Topic: Butterfly (Read 147802 times)

GarrettJ · « **Reply #255 on:** April 03, 2014, 02:58:58 PM »

i weigh all my clefts before choosing. I know the magic number. I have 2.7 bat the same size as a 2.13.

I think neon and buzz have hit the nail on the head. Paul was probably innocently using the word grade 1 as he is used to distinguishing good clefts in this way.

I think neons suggestion of "Premium" would be more appropriate and the furore would die down.

His pricing is none of our business.

Seniorplayer · « **Reply #256 on:** April 03, 2014, 03:00:09 PM »

My Black Cat Shadow at a cost of �275.00 is a real looker unblemished white willow with 11 straight grains, my Paul Alfred butterfly same spec at a cost of �135.00 pings equally as good so why the difference in price it can only be visual.

toenails97 · « **Reply #257 on:** April 03, 2014, 03:00:20 PM »

I see where people are coming from tbh, I'm not taking anything away from Paul but �170 for a "G1 Butterfly" is crazy imo esspecially when the likes of GN who charge through the roof allow you to get a 5 star Grade 2 English willow bat for �160 which in essence will be much better looking esspecially when sponsors such as Uzisports and Vitas hand pick them!

Imo there should only be a �20 increase at the most, but in essence you are still getting a butterfly grade 4 bat whether it be a grade 1 butterfly or a standard butterfly. Butterfly bats aren't meant to be about looks, so why having more grains makes a difference or not in price is beyond me. Mr. aldred is still getting butterfly clefts and grade one butterfly clefts for the same price I presume....HOWEVER I COULD BE WRONG SO APOLOGIES IF SO Mr. Aldred!!

GarrettJ · « **Reply #258 on:** April 03, 2014, 03:02:49 PM »

Quote from: Seniorplayer on April 03, 2014, 03:00:09 PM

My Black Cat Shadow at a cost of �275.00 is a real looker unblemished white willow with 11 straight grains, my Paul Alfred butterfly same spec at a cost of �135.00 pings equally as good so why the difference in price it can only be visual.

It is visual, clefts are like women. You are attracted to nice looking ones but you dont know if she is a pain in the (No Swearing Please) or not until you try her out. alternatively you could get a not so pretty woman who turns out to be right up your street.

Looks is the only way to price a bat and have sort of an industry wide standard .... unfortunately.

procricket · « **Reply #259 on:** April 03, 2014, 03:03:00 PM »

Crown clefts are not all good looking Chris.

Aldred Cricket Bats · « **Reply #260 on:** April 03, 2014, 03:03:17 PM »

Ok guys maybe I haven't made myself too clear.
What I am doing is creating a grade within a grade. If it was purely a grade 1 cleft it would be �255. Because of the demand of people we are trying to create a bit of choice in the butterfly collection for the simple reason there is so much variety and typically when people get in touch about them I spend hours selecting pieces out for them taking photos and finding them the very best looking pieces at the appropriate weights along with the nicest features. This exact same thing happens with grade 1 and player grades and every other grade that we manufacture. As I said when we first started making the butterfly bats they were at a rock bottom price as we were dipping our toe in the water to see what reaction we got. This has escalated beyond belief and have now had to invest in far more willow to cope with demand. There are many companies now on the band wagon of manufacturing butterfly bats and many literally just stickering up bats. As I said earlier in this thread, this for the quality and service is a very reasonable price indeed particularly for the trouble that we go to in making these for our customers from very start of the process to finish.
When we select and order our clefts from the suppliers we have to order in increments of large amounts of lower grades compared to higher grades this has changed the way we grade our grade 2 and 3 stocks. We no longer are ordering as many grade 3 clefts and our grade 2 clefts that don't hit the mark in looks will go down to the 3s. So in actual fact anyone ordering a grade 3 is actually getting a grade 2 at an outstanding price, and we have to offer these prices as a small company because it's actually very hard to sell grade 3 bats as people think they are not a good bat to play with. It's got to the point now in the quest to give good customer service that I am corresponding to people most nights of the week sending photos of clefts and answering questions for them until gone 11 at night, that's my choice but that is actually taking the time spent on a bat from 3-4 hours manufacture to 4-6 with everything else that goes with it.
So all in all we are just trying to create something special in the butterfly willow that has been neglected over the last 20 years and stand out in the market, we were pretty much the initial ones on this forum bringing the butterfly to the customer again and a lot of people are now doing the same so I am wanting to give you something else that again is different. Hope that makes sense

ProCricketer1982 · « **Reply #261 on:** April 03, 2014, 03:11:36 PM »

Paul,
Gotta say these bats I've just opened are lovely! Especially the grade 1.. It's pretty darn big

Aldred Cricket Bats · « **Reply #262 on:** April 03, 2014, 03:13:12 PM »

If people really imagine that the multi national companies are putting grade 2 clefts in the shops at �160 I would think again it ain't so they are selected on looks not the true grading from suppliers. I would like to tell you what I was actually told by one of the companies that make for big names in India about what is actually shipped but I can't afford the lawyers. Most bats with blemishes get bleached because they want pristine looking white willow on a shop shelf.

