Topic: The prodirect cricket puma bargain experiment. English willow/Indian made (Read 5575 times)

Cowcorner · « **on:** January 28, 2014, 04:00:31 PM »

Thanks to some drunk twittering I happened upon the bargain Puma Pulse 5000 deal. I duley logged in and purchased a 'light'. On the scales it comes in at 2 10.3 which isn't what I'd call light but it actually picks up like my 2.9 ricochet so I am very happy!
The edges are 42mm and the spine is massive with a good bit of shaping. It is very interesting to see, having read the English/Indian made bats thread, that the finish on this bat is.....exceptional. The bat surface is smooth as silk and the stickers are thick and well made! Bravo Puma, bravo!

Neon Cricket · « **Reply #1 on:** January 28, 2014, 04:07:58 PM »

Looks like you've got a good buy there!

That's my only issue with PDC, they can send you basically any weight and there isn't much you can do about it, still a good price though

ajmw89 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 28, 2014, 04:12:14 PM »

Didn't I read somewhere that Puma's bat weights are minus grip, stickers etc? If so, this would be about 2lb 9oz according to them

smilley792 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 28, 2014, 04:13:43 PM »

Quote from: neoncricket on January 28, 2014, 04:07:58 PM

Looks like you've got a good buy there!

That's my only issue with PDC, they can send you basically any weight and there isn't much you can do about it, still a good price though

You can send it back. They accept returns,

Bat looks lovely, I like the pulse shape. Wish I'd bought this instead of the Karbon. Especially as my medium is 2.10. And I'd prefer heavier.

AlanB · « **Reply #4 on:** January 28, 2014, 04:17:24 PM »

Whilst this shouldn't really be classified as Light, if you are happy with the weight and pick up it looks a very good buy indeed.

mike1989 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 28, 2014, 04:37:34 PM »

That is a very nice looking bat. Looks a beautiful piece. Huge bat as well.

Have you tried it yet to see how it performs?

Quote from: neoncricket on January 28, 2014, 04:07:58 PM

Looks like you've got a good buy there!

That's my only issue with PDC, they can send you basically any weight and there isn't much you can do about it, still a good price though

Good prices at PDC, but I dislike the pot luck element to what weight you get. Granted I wouldn't be too bothered by getting a 2lb 9oz instead of a 2lb 8oz, but the risk of getting a 2lb 6oz is what put me off ordering from them late last season, despite them having a couple of bats that were very tempting.

Quote from: smilley792 on January 28, 2014, 04:13:43 PM

You can send it back. They accept returns,

Bat looks lovely, I like the pulse shape. Wish I'd bought this instead of the Karbon. Especially as my medium is 2.10. And I'd prefer heavier.

It is nice that you can send the bat back. But if it isn't faulty, isn't returning it at your own cost?

That's the issue I had with them when I rang them up. I asked if I could specify a weight and they said, "no, but if you aren't happy you can return it". Now I can't grumble at their prices, but the lack of being able to specify a weight the only issue I have with them. As it isn't cheap to return a bat that might end up too heavy. I'd have thought it would have been easier on their part to allow you to ring up and order the bat you want, in the weight you want, rather than having to let their customer experience feel like a raffle?

Neon Cricket · « **Reply #6 on:** January 28, 2014, 04:57:41 PM »

This is what happened to me in the past, rang up to order and see if I could specify an actual weight - they told me I'd have to pay to return the bat if it wasn't right, the delivery costs add up quickly if I have to start returning bats multiple times until I get the right weight

Total lottery, which is a shame - it can't be that hard to add more specific weights to the website (I know for a fact it isn't!) - its just the added organisation they'd have to do instead of simply picking a bat out of a selection, this is why I'd recommend people stick to the smaller stores like the forum sponsors!

mike1989 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 28, 2014, 05:14:54 PM »

Quote from: neoncricket on January 28, 2014, 04:57:41 PM

This is what happened to me in the past, rang up to order and see if I could specify an actual weight - they told me I'd have to pay to return the bat if it wasn't right, the delivery costs add up quickly if I have to start returning bats multiple times until I get the right weight

Total lottery, which is a shame - it can't be that hard to add more specific weights to the website (I know for a fact it isn't!) - its just the added organisation they'd have to do instead of simply picking a bat out of a selection, this is why I'd recommend people stick to the smaller stores like the forum sponsors!

Agreed, the forum sponsors take a lot of time and care to make sure you get all the information you desire. They will even pick out a bat by hand. It is the type of service that makes you happier to pay that bit extra.

