Print

[ppccopener]

im sure most batmakers do upgrade the grades to charge a higher price,but that's relative to how much the average club player can afford to pay for a grade 1 or 2(or 3)-and how much they charge for it...
i absolutley love Salix bats and the workmanship but in truth a well know batmaker in kent and one is essex can make the same grade for half the price...ive been there and seen the process,
constantly promoting certain brands on this forum that are the best bats out there is getting a little weary.no offence meant at all but i'm in agreement with fast eddie.

salix/m and h/others have a market and are very succesful.Good luck to them but it's based on sales talk and marketing,not the product

[SOULMAN1012]

This looks similar, in grading terms, to another Salix which was bought by another cbf member. He was going to send it back. If I recall correctly, most posters on the thread had the cleft at <G1 and the purchaser was seriously considering returning the bat.

It does show that we could do with a standardised grading policy. Salix selling this as G1 when it was not classed as G1 from the source.

So,if you work this through, Wrights are sending a consignment of mixed clefts, of which this one would be G2/3, Salix are then re-selling this as G1, and many others from the small sample we've seen.
Salix it appears are selling clefts they buy as G2/3 as G1.
Is this not the same as buying a pig and selling it as a prize bull?

If you look at other bat makers (just here on the forum) how many would sell this as a G1, especially at the prices Salix charge.

I know some will say it's a dig at Soulman and Salix. It's not. It's highlighting a product sold as G1 when it is clearly not.
I know some will say that it 'pings like a trampoline', but grading is on cosmetics and NOT performance.

It's more a light on the need (to protect the uninformed consumer) to introduce a standardised grading system. If you are an informed buyer then you should have the knowledge to make the decision yourself. However, for the majority, who rely on the brand for guidance, this isn't cricket.

Why not be honest and grade it correctly. Pay your tax, Barlow, grade your bats properly, Salix and others.
It's not cricket (nor is it personal).

How can you say that this was not a G1 from source? You would have no idea how this was graded?

Also saying that Salix upgrade clefts to make a profit I believe is slander which for a man of you apparent intelligence and business background is a bit of an error isn't it??

Also can you explain to me G1 Butterfly from a company that you seem to endorse a lot? Prize bull seems quite good compared to that I would say.

Finally some would say this is a dig at someone or something it's not it's just my view.

[dilscoop]

How can you say that this was not a G1 from source? You would have no idea how this was graded?

Also saying that Salix upgrade clefts to make a profit I believe is slander which for a man of you apparent intelligence and business background is a bit of an error isn't it??

Also can you explain to me G1 Butterfly from a company that you seem to endorse a lot? Prize bull seems quite good compared to that I would say.

Finally some would say this is a dig at someone or something it's not it's just my view.

Harsh

[petehosk]

Harsh

I think that fasteddie was just as harsh! Therefore equal amounts of harshness!
Now let us please stick to the topic!!!! 

[fasteddie]

I think that fasteddie was just as harsh! Therefore equal amounts of harshness!
Now let us please stick to the topic!!!! 

I'm not harsh. I'm calling it out.

What's harsh is that Salix are selling this as G1 when it's G2/3.

Pity the consumer who get's snared by their 'harsh' grading policy. That's the point, and it's true.

All Chris needs to do is check the grading statement on JS Wrights website and he will see. 

[petehosk]

I'm not harsh. I'm calling it out.

What's harsh is that Salix are selling this as G1 when it's G2/3.

Pity the consumer who get's snared by their 'harsh' grading policy. That's the point, and it's true.

All Chris needs to do is check the grading statement on JS Wrights website and he will see. 

Your petty criticism is becoming tiresome!
As someone pointed out...there are other brands that are either overly complimentary on their grading, or that perhaps grade more on a mixture of cosmetics and performance. And yet I never see you criticise any other brand for it! So I suggest that you get off your high horse and realise that you have a very obvious issue with Salix!

Now you have made your point, so step away from the topic, and put your claws back on your mittens!

[Chad]

I'm not harsh. I'm calling it out.

What's harsh is that Salix are selling this as G1 when it's G2/3.

Pity the consumer who get's snared by their 'harsh' grading policy. That's the point, and it's true.

