Print

[Mattsky]

Back in early January, I sent my old Mjolnir off to Martin Swift at Newbury for a full refurb.
It's over 10 years old, and of the oldskool Mjolnir shape - small edges, but full profile, so when you middle it, it stays middled.
It's a wand too, at under 2lb 8oz.

Now, I don't really intend to play with it again, having acquired a few heavier bats since,  but it's served me well and I wanted to keep it.
So I decided to pamper it, as it needed a bit of TLC - especially to a long crack that had opened up in the back, that didn't affect performance, but didn't look great.

Here it was a while ago, in pretty good nick:



The weeks went by, and no word from Newbery. I grew fed up with talking to their answer machine.
However, a few posts on their Facebook page elicited a response and apology. Apparently the chap who does their refurbs (Martin Swift himself?) had left, so they were playing catchup. Not that they had bothered to tell me.
So over 3 MONTHS after sending it off, this was waiting for me:



I'm pleased with the results. Even though it did take 3 months. And a quick net with it proved that it's still got what it takes in the ping department. It may get a run out someday after all...

[Alvaro]

Shame you got the new stickers, but looks a nice cleanup

[Mattsky]

Could have kept the old ones on, I suppose. The newer grey and yellow Mjolnir stickers are just...not the best. Anyway, I love the Cadbury colours. Mmmmm. Chocolate.

[alba caerulea]

Lovely bat, super shapes those Mjolnirs

[Mattsky]

Aye, they've got it where it counts. No big edges at the expense of wood behind the ball where you're meant to hit it! 😀

[Jenpeez]

Mattsky thanks for this post because at least i know what is happening. I sent off my uzi nearly two months back and have e-mailed and phoned numerous times but to no avail. I even asked them to forget the refurb and just send me the bat back. Nothing, no reply, just silence. I actually came to the conclusion that the bat was lost in transit even though I had evidence to the contrary. The season has started and luckily we have not played yet due to weather, but I would have preferred it if they had just contacted and explained the situation. At least then I could have made a decision as to whether it was worth waiting for. One thing is for sure, had i rung and left a message that i wanted to purchase a bat, I bet they would have got back to me. Brilliant a company as they in terms of products, this is really disappointing. Anyone can have issues due to someone leaving, but to just bury your head in the sand and not make this clear to those that have sent bats in is poor.

[FattusCattus]

I'm down there tomorrow - would anyone need me to demand anything with menaces or run off (very slowly) with an item?

[JB]

I'm down there tomorrow - would anyone need me to demand anything with menaces or run off (very slowly) with an item?

Perhaps you could take some pics of the new Invicta bat if they have some in the shop Fattus?

[FattusCattus]

I'm on it - although, what is it?

[Ayrtek Cricket]

Sam Northeast exclusive bat apparently, guessing a new profile etc.

[FattusCattus]

Pah!! Shocking willow in that place - 5 stars with 3 grains, huge knots in the back, discoloured faces. Huge swathes of empty shelves, stock all over the floor.

Hah!! Wouldn't spend my hard-earned cash in there if there are forum sponsors such as @Uzi Sports  who get to hand pick stuff. Honestly, it seemed like the dregs of a once great brand!!

[WalkingWicket37]

Pah!! Shocking willow in that place - 5 stars with 3 grains, huge knots in the back, discoloured faces. Huge swathes of empty shelves, stock all over the floor.

Hah!! Wouldn't spend my hard-earned cash in there if there are forum sponsors such as @Uzi Sports  who get to hand pick stuff. Honestly, it seemed like the dregs of a once great brand!!

It's a real shame, I've seen it happen over the last couple of seasons, and some may disagree with me here - but Newbery seem to have lost their way somewhat.

A couple of teammates swear by them. One has a TT break that they said was terminal on inspection. I repaired it for him and it's still in his bag to this day (we can put that down to one bad call).
Another teammate had a Kudos break. 4 months after sending it back they sent a replacement, a Kudos 2 upgraded to SPS as a sorry for the slow service. It had a nearly clean face, and the 4 grains were straight and evenly spaced to be fair...

That, along with a few posts on here of SPS bats with knotty backs and 3 month refurbs. Hopefully they can sort themselves out as I would hate to see Newbery do A Duncan Fernley

[Mattsky]

Hopefully it's just a blip. looks like their main refurb man has left, and that's put the cat among the pigeons.
Would hate to see them wilt into a 'has-been' brand. They've produced such classic bats.

[FattusCattus]

Well I don't know who's running their shop, but it should be the flagship of the brand, as I believe it is their only branded outlet.

No Blitz model in stock at all, no mention of this Invicta thing, 1 single Mjolnir on show. In each of the bays the bats were displayed, the grades were all mixed up, they included unbranded items and junior models all mixed in. Bats strewn everywhere, including loads of unstickered ones in boxes on the shop floor. The gloves display on an island in the middle of the shop was bare, with the odd item left lying on their own.

I understand they had a few people in, looking at bats etc, but it was not a good look - particularly on a Bank Holiday Monday, with no play, a time at which many people would come to browse and buy.

I'm a retailer, and my shop is often messy, but I put that right at the first opportunity I have, and I have nowhere like the prestige that Newbery hold within their own market place. It looked simply like they couldn't be bothered.

I was actually looking to buy something, but the selection was so poor, and the environment so uninviting, I walked out.

[sHoweller]

This sounds like a real shame.
Always love the Newbury's.
To be honest, from what you described there, it sounds worse than Duncan Fearnley!