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[TheAllRounder99]

Just got one of Steve Smith's actual bats handpicked by the director of Protos/Sondhi 2 weeks ago.

He told my friend who got me it that it was the best bat out of all the Smith bats they made - its a really special L.E. cleft and was graded on ping and pickup.
Weighs 2.9 but feels like 2.6 and is a beast. Very full profile - lots of meat.

My friend is really good friends with the director so he saves him the best ones, but it also costs a lot.

[edge]

He told my friend who got me it that it was the best bat out of all the Smith bats they made

Call me a sceptic, but I reckon the best Steve Smith bat Steve Smith's batmakers have made probably ended up in the hands of Steve Smith...

Also, this bat clearly doesn't exist?

[skip1973]

We are going about all this the wring way. Us, the CBFers, should collectively use our buying power to access those types of bats from all over the world. Buying in bulk will also help negotiate better prices. We are the real market, not these snobby pros!

One or two guys just buying individual bats and parading them on CBF just makes no sense, kinda silly.

We should pool our resources, buy in bulk, get access to better quality bats and also better prices.

Doable?

  A. This forum isn't the real market.  B. Ethically they shouldn't sell to a small group or individuals, not when retailers keep them in business.

[Neon Cricket]

B. Ethically they shouldn't sell to a small group or individuals, not when retailers keep them in business.

Agree with you on that one! But then again we all know ethics go out the window for most suppliers overseas... (especially when you get designs made "exclusively" to then be sold with the most minute of alterations within a month )

[Calzehbhoy]

What a way to thank all our Sponsors on here as an ex sponsor I can only feel for you all

Confused by this statement? Why do you 'feel sorry' for the sponsors? Fairly sure every single sponsor has made sales off the back of forum sponsorship yourself included when you were a sponsor. Are you suggesting that members of the forum shouldn't buy from any other retailer?

[skip1973]

Confused by this statement? Why do you 'feel sorry' for the sponsors? Fairly sure every single sponsor has made sales off the back of forum sponsorship yourself included when you were a sponsor. Are you suggesting that members of the forum shouldn't buy from any other retailer?

This suggestion isn't buying off another retailer.

[GDP1964]

Confused by this statement? Why do you 'feel sorry' for the sponsors? Fairly sure every single sponsor has made sales off the back of forum sponsorship yourself included when you were a sponsor. Are you suggesting that members of the forum shouldn't buy from any other retailer?

You can buy from whatever RETAILER you want you can also go direct to Manufacturers as well if you want .
But by going this route you basically telling  RETAIL Sponsors on here is if we can buy in bulk we don't need you .

[Bats_Entertainment]

I think we should perhaps not lose sight of the fact that this site was established to champion the cause of independent UK batmakers.

[TheAllRounder99]

Call me a sceptic, but I reckon the best Steve Smith bat Steve Smith's batmakers have made probably ended up in the hands of Steve Smith...

Also, this bat clearly doesn't exist?

Lol, it does exist. I think that was made pretty clear?... Some have already seen pics of it. And no, that's not necessary. Steve Smith will take bats that have amazing ping and have heartwood/two-tone. He's super-picky about that. The one that I have right now had the best ping of the lot but didn't have heartwood, so my friend took it.

He knows most bat directors really, really well.

If you want photos, PM me and I'll give you my email there.

They had to sticker it Protos Hurricane, though, as Protos can't sell New Balance directly from their factory.

Same goes for all those that make, for example, Dhoni's bats - they can't sticker it with Spartan and sell it directly.

I also currently have one of Virat Kohli's actual ones from Jatin. Best pinger by a country-mile. Crazy, crazy bat.

[Calzehbhoy]

I think we should perhaps not lose sight of the fact that this site was established to champion the cause of independent UK batmakers.

Totally and I fully support that, I've purchased more than my fair share of independent UK made bats and fully appreciate their work, owning 2 H4L's & having owned Red Ink, Bulldog, Shark, B3 & Stretton all as a result of their sponsorship of this forum shows I more than support the sponsors of this forum and that sponsorship does have it's benefits .  I Just didn't see the need to suggest that because an idea of collective buying power was floated that it was a slight against the sponsors in anyway and that sponsors should be offended as a result?

[tushar sehgal]

@InternalTraining's suggestion was more to do with getting Pro quality bats at cheaper price (compared to insane market prices of today) and not about boycotting the sponsors.

As for people defending the sponsors, yes a lot of them do a good job but are you telling me they are selling them at trade price or cheapest in market? no they are not and its ok, they are a business and need to make money. Just because I paid to go watch IPL doesn't mean I can only drink pepsi and nothing else because they sponsored the event I am at...

We've had sponsors in past cheat forum members out of money, gear and hours upon hours of time...not all are saints...people have been sent wrong items, things that don't meet what they asked for and then ridiculed publicly for questioning the sponsor many a times...yet we have no problems slinging mud on brands from other nations or ex-sponsor...

There are brands out there charging 400GBP for stickered up bats made in India...what's the point of supporting those brands? I am not saying they are or are not on this forum, I don't know...

[Shinpathy]

Just got one of Steve Smith's actual bats handpicked by the director of Protos/Sondhi 2 weeks ago.

He told my friend who got me it that it was the best bat out of all the Smith bats they made - its a really special L.E. cleft and was graded on ping and pickup.
Weighs 2.9 but feels like 2.6 and is a beast. Very full profile - lots of meat.

My friend is really good friends with the director so he saves him the best ones, but it also costs a lot.

Ryan Grundy that you? 

[Righthand]

I think we should perhaps not lose sight of the fact that this site was established to champion the cause of independent UK batmakers.

I didn't actually know this although it makes complete sense. Also a lot of the threads on here now make more sense

[edge]

Lol, it does exist.

Ha, see forum golden rule #1!

...and #39 is worth a look too

[adb club cricketer]

I think we should perhaps not lose sight of the fact that this site was established to champion the cause of independent UK batmakers.

This is perfectly fine but then when you have retailers as sponsors here, it is confusing as the retailers will sell all brands that are not considered "independent UK batmakers" as well and folks post about them too.  I see a lot more posts here that are neither from the UK/independent batmakers nor from the sponsors, not sure if that is due to a lack of knowledge or not. Would be good to set the rules clearly so the site achieves its intended purpose.