Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Companies => Off-the-shelf companies => Topic started by: jonpinson on January 26, 2011, 07:48:33 PM
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It is a little strange that despite living within ten miles of Worcester, I'd never visited the Fearnley premises since they moved from their original site. I had no intention of going up there today but once I'd popped in to the club shop at New Road to find a total lack of cricket equipment, I decided to take the 15 minute walk up to the new Fearnley site.
I knew where the place was, so when I arrived I was not surprised that the small industrial/retail park still had the same slightly dodgy, slightly pikey feel about it. Still, I walked to the far end to see the place I was looking for. On arrival, I found the door to the shop locked (good idea considering where the place is), and no one obviously inside. I rang the bell/phone thing on the door and someone came to open up. I was greeted by a very friendly lady who quickly admitted she didn't normally oversee the shop so sh'ed have to get someone else if I had technical questions. Fair enough.
So, to the bats. Well. First off I was surprised by the selection on display, especially the top end stuff. Probably 10 examples of each model, so plenty of choice. I'm not a fan of the standard stickers, but let that not take away from the fact they had some great bats on display. But that isn't why I'm writing this.
I'm writing this because of their retro range. I'd heard good things but hadn't seen any in the flesh until today. I won't rant on about the ones I saw, but will say this. The retro range looked as good as anything I've seen. Lovely stickers, good looking wood, nice shapes and finished to a level that I've not seen before. Bats entirely hand made in my home town, for £200. Simply stunning.
I very nearly walked out of there with two, but I decided to give myself a cool off period. I had a chat with the lady for a good half an hour, talking about the direction the company was heading, some ideas and their general philosophy. It was nice to see they genuinely believe that their products, both equipment and clothing, are the best around. I didn't spend much time looking at the clothing, but from what I've seen of their bats, they have every right to believe it.
I left their an hour after arriving feeling massively impressed by everything I had seen. I will certainly return soon to make a purchase. Maybe tomorrow.
I also asked about the possibility of a factory tour, it seemed daft not to as they make them upstairs. She was very keen about the idea, as long as a date could be set in advance, rather than just turning up.
A great morning that left me regretting only that I hadn't gone before.
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Is it me or looking at the old magnum shape do they have a laver-ish feel about them
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How would you compare the finishing to Newbery and Salix?
Eagerly waiting to see your DF now :D
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Is it me or looking at the old magnum shape do they have a laver-ish feel about them
That was something I mentioned today. Admittedly they have modernised the magnum shape a bit, but it isn't far away from how it used to be. It shows what an innovator he was, that 30 years on, his shapes are emulated by others claiming to set the trend.
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How would you compare the finishing to Newbery and Salix?
Eagerly waiting to see your DF now :D
From my experience, Salix finish better than Newbery, and the Fearnley bats were finished far better than either.
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Sounds impressive.
would be nice to see a comeback from DF as i remember they were the bat to have Viv, Botham, Gooch & Hick.
Remember when i was a youngster kep going into to look at bats loved the 405 but dad bought the SS Jumbo. He should have bought the DF back then
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Where abouts are you from jon? I'm not far from Worcester, who do you play for? I've never been the fearnley factory shop but by the sounds of it I should go and take a visit. I really like the look of their new retro range from what I've seen, you should've got some pictures whilst you were there.
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could not agree more Jon DF may have gone slightly off left but without doubt in there day they were a market leader and considered by anybody as good as it gets.
Love the retro range however would love a exact replica of a supreme magnum with all the original stickers ala SS and the jumbo and turbo that there selling
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ooooooo mama, i'm smitten :)
(http://www.fearnleycricket.co.uk/Assets/FearnleyCricket/User/668-Retro-Side.jpg)
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oh forgot Paul Fearnley is a top bloke and answers email
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Where abouts are you from jon? I'm not far from Worcester, who do you play for? I've never been the fearnley factory shop but by the sounds of it I should go and take a visit. I really like the look of their new retro range from what I've seen, you should've got some pictures whilst you were there.
