, we will issue a Rebel Sport gift voucher for the price difference as compensation upon presentation of a receipt. We want no one be disadvantaged.
I am confident that this price reduction, which is entirely funded by Rebel Sport, will enable thousands of kiwis to enjoy, what we all know, will be a wonderful rugby tournament.”
