Please Explain Why and How?

[Bout ender]

OK...I'm thoroughly confused...this is the USFA, right? With emphasis on the US part of the name. If so then how is it that an English (read UK) company has become the official supplier for the USFA?? Please don't get me wrong. Leon-Paul has some great stuff and some what reasonable prices. However, since this is US Fencing, then why not use a US supplier for their equipment? I am sure that if asked (and this is assuming the US vendors weren't asked, which after speaking to some of them, I understand they weren't) I am certain that they would have been thrilled to be named the USFA official supplier. I am certain that BG must be mystified as to why not them especially after they are the ones providing most of the strips for the USFA competitions. Why not Fencing.Net, Blade, Fencing Post,Absolute,etc etc etc?? Someone in the know please fill me in as to why after throwing off the British rule over the Americas over 200 years ago in 1776, now in 2007 we find ourselves being subjected to it once again?

[darius]

Someone in the know please fill me in as to why after throwing off the British rule over the Americas, in 2007 we find ourselves being subjected to it once again?

The American companies are resellers; none of them manufacture their own gear, and when they do it's in other places like China/Mexico. There is an American reseller -- it's called Leon Paul USA.

Beyond that, the USA line from Leon Paul is high-quality stuff; the material is over 350N, and has 800N material under the arm. A lot of our top fencers (including Becca Ward...whoever she is...) have been using LP gear for a while, so it makes sense.

You may have missed that after 1776, we became pretty cool with the Brits; if you're looking for independence, you should be concerned about the Chinese.

darius

[grotto]

I would guess because LP is one of the only fencing equipment manufacturers. I may be wrong but LP is the only one I can think of that makes a full spectrum of fencing products from blades to knickers to shoes. BG, Absolute, etc. import "branded" stuff from other manufacturers, great quality at a great price, but as a business entity I would think going straight to the source for usfa "branded" gear rather than through a vendor.....

just one possibility.

[chefencer]

Everything else aside - LP was probably willing to PAY more than any other vendor as they are trying to re-enter the US market. Sponsorship is Advertising - quality, breadth of product line are involved, but secondary considerations. Capitalism/marketing/consumerism uber alles...

[Beloit Fencer of Old]

Remember Santelli? PERHAPS if they still existed, they would have been considered. But they still didn't make their own blades (I believe...I could be wrong). For the most part, however, our equipment is not domestic.

[H Man]

Money.

[jeff]

Remember Santelli? PERHAPS if they still existed, they would have been considered. But they still didn't make their own blades (I believe...I could be wrong). For the most part, however, our equipment is not domestic.

Right: Santelli didn't have a forge either, and imported blades and other parts - in particular from LP.

To OP: the answer is "money". LP is a good company; I don't have any problem with this.

[HDG]

I am certain that BG must be mystified as to why not them especially after they are the ones providing most of the strips for the USFA competitions.

Yes, re-branded strips.

[downunder]

after throwing off the British rule over the Americas over 200 years ago in 1776, now in 2007 we find ourselves being subjected to it once again?

hahahahahaha

[MyrddinsPrecint]

The answer is simple:

Fencers hate America.

If we liked America, we'd be playing football, like proper American Citizens. We'd spend Sunday mornings going to Church instead of "tournaments". There certainly shouldn't be women's events, because the women should be baking apple pies and sewing American flags while the men drink beer. And none of that "imported" stuff, or even those pansy-ass "microbrews". Who's ever heard of that ****? Macro-brew all the way.

The American Way.

[Purple Fencer]

The American companies are resellers; none of them manufacture their own gear, and when they do it's in other places like China/Mexico.

That's primarily an economic thing....if I could have my gloves made in the US at a price where I could actually make a profit I'd do it in a heartbeat. As it is I couldn;t get them made for any less than I currently SELL them for!

And don't forget that Uhlmann/Allstar has it's stuff made out of country as well.

[downunder]

That's primarily an economic thing....if I could have my gloves made in the US at a price where I could actually make a profit I'd do it in a heartbeat. As it is I couldn;t get them made for any less than I currently SELL them for!

