Disappointed with Uhlmann

[Army Fencer]

Tonight, I bought a few things from Uhlmann, and I have to say that I was disappointed. It wouldn't be a problem, except this is becoming a common occurrence. I'm beginning to feel that they aren't worth their cost.

1. The Uhlmann epee tip I bought was $8.91. I know that part of this is because of the weak dollar and the strong Euro, but sheesh.
2. I bought an ultralight bell guard that didn't fit with my Uhlmann BF White blade. Apparently, they've started making the holes for the bell guards smaller, and have started making the tang of the blades smaller, too. I know why they do this: they want to ensure their monopoly on the market by not making their part interchangeable with other suppliers' parts. But why make the tang weaker in the process? It seems they are sacrificing quality for market share. Repulsive.
3. A few years ago, they did a similar thing with their body cords and sockets. They changed the spaces between the prongs of the body cords very slightly so it fits only with Uhlmann sockets. It's clear that Uhlmann cords are no longer the best in the market, but at least in this change they didn't sacrifice quality.
4. I recently ordered custom jacket and knickers from them. I've never been so disappointed with a uniform. Despite measuring everything properly, the uniform that came back was meant for someone 3 inches taller than me.
5. This is perhaps the worst example of their recent business practices. I had an epee with nothing but Uhlmann parts. It started going off for no reason in the middle of bouts. I finally took it to an armorer who showed me that the weight spring had plating on it. Some of it chipped off and created a contact in my tip.

I'm willing to pay top dollar for top dollar equipment, but Uhlmann does not provide top quality equipment. The fact that they're changing dimensions of interchangeable parts is worrying, as well. If they want to corner the market, improve their quality, don't use cheap tricks that force the faithful consumer to spend half and hour filing down their blade.

Grrr.

[Purple Fencer]

That won't be a problem with me...I've designed my parts to be as compatible as possible.

Part of Uhlmann's problem is they don't make some of their items...they contract out. The epee spring may have been made by a different maker than in previous years.

[DJ Apostrophe]

army, don't file down the tang...file up the bell... i got a set of hobby files from home depot for about $15, and yeah, its another expense, but I did it once, now I don't have to do it again until i have to get another bell, which is usually the life time of several blades (for me anyway)...but you're right... it is annoying.

-w

[KD5MDK]

Um, how slight a change on the body cords was it? The distances between plugs is defined in millimeters in the rulebook.

[Fechter1]

army, don't file down the tang...file up the bell... i got a set of hobby files from home depot for about $15, and yeah, its another expense, but I did it once, now I don't have to do it again until i have to get another bell, which is usually the life time of several blades (for me anyway)...but you're right... it is annoying.

-w

Or you could just get a Dremel. Mine is the centerpiece of my (mobile) armory. Useful for tang cutting, general grinding, cleaning out blade grooves, cleaning bell guards, etc. Add a portable vise, and you can take basically your entire armory on the road with you, if neccessary.
<we will now return you to your regularly scheduled thread>

Personally, I don't buy anything other than uniforms and shoes from Uhlmann directly. Everything else I get through middlemen, usually at tournaments, where I can inspect the merchandise pre purchase.
Last time I ordered a custom fit uniform, they did mess up on the measurements for me as well, but the accepted the return without complaint, and even shipped to the US free of charge after that (the original shipping address was my parents' home in Germany), and did so pretty quickly. (Granted, you could say that's the least they could do...)

As for the rest of my equipment, I use Uhlmann points only, haven't had a problem with them yet (best Epee points I've seen so far). Then again, I'm quite anal about blade maintenance...
Everything else is mix-and-match anywaqy, so I'm used to fine adjustments to the various parts anyway.
Just takes a little longer.

Long story short: I'll still go back to Uhlmann for my uniform needs, and I'll continue using their small electrics.

[RITFencing]

Or just use a vniti bell guard...

I've used both the uhlmann ultra light and the vniti, and I've got to say that I prefered the latter. Both were very light, but the vniti felt much stronger to me.

[bigdawg2121]

Last I checked the holes in the Vniti bells were also smaller than most blades...it just seems to be a thing that you get used to.

[RITFencing]

That stinks. The one I'm using was fine, but maybe they changed after I got it, or maybe I just got a nice one.

[RebelFencer]

Well, this has nothing to do with Uhlmann, but dissappointment in general. I've had the crotch strap break off of my Allstar startex jacket twice now. It's getting irritating.

[JackOfHearts]

Well, this has nothing to do with Uhlmann, but dissappointment in general. I've had the crotch strap break off of my Allstar startex jacket twice now. It's getting irritating.

It's a sign from above telling you to take up saber.

[RebelFencer]

It's a sign from above telling you to take up saber.

haha, good thing I work for the people below!

[shlepzig]

Last I checked the holes in the Vniti bells were also smaller than most blades...it just seems to be a thing that you get used to.

All in all this aint so bad. It isn't so hard to make a hole bigger, as much as it is to make a hole smaller.

Shlep.

I dig the Vniti Guards, they rock.