Topic: Prices (Read 1807 times)

FattusCattus · « **on:** March 18, 2021, 08:54:35 PM »

https://www.sportsdirect.com/masuri-e-line-pro-crk-bt-851955#colcode=85195590

I know this has been discussed ad nauseum - I also know that many will say 'a bat is worth as much as a punter is willing to pay'

But hang on a minute - aren't things getting out of hand here - is any bat really worth an RRP of �1000, and a discounted price of �600 odd - quid?

I'd buy my daughter a car for �1000 - even if I was any good, I don't think I could justify �600 + for a bat. It wouldn't make me a better player.

I think elements of the industry are running away with themselves - my only hope is that this drives discerning punters into the arms of the smaller bat-makers.

You can't tell me that a decent club player buying a �300, knocked in bat from one of these bat-makers isn't a force to be reckoned with.

LEACHY48 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 18, 2021, 09:10:56 PM »

Absolutely spot on Bruce.

I can tell you that the willow costs and handle costs are not that much higher than they were 5-6 years ago. It�s quite simply people taking the Michael because people pay it.

A top grade cleft does not cost that much, yes people have overheads/sticker/grips/facings etc but cost prices of bats are most definitely not even 1/6 of the RRP of that particular bat (excluding labour +overheads as I can�t comment on the latter)

As you say, hopefully the ridiculous pricing that is currently in today�s market drives people to smaller manufacturers.

Personally I feel aggrieved even paying �400 for a bat (some brands mid range) I have not and would not spend even that on a bat let alone �600-900 which some top end bats go for.

NT50 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 18, 2021, 09:31:39 PM »

There were very similar problems with goalkeeper gloves when I was still playing a few years ago.
You had companies like Nike charging upwards of �100 for a pair of gloves that were at best mediocre. Whereas smaller companies such as Reusch and OneGlove produced much better products without the marketing gimmicks.

In a similar vein I don�t understand how you can justify selling a bat for �600 that more than likely is no upgrade over a �300 stick. Then again I�m not too fussy on bats, which I�m aware is sacrilege on this forum!

Jimbo · « **Reply #3 on:** March 18, 2021, 09:31:46 PM »

Have to agree it's absurd, most expensive bat I've ever bought was �220 and it's far too good for my abilities. Suspect it would score buckets in the hands of a better batsman and wouldn't let down anyone playing below semi-pro level at the least.

Only reason I can see to pay that kind of money is if you just like collecting pretty bats. If that's the case and you've got the cash, crack on.

ppccopener · « **Reply #4 on:** March 18, 2021, 09:41:15 PM »

A couple of years ago when bat prices shot up I read the floods in India which destroyed raw materials made a shortage of willow and therefore prices increased significantly due simply to willow becoming more valuable.

I'm not sure I believed that back then, but if it was true would the prices have not rectified themselves by now...

I personally have believed for ages the club cricketer is paying for the sponsorship of pro's, whether that is right or wrong that is how I see it.

The other thing to consider is the mass produced balls which have found their way into the leagues tend to be harder, if the best willow is also the softest the two don't mix very well. That hasn't stopped top end bats for 800-900 but may put a lifespan on a bat far less than it was before-bats don't last so there is always a market for a new one.

AJ2014 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 18, 2021, 10:14:48 PM »

Don't know the quality of this bat but top grade bats always been expensive! Even 25 to 30 years ago!

LEACHY48 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 18, 2021, 10:22:58 PM »

Quote from: AJ2014 on March 18, 2021, 10:14:48 PM

Don't know the quality of this bat but top grade bats always been expensive! Even 25 to 30 years ago!

That�s simply not true mate.

9 years ago I purchased a Chase 175 FLC finback for �200 brand new from serious cricket this was their top of the range bat

The equivalent bat now is over �400

Prices have gone crazy. Companies take the mick in order to pay their sponsored players/increase their margin.

The gray nics legend is a prime example of this. It was a �385 bat 9 years ago, it is now �800.