And don't forget that Uhlmann/Allstar has it's stuff made out of country as well.

You just hate America don't you.

[DieterS]

The American companies are resellers; none of them manufacture their own gear, and when they do it's in other places like China/Mexico. There is an American reseller -- it's called Leon Paul USA.

Not entirely true. The Eigertek Eclipse scoring machine is designed, manufactured, and serviced in the USA.

Beyond that, the USA line from Leon Paul is high-quality stuff.

Yes, indeed. I'm very impressed with their equipment. All except their scoring machines.

You may have missed that after 1776, we became pretty cool with the Brits

The last time that they were here in force was in 1814 when they burned down Washington, D.C. Of course, now the situation has completely changed--and we're begging them to come back and do it again for us.

Dieter
Eigertek

[Rick Shellhouse]

That's primarily an economic thing....if I could have my gloves made in the US at a price where I could actually make a profit I'd do it in a heartbeat. As it is I couldn;t get them made for any less than I currently SELL them for!

And don't forget that Uhlmann/Allstar has it's stuff made out of country as well.

And with proper quality control ....what exactly does it matter?


and just for your info...


My bags, carts, lames, body cord pins are all made IN the USA


R

[darius]

Not entirely true. The Eigertek Eclipse scoring machine is designed, manufactured, and serviced in the USA.

Dieter,

Sounds like sour grapes to me; were you outbid in your attempt to become official uniform supplier of the USFA?

darius

[epeemike81]

Not entirely true. The Eigertek Eclipse scoring machine is designed, manufactured, and serviced in the USA.

Maybe you should look into producing it outside the country... I mean, I'm all for US Manufacturing, but maybe if you lowered your other costs you could afford to have lights of a reasonable size...

-m

[Alex_Paul]

It was a combination of things:

1 We offered more. We now are US Fencings biggest sponsor I doubt any of the other manufacturers would have brought as much to the table as we did.

2 Others had offered and failed to deliver. They were looking for someone they could count on and I guess they had faith in the fact that we could deliver what we promised.

3 Image. You may have noticed that as fencing grows they are also improving their branding. The LP brand and peoples perception of our kit as being one of or the best in the world fits with their new quality image.

4 We have sponsored Becca Ward since she was 13 and many of the team use a fair bit of our kit anyway. Asking us to extend that sponsorship makes sense.

5 Quality. Our stuff is the best and they want the best for their team

6 We have a US reseller and are therefor we are not much more or less American than the other distributors in the USA. Over the last 20 years Bill Murphy who runs LP USA has done a lot for US fencing. He was a team armorer at the last World Championships so he knows the team and he certainly knows fencing equipment! I can understand that some people would have wanted a US manufacturer to sponsor the federation but the fact is there isn't one with a full line of gear.

I hope that the team are happy, certainly the feedback so far has all been overwhelmingly positive.

On a side note your other sponsor is Adidas who are German rather than Nike for example.

[Barry Paul]

For answer to some of your question you will have to go to the USFA who negotiated with us.

Just some thoughts.

The sponsorship deal will make Leon Paul the largest USFA sponsor, certainly larger than Adidas that well known all American firm.

I passionately agree with retaining manufacture in ones own country until such time that it becomes uneconomical. We supported Santelli for 30 years supplying them with blades and lots of components, allowing them to retain in house manufacture of clothing, gloves and masks. however for the moment the cost of manufacture in the USA is too high.

Long term it is possible that our presence will give the American fencers an appreciation of the benefits of higher priced/better design fencing equipment which could make home production economic/affordable.

We do presently offer USA production in terms of re-bibbing masks, repair and updating of apparatus, and repair of spools in Atlanta. Barry Paul M.D. Leon Paul

[Barry Paul]

Alex I thought you were manning the stand, so folks sorry for some repetition.

P.S. can you ask the Hotel if they found a gold coloured cuff link in my Hotel room.

[Purple Fencer]

And with proper quality control ....what exactly does it matter?

That's kinda the crux of the argument re Uhlmann right now, isn't it?