All Chris needs to do is check the grading statement on JS Wrights website and he will see. 

You're making assumptions that it wasn't G1 from the source. Although it doesn't look G1, I wouldn't be surprised if it was graded as G1 from the supplier. 8 straight and even grains, and some blemishes don't turn up until after planing the face, which is done by the manufacturer, not by the willow suppliers... Chris chose this cleft, so as a consumer, he knows what he's getting. I've had a shocker before too in terms of a G1 bat, some people downgrade more often than others. If it was done more often and regularly, then I suppose the price of G1 would shoot through the roof!

You had an SLX before Chris, didn't you? Was that one moved on, and how does this new one compare to it?

[ProCricketer1982]

whilst I agree with FastEddie on the principle of brands grading up (given the small amounts of G1 they are issued in proportion to the rest of the grades), I think it's a trend throughout the industry and no one brand is immune from doing it. To single out any brand is just personal preference either for or against. Unfortunately businesses now do not have moral compasses and are only interested in the bottom line.

Sad but true.

Anyway, nice looking bat. Not a stunner but if it goes well then tbh, who cares what it looks like! Currently suffering a bat hating period with my match bat so keep changing mid game between my match bat and my spare bat... No reason other than me being a nutter currently.

[dilscoop]

whilst I agree with FastEddie on the principle of brands grading up (given the small amounts of G1 they are issued in proportion to the rest of the grades), I think it's a trend throughout the industry and no one brand is immune from doing it. To single out any brand is just personal preference either for or against. Unfortunately businesses now do not have moral compasses and are only interested in the bottom line.

Sad but true.

Anyway, nice looking bat. Not a stunner but if it goes well then tbh, who cares what it looks like! Currently suffering a bat hating period with my match bat so keep changing mid game between my match bat and my spare bat... No reason other than me being a nutter currently.

Well said sir

[GarrettJ]

clefts are graded on the rough sawn face using the grains at the bottom where it is waxed. Once planed all sorts can show up.

its up to the bat maker to grade it down or leave it at g1, its their reputation at stake.

[joeljonno]

A Grade 1 Blade

A Grade 1 is the best looking blade money can buy, though it will not necessarily play the best. There may be some red wood evident on the edge of the bat (up to 1.75 inches).  The grain on the face will be straight and there will be a minimum of 6 grains visible.  There may be the odd small knot or speck in the edge or back but the playing area should be clean.


from http://www.cricketbatwillow.com/blades-grading

[SOULMAN1012]

You're making assumptions that it wasn't G1 from the source. Although it doesn't look G1, I wouldn't be surprised if it was graded as G1 from the supplier. 8 straight and even grains, and some blemishes don't turn up until after planing the face, which is done by the manufacturer, not by the willow suppliers... Chris chose this cleft, so as a consumer, he knows what he's getting. I've had a shocker before too in terms of a G1 bat, some people downgrade more often than others. If it was done more often and regularly, then I suppose the price of G1 would shoot through the roof!

You had an SLX before Chris, didn't you? Was that one moved on, and how does this new one compare to it?

That was taken to nets where one of our lads loved it so much he offered to buy it so as it was easy to get another made I just sold to him mate and he is scoring bucket loads so hopefully mine does the same.

[fasteddie]

Your petty criticism is becoming tiresome!

Now you have made your point, so step away from the topic, and put your claws back on your mittens!

It is neither petty nor spiteful.

It is simply shining a light on a sharp practice (which as you've seen, many forum members agree is widespread). Just because Chris loses his cool doesn't mean the post isn't valid nor reasonable.

Why not turn on Chris for his (quite spiteful and petty statement) that I am 'slanderous' and am 'ignorant'. I've said nothing of the sort to him.

[AlanB]

Personally, as someone who has posted pictures of my customer bought Salix kit on here previously, I find the seemingly endless negative comments from fasteddie off-putting for doing so again.

[RoCo Da Pixie]

I must say the Salix bat looks nice. I have only ever used one Salix and that is my current match bat which I got from IJC. It is technically a grade 2 bat but visually looks lovely with some real character.

Chris knows what he has got and I am sure he has chosen this on performance etc rather than the aesthetics of the blade.