Is Blade a good vendor?

[OleMissFencer]

I'm seriously considering buying some things from Blade, (specifically a Sabre kit which I need badly)but I have no experiences with them. They seemed to get mixed reviews in the "Rate the Vendors" Thread, so I'm a little confused. Are they worth my trouble or should I stray away from them completely?

[Puppet Master]

Stay away from them completly, as well as Physical Chess, same company.

[Scaramouche]

GO WITH SANTELLI! My coach swears by that stuff and I've never ordered from anyone else before but I'm definitely sticking with them until I ever have problems with them, which I don't think I will

[peircer]

I've never had problems with them, but I mostly order parts from them. They're usually pretty reliable, but every now and then there's a screwup. But on the other hand, the only company I've never had an order messed up on was American Fencers Supply. Never get wired weapons from Triplette too. But since you're a sabre fencer, that probably won't be a problem. But everyone has different oppinions about different vendors.

[OleMissFencer]

I'm still unsure about them, I've been told do to some sort of management change their service has gotten crappy. What about Blue Gauntlet? I've put together a kit a la carte thats cheaper than the Blade kit.

[Konstantinos]

Originally posted by peircer:
<STRONG>I've never had problems with them, but I mostly order parts from them. They're usually pretty reliable, but every now and then there's a screwup. But on the other hand, the only company I've never had an order messed up on was American Fencers Supply. Never get wired weapons from Triplette too. But since you're a sabre fencer, that probably won't be a problem. But everyone has different oppinions about different vendors.</STRONG>

peircer- What problems have you had with Triplette's wired blades?

[neevel]

Santelli makes a first-rate lame (but it's not at a 'budget' price), but their basic electric sabre mask leaves a fair amount to be desired if you want personal equipment-- it's just a bare, untrimmed mask frame (complete with exposed solder joints) with no interior padding. The only situation I'd recommend it for is for someone seeking to outfit a club and wanting to keep maintenance costs down, since the lame bib is very easily replaceable when it goes bad (so you just spend $17 for a new bib rather than replace the mask). For personal gear, I'd rather have something with more padding (remember, it's sabre, so you will be taking shots to the head regularly).

Blade doesn't have the best reputation for customer service (they once sent me the wrong kind of reels and Russian scoring machine when I ordered Uhlmann reels and an SG-12 from them, and took months and a few e-mails to get the SG-12 delivered), it can be time-consuming to get mistakes on orders fixed (one club member had a very bad experience with them and won't buy from them again), and I've aired my experiences with their low-end lames both from maintaining club equipment and from working armory at NACs and Nationals in a previous thread. I do order blades from them (I've found Lammet-i.e., 'Fleche'- blades to have the best durability for money at the low end, and they sell the excellent Vniti FIE blades), and they have got Uhlmann gear at good prices. [As an interesting aside, why does Blade charge more for virtually identical Allstar gear, when BG and German dealers like FechtsportLangenkamp charge the same?] But you should buy for the equipment you need, not for who's got the best online store, and everything in my experience shows that their low-end (i.e., non-Uhlmann/Allstar) lames aren't up to snuff. On top of that, I don't like the split-pin 2-prong body cords they sell-- the pins get bent and broken too easily.

If you want low-cost sabre gear, I'd say go with Blue Gauntlet or The Fencing Post. TFP has a 20% discount for e-mail orders, and probably the best overall reputation for customer service (you can e-mail your order and then fax or phone your credit card info separately for security). Every sabre fencer at my club who's not moved up to high-end gear uses BG stuff and are satisfied. The low-end (sub-$100) electric sabre mask you get from anyone except Santelli is probably going to be the same mask as from BG, b.t.w.

-Dave

[peircer]

peircer- What problems have you had with Triplette's wired blades?

They only work half the time. Not a good percentage. I'm not sure why either. I've had wired foil and epee blades from them that don't work when they arrive. I don't know why either, the wiring jobs -look- good. I'm guessing they might have accidently cut the wire with the barrel, or the wires had some stripped insulation, but I've learned from personal experience that if you want something from Triplette you're better off wiring it yourself. They do gernerally carry good equipment though. I like their epee blades in particular. I've also had an occasional SNAFU with them sending the wrong item too.

Neevel's right about the blades that Blade carries. Their Fleche foil blades are great and so are the Vniti FIE blades, I use both.

Sorry, can't help with sabre, don't personally fence sabre very often.

[neevel]

Well, if Triplette follow the advice they mail out to customers, they wire their blades unbent. The purpose of bending the blade prior to glueing is to pre-tension the wire so you won't get a break (esp. at the solder joint in the contact cup) when the blade flexes-- a blade wired flat will be much more prone to this failure (though the wire will be less prone to pop out of the groove).

-Dave

[OleMissFencer]

Thanks for the info everyone, especially Dave. I emailed the Blue Gaunlet guys about a saber kit and they emailed me back pretty quickly, I think I'm gonna go with them based on the price and from what you and others have said. I was considering buying the triplette kit, at 329 bucks but for that much I can get my kit plus my backup gear from Blue Gaunlet. Thanks again everyone.