It�s just cricket did a video on �300+ bats 7 years ago, and these were all top of the range bats - the equivalent bats nowadays are �500-750.

potzy248 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 18, 2021, 10:27:42 PM »

Well I buy a coffee for $5NZD which is just as absurd.

So many things are out of control. Look at Top of the line gloves. You can't tell me these cost more than 10 quid to make in India?

Its all ridiculous and I'm part of the problem buying these things at stupid prices.

LEACHY48 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 18, 2021, 10:32:17 PM »

Quote from: potzy248 on March 18, 2021, 10:27:42 PM

Well I buy a coffee for $5NZD which is just as absurd.

So many things are out of control. Look at Top of the line gloves. You can't tell me these cost more than 10 quid to make in India?

Its all ridiculous and I'm part of the problem buying these things at stupid prices.

I can tell you that top end gloves can�t be made for �10 with great confidence.

Softs are bloody expensive. Primarily due to the sheer number of pieces and quantity of material involved. There was a video knocking around in the New Balance factory where they mentioned that one single pair of gloves has 230-240 individual parts, and a set of pads is around 280. To put it into perspective, a truly top end pair of pads including shipping and import would be almost (but not quite) equivalent to buying a G3 part made cleft, especially with the horrendous shipping rates nowadays due to COVID.

You will not get much change from �40 per pair of gloves after shipping and tax, and you definitely won�t get change out of �50 for pads if you opt for the highest quality materials.

Once again for some perspective, I ordered 50 bat handles, some flexi stumps, boundary flags, one sample pair of gloves, 40 grips and one junior bat for a mate of mine�s kid and shipping was �350, then add on 20% of the total order value for VAT, and suddenly your �10 won�t even buy you one single glove let alone a pair

InternalTraining · « **Reply #9 on:** March 19, 2021, 12:08:13 AM »

Quote from: FattusCattus on March 18, 2021, 08:54:35 PM

I think elements of the industry are running away with themselves - my only hope is that this drives discerning punters into the arms of the smaller bat-makers.

I have mixed feelings about this. Bats made for local markets are still reasonably priced and you can find real gems if you know what to look for. That includes big brand names.

Big brands are charging high prices because people are paying them. Also, bats made by Laver (and nowadays Keely) are treated as status symbols. [Note: have you noticed the serial numbers on Laver's Signature bats!] I know clubbies who are paying big bucks for bats are doing it with an expectation of a better (read: ready to go and hit sixes) product. They are not what you call "discerning punters", they are more like "distracted" punters who just want to get on with their fun and then move on to ferrying children to their soccer games and grocery shopping.

Question is who's really paying for these high priced bats? Collectors? I'd say they still make a very small %age of the bat buying world. If someone collected stats, median price range would be fairly reasonable.

Flip side: This is a great opportunity for small bat makers to grow big and start charging hefty prices after getting some visibility.

SD · « **Reply #10 on:** March 19, 2021, 01:58:49 AM »

I did see an earlier discussion about the price of softs and I have to go against the grain a little and say that I don't really feel that I am being overcharged for these. Certainly it is bats for me where I feel prices have inflated to a ridiculous level.

This is the GN section of the 2000 catalogue of the first specialist retailer I went to for cricket kit after graduating from my local general sports shop.

Back then the top of the range 5* custom was going for �195. Now you see G3s and even butterflys going for that. Top end bats can be 3 or 4 times that amount.

Bats obviously look different now. With more moisture removed they are far bigger for their weight. But there doesn't appear to me to be anything fundamentally different about the actual product that makes it any better now.

The top end softs were �72.99 for the pads and �59.99 for the gloves. Adjusted for inflation, i would say that these items are cheaper now than they were in 2000. Add to that the fact that the quality of softs now is a world away from what they were then. I really don't feel I overpay for these.

Bat prices have certainly moved me away from the established brands.

brokenbat · « **Reply #11 on:** March 19, 2021, 06:19:21 AM »

Some of the so called top end bats are certainly crazy now... but there are plenty of lower price points offered by almost every brand, so not sure what the big deal is. Nobody is forcing us to pay for the sharpie on the toe or for Stokes� laser engraved signature.

