Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Reviews => Topic started by: pumakid on August 06, 2010, 10:21:14 AM
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OK chaps just got my custom bat its a 2.12 gray nicolls powerbow there was an offer for the pro performance bats at headingly during the test for 150 quid so i ordered it, the bat looks very nice, 2 queries though...
1) it has a LE sticker on it , i was told byGN this is due to it being custom and that it is still of pro performance quality
2) there are a couple of small faint imperfections in the wood i was always under the impression that test quality bats have no marks at all pls see pics and thoughts thanks and by the way whilst knocking up with a ball it feels great
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g199/nadlad/My%20Car/Photo1691.jpg)
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g199/nadlad/My%20Car/Photo1690.jpg)
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g199/nadlad/My%20Car/Photo1689.jpg)
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g199/nadlad/My%20Car/Photo1688.jpg)
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g199/nadlad/My%20Car/Photo1687.jpg)
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g199/nadlad/My%20Car/Photo1685.jpg)
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g199/nadlad/My%20Car/Photo1684.jpg)
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g199/nadlad/My%20Car/Photo1683.jpg)
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g199/nadlad/My%20Car/Photo1682.jpg)
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g199/nadlad/My%20Car/Photo1681.jpg)
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Good offer in my opinion!
Did you select your own partmade cleft or did you give them your requirements and they did the rest?
I only ask as when i saw the offer, they had a bag full of part-mades and you could select the bat you will get made - this way there is less likelihood that the bat will reveal any imperfections as it has been pressed and sawn down already.
As long as it taps up well and feels right,then does it matter if it's got a bit of graping on the blade. It does look like a grade 2/3 cleft though based on cosmetics.
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Presumably you got to choose the cleft? GN were doing the same offer at Lords (I am aware of a forum member who took them up on the offer, on condition that GN found a better cleft for them). I like the stickers, so i wouldn't worry too much about them.
On a slightly different note, the graping you have, especially in the middle should really help the performance of the bat (I think) It might feel a little "quite" on the mallet, but the bat will really fly.
I agree with SS and am willing to suggest may not win an award for the prettiest bat but it will be a good go-er...
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As the forum member who took up the offer from Lords I'll let you know where I am at the moment.
I rejected all clefts at Lords, they were just average grade 1/2/3 clefts with nothing special available. I had a good chat with Alex about what I wanted and I said I would wait until the right cleft came along and have a Huge profile in 2.10 - 2.12 with a very large oval handle. I was expecting to wait until October for this as I was told I could have my choice of the 4 new ranges they were bringing out sticker wise. So I paid and forgot about it all.
Yesterday morning my bat came, I won't swear but it was a grade 2 Indian made plank, not a big profile in the slightest, a small round handle with an extra half grip on the bottom hand and weighed in at 2.14. I managed to avoid splintering it into 100 pieces on the driveway and instead took it to Robertsbridge, 164 miles away.....
I went into the office and asked to talk to someone about my bat I had received, I showed them the delivery note with my specifications on it and then the bat. The bat was inspected and pronounced a good looking bat and very big, "what is the problem?" was the reply, I had a large duffle bag with some examples of what I consider a big profile to be and despite the actual presence of bats twice the physical size of the GN being in front of him he couldn't see the problem. Thankfully he offered to get Alex for me before he felt the power of another brand square in his face. Alex thankfully managed to see that I was right and apologised for the offering and having looked at a M&H custom I got last week with the comment "Oh god, I was worried you would have something that big!!!" said he would get me some similar in size and beat a swift retreat.
I have this morning received an email from Alex confirming his intention to produce a bat to my spec's once he has a suitable cleft from the kiln and said that GN were working on producing bigger bats for low weights.
The bat sent to me would have been a 4 star grade at the very best straight off the shelf. I hope your Powerbow plays very well as you have again no more than a 4 star grade bat there which is £100 on the internet, not £150 which should get a true custom as per their offer.
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Good work mike! Dont know many people that would travel that far to make the point. It does seem to be something companies such as gn would do to sucker people in!
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I went to another factory afterwards so not a wasted journey.
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Yeah well hopefully you made your point so definately wouldn't have been wasted anyway! :)
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i been tryign to get hold of alex, everytime i ring hes either on te or lunch break, i doubt that the bat is a 4 star, there only very light imperfections, but i read on js wright website that a grade a willow will have perfect straight grains and no markings, although this bat does have the heartbeat strip i was just still a bit wary, i also ordered a 2.12 and on the handle it says 2.10
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Good offer in my opinion!
Did you select your own partmade cleft or did you give them your requirements and they did the rest?
