I think what we need to do, collectively, is come around to realising that smaller newer batmaking bands are somehow guaranteed to be not-quite-as-good as the well thought of premium brands that are well established. In simple terms, we equate the size of the price tag with the size of the performance.
Why, for instance will we pay £300+ for a Laver, or SCAT when really we know that a Talisman, H4L etc etc will be as good for quite a bit less? We all do it to an extent, a straw poll a few months ago found Laver and SCAT to be the two most desired brands among members on this forum who had no experience of those brands. Why? £££ Thats why. I am of the opinion now (and increasingly so) that there is no magic involved, no unspeakable technique in manufacture which somehow seperates and lifts these coincidentally more expensive brands to make better bats. You can argue the lineage of the training that those batmakers in question have received, yes it is romantic to trace John Newbery's knowledge being handed down and it is an attractive thought. However interpret it in another light and you can argue that Dan, the new batmaker at Salix will, once training is complete, have the same knowledge as Newbery, Keeley, Millichamp, Kember and Laver. It gives a different slant to it, no doubt. What though is there to say that a maker who is self taught cannot produce bats of equal performance?
If you are loyal to a brand it should be because you have had good results from them. Product and service. Simple. Nothing more. It is frankly embarrassing to see paying customers excusing these recent problems under the banner of 'Everyone makes mistakes'. Well, yes they do but in business if they continue to make repeated mistakes they don't stay around for long.
In my terms a premium brand is one that is extraordinary in both product and service and therefore charges accordingly. By those terms we are not looking at a premium brand. It is a brand that charges for a premium service but sadly falls far short of providing it.
I do hope a happy solution is found, some seem to have been satisfied already but others do not. People should not stop stamping their fists until they are satisfied because this situation should not have been allowed to degrade this far.
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Topic: Reserve or Special Reserve?! (Read 14816 times)