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[skip1973]

What about the perception of whoever gets in first takes the best stuff having an effect on other retailers? I completely agree with GM's stance.

[trypewriter]

Yes but that's based on them not having already sent any bats out, or made any new ones in the meantime...

[smilley792]

Hand picking has it's downsides. But does the majority off the public know about them? I doubt it!


1) I would not buy a kook/gn/salix from pro direct owzat etc, as I would be paranoid I'm getting the worse bats, ones that have been slung from bucket to bucket by the hand pickets.
Unless off course it was ridicolously cut in price(vitas, ijc etc do not have the kind of sale sd and pd have!!)
I'd happily go to owzat and buy a gm though. They could have one of the best?

2) As these guys want to hand pick spcertainy brands, I now believe that they all make a mismatch of great bats, to really really poor bats, infact so many poor bats that people need to hand pick them to avoid them.
If it was only 1 in 200 that were poor, would you really need to hand pick?? I doubt it.

And if gms poor bat ratio is 1 in 2 I doubt they'd still be in business.

3) hand picking could ruin there reputation. What if you get a duff bat? The hand picker is hung over, or got flu when visiting, and accidently picks a duff bat?
Or someone orders a specific bat ASAP so it can't be hand picked, but drops out of the buy. And you end up with said bat, believing it's hand picked?
Now you think your getting the cream de la cream of bats, yet it's hard, no ping and vibrates. Your gonna question the handpickers credentials? What does he know about bats? What other lies has he told you? Hmm maybe you'll go elsewhere?
Boom customer lost.

You would not lose a customer if said duff bat came from gm? You'd just think you was unlucky(if it happens once)

4) a handpick bat doesn't mean it's the best! As mentioned knocking with a mallet not proof, one mans great pick up, could be a bad pick up to someone else.
If your handpickers was 4th in line to pick his 20 from a bin off 100, you aren't getting the best bat, your getting the best bat of the last 40 remaining.

[tim2000s]

[Vitas Cricket]

What about the perception of whoever gets in first takes the best stuff having an effect on other retailers? I completely agree with GM's stance.

It doesn't matter what any retailer (or indeed forum sponsor) claims. It is PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE to go through every single bat in a single day when you visit the big brands. So whether we go to pick first or not is not that important, there are plenty of bats to go around, with multiple drops of fresh stock from November through to pre season. To open a box full of bats first is a nice feeling for me personally but has no impact on what I aiming to achieve by handpicking.

Great launch with GM today by the way, love the new range. I have tweeted a few images which I see the admin have picked up on

[tugga]

Can someone do us a rundown of the bat shapes?

[jamesisapayne]

Typically high class yet again from GM. I really do love their kit - the combination of technology and tradition is perfect and they seem to be producing modern kit that still appeals to traditionalists too.

The new stickers have definitely grown on me, but that's because I was so used to using the older style on my favourite ever bat - a Flare 606 

The colour schemes looks cool and I like the way GM have incorporated what can be quite garish colours but in a classy way, not like some of the GN bats which are increasingly looking like leftovers from a 10 year olds sketchbook.

Re: handpicking, I think GM's stance and belief in the quality of their product is admirable. I understand why some retailers business models are built on handpicking, as in quite a few manufacturer's cases it definitely is a necessity, but personally I've never seen a bad GM for the grade and the amount of people saying similar on this forum speaks volumes for the finishing/quality control they operate.

Some of Paul's posts are bordering on arrogant IMHO and I genuinely think you're missing a trick not selling GM bats - that's a not a personal dig at all, just seems to me like a typical 'it's my ball you're not playing' type of approach.

I'm not sure about the sigma's cutouts/milling, but that's a personal thing.

[Stuey]

Liking the icon F4.5 and original pads and gloves.

[Edward Lowy]

"you don't know how our business operates" is an appallingly weak defence, especially given that I was using your own statements to evidence my point.  In saying that hand picking is a positive thing that manufacturers should accommodate, I am hardly suggesting you make an exclusive arrangement for IJC but instead that any of your stockists who wish to should be able to avail themselves of the opportunity.  There wouldn't be a first pick per se since, I'm sure, you produce bats throughout the year, so stock will be constantly refreshed in time for any visit.

It is a statement of fact. Have seen your further comments about hand picking not costing anything, this is just nonsense. I don't know your business but would not presume to pretend that I know more about it than your good self.

We remain 100% confident of our grading and I am in absolute support of our extremely knowledgable staff on this point.

Kind regards

Edward

[Edward Lowy]

Hand picking is the only reason I buy off Paul. Being in Australia I have to have confidence that I'm getting a decent bat and not one that's been sitting around because it's crap and the only way they will move it is via internet. I also buy from Uzi for the same reason.

Sent from my HTC_PN071 using Tapatalk

You can buy a GM bat from an Australian retailer with the same 100% confidence as from a UK retailer or a retailer anywhere else in the World. All GM DXM bats only come from our own factory in Nottingham, we only have one set of grading standards and they are applied rigorously to each bat.

Kind regards

Edward

[jamielsn15]

You can buy a GM bat from an Australian retailer with the same 100% confidence as from a UK retailer or a retailer anywhere else in the World. All GM DXM bats only come from our own factory in Nottingham, we only have one set of grading standards and they are applied rigorously to each bat.

Kind regards

Edward

I like that - I like that a company will say with utmost confidence that "we have over 100 years experience in this field and the product we provide for you to buy is as good as you will get anywhere in the world."

By the way - those two Mogul Originals in the pics are spectacular...

[sfa82]

That 909 Aura with the heartwood looks wonderful as well as the batting pads in the Aura colourway. I love seeing Quinton De Kock in the catalogue. Definately a star in the making.

[thedevil]

That 909 Aura with the heartwood looks wonderful as well as the batting pads in the Aura colourway. I love seeing Quinton De Kock in the catalogue. Definately a star in the making.

Edward any chance these bats in the photos will be available to buy through retailers, some of them look lovely( if so left octane 808) is mine) 

[trypewriter]

I can see both sides to this hand picking argument, which to be honest seems to be hijacking the thread. I respect the retailers who do like to do it wherever possible. It allows them to build a reputation and position themselves in the market place - always being aware of the possibility of the devil on the customer's shoulder whispering in their ear 'Hm, I wouldn't have picked that one.'
I also respect the manufacturers who don't allow it, as to all intents and purposes they treat everyone the same, although at this point that same old devil that I mentioned before is whispering to someone: 'oh yes, I bet they do!'
Fair play to GM for answering questions on the forum - very welcome in my opinion.

[ItsJustCricket]

"you don't know how our business operates" is an appallingly weak defence, especially given that I was using your own statements to evidence my point.  In saying that hand picking is a positive thing that manufacturers should accommodate, I am hardly suggesting you make an exclusive arrangement for IJC but instead that any of your stockists who wish to should be able to avail themselves of the opportunity.  There wouldn't be a first pick per se since, I'm sure, you produce bats throughout the year, so stock will be constantly refreshed in time for any visit.

GM and New Balance are the only brands I'm aware of that don't let us hand-pick from them.  If all the others do, maybe it has some merit, Edward? And of course, you wouldn't need to accommodate just us! I remember one visit to the Slazenger warehouse a couple of years ago where myself, Asad and 3 or 4 other shops were all there picking bats at the same time.  I suggest GM consider something similar, possibly even put aside a "retailer open day" once a year for want of a more politically correct term...