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[Aldred Cricket Bats]

Just looking for your views on buying options.
It seems a lot of people get really interested by pre made pictures of bats. Does this progress onto purchasing as you can see exactly the finished article? Or are people able to visualise the end product from only seeing the raw cleft just pressed and handled ready for shaping.
  Do you trust the bat maker to produce from his knowledge of bat making and hopefully his vast knowledge of the game to produce the bat as he feels you have described to him to suit your style of play. Or do you feel happier seeing a bat that is the weight required and buying that because you can see the finished product.

Would love to hear your thoughts guy as we are always looking at the best ways to sell to you whilst keeping the soul of what we started and that is handmade bespoke bats. It's a tough one for us as was said in previous debate if its pre made its not bespoke or custom fit. So do we offer both.

[tushar sehgal]

Personally pre-made or not does not bother me as long as I know I that I am getting a good product and not being lied to about it. What I don't like is paying 100's more for a bat that is just stickered up.

Although there is something very very nice about selecting a cleft and then getting updates with pics as it is turned into a bat by skillfull hands

[fasteddie]

You could be making a stick with which to be beaten (pun intended).

As a customer, I would be more excited with the start and finish picture, then shipped for next day delivery.

Inviting more pictures and insight could evoke a desire to tinker from the customer.

My experience is that I saw a raw cleft, had a dialogue with the bat maker, and waited excitedly for the interpretation of my ramblings.
If I had a 'half-way' look into the process I could have felt that it was a chance to change my mind and would have had an entirely different product.

I think that the more research the maker does at the outset reduces the chances of mistakes.
Offering the buyer (who is going through an emotional journey, lets not forget) a chance to change, tinker, could lead to a lot of finished products containing mixed messages.

Prior planning and preparation prevents pants poor performance.

The before and after pictures also act as a better marketing tool for the bat maker. The maker can then say 'Look what I created just for you'.

Once again it's subjective.

[trypewriter]

I'm not clever enough to be able to visualise the finished bat from a handled cleft. I can appreciate a nice looking (to my eyes) piece of willow though. I do think that some pre mades just sing out to you - good pictures are essential obviously.
Maybe falling somewhere between the two. My impression is that buying a pre made from a reputable maker does offer the benefit of perhaps being able to request/discuss a minor adjustment in the bat after purchase (at a price), which wouldn't be possible with an off the shelf store bought bat?

[Aldred Cricket Bats]

So would Skype or FaceTime help with the process.

[tushar sehgal]

So would Skype or FaceTime help with the process.

Skype, facetime or high res pics like you sent me are all helpful for buyers. I disagree a little bit with Fasteddie, I like getting updates and pics although I don't tinker too much it shows me that you as maker care about me and my needs for bat pics/updates i also understand that you have other more important things to do than take pics all day for me but some teasers are nice

[Buzz]

So would Skype or FaceTime help with the process.

Yes.

This is a difficult conundrum - on the one hand you get something truely bespoke and on the other you know exactly what you are buying.
If you compare it to buying a suit, the difference is that with a bespoke the cutter is able to measure you, but with a bat the shaver is relying on you to know what you want/need to some extent.
This can be, for me an issue.

Question for you Paul - if you were able to watch a video of the player batting in the nets to see their range of shots and style of play, would that help you advise the customer on what shape would work for them more?

[trypewriter]

I'd be happy without constant updating to be honest. As for pre-mades - look how fast these went Mr A.

http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=18462.0

[trypewriter]

Question for you Paul - if you were able to watch a video of the player batting in the nets to see their range of shots and style of play, would that help you advise the customer on what shape would work for them more?

Now that is a very interesting one - in my case I'd expect to be advised to stick to fishing!

[PedalsMcgrew]

......Question for you Paul - if you were able to watch a video of the player batting in the nets to see their range of shots and style of play, would that help you advise the customer on what shape would work for them more?

Aaah! I see where you're going with this! That's good thinking! It would help to start a dialogue about what would be best for said player.....assuming it can be interpreted of course!

[Aldred Cricket Bats]

It's is sometimes helpful to see someone playing but if its on a bowling machine you are generally seeing one shot. If its in a club net you will be facing umpteen different styles of bowler so your not getting a true reflection. I feel if the customer is honest in his assessment of how he plays and what standard he plays and is not waxing lyrical about his ability i.e thinks he's Michael Slater when he bats more like Michael flattley then personally I back myself to have ,
A. The cricket knowledge
B. the bat making skills
to interpret exactly what you want. If you describe yourself as a back foot puller and cutter when your actually a front foot bully know one is going to win. You won't get what you want and the bat maker doesn't get the satisfaction of making exactly what that player needs and therefore not fulfilling the real wants of the batter.

[Six Sixes Cricket]

Just looking for your views on buying options.
It seems a lot of people get really interested by pre made pictures of bats. Does this progress onto purchasing as you can see exactly the finished article? Or are people able to visualise the end product from only seeing the raw cleft just pressed and handled ready for shaping.
  Do you trust the bat maker to produce from his knowledge of bat making and hopefully his vast knowledge of the game to produce the bat as he feels you have described to him to suit your style of play. Or do you feel happier seeing a bat that is the weight required and buying that because you can see the finished product.

Would love to hear your thoughts guy as we are always looking at the best ways to sell to you whilst keeping the soul of what we started and that is handmade bespoke bats. It's a tough one for us as was said in previous debate if its pre made its not bespoke or custom fit. So do we offer both.

Having bought 2 lavers,  I like the idea of being able to choose the cleft, it gives you that sense of ownership from the beginning. I also like it when the clefts have there current weight as this will give you an idea of density of cleft. The first bat I bought my only input was spine the length of the bat, good pick up and maximum coverage of middle. The second bat I just bought again I chose the cleft but this time I said give me the best bat to suit the cleft. I'm not one of these to badger the bat maker, they know more about willow than I ever will, I also don't ask for pics during the process as I want that enjoyment when you open the box.

[farnham_quins_2]

I think trying a few different bats while not knowing what I like best/suits my style means im more than happy to buy pre made bats. However, I think once I find a profile and weight that im happy with ill be getting someone to make that. I think id trust most batmakers on here to make me a bat to specifications i give them.