[soos]

Blade ?! the vampire hunter ?

well if i remember well, in the movie his saber was pretty efficient, so maybe he could sell u some good stuff

[three_hundred_fifty_five]

Originally posted by OleMissFencer:
<STRONG>... I was considering buying the triplette kit, at 329 bucks but for that much I can get my kit plus my backup gear from Blue Gaunlet...</STRONG>

Hello OleMissFencer,
In the future, don't use the word bucks to replace the word dollars. In the world of competitive A-level international fencing and high finance, the word 329 bucks can be misconstrued to mean that you paid with the skins of 329 bucks rather than 329 US dollars.
Plus, don't use the word "kit" when referring to a set of fencing equipment. Use the words "filly willy hoo haas". It's a secret code amongst us serious fencers.

[OleMissFencer]

Originally posted by three_hundred_fifty_five:
<STRONG>

Hello OleMissFencer,
In the future, don't use the word bucks to replace the word dollars. In the world of competitive A-level international fencing and high finance, the word 329 bucks can be misconstrued to mean that you paid with the skins of 329 bucks rather than 329 US dollars.
Plus, don't use the word "kit" when referring to a set of fencing equipment. Use the words "filly willy hoo haas". It's a secret code amongst us serious fencers.</STRONG>

Ummmmm K, what have you been smoking?

[schwarta]

As an officer of my college club I have had some experience with suppliers and through talking to others and personal purchases this is what I have found:

Triplette has been consistently the best value for the dollar. They certainly DO NOT make the best equipment, but; for a tight budget you can get solid gear for a reasonable price.

Blue Gauntlet has a reputation for being very inexpensive and often one look at their gears will let you know why. Although, to their credit, they seem to make the best attempts to correct the occasional order mistake. Also, Fencers who have purchased recently have said BG gear is really improving a lot in quality.

I have neve seen Allstar or Uhlmann whites, but the electrics are top notch. Also the most expensive.

I have found Blade to be overpriced and shabby equipment. From Lames to body cords, they just seem to be terrible.

My personal equipment search has lead me to this conclusion: Whites, weapons, even body cords, Triplette and Blue Gauntlet are fine, but lames and other electrical equipment you really need to get Uhlmann or Allstar.

*As a side note I will say this: Do not order Triplette Brand foils or sabers, the Dinamo will do just fine. Never order Dinamo Epees, get the Triplette ones. Also, NEVER order Blue Gauntlet S-2000 Saber blades. I have seen them break too easily.

[lochinvar]

OleMiss:

Don't mind 355. He's always cranky.

[OleMissFencer]

Originally posted by schwarta:
<STRONG>As an officer of my college club I have had some experience with suppliers and through talking to others and personal purchases this is what I have found:

Triplette has been consistently the best value for the dollar. They certainly DO NOT make the best equipment, but; for a tight budget you can get solid gear for a reasonable price.

Blue Gauntlet has a reputation for being very inexpensive and often one look at their gears will let you know why. Although, to their credit, they seem to make the best attempts to correct the occasional order mistake. Also, Fencers who have purchased recently have said BG gear is really improving a lot in quality.

I have neve seen Allstar or Uhlmann whites, but the electrics are top notch. Also the most expensive.

I have found Blade to be overpriced and shabby equipment. From Lames to body cords, they just seem to be terrible.

My personal equipment search has lead me to this conclusion: Whites, weapons, even body cords, Triplette and Blue Gauntlet are fine, but lames and other electrical equipment you really need to get Uhlmann or Allstar.

*As a side note I will say this: Do not order Triplette Brand foils or sabers, the Dinamo will do just fine. Never order Dinamo Epees, get the Triplette ones. Also, NEVER order Blue Gauntlet S-2000 Saber blades. I have seen them break too easily.</STRONG>

Yes, Allstar and Ulhmann have some of the best stuff around, but they also have lofty prices. There is no way at this moment I can afford either of them, later down the road is a different story.

[peircer]

As a side note I will say this: Do not order Triplette Brand foils or sabers, the Dinamo will do just fine. Never order Dinamo Epees, get the Triplette ones.

Uh, did you you know that the "Triplette" brand blades are made by the same people as the Allstar/Uhlmann blades?

[wddragon]

OleMissFencer, I just order from Blade yesterday for the first time, I'm keeping my
finger cross, I'll let you know when my order arrived, and I hope they get it right the first time, I know returning mail order can be a very painful experience!
BTW, I did call them about some sizing information, but they don't seems too be too knowledgeable on a lot of things.
So I shall see what happen!

[OleMissFencer]

Originally posted by wddragon:
<STRONG>OleMissFencer, I just order from Blade yesterday for the first time, I'm keeping my
finger cross, I'll let you know when my order arrived, and I hope they get it right the first time, I know returning mail order can be a very painful experience!
BTW, I did call them about some sizing information, but they don't seems too be too knowledgeable on a lot of things.
So I shall see what happen!</STRONG>

Lol get one of the "How would I know? I just work here..." responses?
Opinions on Vendors seem to vary so much, its hard to gauge who's good and who's not, I suppose its just a leap of faith on our parts.

[Purple Fencer]

Originally posted by OleMissFencer:
<STRONG>

Lol get one of the "How would I know? I just work here..." responses?
Opinions on Vendors seem to vary so much, its hard to gauge who's good and who's not, I suppose its just a leap of faith on our parts.</STRONG>

To a great degree, that's true. You have a better chance of getting a correct order if you talk to someone who actually speaks English! That's usually a major problem at Blade and BG. Saul at The Fencing Post speaks clearly, and I've only had a few errors in all the stuff I've ordered for my own customers. He's been really good about dealing with exchanges and items missing from orders.

Now Blade, on the other hand...well, let's just say I cancelled an order I made with them and leave it at that.