All Blacks jerseys snapped up at lower prices

A Rotorua store sold three new All Blacks jerseys in three hours after national retail chains cut their prices.

Stirling Sports and Rebel Sport are now selling the test version of the jersey for $149.99 and the Rugby World Cup version for $170, $50 less than the original recommended retail price.

The drop in replica jersey prices come after pressure was put on manufacturer Adidas as many New Zealanders reacted angrily after finding they could purchase jerseys overseas for almost half the price they could in New Zealand.

Stirling Sports manager Dean Katipa said it was a welcome sign from head office, which had been in negotiations with jersey manufacturers Adidas yesterday.

"Already the public have shown a warm response," Mr Katipa said. "It's good for everyone. We've sold three in three hours and that's good for a weekday."

Rotorua Rebel Sport manager John Burrell said a head office directive had instructed store managers not to comment to the media on the price or how many they had sold.

Nationally Rebel Sport said it was prepared to "take a hit" on the price of All Blacks jerseys and sell them at a reduced price to try to compete with cheap online prices - website www.worldrugby.com was listing the jerseys for $92.68.

Managing director Rod Duke said anyone who had bought the jersey at the previous price could get a Rebel Sport voucher for the price difference on production of their receipt. "We cannot have a situation where New Zealanders would pay more for All Black jerseys than almost any other country in the world."

Meanwhile in Whakatane, Sportsworld owner Tony Bonne and manager Blair Robinson decided to take a hit on the jerseys and drop the price to meet the online market.

Loyal customers had been apologising for choosing to buy the strip online. "Out of principle and out of loyalty to them, we agreed to take a loss and drop the cost to the public," Mr Robinson said. "Yesterday we had customers walking in, not to buy the jersey, but to tell us they were rapt with the decision we had made. When we decided to reduce the price if was definitely to look after our customers who have been shopping here for decades, but it now seems we have done something that has made the majority of the country happy."

By yesterday Whakatane Sportsworld had sold more than 300 jerseys.additional reporting NZPA