Aldred Cricket Bats · « **Reply #263 on:** April 03, 2014, 03:15:44 PM »

Quote from: ProCricketer1982 on April 03, 2014, 03:11:36 PM

Paul,
Gotta say these bats I've just opened are lovely! Especially the grade 1.. It's pretty darn big

Glad they arrived ok

toenails97 · « **Reply #264 on:** April 03, 2014, 03:23:47 PM »

Paul, my point was when hand picking bats the GN 5 star bats that are claimed grade 2 English willow by GN look great with many of grains and heartwood on the outside edge etc. All I'm saying is when going with vitas or Uzisports you can get a bargain. I love your videos and I think your very skilled at bat making but personally I don't see the need for the price rise especially when I know companies offer grade 1 bats for �200

kalph · « **Reply #265 on:** April 03, 2014, 03:33:43 PM »

£135 is a good deal £170 isn't in my opinion

Aldred Cricket Bats · « **Reply #266 on:** April 03, 2014, 03:44:09 PM »

Quote from: toenails97 on April 03, 2014, 03:23:47 PM

Paul, my point was when hand picking bats the GN 5 star bats that are claimed grade 2 English willow by GN look great with many of grains and heartwood on the outside edge etc. All I'm saying is when going with vitas or Uzisports you can get a bargain. I love your videos and I think your very skilled at bat making but personally I don't see the need for the price rise especially when I know companies offer grade 1 bats for �200

Fair enough and I understand your thoughts. If I have made an error in my business thoughts I will have to stand by it but we will have to see over time. I know what quality I am putting out there and what is and has gone into it so I have to price accordingly. I will be the first one to put my hands up if I have got it wrong I can tell you.
I would be interested to know how many companies put out true grade 1 bats at �200 that press themselves and make from start to finish by hand and not having part made or totally made by others. I ask this question for one reason, I as a person and a business want only one thing and that is to be able to stand with my product next to me and know that i have created a top quality product by my hands from start to finish,be it a player in division 12 or one of my colleagues playing on the county circuit nothing different for either one and that my customers are getting exactly what I advertise as a company. I unfortunately got a severe shafting in business by someone who was supposed to be a very close friend the year I came out of playing and I still have never got rid of that feeling and I can tell you I would never want anyone I do work for be it bats or coaching to feel as they have been dealt something they haven't paid for. That's why I am always open and honest on this forum unfortunately sometimes people don't like that but that's how I am and intend to stay

smilley792 · « **Reply #267 on:** April 03, 2014, 03:46:56 PM »

Quote from: procricket on April 03, 2014, 03:03:00 PM

Crown clefts are not all good looking Chris.

But are the ugly ones still a non advertised price? Or is a 1 stripe low density cleft available at a 1 stripe price?

Rob580 · « **Reply #268 on:** April 03, 2014, 03:50:28 PM »

I think everyone needs to stop ragging on Paul. It's still a good price for the product, and anyway, it's up to Paul to choose what he sells his wares for.

If he wants to sell them for a Million quid each then thats his perogative. We seem to forget, we're consumers. Not Shareholders!

smilley792 · « **Reply #269 on:** April 03, 2014, 03:54:11 PM »

Quote from: Rob580 on April 03, 2014, 03:50:28 PM

I think everyone needs to stop ragging on Paul. It's still a good price for the product, and anyway, it's up to Paul to choose what he sells his wares for.

If he wants to sell them for a Million quid each then thats his perogative. We seem to forget, we're consumers. Not Shareholders!

Unfortunately an issue with a forum, the internet and today's society, people have a place to air there views, and they will.

20 years ago, aldred g1 butterfly at 170 appears in romida so catalogue at your club, and you'd just say "that's a tad expensive" to a few team mates and move on.

Now you can tell the brands your views, and hope for a reply. Weather they do nanny thing about it or not is upto them.

No one buys them these clefts will end up at 135 with the others, or people buy loads, and there'll be 195 next season.

Author Topic: Butterfly (Read 147802 times)

GarrettJ

Re: Butterfly

Seniorplayer

Re: Butterfly

toenails97

Re: Butterfly

GarrettJ

Re: Butterfly

procricket

Re: Butterfly

Aldred Cricket Bats

Re: Butterfly

ProCricketer1982

Re: Butterfly

Aldred Cricket Bats

Re: Butterfly

Aldred Cricket Bats

Re: Butterfly

toenails97

Re: Butterfly

kalph

Re: Butterfly

Aldred Cricket Bats

Re: Butterfly

smilley792

Re: Butterfly

Rob580

Re: Butterfly

smilley792

Re: Butterfly