Custom Bats Cricket Forum

Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: Kaz092 on February 17, 2012, 07:22:53 PM

Title: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: Kaz092 on February 17, 2012, 07:22:53 PM
Hey Guys

Just wondering if anyone has heard of these guys or dealt with them Ive attached the website link, Prices look amazing but do these guys deliver ??

http://willowbats.webs.com/apps/webstore/

Any feedback would be appreciated

Thanks in advance

Kaz
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: Simmy on February 17, 2012, 07:24:53 PM
the bats look like big bats from msr
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: Ayrtek Cricket on February 17, 2012, 07:25:27 PM
The lack of physical address listed on the website or Contact number doesn't ooze confidence to me
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: Kaz092 on February 17, 2012, 07:29:07 PM
The lack of physical address listed on the website or Contact number doesn't ooze confidence to me

I've sent them a few emails had a response from a guy called Peter Johnson who sent me pics of what he could offer and said if I was not happy he would offer me a full refund

Asked if i could visit the factory but couldnt as it was in an industrial estate and branded a "risk" as the neighbours use HGVs so not safe for the public, hence they are looking to move premises

But to be honest £155 for a grade a+ custom made with a full money back guarantee does seem like a great deal
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: tommo256 on February 17, 2012, 07:31:56 PM
sounds very iffy to me, they haven't named any of the county players they sponsor either
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: Kaz092 on February 18, 2012, 03:08:15 PM
Is that it lads no one got anything to add ??

Was hoping for a better response lol
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: tim2000s on February 18, 2012, 03:48:12 PM
it is the internet. If it seems to good to be true, it usually is.
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: Ayrtek Cricket on February 18, 2012, 03:49:40 PM
seriously......i wouldnt go anywhere near a company that doesnt list any physical address or landline number if handing over my hard earned money. Also a story about HGV's meaning you cant come and look around to see whats on offer sounds very far fetched!!!

very easy to have a website as a front for someone who stores the bats in a back bedroom and imports them from asia.....which will pocket them a tidy margin on your £155 for an A+ bat grade that doesnt actually exist!!

Cant see what other advice you would require
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: acko109 on February 22, 2012, 03:02:30 PM
Ive just recieved mine from them today .. thought id take a punt it feels pretty decent although there are a few blemishes on the bat like .. but cant complain for 110 if its not up to scratch itl be a net bat
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: petehosk on February 22, 2012, 03:08:18 PM
You must surely realise by now what the next two words will be..............

Pictures Please!
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: tbarnfield99 on February 22, 2012, 03:10:17 PM
This guy sells fake stickered bats on eBay. Seen this web address in one of his listings, will see if I can find it again. They seem very dodgy IMO.
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: acko109 on February 22, 2012, 03:13:01 PM
Can i email one of you the stickers? for you to put up ?
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: acko109 on February 22, 2012, 06:47:52 PM
Ive sent some stickers to barnfield when it was plain just put some gray nics on and got too say it does look rather nice .. ill get back to you all about how it plays Cheers dave
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: tbarnfield99 on February 23, 2012, 03:48:20 PM
Will put them up when I get home. School computers have so many filters on it's unreal!
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: Burdy on February 23, 2012, 04:02:28 PM
the bats look like big bats from msr

Agreed, i have looked at alot of the MSR, and alot of the photo's are taken on a snooker table and i am guessing that there are 2 of these photo's being used.
I have also seen on their 'photo's', there is a photo of someone i am sure i reconise looking at cricket bats in a shop. Bit missleading if you ask me.
But, if you take a punt and are happy with what you get, then heyho!
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: acko109 on February 23, 2012, 05:12:39 PM
Yeah thats how i looked at it like if its not great then its a net bat .. to be honest it looks pretty sweet now its stickered up and off the mallet its pretty good so ill give it a whirl at nets on sunday and get back to you all
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: acko109 on February 26, 2012, 02:19:09 PM
Just gave the bat a 10 minute net .. have to say the middle is pretty sweet  but still early days
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: cityfan449 on March 18, 2012, 07:29:16 PM
Just received 2 gade a +bats from them and they both look the biz.£210 for 2 grade a+ bats cant beat that. :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: Talisman on March 18, 2012, 10:54:11 PM
Scammer, that site is so full of crap, I echo earlier comments about there being no such grade as a+, plus all the photo's used are nicked, plus the comments page is all written by the same guy, plus they claim to be supplying over 10% of all the Pro's in the country....

Sorry but that is a huge con and you've just joined the forum and posting praise sticks.
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: Laver & Wood on March 18, 2012, 11:41:10 PM
Having just had a look through the website I would be very wary.  The photo near the bottom of the News page - http://willowbats.webs.com/apps/blog/ - is from our workshop here in New Zealand!

It's safe to say that we definitely have nothing to do with this organisation!!
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: acko109 on March 20, 2012, 02:01:35 PM
Ive purchased from them .. and although i had my initial worries i cant be anymore happy than what i recieved and the customer service was great.. but i do agree that its not the Soundest website in the world
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: Simmy on March 20, 2012, 02:04:37 PM
i am 80% sure they are msr bats :)

go like rockets very dry and (No Swearing Please) handles lol
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: charlie15 on March 20, 2012, 02:23:41 PM
I wouldn't go anywhere near them, no number, no address and no company registration number.  The other thing that sets alarm bells ringing is the testimonials, I work in marketing so I know a thing or two about testimonials and these are all to alike, plus anyone with half a brain would want to use the names of their star signings, it doesn't make sense to keep them anonymous especially due to "marketing contract."

The other thing that concerned me was this "We do not refund you your money if you have used the bat and broken it yourself, all our bats are of exceptional quality and will only break if you are using a cheap ball or have not timed the ball well." Now correct me if I'm wrong, but a how are they going to know if you've misstimed a shot (unless it comes with a hidden camera - now there's an idea) and also are not bats designed to be able to withstand the odd misstimed shot?
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: Red Ink Cricket on March 20, 2012, 02:29:02 PM
sounds like a bunch of jokers. just because a bat is of exceptional quality doesnt stop it breaking. its wood, its natural. it can break at anytime regardless of the quality. i feel sorry for the 600 people who have purchased since January.

i also like the fact they use pictures from other sites, laver and wood, and DCS. take some originals or atleast remove the other branding!
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: The_Bird on March 20, 2012, 02:32:05 PM
Surely a bat company or any company in general would offer a replacement/repair/refund as a guarantee it's product is up to the standards it's intended for??

Could this be the Russian roulette of bats, mistime just one shot and your bat breaks. I doubt even Sachin or Bradman could meet that standard.
Title: Re: ANYONE HEARD OF WILLOWBATS ??????
Post by: acko109 on March 21, 2012, 06:27:09 PM
Aparantly they and laver use the same cleft source .. and the pictures on there website are stock photos . His words when i quizzed him