I'm not far from the town, I'm sure you'll understand that I'm not keen to say exactly where. Got a few clubs to have a look at for next season. It is certainly worth a trip down.
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ooooooo mama, i'm smitten :)
([url]http://www.fearnleycricket.co.uk/Assets/FearnleyCricket/User/668-Retro-Side.jpg[/url])
That is the worst great photo I've ever seen. It tells you everything about the bat, yet somehow manages to be out of focus and badly framed. :D
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very very laver special profile
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Check out Petes bat inventory for more pictures;
http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=6670.555
Jon, thanks for that info, appreciate it
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very very laver special profile
The other retro, not the magnum, doesn't quite have as much wood out of the back profile as the laver special, in fact the magnum is strikingly similar.
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thanks for that Jon, a nice read that was. I would forward your little article to DF and perhaps maybe you will get a cheeky discount! Did you mention the forum to them?
If you are a member of the Coaches Association you get a discount- would be great if you could hand pick a bat and still get the discount.
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If you are a member of the Coaches Association you get a discount- would be great if you could hand pick a bat and still get the discount.
I bought there softs a couple of years ago as i got the discount with the Coaches Association. Were decent quality even if they werent the best looking!
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That is the worst great photo I've ever seen. It tells you everything about the bat, yet somehow manages to be out of focus and badly framed. :D
aka soft porn for bats :D
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thanks for that Jon, a nice read that was. I would forward your little article to DF and perhaps maybe you will get a cheeky discount! Did you mention the forum to them?
If you are a member of the Coaches Association you get a discount- would be great if you could hand pick a bat and still get the discount.
I did think about mentioning the forum to them, I guess it wouldn't hurt to have another maker on board.
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oh forgot Paul Fearnley is a top bloke and answers email
Got very drunk with Duncan at a Charity bash a couple of years ago. Top man and a good laugh. Loads of stories!
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Very tempted, lovely looking bats (better pics on their web page), my dad used to have a DF back in the 70's so the heart is telling me to get on lol! side note: DF top of the range gloves have the velcro fastener on the top of the wrist, cleaver! I have ripped my shirts to pieces from my gloves.
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Got very drunk with Duncan at a Charity bash a couple of years ago. Top man and a good laugh. Loads of stories!
He and my grandfather were firm friends back in the day. He's always enjoyed a tipple.
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He and my grandfather were firm friends back in the day. He's always enjoyed a tipple.
Pity really. I've never got on with the bats. Maybe I should try again!
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Pity really. I've never got on with the bats. Maybe I should try again!
They admit they went a bit wrong with things a few years ago and have been rebuilding with new ideas in the last couple of years. I know looks and feel can only tell so much, but they had some truely stunning ones on offer.
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Jon . . .your inbox is full.
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Really tempted by the SS turbo 333 retro aswell now!!!! got to love the retro chic!!!! child of the 80's i guess!!!
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Really tempted by the SS turbo 333 retro aswell now!!!! got to love the retro chic!!!! child of the 80's i guess!!!
Me too, but then I always remember a school friend having one, which wasn't that great.
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Did you go back and purchase, Jon?
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Did you go back and purchase, Jon?
Not yet but I have had a couple of pints today and I'm a ten minute walk away...
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Get a 4* for £150 and take the offending label ;)
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Not yet but I have had a couple of pints today and I'm a ten minute walk away...
bit of a liquid lunch? ;)
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Me? Surely not.
I think once I buy the stunner they had I'm going to ask for a magnum around 2'8.
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or 2.8 degrees with one glass?
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I am off to DF tomorrow. Just spoke to the man himself and he said it will be great if I can drop down to pick a bat for myself.
Will be there by 9:30 so if anyone has plans to drop there tomorrow it will be good to meet-up....
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I am off to DF tomorrow. Just spoke to the man himself and he said it will be great if I can drop down to pick a bat for myself.
