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[InternalTraining]

You really think "most bats by most makers" aren't responsive or don't ping?

Most bats don't open up in reasonable time to be of value to the batsmen. Bats are a crap shoot.

[InternalTraining]

Why would the seller or their dealer have any responsibility?
Bats usually come with a 12 month warranty, you've said this was 18 months after you bought it second hand.

I suspected that dealer had sold a defective bat to the first owner. When I bought it, there wasn't a single mark on the blade of the Newbery Blitz.

[Jimbo]

Most bats don't open up in reasonable time to be of value to the batsmen. Bats are a crap shoot.

Fair enough, only had a few bats that didn't open up with a few months of netting behind them but I guess that what's reasonable depends on your circumstances.

[SD]

My view would be that the average club player would prefer longevity over peak performance.  Particularly as bats have increased exponentially in price in real terms in recent years, the majority of customers would expect their bats to last.   The majority of the players at my club only own one bat, and in many cases have used it across a number of seasons. 

There are a smaller group who are seeking peak performance - and often not prepared to play a bat in - who would take a bat that performs better from the start but won't last as long.

It's understandable that manufacturers will generally look to cater for the first group given that makes up the largest part of the market

[Sitonit]

Ohh this looks stunning. A new CA Sports bat:

CA Legend

Nice little promo video too:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CH-PWSdnZUd/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

So they are what? Like 5 years behind GN to copy their idea of laser engraving and whittle a bat named LEGEND?

[Chad]

The whole narrow width, or shorter than the "standard" - seems to be happening lots across many brands? SS Retro range? DSC bats?

I dont think its CA alone that may be missing a few mm?

Narrowing is a huge pet peeve of mine. Yes, lots of brands are doing it - that doesn't make it okay though. 108mm is the maximum width, but should be set as the industry standard. I've had some bats that I've sent back cause they're far too narrow (105mm I can just about accept) - I'm not paying adult sized prices for a harrow width bat. (104mm) In a market where volume - weight ratio is quite a big selling point, narrowing bats to fake low density (Without advertising it as such) is cheating. I've not even started on the narrowing of the back of the bats!

Just my view on this - Keeley, SS/TON, DSC, CA, SG, Chase, Aus/Indian market GNs are just a few of those who seem to be culprits in this regard. Some retailers can already have a headache of measuring edge and spine sizes to cater customer enquiries and listing bats - don't make them have to check the width of every bat up and down.

Also, with regards to the legitimacy of some CA labelled bats - I'll share something a little later. (I do quite like the look of the CA legend though, but echo Sitonit's sentiments about it.) Personally, I feel the quality of CA bats in general have gone down since the TRD 12000 days - back when the 8000 was a very respectable grade. I'm sure I sold @Kulli a very nice 8000 here, but I may have confused him with someone else! Every CA bat I saw, bar none, was very well made and balanced. They were no less durable than bats today. (Could be rose tinted glasses, could be that clubmates all picked their's out in Pakistan)

[Yorkershire]

Also, with regards to the legitimacy of some CA labelled bats - I'll share something a little later.

Oooohh I'm intrigued...

could be that clubmates all picked their's out in Pakistan

Just recently have there been more UK retailers selling CA bats, but most family and friends I've seen get Pakistani brands from Pakistan... but doesn't mean they are all getting genuine bats due to lots fakes in Pakistan... I got burnt years ago with a fake MB Malik Sher. The same shop sold me a genuine PLUS 10000 and fake Malik... go figure... I'd go as far as some of the smaller shops couldn't even tell you if they were selling fakes...

[Bats_Entertainment]

Misuse of term 'opening up'. But I can't be bothered anymore.