Getting gear in Germany

[Rick Ewing]

I'm moving to Ingolstadt Germany, about 50 miles north of Munich. My daughters and I have been fencing at the Boeing club in Kent WA using the club weapons and jackets. We'll need to acquire our own gear when we try to fence at a new club in Germany. We leave on Oct 25. Should we try to buy what we need here before leaving? Or is price and availability good enough in the Munich area to plan on getting equipment there?

Rick

[KD5MDK]

Fencing in Germany requires 100% FIE 800N gear. I'm not sure if the blades are, but I am about the jacket, knickers, mask, and plastron. As such, you'll need to buy from somebody who sells that stuff. Now, with the exception of Blue Gauntlet (mask) and Triplette (assorted), all FIE gear that I know of comes from European brands.

As far as I know, the FIE European Gear market goes like this in price:

PBT (cheapest, decent gear)
Allstar/Uhlmann/Everyone else, more or less
Leon Paul (most expensive)

Now, here's where it gets tricky. If you'll be paid in Euros, or have a cost of living adjustment for Euros, you'll definately want to buy in Germany. If you're still paid in dollars, it's a little less clear.

PBT (the cheaper guys) have an exclusive US dealer - nobody else can sell PBT gear in the USA. This exclusive dealer has marked up their prices to the point where it doesn't give any savings to order from them. So if you're going to buy in Europe, consider PBT. If you're not, buy from someone else I'd say.

Final issue: Just about everywhere in Europe has a fairly sizeable Value Added Tax (VAT) they apply to lots of things, including fencing gear. It's ~17.5%. This needs to be weighed against the cost of international shipping for your order.

Here's my quick summary: If you're being paid in Euros, but PBT when you get there.
If you're being paid in dollars, go to http://www.fechtsport-langenkamp.de/ and total up gear for your daughters and you (it'll be a very hefty sum). Check how much shipping is on that. If the sum is less than 17.5% of your order by a fair amount, order now and avoid the VAT. Recall the website shows the after-tax price. If it's not a large savings, I'd wait till you're over there and can order it in person, and make sure sizing and all that is exactly right.

[gladius]

My experience is that the best deal is with Uhlmann at their factory in Laupheim (near Ulm, where you can visit the most awesome gothic cathedral), about 100 miles west from Munich on the Autobahn. Call first and make an appointment and tell them what you are looking for. Sometimes they are out of something like gloves or shoes or masks. Friendly people and there is always someone who speaks decent English. And remember that they close for lunch and work only Friday morning, back on Monday.

On the VAT, as a non EU resident, you have the right to get it refunded (about 18%) when you leave the EU (just go to Switzerland for the weekend).

[dilznik]

When I moved to Munich I had to get all new stuff. Everything has to be FIE level, including your blades and plastron. I've dealt with both Uhlmann and Allstar through their factories. As long as you know your sizes, they can take all the info over the phone and have your stuff to you in about a week. You can compare the prices in the catalogs with the prices in your area:
Uhlmann
Allstar

It's bank but you know, buy quality, buy once. In almost 5 years I have yet to break a single foil blade.
There are no shops in Munich. Nor all of Bavaria for that matter. If you go to larger tournaments, there'll usually be a little sales booth setup. Nothing like Summer Nats in the US though.
Are you planning on fencing in Ingolstadt or driving all the way to Munich? The drive is a drag, but I think there's only one club in Ingolstadt that's half decent. In Munich you can go to my old club... they're American friendly.

[Rick Ewing]

Thanks to all who responded with such detailed information. I was about to get some non-FIE gear, so the FIE only tip is great. I'll be paid in US dollars, but will get a correction for currency and local prices. It looks like a trip to Laupheim is in our future.

What club did you go to in Munich? The kids will be attending an international school, down closer to Munich. It’s closer to the Munich Hauptbahnhof then back to Ingolstadt from the school. We've only been fencing for about 2 years with the Boeing club. We haven’t done any of the tournaments outside of the club. But we'd like to keep learning while we're in Germany for the next 3 years.

Rick

[dilznik]

What club did you go to in Munich? The kids will be attending an international school, down closer to Munich. It’s closer to the Munich Hauptbahnhof then back to Ingolstadt from the school. We've only been fencing for about 2 years with the Boeing club. We haven’t done any of the tournaments outside of the club. But we'd like to keep learning while we're in Germany for the next 3 years.

Rick

MTV München. It's directly down the Göthestrasse from the hauptbahnhof.
Website . Ask for Andrea, tell her Justin sent you. She speaks English. The phone number is 089-5438420 and they're there after 5pm. Or you can just show up. The hobby fencing classes are Wednesday and Friday at 7.30pm. Hardcore Epee tourney training is Monday and foil Tuesday. Wednesdays would be the best time to show up for the first time. If you have a navigation system (highly highly highly recommended in this country where streets wind and change names every 100 meters) then just type in the address:
MTV-München von 1879 e.V.
Häberlstraße 11b
80337 München
You'll see the opening for the parking area from the road. Drive in and around back into the parking area.