Will be there by 9:30 so if anyone has plans to drop there tomorrow it will be good to meet-up....
I'd be up for that...
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and the bat you pick up mate we might be able to do a deal with.........
Wish i was in the area Yash
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I'd be up for that...
Cool mate. Let's meet there then. PM me your contact number. I will call you once I am there....
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and the bat you pick up mate we might be able to do a deal with.........
Wish i was in the area Yash
what are you after mate?
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Where is it exactly as parents in mids so may have to pop in
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Where is it exactly as parents in mids so may have to pop in
Right bang in the centre of Worcester.
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Just spotted this.... only in the description of the Batwing bats it is mentioned "Handmade at our Worcester factory". No mention of such a thing in the Retro, Gold and Mangnum bats!!!!
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Right bang in the centre of Worcester.
Do they have their own parking spaces or need to look for a car park?
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Cool mate. Let's meet there then. PM me your contact number. I will call you once I am there....
The bus I will catch will get me there early so I will probably be there on your arrival. Where you coming from?
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The bus I will catch will get me there early so I will probably be there on your arrival. Where you coming from?
Okay. I am driving from Altrincham (Greater Manchester area). 2hrs drive...do they offer coffee there? :)
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Do they have their own parking spaces or need to look for a car park?
Its on a little industrial retail complex so plenty of spaces.
I was assured they make all their top grade bats on site.
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Okay. Let's see if they have something that will tempt me to spend money with them.....
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No coffee offered the other day. I can pick some up on my way up but it may be a bit cold by the time we meet.
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Okay so drove to DF today. It didn't take much time for my excitement to fizzle out. Why?
(1) No top end bats available in any of the ranges in senior sizes!!! Excuse given willow required to make the top of the range ultimate bat is not available easily. I find it very hard to believe considering most of the younger and smaller brands (especially on our forum) get the superbest or the best G1 willow fairly easily.
(2) struggled to find a bat with a decent profile in 2.9 or 2.10..... Was told pick-up is more important than dead weight. A nice cover-up IMO.
(3) I showed them my LW and BlackCat and told them I wanted a bat with the pick-up and big profile on my LW and grains and performance on the BlackCat. I was told they do not have (or buy) willow with 10 or more grains as it reduces the bats life! Cannot get a bat in 2.9/2.10 with a big profile even after getting the moisture content down to under 10%!! (they buy their willow from Anglian and say the willow they get is generally heavier!!)
(4) after some time the guy in the shop went back and got some narrow grains bats out with a very weird profile (not even near to the profile on the Retro) and claimed they were Retro bats. These were bats made in India by SS!!. These were possibly the most rubbish bats I have seen and would have not paid more then £50 for them. The 2.9/2.10 bats looked malnourished (hope you get the idea).
(5) absolutely no knowledge of willow and kept contradicting his statements
Finally after going through almost all the bats on display and their store found a 2.11 Retro with 9-10 grains with a good pick-up. This bat was not displayed and was stacked with a couple of Gold bats behind the billing counter. The guy didn't seem keen to sell any of them but I kept pushing him saying I had driven 2hrs to buy a bat and also if they did not have any bats they should have said so when I had called yesterday. Finally the guy went back in the store and spoke to someone (i could hear some voices) and then said i could have the Retro.
The bat taps up very well and pick-up light for a 2.11. Quite like it.
However, I will never return there to buy a bat ever again. Simply because the customer service is very poor and the guy kept saying no one being available to do any work on the bat. The height was they were even reluctant to even let me use their washroom!! (I understood why as when I did get allowed to use it I could see a couple of guys working in their workshop).
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^^^ sounds a disgrace!! They do not deserve to be trading with customer service that way!!
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Interesting, yet completely opposite to how I found things in the week. I guess im either a liar or they sold alot of bats in the 3 days between our visits. I will go back and see just how bad this salesman is.
