Top End Cricket Bats are a Luxury for the amateur cricketer...
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tim2000s

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Top End Cricket Bats are a Luxury for the amateur cricketer...
« on: June 10, 2014, 06:50:40 AM »
As I was cycling in to work today, on a bike that cost around 500 of the Queen's shiny pounds, it occurred to me just how expensive some of the top end bats are.

Here I had a bike that cost only slightly more than a top end chunk of willow with some cane sticking out of it, and I was able to use it to commute to work and save myself the cost of public transport. The more I thought about it the dafter it seemed. Once you get above three hundred shiny pounds you are into territory that is frankly, a little scary. As I mentioned, you can purchase yourself a reasonable bike, a number of household appliances, a reasonable digital SLR, in fact, a whole host of things. As we've also discovered, you can get some very decent bats at a whole lot less than this price (especially if you shop at Sports Direct).

Given the complexity of many of these items, is it reasonable to spend £400 on a piece of willow? Is a batmaker's time, space and knowledge really that valuable for something that is not your livelihood?
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ProCricketer1982

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Re: Top End Cricket Bats are a Luxury for the amateur cricketer...
« Reply #1 on: June 10, 2014, 06:55:53 AM »
Nope, complete waste and ego driven only. However, some will always buy it to prove how rich/important /good they are.


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Manormanic

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Re: Top End Cricket Bats are a Luxury for the amateur cricketer...
« Reply #2 on: June 10, 2014, 07:00:57 AM »
I think I probabaly agree on that; the bats I have bought that were most expensive - M&H Distinction and Master at £275 each - were lovely, there is no denying it.  But then at £200 I got an equally excellent HAttori & Tempo from Matt at H4L and a frankly superb Black Cat Custom.  This rather suggests that £200 is a decent level of spend, and that is artificially highby my need for Long Blades, which rules out a lot of mass market manufacturers.
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Pitbull

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Re: Top End Cricket Bats are a Luxury for the amateur cricketer...
« Reply #3 on: June 10, 2014, 07:05:46 AM »
When I bought my GM this season as soon as I'd paid for it I thought 'what have I just spent just shy of £300 on' but I did treat myself for the first time on a top of the range bat after getting a bonus at work. I could have spent it else where on something that was probably worth the money.
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skip1973

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Re: Top End Cricket Bats are a Luxury for the amateur cricketer...
« Reply #4 on: June 10, 2014, 07:19:11 AM »
I will be at GN in Melbourne in 2 weeks, be interesting to see what justifies the Legend gold price tag. Been told ordering has been strong for them.
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FvanN

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Re: Top End Cricket Bats are a Luxury for the amateur cricketer...
« Reply #5 on: June 10, 2014, 07:33:52 AM »
I think £200 would be my price limit. I cant justify spending more than that on a bat when you consider I bat 8-11 so on a good day might face about 50 balls and then have a 15min net twice a week.

But that said I do have a burning desire to get one of those B&S Ltd edition & UZI Pro bats...  :D More likely the B&S as they are a lot closer to my price range.
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GarrettJ

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Re: Top End Cricket Bats are a Luxury for the amateur cricketer...
« Reply #6 on: June 10, 2014, 07:40:22 AM »
top end bats are a luxury .............................. but most people only buy one at that price and not hoard bats at £225 each.

£500 for a bike ... does it have pedals? Some folk are dishing out thousands for a bike, so no different to cricket bats i suppose.

In everything there is luxury items which people will pay for but I have to agree that anything more than £300 is ridiculous.
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smilley792

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Re: Top End Cricket Bats are a Luxury for the amateur cricketer...
« Reply #7 on: June 10, 2014, 08:13:44 AM »
is it not a status symbol?


you buy a gn legend/gm palyers ed etc etc, you are really saying, look at me.

when for 200 or less you can easily buy a python/red ink/rk and have the same grade and quality stivck as above, your just missing the stickers.



thing is, when i see someone scoring runs galore, they dont generally have a top end bat, top 3 run scorers in our league last season had a 2012 biggest kahuna, a 2stripe b3 and a gm 808 1885.

not what youd say top end
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fasteddie

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Re: Top End Cricket Bats are a Luxury for the amateur cricketer...
« Reply #8 on: June 10, 2014, 08:15:21 AM »
A good comparison.

When you break down the cost of the components, labor, shipping, retail margin, (and more besides) which went into making your bike, it shows that business can live on slim margins.

It also shines a blinding light on the crazy prices charged for an asset which should last nowhere near as long as your bike.

I've said it before, but the prices some bat makers charge is hilarious! How can anyone defend a brand with one workshop, low overhead charging >300/350/400? You know who you are.
Even worse are the box shifters who buy blanks, sticker them up, hype them to the stars, and charge >300. You know who you are.

A fair price is the price you should charge or pay.
However, people are greedy and feel that by paying more they are getting more, and suppliers know that by charging more they can make more money. Whilst people pay over the odds, suppliers will charge.

Anyone for an asset bubble?
« Last Edit: June 10, 2014, 08:18:22 AM by fasteddie »
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praguetaz

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Re: Top End Cricket Bats are a Luxury for the amateur cricketer...
« Reply #9 on: June 10, 2014, 08:39:13 AM »
I agree with the gist of this thread which is why this forum is so great.

Currently there's a Newbery Krakatoa SPS going on here for 145 gbp including postage, which is not just a top end bat but an absolute bargain for any batsman. 
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WalkingWicket37

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Re: Top End Cricket Bats are a Luxury for the amateur cricketer...
« Reply #10 on: June 10, 2014, 08:49:27 AM »
I spent £205 on a bat once. Never spending that again! Low end bargains to be had from the big manufacturers, or a nice lower grade custom is a better bet.
After all, you're paying for looks, not performance.
Save money - go for a munter!  ;)
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Number4

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Re: Top End Cricket Bats are a Luxury for the amateur cricketer...
« Reply #11 on: June 10, 2014, 08:50:34 AM »
Would a £100 bike get you to work Tim?
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AverageCricketer

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Re: Top End Cricket Bats are a Luxury for the amateur cricketer...
« Reply #12 on: June 10, 2014, 08:54:34 AM »
Most I've ever spent on a bat is $195. The lower grade kook and GN are great value for money.
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Manormanic

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Re: Top End Cricket Bats are a Luxury for the amateur cricketer...
« Reply #13 on: June 10, 2014, 08:55:12 AM »
Anything you buy has a value based largely around what the percevied punter is likely to be willing to spend!
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george_parv

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Re: Top End Cricket Bats are a Luxury for the amateur cricketer...
« Reply #14 on: June 10, 2014, 09:06:39 AM »
Hard question but I also have a bike bought for £300 added some parts now a very solid racer (£450 altogether) I cycle to work which is about 15mins away by bike every morning and evening through the week so 2.5hrs of cycling. I then look at how much I play cricket 2 matches + training = 11.5hrs a week, so for me with the amount I play its worth me paying top end
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