I can understand why it might be easier for a company like PDC to simply put a set of bats in a light section, medium section, and heavy section, and get their workers that pick the order to simply grab the first one that is at hand. A lot of places like that have their workers targeted and timed. But when a customer takes the time to call, with a request, it would be good customer service to make it happen. But from my experience last season, it put me off them because it seemed like they didn't care about customer service on that count. But on the flip side, when I had to return my faulty helmet to PDC, they couldn't have been more helpful.

smilley792 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 28, 2014, 05:33:48 PM »

As much as I love ijc, Uzi, vitas etc. as they do hand pick bats, they do go out of there way to hell you and there customer service is excellent,

They don't do one thing. And that is have ridicolous sales. You may get a few quid of a bat here and there, but they all have bats that are a few seasons old,and they are being sold at near new prices as they can't afford to lose money,

Sports direct and pdc are big corporate machines, and when the line becomes old hat they don't have any issue in selling at reduced price that is below cost, as they need to get rid of stock to make way for new,

So when a 400quid bats is for sale for �150! I take it as a calculated risk that I may have to send it back. And at 7.50 for postage, that ain't that big a risk. I bet some of I ou put more than that on an football bets at weekend, or on beer on a Friday night,

Me I do neither. So it's well worth the risk.

FvanN · « **Reply #9 on:** January 28, 2014, 05:34:42 PM »

I picked up a very nice cobalt 5000 for my son and its a stunning bat. Great finiah and nice think decals. Goes really well to. Almost bought one but I decided to go with something slightly better imho.

fasteddie · « **Reply #10 on:** January 28, 2014, 06:19:07 PM »

Quote from: smilley792 on January 28, 2014, 05:33:48 PM

As much as I love ijc, Uzi, vitas etc. as they do hand pick bats, they do go out of there way to hell you and there customer service is excellent,

They don't do one thing. And that is have ridicolous sales. You may get a few quid of a bat here and there, but they all have bats that are a few seasons old,and they are being sold at near new prices as they can't afford to lose money,

Sports direct and pdc are big corporate machines, and when the line becomes old hat they don't have any issue in selling at reduced price that is below cost, as they need to get rid of stock to make way for new,

So when a 400quid bats is for sale for �150! I take it as a calculated risk that I may have to send it back. And at 7.50 for postage, that ain't that big a risk. I bet some of I ou put more than that on an football bets at weekend, or on beer on a Friday night,

Me I do neither. So it's well worth the risk.

I think the smaller retailer has no choice but to give excellent service. If they didn't they would be out of business pretty darn quick. As such, I'm not surprised the forum sponsors try and give excellent service, their business model dictates it. Also they are (in many ways) putting their heads on a block by sponsoring a forum such as this. After all we are rather demanding (as I've found), and the smallest and most inconsequential thing can cause a right kerfuffel and trolling.

Still, whilst they are prepared to put themselves out we benefit. Of course we do.

We also get to cash in when PDC (or others) want to dump old kit at <cost.

We can't lose really. We've got the smaller retailers competing like Billy-O, and the bigger firms worrying about some (irrelevant) stickers/decals (delete to taste). {Rubbing hands gleefully}

I've enjoyed great service from both btw. I'm not having a pop.

The Puma looks great. Seems like your drunken twittering got you a corker! Good skills.

smilley792 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 28, 2014, 06:38:07 PM »

Didn't think you was having a pop, you pretty much said what I wanted to. Only better.

Manormanic · « **Reply #12 on:** January 28, 2014, 06:54:20 PM »

Quote from: smilley792 on January 28, 2014, 05:33:48 PM

Me I do neither. So it's well worth the risk.

So long s you accept it to be a risk, its a pretty fair one to take.

Six Sixes Cricket · « **Reply #13 on:** January 28, 2014, 07:06:19 PM »

Best bat I've seen in a while, Looks like a modern day Distinction.

fasteddie · « **Reply #14 on:** January 28, 2014, 07:33:00 PM »

they have a 2000 for �75. Got to be worth a punt.
Shame I've just bought a new guitar today so am spent out!

Author Topic: The prodirect cricket puma bargain experiment. English willow/Indian made (Read 5575 times)

Cowcorner

The prodirect cricket puma bargain experiment. English willow/Indian made

Neon Cricket

Re: The prodirect cricket puma bargain experiment. English willow/Indian made

ajmw89

Re: The prodirect cricket puma bargain experiment. English willow/Indian made

smilley792

Re: The prodirect cricket puma bargain experiment. English willow/Indian made

AlanB

Re: The prodirect cricket puma bargain experiment. English willow/Indian made

mike1989

Re: The prodirect cricket puma bargain experiment. English willow/Indian made

Neon Cricket

Re: The prodirect cricket puma bargain experiment. English willow/Indian made

mike1989

Re: The prodirect cricket puma bargain experiment. English willow/Indian made

smilley792

Re: The prodirect cricket puma bargain experiment. English willow/Indian made

FvanN

Re: The prodirect cricket puma bargain experiment. English willow/Indian made

fasteddie

Re: The prodirect cricket puma bargain experiment. English willow/Indian made

smilley792

Re: The prodirect cricket puma bargain experiment. English willow/Indian made

Manormanic

Re: The prodirect cricket puma bargain experiment. English willow/Indian made

Six Sixes Cricket

Re: The prodirect cricket puma bargain experiment. English willow/Indian made

fasteddie

Re: The prodirect cricket puma bargain experiment. English willow/Indian made