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Interesting, yet completely opposite to how I found things in the week. I guess im either a liar or they sold alot of bats in the 3 days between our visits. I will go back and see just how bad this salesman is.
Maybe your visit was more well timed than mine. There were only 5-6 test grade bats and no Ultimate bats.....
The guy kept telling me that their part-time bat maker (Steve Harmison) is away for a month.....
Maybe I went with too high expectations given the brands legacy and also having been spoilt for choice of willow available on this forum???
I would have loved to see more bats to choose from. Found one finally and that was one of the 2 Retro 5* available......
Had loads and loads of low grade bats.....
Jon, who was the sales man/woman when you went in? Did they have good stock of Ultimate and Test bats that time?
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Intresting conflicting thoughts on DF as I was getting positive vibes after Jons report and Petes photos.
Any chance of some pics of the Retro Yash?
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Intresting conflicting thoughts on DF as I was getting positive vibes after Jons report and Petes photos.
Any chance of some pics of the Retro Yash?
Will put some pics up late today.
Going to get some sleep as I had a very early start to my day and drove for 4 hours!!
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Here are some pics of my Retro.....
Pick-up well (light) for a 2.11. The ping is very good and still needs to be knocked-in. The rebound off the mallet is really impressive and hope it will get better.
(http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo305/yvk3103/e118f247.jpg)
(http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo305/yvk3103/3ea49029.jpg)
(http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo305/yvk3103/6f1361dd.jpg)
(http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo305/yvk3103/30d526e1.jpg)
(http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo305/yvk3103/fded7374.jpg)
(http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo305/yvk3103/affbfe84.jpg)
(http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo305/yvk3103/e4638543.jpg)
(http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo305/yvk3103/1a31c823.jpg)
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Looks weird. It's like a Pakistani profile with offset edges.
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Looks weird. It's like a Pakistani profile with offset edges.
Maybe the Pakistanis copied / copy this profile....Pakistan did not exist in the sub continent in 1955!!
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Jonpinson have you got pics of the one you bought?
2 very contradicting reviews indeed
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Feel for you mate. All that way and the cupboard is bare.
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Maybe the Pakistanis copied / copy this profile....Pakistan did not exist in the sub continent in 1955!!
They got freedom in 1947 from India.
Plus I don't think DF had this profile for a long time, it doesn't look like a 4-5 decades old profile.
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Okay so drove to DF today. It didn't take much time for my excitement to fizzle out. Why?
However, I will never return there to buy a bat ever again. Simply because the customer service is very poor and the guy kept lying about no one being available to do any work on the bat. The height was they were even reluctant to even let me use their washroom!! (I understood why as when I did get allowed to use it I could see a couple of guys working in their workshop).
No wonder they went downhill...
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i love DF but in truth this sounds very very bad..
Hate to say it but that does not look too special if you paid 250 for it
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i Can't believe that after having such a bad experience you still went ahead with a purchase
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i Can't believe that after having such a bad experience you still went ahead with a purchase
I was all set to return empty hand, but then spotted this Retro. It picks up well and the middle is very responsive. Plus didn't want to return empty handed having invested 6 hrs of my weekend.
But I am very disappointed and unimpressed with the fact that they had none of their top of the range bats and only a handful of the Test grade bats in stock. I find it hard to believe that between Jon's visit and mine (3 days) they sold all their stock.
So what would DF do if someone placed an order for an Ultimate grade bat? Call the customer and say sorry but we do not have the right willow??
I would not be wrong in saying that this was the best looking bat of all the senior grade bats in the shop (unless they had more in the store but did not want to show them). The other Test and Pro bats were no better than the Pums 2000/3000 in looks.
Picked-up a lot of bats and struggled to find a 2.9/2.10 with a decent profile. Not the place to visit if you are after a big bat in 2.9/2.10. What surprised me was that the guy said they receive willow with 12%-14% moisture content and they dry them to get it down to 10% or less so that they can get bats with big profile and less weight, but there was not a single bat in the shop to substantiate his comment.
