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[Tom]

This wasn't really a review though I don't think. It was all very negative and the inclusion of quotes such as "Thats the worst bat I have used in 55 years of cricket" made it seem like it was just there to slag off. Maybe that wasn't the intention but Bill has obviously interpreted it that was whereas you have interpreted it differently. It's very difficult on a forum to get a feeling of how positive someone is, whether they're 100% serious etc as there is no body language to read.

It's been common knowledge on here for years that if you have a problem with a Fusion bat it's rectified 90% of the time if you contact them. If they rubbish your complaint or don't help then the time is to slag.

If you do have a brand or product of course you expect some negative press, but when your brand can rise/fall through word of mouth you want as little as possible and those that are you want to rectify it. Which is probably why Bill has posted asking Leo to visit so it can be sorted.

[Fusion]

Scuudz,  why dont you give me a ring sometime !

Bill

01270 256120

[acko109]

i cant say so myself as i have never used a fusion but a few people i know have one and this years does not seem to be up to the standard it was a few years ago

[Howzat]

Bill I would love to come and visit you but as you can imagine its not really practical for someone living in London to come to Crewe.

[Fusion]

Leo, Then have the good grace to ring.

[SAF Bats]

Scuudz in all fairness to Bill I would have been upset if someone had posted on a forum about a bat, free or not.  You would expect a phone call, the bat is like this any ideas what is wrong.  I agree with Tom, which I do from time to time  if someone then said it was free what do you expected then post that up.... 

Also there is no real need to reply to good reviews other then maybe just a simple "Thanks"

[Howzat]

Having been invited to phone Bill, I had a nice conversation with him. Bill explained to me that Fusion are happy to deal with any customers complaints/problems. We had a nice discussion about cricket and I will be sending my bat off to the guys at Fusion who have said they will be happy to check it out and resolve my problem.
I realise in hindsight it would have been much better to get in contact with Bill in the first place!


Thanks to Fusion for their top customer support.

[scuudz]

Perhaps, I have not made myself clear.

It is quite obvious that Fusion makes a good product.  If I had to pick the top three custom bat makers in the world, Fusion would most likely be on my list.  

Maybe review is not the right word.  It's more like he was sharing his experience with us.  It just so happened that the bat wasn't to his liking.  I tend to take everything I read on here as the truth unless there is proof to prove otherwise.  Therefore, I believe he took the bat to his team-mates and posted their true comments.  This, IMO, is not slagging off.  He didnt come on here saying, "Man, this bat is awful and you would think Fusion would put up a really good bat as a prize" etc.

Also, Bill didnt just post saying "Leo, give us a ring and we'll sort it out" or something to that effect.  Saying that he has a funny way of showing gratitude and that it must just be more fun to get on a forum and slag ...just doesnt sit right with me.  

Im not in Bill's position but if I try and put myself in his shoes, I would be pretty upset too if someone was unsatisfied with my product that I have worked so hard to create and was making their views public on a forum such as this.  However, imo, Leo did not deserve the response he got.  

Norb, yes, you would expect a phone call but it depends how you look at it.  Leo's reason for not calling them first is completely logical.  Also, even if the bat was not free, I would still post on here since this is a very good resource and there are a lot of experts on here who could give you ideas on what to try to remedy the problem.  Im not sure what is common knowledge when it comes to Fusion, but the fact of the matter is there was absolutely nothing wrong with what Leo did.

Bill, I have heard an infinite number of good things about you and your fellow colleague (James, I believe) and your bats.  99% of the time people only have positive things to say about Fusion on all three forums that I frequently visit.  If I was in your area, I would have been happy to call and discuss this with you, but I'd probably run a huge phone bill calling you from Canada.  Our philosophies on handling customer situations such as this probably do not match, but you run a succesful cricket equipment company and I don't.  So, all the best to you.  :-)

[FattusCattus]

Hey Bill, do you know what would be good for this thread - particularly seeing as you and Leo are now good buddies again - it would be to let us know if there was anything wrong with the bat when it comes back to you, or if it was in fact absolutely fine.

As a previous customer of yours, I cannot praise your service highly enough, or your tea, or the dog - however, we're all bat nerds on here, and I'd be fascinated to know what the score was with this blade.

[yvk3103]

Hi guys, just a quick word on Fusion. I have been to Fusion 3-4 times and spoken to Bill and James numerous times. At all times I have found them to be very polite and courteous.

All my visits to their workshop in crew have been more like a visit to a close friend or family. I have never felt unwelomed. In fact there have been times when James was finishing my bats and I was freely roaming around chating with his mum and dad and playing with is 2 lovely dogs.....

Compare this with other batmakers, they don't let you out of sight.

Though Leo's intentions were not to bat mouth or slag about Fusion or their workmanship, the way it was worded and presented were inappropriate.

As a thumb rule one should always contact the manufacturer (batmaker) for any perceived quality or workmanship problem especially when you have the option of direct contact.

So many times we all crib about not being able to get to the manufacturer, yet when given the option to contact (basically encouraged by the batmaker to contact with any problem), we don't bother calling and look for answers from others (many of whom will have not knowledge about willow and batmaking)

[scuudz]

As I've said before, I dont see anything inappropriate about Leo's post.  I find it quite remarkable that everyone is pulling up Leo for his post but no one had any issues with Bill's post.  I own a custom made bat and wouldnt necessarily contact the bat maker for everything I had a question about. 

I dont really 'know' anyone on the forum but after sharing the forum with these guys for over a year, I have come to trust their opinions on cricket equipment.  Some of them have extensive knowledge about this stuff (Tom, Talisman, Norb just off the top of my head) and I wouldnt mind hearing what they had to say first before I took it up with the bat maker. 

Anyway, I'm glad Leo and Bill have sorted things out, and I hope the bat he gets turns out to be a gem.