On the other hand, some premium brands like Laver haven�t really moved their prices too much (a Reserve was approximately 600 usd 6 years ago) and now offer great (relative) value imo.

So I think there are plenty of high quality lower price options out there across almost every brand.

What I find absurd (and funny) is that people will spend top dollar on bats, but then cheap out on balls.

A-Swing-And-A-Miss · « **Reply #12 on:** March 19, 2021, 06:40:32 AM »

Quote from: ppccopener on March 18, 2021, 09:41:15 PM

A couple of years ago when bat prices shot up I read the floods in India which destroyed raw materials made a shortage of willow and therefore prices increased significantly due simply to willow becoming more valuable.

I'm not sure I believed that back then, but if it was true would the prices have not rectified themselves by now...

I personally have believed for ages the club cricketer is paying for the sponsorship of pro's, whether that is right or wrong that is how I see it.

The other thing to consider is the mass produced balls which have found their way into the leagues tend to be harder, if the best willow is also the softest the two don't mix very well. That hasn't stopped top end bats for 800-900 but may put a lifespan on a bat far less than it was before-bats don't last so there is always a market for a new one.

I would argue that has definitely got worse in the social media era meaning even small brands are doing sponsorship deals to get their gear sighted on social media. Obviously in terms of costs there is a massive difference between a small brand giving a semi-pro/high level amateur some gear at cost price and the big boys paying international cricketers very large sum for the privilege of being able to provide them with huge amount of free gear. But at the end of the day all gear that is provided in a unprofitable agreement has to be covered by the gear that is sold profitably to us amateurs so the prices for us have to rise to cover.

suraj · « **Reply #13 on:** March 19, 2021, 07:20:35 AM »

Top end bats are treated like some collector cards now tbh. Which is really annoying as some idiots end up paying those absurd sums. Last season there was a guy in the austrian league who paid some 50k INR for his bat. That's some 600 EUR. And for a league of our level that's absurd high.

LockieEP · « **Reply #14 on:** March 19, 2021, 08:07:27 AM »

Quote from: SD on March 19, 2021, 01:58:49 AM

I did see an earlier discussion about the price of softs and I have to go against the grain a little and say that I don't really feel that I am being overcharged for these. Certainly it is bats for me where I feel prices have inflated to a ridiculous level.

This is the GN section of the 2000 catalogue of the first specialist retailer I went to for cricket kit after graduating from my local general sports shop.

Back then the top of the range 5* custom was going for �195. Now you see G3s and even butterflys going for that. Top end bats can be 3 or 4 times that amount.

Bats obviously look different now. With more moisture removed they are far bigger for their weight. But there doesn't appear to me to be anything fundamentally different about the actual product that makes it any better now.

The top end softs were �72.99 for the pads and �59.99 for the gloves. Adjusted for inflation, i would say that these items are cheaper now than they were in 2000. Add to that the fact that the quality of softs now is a world away from what they were then. I really don't feel I overpay for these.

Bat prices have certainly moved me away from the established brands.

I used to love going through all the preseason equipment guides and countdown the days to the Cricketer preseason special!

Prices do seem crazy for me relating to bats,shoes and bags. its tough for those of us working to a budget as just want value for money. I have never paid more than �250 for a bat and have had some great bats over the years, as someone mentioned I am finding the league balls are of a poorer quality than a few years back so would be nervous paying loads for a bat. On that note the B&S I picked up via this forum is looking great and cant wait to have a hit with it!

Author Topic: Prices (Read 1807 times)

FattusCattus

Prices

LEACHY48

Re: Prices

NT50

Re: Prices

Jimbo

Re: Prices

ppccopener

Re: Prices

AJ2014

Re: Prices

LEACHY48

Re: Prices

potzy248

Re: Prices

LEACHY48

Re: Prices

InternalTraining

Re: Prices

SD

Re: Prices

brokenbat

Re: Prices

A-Swing-And-A-Miss

Re: Prices

suraj

Re: Prices

LockieEP

Re: Prices