The bats still look like these from the era gone buy where bats were heavy and thin....
Guess they have made themselves marginal operators in the industry and derive most of their sales from the local cricket community. Couldn't believe they do not have a full time batmaker....
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the weight thing sounds very similar to Solitaire
did you have a butchers at there softs mate any good..
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did you have a butchers at there softs mate any good..
Didn't find the softs to be very comfortable. Tried a couple of gloves but nothing special. For the price they charge for their top pads alone, you are better off getting a top of the range pair of SS pads and gloves.
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btw, has can anyone recall any bat manufacturer or brand putting a rubber based adhesive on the bat handle to secure the grip. i.e. on the handle string and not at the bottom of the handle......
The DF bat had a octo grip and when I tried to remove it, I found that a rubber based adhesive had been applied till about haft the handle length. It took me 15 minutes to get the grip off and I did not want the stringing to come loose.
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forgot to mention, the finishing is very good an the bats. Not as good as Salix but comparable to Newbery and Laver Wood. Though they need to looks at some minor details on their bats in the premium range (£200 +)
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what colour was the string was it very dark
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what colour was the string was it very dark
No white. Why??
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Are you sure the bat is UK made Yash
Man i hate to question DF
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Are you sure the bat is UK made Yash
Man i hate to question DF
Well the guy said so.... Saw the SS made ones as well and there was quite a diff in the handles and profiles...
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btw, has can anyone recall any bat manufacturer or brand putting a rubber based adhesive on the bat handle to secure the grip. i.e. on the handle string and not at the bottom of the handle......
The DF bat had a octo grip and when I tried to remove it, I found that a rubber based adhesive had been applied till about haft the handle length. It took me 15 minutes to get the grip off and I did not want the stringing to come loose.
My Fusion grip was glued down, PVA was used I think.
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did you and jon go to the same place?? haha madness!
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did you and jon go to the same place?? haha madness!
I hope so. I went to the factory shop in front of the workshop.....
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I'd kick up a right stink if you rung them and they told you they had plenty of bats in, only to turn up and find what you did. Interesting that they tried to tell you that nobody was in the workshop.
With regard to them not buying bats with narrow grains, seems a lot of the more traditional based companies support this, eg. screaming cat, M&H and DF... Clever sales tactic really, as they're more likely to last longer and wont get as mant returns...
Had a game against Worcestershire a few seasons ago and most of their boys used DF. Looked nice bats too. Perhaps they get decent support from local clubs to keep them going. Looks a nice bat what you got anyway.
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The thing that doesn't quite add up for me is that 3 days previous I had gone in, was treated very well and got to see a good selection of high quality bats. Your experience seems to have been the exact opposite.
I can't quite understand why if your experience was quite as bad as you make out, you bought a bat before you left. If I'd been treated 1/4 as badly as you say they wouldnt have got a penny from me, 2 hour trip or not. I don't quite get the mindset of criticising every aspect of their business yet still giving them your money, but anyway.
To the person asking for pics of the bat I bought, please have the courtesy to at least read the first post in the thread. Makes it quite clear I didn't buy one, but fully intend to.
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in fact can somebody tell me what is retro about the retro range at fearnley
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in fact can somebody tell me what is retro about the retro range at fearnley
i would have thought that the most retro DF range would be the the Magnum range with retro magnum stickers?
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the retro stickers i have seen are not retro kust plain df stickers carrying only Duncan name the shape is a modern affair...
I have looked at surridge both there retro are very similar and infact exactly the same
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The thing that doesn't quite add up for me is that 3 days previous I had gone in, was treated very well and got to see a good selection of high quality bats. Your experience seems to have been the exact opposite.
I can't quite understand why if your experience was quite as bad as you make out, you bought a bat before you left. If I'd been treated 1/4 as badly as you say they wouldnt have got a penny from me, 2 hour trip or not. I don't quite get the mindset of criticising every aspect of their business yet still giving them your money, but anyway.