I only ask as when i saw the offer, they had a bag full of part-mades and you could select the bat you will get made - this way there is less likelihood that the bat will reveal any imperfections as it has been pressed and sawn down already.
As long as it taps up well and feels right,then does it matter if it's got a bit of graping on the blade. It does look like a grade 2/3 cleft though based on cosmetics.
no mate i didnt choose any cleft they had a few clefts on display i just picked a pro performance up off the shelf and said i want this bat but thicker edges slightly bigger middle exact same test quality pro handle single grip and 2.12
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It may be 2'10 without the grip, face sheet, etc? So would be 2'12 with all the trimmings!
And not great willow but hopefully it will play on performance rather than cosmetics?
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stick it on you kitchen scales - but if this was a Solitaire, everyone would be up in arms for you, on that basis, if you aren't happy, you should send it back.
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If you do send it back, you can ask what standards they set for Limited Edition?
If I were buying a Redback LE, or any other LE standard bat, it wouldn't matter how much discount I was given - Limited Edition is generally top range and therefore should have a certain specification defined and using top nothc willow.
If I'm being honest, it doesn't look like top notch willow really fella.
But as I said, if it performs beautifully and goes like a train, then it doesn't matter!
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yeah but i dont think i could use it and return it and obtain a full refund
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GN are about the best when it comes to grading, remember they do not buy from JS Wrights and produce their own clefts, I would expect LE willow to be perfect, I was offered a choice of either perfect grains, 15+ dead straight blemish free or sheer size, I went for size and would not complain if I get it with 4 wonky grains.
I'll email you Alex email address, just tell him politely about any concerns or problems you have with it, I'm sure he will sort it as he seems a decent bloke.
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I don't like Gray-Nicolls, they've not done one thing to impress me. I've had two bats from them, both planks, a team-mate used his Nitro Carbo for 2/3s of a season scoring over 1000 runs with it and sent it back to them due to it breaking. Received a phone call from our local shop saying GN would not replace it because it's had too much use and he would have to pay £140 for a new one to which my friends reply was 'sorry for being good'.
Don't like GN one bit and never want a bat off them.
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I think i would have said the same as GN to be fair. A bat is expected to last 1000 runs plus nets if you are lucky, so i dont see what he expected them to do for him. It is a wooden bat and they are meant to break.
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Yeah it is a bit cheeky to expect a new bat after 100 runs over 2/3 year period, expecially a sit wasnt the top top one, even though they probably last for less time! Its a natural material and so is impossible to really guarentee!
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One of my team mates GN has some toe damage and he hasn't had that much use out of it!!
Anyone got the address I can send it to be repaired?
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http://www.gray-nicolls.co.uk/contact-us/
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i spoek to the guy at returns Gn and he said to me that the bat has been checked and ok'd by aalex and then sent on, however he says if u want a refund then u have to go through headlingly shop as the transaction was there, i was tryign to make the point that this does not seem to a pro performance bat, he said that it is and its impossible to get 2 tone willow with 14+ grains without slight blemishes and slightly wonky grains, he claims it is a natural product and that this is how it comes, he said he can also assure me that soem PP bats have slight blemishes on them even when given to pro players (lol).
he said i can send it to them and they can re check it and act accordingly but surely they wud of doen this before sending it out to them, ama goign to ring the shop now headingly one and see if they can swap this for a off the shelf PP bat i very much doubt but worth a go thanks
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Yeah it is a bit cheeky to expect a new bat after 100 runs over 2/3 year period, expecially a sit wasnt the top top one, even though they probably last for less time! Its a natural material and so is impossible to really guarentee!
Sorry mate he used it for two thirds of a season and got 987 runs with it.
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Just one thing Mr Talisman. I can't make out Alistair Cook's bat stickers, are they GN's 2011 stickers?
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i spoek to the guy at returns Gn and he said to me that the bat has been checked and ok'd by aalex and then sent on, however he says if u want a refund then u have to go through headlingly shop as the transaction was there, i was tryign to make the point that this does not seem to a pro performance bat, he said that it is and its impossible to get 2 tone willow with 14+ grains without slight blemishes and slightly wonky grains, he claims it is a natural product and that this is how it comes, he said he can also assure me that soem PP bats have slight blemishes on them even when given to pro players (lol).
he said i can send it to them and they can re check it and act accordingly but surely they wud of doen this before sending it out to them, ama goign to ring the shop now headingly one and see if they can swap this for a off the shelf PP bat i very much doubt but worth a go thanks
i suppose the question is whether it plays well enough to justify the £150 price? surely if it goes then it is worth keeping, rather than risk getting a pretty plank.
