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[Biggie Smalls]

Unfortunately we can't control the exchange rate and I agree top end bat prices have gone silly but I can't agree with the value part, I have found bats in low - mid range models that are every bit as good as high end models, just not as pretty. Retailers don't survive on selling a handful of $1000+ cricket bats, we have been going 40 years now based on service and offering good products at fair prices, same as the other couple of cricket specialist in Australia.

i hear what you say , ive known this side of the story for aeons. And i have some sympathy for the position our retailers are in .... but like i said , i don't have much money so I'm not in a position to purchase just as a charitable jesture.
i never mentioned 'value' though , because even then what are my options ?
- i settle for a lower end bat (and other protective gear , even though i play a high level and cant  risk to wear less protective lower end stuff ) just so i can buy from oz retailers ? Even then , i can buy quality lower end sticks (and softs) cheaper overseas. 
-The only things that a good oz retailer can offer (when they cant come close to matching price) are trust , guaranteed stock (well , sometimes) and service/ info.
If ,  like me , you can trust the overseas suppliers you deal with and know they have stock then whats left ? Service and info..... but I'm a bat and gear geek . I don't  need that ..... I often know as much (I'm being kind here.... sometimes i know way more ) as the person serving me at a shop.
So, if you were in my shoes it would be stupid to not do what i do.

[InternalTraining]

But i have a choice of either not buying very much gear (because im poor ) or finding reasonable , competitive prices - and unfortunately,  most of the time , the prices at aussie retailers are neither .

Fair comment. Only bats that I have bought from AUS retailer are bats that I simply couldn't find anywhere else, not UK and not the Sub Continent. And for that exclusivity, I have had to pay a high price. If I could find comparable bats at a cheaper price elsewhere, I would probably buy them. But those GN bats are only available from AUS and made by the one and only bat maker. These Kranzb's are very special bats.

[jd163]

A 50+ mm edge Signature on its way from Meulemans. I will upload more pics when it arrives.

http://u.cubeupload.com/jd163/IMG3064.jpg

http://u.cubeupload.com/jd163/IMG3065.jpg

[JB]

Very nice! What weight is it @jd163? It looks like the middle is a touch lower that my 50+

[jd163]

Very nice! What weight is it @jd163? It looks like the middle is a touch lower that my 50+

This one will be 2-13. Yes the sweet spot looks lower than my 50+ also :-)

This one is SH but my 50+ is LB and 2-15. Will do detailed pics once it arrives.

[jd163]

Looks great. A Signature that size will be a rare beast! Would be interesting to hear what you think of it when it arrives

I got 5-6 bats with 50+ mm edges from different brands. Performance wise GN big bats are on a different level compared to others. I will try to do a ping test too.

[InternalTraining]

I got 5-6 bats with 50+ mm edges from different brands. Performance wise GN big bats are on a different level compared to others. I will try to do a ping test too.

I couldn't agree more!

[jd163]

If they didn't go well you be massively disappointed! Question was more on feel as I was never taken by the 50+

With any online purchase it is always a risk. To minimize the risk of getting a plank i used Vitas & IJC in UK as both handpick their bats on performance. Specialist range from GN australia is known to be made by Stuart himself so i highly doubt they will send an expensive plank out for sale.

For the feel part, these bats are heavy for sure but picks up bit lighter due to mid-high middle. @Shinpathy & @ursmasti can agree on the pick up part with me.