To the person asking for pics of the bat I bought, please have the courtesy to at least read the first post in the thread. Makes it quite clear I didn't buy one, but fully intend to.
Like I said, the sales person was different so maybe your ended up with a better experience.
How many Test and Ultimate grade bats did you see in each of their ranges? About 95% of their stock in the senior sizes was the Pro or lower grade.
I am not sure why you are taking all this personally? I have just put my experience on here. If you had a better experience, then good for you.
Let me know when you get your bat.
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i would have thought that the most retro DF range would be the the Magnum range with retro magnum stickers?
The profile on the Mangum's was the best. But they had only 2 bats in the Test grade (2nd from the top) and both were heavy and not the prettiest to look at.
If I recall correctly, DF will change all their stickers to the black retro ones with a model sticker below. Saw a few 4* and 5* Magnums with the retro stickers on them
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yes but there not retro if there not the same as the old ones..
retro should be like the old ones same as the shape
Just a bloody marketing ploy
Disappointed
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Please tell me they are brining out a retro range of softs! because that would be genius! green piping on the pads and the green cover on the two ingers on the gloves.....a la Alan Border era!!
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I think once I buy the stunner they had I'm going to ask for a magnum around 2'8.
i'm sorry jon i expected that you were going to follow up on your word and had bought the above.....
is it possible that they were the same bats on both viewings yet Yash knows more about willow and bats so just has higher expectations?
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is it possible that they were the same bats on both viewings yet Yash knows more about willow and bats so just has higher expectations?
Ouch! :o
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is it possible that they were the same bats on both viewings yet Yash knows more about willow and bats so just has higher expectations?
Canner thank you for your kind words, but I am not sure if I have more knowledge of willow than other forum members not directly involved in the trade.
However, I can certainly pick a good bat/performance bat. For me the decision whether to buy a bat or not depends on the pick-up and the performance. The looks (grain structure) comes into play if I am paying over £175 for a bat.
The Retro I picked was the only bat in the 50-odd they had on display that I found up to my standards/expectations.
If anyone from this forum was there on Saturday, he too would have only considered buying this Retro.
My disappointment is more to do with my expectations from DF. The gap between my expectations and disappointment widened with some of the remarks made (which were more to do with their thought process and not the customers)
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sounds like u had bad experiance..
now roger @ solitaire used to be head bat maker at fearnley i think ?
but i read some where he left due to fearnley mass producing abroad?
this would explain why some of the bats where asian made?
and if the bats are all heavy and small maybe this is why all rogers are heavy two.
old ways
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sounds like u had bad experiance..
now roger @ solitaire used to be head bat maker at fearnley i think ?
but i read some where he left due to fearnley mass producing abroad?
this would explain why some of the bats where asian made?
and if the bats are all heavy and small maybe this is why all rogers are heavy two.
old ways
heavy and small not everybody's idea of a good cricket bat id guess
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it all sounds like heart says Yes but the Mind is saying No.....................
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Nice bat Yash. Shame they didn't treat you too well. So I take it Jon didn't meet up with you?
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Nice bat Yash. Shame they didn't treat you too well. So I take it Jon didn't meet up with you?
Thanks SJ. Does nor look great but the pick-up is good (picks-up lighted than a 2.11). The performance off the mallet is good, will see how it goes in the nets tomorrow...
Jon left me all alone to experience DF:(. Looks like it was planned ;) :D
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I went to the Fearnley shop at the beginning of January with fairly high hopes but left disappointed. I rocked up about 4;30 on a monday afternoon had to be buzzed in and was let in by a guy in his 50s I would say.
Went over to the retro range and I thought they had some decent sized bats but no more than 8-10, 5* bats all of which had horrible grains. None had any more than 10 grains with all seeming to have blemishes in the willow of various sizes. Now I know looks are not everything but these looked poor. Asked the guy if they were graded on looks or performance and was told a bit of both-these best have performed! Asked him if it was possible to get a bat made to spec and was told they only did what was out.