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Just one thing Mr Talisman. I can't make out Alistair Cook's bat stickers, are they GN's 2011 stickers?
'Oblivion' model
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yea well thats precisley it, all am after is a honest opinion, fromt he bat maker, no offence top u chaps but its hard to actually see from pics and make a decision on the bat, the guy Alex is a pro bat maker and is no mug so he must of thought yep this is PP quality and sent it on, hence why i think sendign it back to them makes no use at all, i think the guy does sound and talk honest so he will be able to give me a proper answer, it may just be that there are small blemishes but there not goign to affect the performance of this , so ill wait and see cheers guys.
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I guess you could always see how it plays?
Knock it in properly and take it to the nets. Should be able to feel and see how the bat goes pretty much immediately before you use it alot. Then if it's not good, then sling it on fleabay? ;)
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also the weight i think, its 2oz lighter than you wanted! but if your happy with that and it goes then why not keep it!!!
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'Oblivion' model
Cheers
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also the weight i think, its 2oz lighter than you wanted! but if your happy with that and it goes then why not keep it!!!
lol INIT!!!! the guy at returns GN said to me by the time you put the stickers 1 grip yes i repeat 1 grip and toe guard it adds to the weight of the bat, in my head i was thinking mateave got a degree in civil engineering how can that make up for .2lbs of weight!!!! a sticker toe guard and a grip.
still the balance and pick up is excellent i sent a email to lex see what he says, if he says its a genuine PP bat, then am afraid i prob wont buy again from Gn, wrong stickers, wrong weight no grip, plus blemishes after been promised a immaculate bat, i also did run this through him at each interval of the days play. i miss my paki CA bat now should of kept it.
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Bloke at my club got one from lords... big profile but piss poor willow for an le model.
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i want my ca plus 10000 back that was ten times the bat this is ......arnie pm me lets do a deal on a 10000LE
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Appears alex has signed up to forum
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Saw that Leo
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Under the name......
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just bough this off arnie to hell with Gn i knew i shud of never trusted a english brand...
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j110/armughan123/CA%20BATS/P1020232.jpg
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just bough this off arnie to hell with Gn i knew i shud of never trusted a english brand...
That's a bit of a sweeping statement fella! There are some beauties to be had....both English and Asian!
Look at Black Cat, Talisman, Newbery, SAF, Charlie French, and lots of others!
And actually my Captain has 2 GN bats that are both trains!
Ok - you have a problem with the cosmetics of this bat! It doesn't look like any 'Limited Edition' I have seen...but that doesn't mean that it won't play beautifully.
I would suggest that if Alex is a member on this forum, send him a (polite) PM and tell him your concerns?
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I spent my own money with GN because I know they can make a great bat, but not one single specification of mine was ticked so I was very annoyed but rather than giving up I asked face to face for my specifications to be met. I trust Alex will make me the bat we agreed on at Lords and again at Robertsbridge, I actually don't believe he was responsible for the bat that was sent to me as the enclosed sheet had other names on it other than his.
I'm giving him and GN a chance to prove themselves in my eyes, mistakes happen, it how you go about dealing with them that matters.
I've bought GN before as stated here and elsewhere that I believe they have the fairest grading system about so lets see it in action when my new bat comes.
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na i tried that and its (no swearing please)
Hi Nadeem,
Alex has seen the email and I have discussed the matter with him, but as it is a Returns matter and Alex does not work within this department he will not reply to you directly.
We can only resolve the matter if the returns procedure is followed, no action can be pre-determined by email/phone communication, as explained at length on the phone.
If the bat is wrongly graded then we will not have any problem swapping it for another bat. I have spoken to Alex and as far as he can recall the bat was as specified (narrow grain, two tone wood) and he feels the blade has a very strong middle, to verify it as otherwise it has to be examined here.
Kind Regards, Richard
________________________________________
From: Nadeem Sadiq [mailto:nadeemsadiq1984@gmail.com]
Sent: 06 August 2010 16:32
To: Returns
Subject: RE: Powerbow Custom Order ----2.12 pro handle /octopus grip pre prep/ [Scanned]
Can u just forward this email on to him i just want his view and a reply thanks.
From: Returns [mailto:Returns@grays-int.co.uk]
Sent: 06 August 2010 15:46
To: 'nadeemsadiq1984@gmail.com'
Subject: RE: Powerbow Custom Order ----2.12 pro handle /octopus grip pre prep/ [Scanned]
Hi Nadeem,
Thank you for trying to contact Alex. Unfortunately he is unavailable for contact at the moment. We cannot assess the bat or pre determine an offer of action from an email or phone call.
