Company Quality

[Go? Fencing?]

I'm doing a project based on three companies, Blue Gauntlet, Leon Paul, and Uhlmann. Please rank them according to your opinion of the quality.

[Chafunkta]

I have one thing from both Leon Paul and Uhlmann. The LP Contour Fit FIE mask - which I absolutely love, and I have an Uhlmann foil lame, which has done me fine thus far (it's only about a month old). I ordered the Uhlmann lame from Blue Gauntlet, but as far as BG's signature gear- i wouldn't touch it. I find they have good service and are generally nice people, so i put orders in with them for the more high quality gear (Vniti and Prieur blades, Uhlmann uniforms).

I haven't ordered enough stuff from LP, but I hear their gear is really good. Their orders (at least LP USA) take forever, and I attribute that mostly because they have the free shipping deal, which for me translates into slow, unreliable shipping.

[achilleus]

Hey, where's Allstar?

[Purple Fencer]

Originally Posted by achilleus

Hey, where's Allstar?

You mean Uhlmann red??

I put LP first and BG third....Uhlmann's been slipping recently, especially on the small parts we armorers LOVE so dearly...

[achilleus]

Originally Posted by Purple Fencer

You mean Uhlmann red??

I dislike Allstar Blue.

[RebelFencer]

I like the Allstar cut better. But that really doesn't make it better quality for anyone but those with the same build as me.

[Go? Fencing?]

Originally Posted by achilleus

Hey, where's Allstar?

Oh, their site really annoyed me, so I chose not to include it in my project.

[Barry Paul]

Originally Posted by Chafunkta

I haven't ordered enough stuff from LP, but I hear their gear is really good. Their orders (at least LP USA) take forever, and I attribute that mostly because they have the free shipping deal, which for me translates into slow, unreliable shipping.

I am sorry your experience is that orders take for ever, we have some statistic which show average despatch USA time from recepit of order is about three days. Specials, some coloured clothing see-thru mask can take up to four weeks. We are looking to move after Christmas into a factory with 50% more space, which we hope will let us get closer to our long term goal next day despatch. Free shipping means only what what it says free, it has no reflection of the carrier and we ship by our standard 48 hour Parcel force service. Barry Paul

P.S.We have done some test on the diference between our lame and the stainless lame used by the german firms and in general our lame seems to last considerably longer.

[Epee Scherma]

IMHO Leon Paul equipment beats all the other vendors, in terms of quality, hands down. It is true that Uhlmann and Allstar make some great equipment too but Leon Paul's works really hit the bullseye. They are also the most innovative of vendors. I never see Uhlmann take a risk and try to put something new out there in the market. That just shows Leon Paul has dedication the quality of gear fencer's use. They're always trying to improve the fencer's experience.

[Go? Fencing?]

Originally Posted by Epee Scherma

IMHO Leon Paul equipment beats all the other vendors, in terms of quality, hands down.

Yes, yes, we know your opinion of LP gear. May I quote: "Must... hold... new Leon Paul mask!"

[parrythis]

Quality of products or quality of customer service?

Both are important, but entirely different from one another. I've dealt with companies (in a non-fencing concern) that have the best products on the planet, but the worst customer service. Does a person put up with the BS to get good products or go elsewhere and buy pretty good products without the customer service headaches?

Just trying to understand what kind of "quality" is important to you as it may make a difference in how to respond to the poll.

[Go? Fencing?]

I'm looking more for quality of the products, since I'm also doing a price comparison.

And any other comments related to these companies, their products, and even customer service is welcome.

And soon, please, cause I'm a procrastinator and the project is due tomorrow.

[Taomagicdragon]

Before anyone else says it:
This poll is flawed :-D

[Taomagicdragon]

To prove it is flawed:

G?F?: but seriously, how is it flawed?
G?F?: i don't think it is
G?F?: three companies, all rankings
Taomagicdragon: it's not flawed, but someone had to say it
G?F?: without allowing for "equal" ranking, but that's my choice
G?F?: lol
G?F?: i'm sure it must be flawed, all polls are
G?F?: but practically, my poll is perfect
Taomagicdragon: well... then i pointed it otu
G?F?: indeed
Taomagicdragon: that's why it;s flawed, too good
G?F?: lol!
Taomagicdragon: i know, good reason
G?F?: :-)

In any case, I'd day LP first, quality is nice, no real idea about Uhlmann, and Blue gauntlet has shoddy equipment, at times. I refer to BG as the target of fencing: okay prices, okay quality (at times)

[JackOfHearts]

I haven't ordered anything from blue gauntlet. Though I can say I'm satisfyed with the quality of my electric italian foil (made with Uhlmann parts purchased from Thefencingpost.com) and my plastron from Leon Paul USA came promptly, and I am also quite satisfyed with how comfortable it is and my lack of bruising since using it. There's this one epee fencer at my club that is pretty much a Leon Paul salesperson. Always carrying on about how great their stuff is...

[Inquartata]

I put Uhlmann-LP-BG because there isn't an "either/or" option, but honestly, I have too little experience with LP equipment to make a firm rank-ordering. So I put Uhlmann first because I am more familiar with it, but LP may well be better qualitatively...

[SJB]

I began with Leon Paul equipment when I began (mainly because there is a Leon Paul dealer in my city http://www.fencingcanada.ca) and used it up to about the mid 90s or so.

Afterwards I switched to Uhlman (because my coach became an Uhlman/PBT dealer) and have used it ever since.

The Leon Paul equipment wasn't the most comfortable but I understand they've made strides in that department now. The durability was very good though.

In terms of Uhlman I've had the full outfit for seven years now and no complaints other than how the "tongue" on the masque came apart. But that was easy enough to fix with a glue gun.

Blue Gauntlet brand gear was, the last time I dealt with it, Chinese P-O-S.

For my next few blades though I think I'll give the LP's a try.

[achilleus]

Originally Posted by Go? Fencing?

I'm looking more for quality of the products, since I'm also doing a price comparison.

And any other comments related to these companies, their products, and even customer service is welcome.

And soon, please, cause I'm a procrastinator and the project is due tomorrow.

Your choices are odd...

For example, how many people actually buy direct from Uhlmann? It's possible in the US, but most buy from a distributor. I usually use an international distributor, so my cost for the gear is different than what someone who buys from The Fencing Post is. In addition, our customer service praises/complaints will be very different.

LP pretty much has one source, so that's good, but BG not only has their own line, but resells Uhlmann. Are you comparing BG prices to Uhlmann Direct prices? What about tax? Shipping...

What exactly is the nature of your project?

[Go? Fencing?]

Originally Posted by achilleus

What exactly is the nature of your project?

It's an economics project. That I chose to do about fencing.

I have no idea, don't ask me to know things!

Basically, it's a stupid class, and no matter what I do on this project, as long as I do something, it won't matter all that much, grade-wise.

Oh, and good point about Uhlmann. Luckily, no one in the class will know, and I'm not dealing with shipping or anything, because quite honestly, this project isn't worth that much effort. Not a mindset I like taking, but I have to choose my priorities, and this doesn't rank that high.