Topic: Cricket Bat Manufacturers vs. Cricket Bat Brands (Read 55006 times)

ItsJustCricket · « **Reply #150 on:** October 22, 2015, 04:29:14 PM »

Quote from: tommo256 on October 22, 2015, 04:24:59 PM

Are you able to handpick across all ranges of gray nicolls and kooka?

Last year yes. We handpicked everything from the Omega XRD Destroyer bat we took (under �80), to the GN Legend we took (over �500). There's some confusion at the minute over Kookaburra bats and the lower end this year, but we can confidently say, if we can't handpick it, we won't stock it.

Kulli · « **Reply #151 on:** October 22, 2015, 04:32:15 PM »

Is a potential downside to hand picking all bats that you then cannot stock some brands, and therefore offer customers a more limited selection.

Anyway, as someone said it's nice to see shop owners with a passion for their product!

tommo256 · « **Reply #152 on:** October 22, 2015, 04:34:47 PM »

Quote from: ItsJustCricket on October 22, 2015, 04:29:14 PM

Last year yes. We handpicked everything from the Omega XRD Destroyer bat we took (under �80), to the GN Legend we took (over �500). There's some confusion at the minute over Kookaburra bats and the lower end this year, but we can confidently say, if we can't handpick it, we won't stock it.

But then surely if you can't stock the lower end bats, then the average cricketer who doesn't ideally want to spend lets say more than �130, you won't have those in stock as you just seem to be handpicking the top draw premium bats, that lets be fair are wasted on some of us! Im lucky that I get to hand pick what I want as a bat!

ItsJustCricket · « **Reply #153 on:** October 22, 2015, 04:35:15 PM »

Thank you - sometimes I know we can get carried away, but it is because of that passion. I must emphasise clearly that we are not meaning to criticise any other brands, manufacturers, retailers, customers, or anyone! We are only trying to ecplain and prove why we feel our method to be the one we have chosen.

Potentially we cannot stock all brands yes, that's a fact (NB, GM etc). But we actually find that the ones which offer hand picking are the ones which can offer better value for money, and chances are if you're looking for something from a non handpicking brand, someone we have in stock has a very similar bat, which is most often cheaper and performs better than the equivalent bats from the non handpicking brand which we've had for knocking in! So yes, less choice overall, but most customers tend to trust our advice on similar shapes etc.

edge · « **Reply #154 on:** October 22, 2015, 04:40:20 PM »

Quote from: ItsJustCricket on October 22, 2015, 04:22:14 PM

Edge - We have no desire to put down other companies or retailers. We've shown that by proving to you we think other companies pick cracking bats - look at our comment about Vitas' Salix selection - some absolute guns in there!

You've just had a bash at two other companies about their 'non-handpicked' bats, come on. Mind you, finding guns at Salix has got to be like trying to find blonde girls with big tits at the Playboy mansion!

Of course I'd rather buy a quality bat from a forum sponsor than a dog from PDC, that's not the point at all. Point is that (for example) B&S not letting retailers handpick their bats would in no way stop me from buying a superb B&S bat. Same with GM, retailers may have to take what they're given but that is a disadvantage for you, not for the customer, who can spend or not spend their money as they see fit! Handpicking is great, but where you rub people up the wrong way is insisting that it's the ultimate way to buy cricket bats. It's one way, which has its' positives, and other ways have theirs too. Good luck with your way and the service you provide of course, and also good luck to companies who feel it doesn't fit with them!

smilley792 · « **Reply #155 on:** October 22, 2015, 04:45:56 PM »

To jake @Vitas Cricket

If gunn and Moore offered you the chance to handpick this years stock would you

A ) say yes and arrange the next visit

Or

B ) decline saying your happy with the current arrangement and will sell what you receive?

ItsJustCricket · « **Reply #156 on:** October 22, 2015, 04:49:43 PM »

Quote from: edge on October 22, 2015, 04:40:20 PM

You've just had a bash at two other companies about their 'non-handpicked' bats, come on. Mind you, finding guns at Salix has got to be like trying to find blonde girls with big tits at the Playboy mansion!

Of course I'd rather buy a quality bat from a forum sponsor than a dog from PDC, that's not the point at all. Point is that (for example) B&S not letting retailers handpick their bats would in no way stop me from buying a superb B&S bat. Same with GM, retailers may have to take what they're given but that is a disadvantage for you, not for the customer, who can spend or not spend their money as they see fit! Handpicking is great, but where you rub people up the wrong way is insisting that it's the ultimate way to buy cricket bats. It's one way, which has its' positives, and other ways have theirs too. Good luck with your way and the service you provide of course, and also good luck to companies who feel it doesn't fit with them!

Understand that - it was meant more as questioning than attacks - apologies to all if it came across the wrong way.

We ship a lot to overseas customers, who don't have the chance to see the bats as much in person, and so need to trust the place they are buying them from. I feel that it is difficult for us honestly to be passionate about the products if we have just been told to sell them by our suppliers, and we have no input in the selection.