As discussed on the phone please return the bat to the Headingley shop or send it direct to us with a covering letter. The links below explain our returns policy/procedure in more detail.
http://www.gray-nicolls.co.uk/returns-procedure/
http://www.gray-nicolls.co.uk/help/
I hope the above is of some help. If you need any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us.
Kind Regards, Richard Brownbill
Returns and Repairs Dept Manager
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BAT NOW FOR SALE IF ANYONE IS INTRESTED
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Who is Nadeem?
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BAT NOW FOR SALE IF ANYONE IS INTRESTED
I have spoken to Alex, and it seems that your bat was not as nice cosmtically as he would have liked, but it's a belter.
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pumakid?
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Appears alex has signed up to forum
Under the name......
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am not alex am nad i know olly just use his account coz hes a close mate when did u speak to alex i know he said to me in the email its a belter too but i just prefer the bow and arch of a CA,
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Nad - care to enlighten us as to the Yorkshire player this bat was made for......as far as i know, this bat was made for you!!
- http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GRAY-NICOLLS-POWERBOW-PRO-PERFORMANCE-LIMITED-EDITION-/180543844105?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_SportingGoods_CricketBats_SM&hash=item2a09406f09
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Are there any honest eBayers out there?
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what a crook!
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Good work detective Shilly!!!
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You could of been honest and say you didnt like what you had received, Let alone trying to make a large profit on the item.
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oh get real mate big deal i said for a yorkshire player so what? and whos rattled ure cage detective? if it helps sell the bat then thats my benifit, and dont start on the price mate ofcourse am gonna sell it for more only a numpty would not try and sell a bat more look at the retailers on here are u now gonna have a crack at them fpr selling bats for more than the factory price.
if you got a problem sherlock keep it to yourself theres no need to ruin threads the pics are there the proof of the quality is here, anf fyi there is a current yorkshire player at my club who i showed the bat to who was intrsted in a swap.
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I suggest you get this guy off your account before you get banned by admins Pumakid
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oh get real mate big deal i said for a yorkshire player so what? and whos rattled ure cage detective? if it helps sell the bat then thats my benifit, and dont start on the price mate ofcourse am gonna sell it for more only a numpty would not try and sell a bat more look at the retailers on here are u now gonna have a crack at them fpr selling bats for more than the factory price.
if you got a problem sherlock keep it to yourself theres no need to ruin threads the pics are there the proof of the quality is here, anf fyi there is a current yorkshire player at my club who i showed the bat to who was intrsted in a swap.
That statment shows what you are doing is completly wrong, Yes the pics show the quality, Poor one at that, Most of the bat makers on here sell for £150 to £200 and the quality would be alot better than that GN, But to say you showed it to a county player and he liked the feel, I could say i showed a paid of spikes to a magazine cut out of Brian Lara and say i didnt have any complaints, I wont advertise it in an ebay advert,
You dislike the bat so much, But would prefer to make a profit rather than sell for the money you paid so you can make sure you wont lose out,
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anf fyi there is a current yorkshire player at my club who i showed the bat to who was intrsted in a swap.
Then you need to swap it with him, and remove it from ebay. This forum is for people that are mainly fair and honest.
We don't like fake stickers, or people getting blank bats and stickering them up and selling them as something they are not.
We also don't like people who do not pay for the stuff they buy. Or people who do not send the gear that has been purchased off them.
In short, we like to think that most people on this forum have a certain level of fairness and morality - and as such will try to be fair with others. By your actions on ebay, it seems obvious that you don't have too much in the way of morals, as you are more than happy to try to get £100 on top and add lies to the description - and what's more you seem to not even show any regret when doing this! I think it's the attitude that is showing through!
Do you even care that you are in danger of getting your mate (who's account you are using) is in danger of getting a ban for this behaviour?
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That statment shows what you are doing is completly wrong, Yes the pics show the quality, Poor one at that, Most of the bat makers on here sell for £150 to £200 and the quality would be alot better than that GN, But to say you showed it to a county player and he liked the feel, I could say i showed a paid of spikes to a magazine cut out of Brian Lara and say i didnt have any complaints, I wont advertise it in an ebay advert,
You dislike the bat so much, But would prefer to make a profit rather than sell for the money you paid so you can make sure you wont lose out,
Ave never said i dislike the bat i said its not for my style its not what i expected it to be, so why cant i sell it on for profit, ave not tried to rip nobody on here, the price of the bat i far below the price of a PP so i dont know what your goign on about, i wa ssold this bat as a PP bat so i can sell it in line with Pp bats what is your problem about this?
your spikes examples is surreal, were talkign about a bat here which he knocked up with he compared it to his Pp bats and said its good but too heaby for him, so if i use that to my advantage in the sale then theres no harm.