In came a kid with his parents who must have either player county u12s or gone the local grammar/private school as they had a list of cricket uniform they needed to buy. As soon as they asked for the clothing it was clear that I was not going to be served very well.
I stayed for about 15 minutes longer shadow batting with 1 bat that I had found, doing my best to tap it up, I was interested but I was offered no more help or service as clearly this mum buying whites was more important.
Gave up waiting in the end to ask more questions about the bats and left!
Love the Stickers, not keen on the willow I saw and not impressed by the customer service. Seemed like the guy didn't appreciate answering the questions I (with limited willow knowledge) wanted to discover.
Might go back but I'm in no rush!
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Hawk is the place to go in Worcestershire, then...
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Hawk is the place to go in Worcestershire, then...
Or solitaire
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Yeah Hawk is awesome, popped down there a while ago as they are about 10 mins from my work, got a bat refurbed but must have spent an hour in this tiny workshop just talking a bats n stuff. Top blokes in there, just expensive!
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expensive in comparison to df? aren't retro 5* £200 and Hawk's G10 are only £10 more
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I'd guess that they are just quite expensive in general..considering some of the offers we get on this forum, like the H4L £150 offer... :)
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I'm just being parochial, Johan :).
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Oh right.... :-[
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Picked up a df retro 5 star off ebay, was unsure about it as it had the back toe sticker mssing, not peeled off it just hadnt been on there, it also mentioned about the bat being from a "back room" which i had thought was bull but was going to go ahead anyway if i could get it for the right price. i emailed the seller and df to check everything out. It turned out the seller is a cricket coach in staffordshire and has quite good links with df, df recognised it as genuine and possibly one that hadnt been out for general sale! i exchanged a few decent emails with the guy and we had a good chat about all things cricket, he showed me a few others he had and they looked lovely!
We agreed on a price as it had been slightly used (couple of bm ball makrs on scuff but literally no use! The bat was 2lb 9 without scuff and grip so i guessed around 2lb 12 fully dressed.
when it arrived it i was chuffed! it was just under 2lb 12 with grip and full length scuff on, but in all fairness picks up decently, better than a 2lb 12 millichamp and newbery i used to own but its not a miracle 2lb 8 pick up! slightly heavier than i would usually go for but good for a whack i reckon and not too heavy to use for me. Edges came in at 35mm, grains arent the best bat to have lived but are far from bad!
Not had a chance to use it yet but thoroughly pleased and love the retro look and full bat scuff sheet!
I do however think that it just hadnt gone out for general sale yet rather than a special back room bat, but i am still pleased.
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The df was number 2 of 4 i wanted for the season btw, number 3 is on the way and number 4 in pipeline!
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10 pound hey pep sounds you got a bargain
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i paid £140 including postage, originally the price was £200 on ebay i got it to £155 then lowered it at last minute as got him to post a more inexpensive way (a £15 less expensive way!) for a bat that was basically unused, fully knocked in with full length fearnley carry case. May seem a lot but £60 off the price for a new one that may not be as good seemed like a worthwhile punt for me.
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What's no 3 and 4 Samuel?
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no. 3 is a laver, wanted one since first game of last season when i used dave's. 4th i am sort of undecided between 2 or none at all and save the money, as 3 is enough maybe... but who knows :)
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Yash do you still have the df
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We had a guy who came and played for us last week and he had a DF Retro, looked like a nice stick - picked up quite heavy but it was quite big, not sure of the weight. Went quite well when it came out of the middle.
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One of my team mates has one, good looking bat, I notice therer half price at min
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Yeah I noticed that, I might take a trip and see what they've got...
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Yash do you still have the df
Possibly the most mediocre bat I have ever owned and hence no place in my kit bag. Gave it to a team mate. Good riddance.
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I remember at the time you said it was very good. . . .what happened mate???