And why do PDC have dogs? Why is it acknowledged that is a gamble to shop from them? Yes you will get some stunners, same as at Sports Direct, or anywhere else for that matter. But you will also get some dogs, and that's because (partly) they are not hand picked, the care isn't taken over them in the same way that Uzi, Vitas, ourselves, or any number of other shops do.

Vitas Cricket · « **Reply #157 on:** October 22, 2015, 04:55:55 PM »

Quote from: smilley792 on October 22, 2015, 04:45:56 PM

To jake @Vitas Cricket

If gunn and Moore offered you the chance to handpick this years stock would you

A ) say yes and arrange the next visit

Or

B ) decline saying your happy with the current arrangement and will sell what you receive?

Obviously A but I'm not sure what the point of the question is? I haven't disputed that handpicking is a brilliant practice. It isn't the be all and end all though.

@edge we do handpick our bats from B&S. We are then asked to take on more bats if necessary in order to offer a cross section of the range. This is usually done on a sale or return basis and is an arrangement that is fair on both us and B&S.

edge · « **Reply #158 on:** October 22, 2015, 04:58:40 PM »

Had a few teammates buy GNs from PDC over the past couple of seasons, they've all been absolute shockers looks-wise! Including a 'test' grade with the waviest grains I've possibly ever seen, and an LE that is unused by the lad who bought it because it doesn't perform. Very cheap, suspect they're taking unsold returns or something similar to get the prices so low. An advert for handpicking if ever I've seen one ha!

ItsJustCricket · « **Reply #159 on:** October 22, 2015, 04:59:49 PM »

Precisely.

Jake and Edge have now admitted that handpicking is a good practice.

Therefore, IJC being the only place where everything is handpicked, can only be a good thing right?

ItsJustCricket · « **Reply #160 on:** October 22, 2015, 05:01:46 PM »

However, we acknowledge that this is just our belief, and our business plan. It does not necessarily make it the only way of doing things, or even the correct way of doing things.

We've stated in the past we're not only in it for the money. We are in this business to provide our customers and ourselves with a rewarding service, which we believe we can do best with handpicking.

But again I stress, we are not always right (I'd take 50% of the time tbh!), and we respect and wish well other businesses who choose to take a different, but no less valid, approach.

edge · « **Reply #161 on:** October 22, 2015, 05:02:03 PM »

Quote from: Vitas Cricket on October 22, 2015, 04:55:55 PM

@edge we do handpick our bats from B&S. We are then asked to take on more bats if necessary in order to offer a cross section of the range. This is usually done on a sale or return basis and is an arrangement that is fair on both us and B&S.

Sorry Jake, only meant to refer to B&S asking retailers to take a cross-section of the range. Clearly an arrangement that works, all the ones we see from you are stunners after all!

smilley792 · « **Reply #162 on:** October 22, 2015, 05:03:52 PM »

Quote from: Vitas Cricket on October 22, 2015, 04:55:55 PM

Obviously A but I'm not sure what the point of the question is?

As 90% of my many many purchases go through yourself, and it's were I trust most of my cricketing money. I wondered if you would still put more trust in yourself than GM given the chance.

Answering A has to me ended this thread, and I shan't visit it again. Off to enjoy the res God the forum.

edge · « **Reply #163 on:** October 22, 2015, 05:08:58 PM »

Quote from: ItsJustCricket on October 22, 2015, 04:59:49 PM

Precisely.

Jake and Edge have now admitted that handpicking is a good practice.

Therefore, IJC being the only place where everything is handpicked, can only be a good thing right?

Jeez Paul/Chris, I don't think we ever denied it! It's a good thing that you hand pick, personally I don't think it matters whether you hand pick every single bat or not. Second post is much more friendly, I do like that you're up front about the way you do things and the service you're aiming to provide and I hope it pays off for you!

Vitas Cricket · « **Reply #164 on:** October 22, 2015, 05:12:10 PM »

Quote from: smilley792 on October 22, 2015, 05:03:52 PM

As 90% of my many many purchases go through yourself, and it's were I trust most of my cricketing money. I wondered if you would still put more trust in yourself than GM given the chance.

Answering A has to me ended this thread, and I shan't visit it again. Off to enjoy the res God the forum.

@smilley792 i would go to GM first and foremost because visiting batmakers/bat warehouses is probably my favourite part of this crazy world. Absolutely I trust GM or we wouldn't order the amounts we do from them, but we would always say yes when given the opportunity to pick through the bats ourselves.

Author Topic: Cricket Bat Manufacturers vs. Cricket Bat Brands (Read 55006 times)

ItsJustCricket

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturers vs. Cricket Bat Brands

Kulli

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturers vs. Cricket Bat Brands

tommo256

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ItsJustCricket

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edge

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smilley792

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ItsJustCricket

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Vitas Cricket

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edge

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ItsJustCricket

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturers vs. Cricket Bat Brands

ItsJustCricket

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturers vs. Cricket Bat Brands

edge

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturers vs. Cricket Bat Brands

smilley792

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edge

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Vitas Cricket

Re: Cricket Bat Manufacturers vs. Cricket Bat Brands