Yes most peopel do sell between 150 and 200 does that mean that thats the hidden rule to sell a bat for between them margins if thats the case then can u put it up in forum rules, just because most people sell between 150 and 200 thats doesnt mean its a definate, all Mani Le and TRd are well over 200 quid,
and if your going to second the quality of the bat, just on appearance then i suggest you take this up with Alex, as he sold me a PP bat, heclaims this is a PP bat and just because you think its not doesnt make ape as a difference, just because u sit here all day mindlessly grading bats does not make you a bat expert, all you shoudl be doign is keepign your opinons to yourself.
if you ban the user then thast a shame as he has dont nothing wrong, he let me use his accoutn to view and etc etc and sell a bat, ave hardly gone on here and tried to rip someone off i asked for your views and my views and then decided to sell the bat as the guy above mentioned in his list of what gets up his tree ave not done any of them things, if i want to a sell a bat on for 5 million pounds profit then so be it whats it to u am not forcing you to buy it, if i walk in a garage and buy a car for 2 k less and i sell it next day for 2k more then does that mean ave ripped my local community off am i a bad man for sellign something that i got cheap for the normal price, and in any case this bat is below the RRP price still.
i understand the point of the yorkshire player part ok maybe i shud edit that part, and if its upset soem peopel on here then i will change it, its a harmless thing, everybody in everything they sell add a little bit extra thats are nature mate, am sure you have done it too.
Just dont know why you want to stir a big thing out of it on here, and then u say aernt bothered about gettign banned!
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Nad for crying out loud.
1: Don't lie in your listing and if anything do what talisman has done and get a new bat. You're almost guaranteed to get a better one because they'll know your only gonna send it back again if it's shocking.
2: Mate stop using my account coz your killing my good rep on here!!!
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Nad for crying out loud.
1: Don't lie in your listing and if anything do what talisman has done and get a new bat. You're almost guaranteed to get a better one because they'll know your only gonna send it back again if it's shocking.
2: Mate stop using my account coz your killing my good rep on here!!!
Change your password!
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What a mug, 'yorkshire player said he liked it' is a n absolute classic.
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How do I do it?
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go to profile then on the left theres a bit called account settings
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Have to add my bit on this i dont like what you are doing and feel it would be wrong for me not to report this to ebay. 'All it needs for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing' and all that...
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Pumakid you are an absolute Muppet, and I hope this is some imposter and not you now pretending to be someone else so it doesnt make you look bad.
The main point of what you did wrong is that you are claiming this is a pro's bat. And it is not. The bat was not made for a Pro. If I didnt know this via this forum and I was looking for a bat, I would maybe consider buying that as I think everyone dreams of owning a pros bat, but very few get the chance. If you didnt have that in there, I wouldnt even consider it.
You are an absolute moron defending yourself. You can sell it for what you want, that is fine, I dont like what your doing but you do have the right to sell it at what price you want, but I hope noone gives it a look in at anywhere near that price.
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so latley u have used newbery gn and ca and still undecdied and your trying to make a profit on ebay
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let me just get my head roudn this thread?
u got a custom made bat from GN?
you didnt like the look of it?
so you want rid of it?
Surley it doesnt matter how the bat looks if it goes like a train?(i like a good lucking bat but it would make up for it)
but u haven't even knocked it in?
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jesus what is wrong with some people on here? give gray nics a chance,the bat is not 'cosmetically' what you want,why don't you go to the factory and ask them to swap it for one without heartwood,what are they going to say? no? I don't think so...it's brand new!
It's not quite the right weight? ask them to take off 2 oz's?
I'm sure they are plenty of people on here who have had good and bad GN bat's,just like any batmaker,not one single one of them can 'guarantee' a top performing bat.
Blokes in my team had grade 3's that fly off the middle and grade 1's that don't,it aint an exact science.You can have a £400.00 custom made bat that won't score you any runs,you do,not the bat.Wake up and smell the coffee
And advertising 'a bat for a pro' on Ebay is just.You're lucky you did'nt get reported
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this whole thread is a shambles
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I saw a xiphos pro performance yesterday, a kid that used to play for us who now has a contract with Essex and is sponsored by gray nics. it was by far the biggest bat I'd ever seen, I wish I'd have took pics..... It was 2.10 but looked about 4lb something, the pads he had looked pretty special as well