Favourite Fencing Vendor

[swordwench]

Fencing.net gets my vote for the best customer service, and I love the products Craig sells. Plus, you even get to chat with Craig on the phone. Got my shoes, jacket, and a host of weapons and parts there. Higher end than the Absolutes of the world. No club discount that I know of, though. I like discounts.

More recently, I got some FABULOUS customer service from Rick at EscrimeUSA, and the knickers they sent me feel like jammies. I am officially impressed with my new knickers, though I do have to have someone take in the waist a fair amount. I’ll be back.

Absolute works in a pinch, particularly for our small club’s orders, because they get stuff to us fast, and we get a hefty discount. What I do NOT like about them (besides not having everything I want) is their pre-made weapons. I’ve received a couple of weapons – most recently, two sabres – that were set by them (and I do not want my blades set by anyone but my coach), and all I could say was WHY ARE THEY SMOKING CRACK while putting a set in my blade??? I’m hoping my coach got all the kinks out, because they were just plain WRONG. Many degrees off, to the SIDE. And not even bent at the right PLACE. Egad! Let’s take a course in Vise 101, shall we? But for less finicky people, and for fast service, Absolute’s fine.

I've also gotten some stuff from BG and Triplette. I've tried to drink that off my mind.

[wahrman]

I have to repeat some of the already mentioned places.

I love dealing with Leon Paul. Great people both in the UK and the US.
What other company offers to give you a tour of their manufacturing floor?

I try to buy as much as I can from them. Some things they just don't do the way I like or doesn't fit me etc. But when I can, I get my kit from them.

PBT makes the French grips I like, they are nice to deal with as well.

Duellist sell the pommels I like, also decent to work with. Both UK and US.

Swordmaster has any odd bit or piece I've ever wanted. Nice guy.

I get some stuff from The Fencing Post, they are good people as well.

[erooMynohtnA]

Originally Posted by swordwench

Fencing.net gets my vote for the best customer service, and I love the products Craig sells. Plus, you even get to chat with Craig on the phone. Got my shoes, jacket, and a host of weapons and parts there. Higher end than the Absolutes of the world. No club discount that I know of, though. I like discounts.

There is a club discount for bulk orders. You just have to ask Craig about it before you order.

[parrythis]

My top three, in no particular order...

Leon Paul USA - Good quality products, good customer service, a web-site that is easy to navigate, has clear pictures of products, and offers secure online payment options.

fencing.net - Good quality products, good customer service, a unique selection of products, a web-site that is easy to navigate, has clear pictures of products, and offers secure online payment options. Also, I like giving back to the place that gives me the opportunity to have all this fun on the forum.

Fleche Fencing Inc. ( www.fleche.ca ) - Good quality products, good customer service, they are somewhat local to me (Toronto) so they are on-site vendors at some tournaments that I attend. If I want to try something on before I buy it it is quite possible that I will give them first shot at my business. On top of that, I occasionally fence a couple of the guys who run it. They are good guys. I like them.

If I don't find what I'm looking for in the above, my next alternative is Absolute, for all the same reasons as the first two.

[tkexi991]

Fencing.net - great site, plus I live in Atlanta so I can try stuff on.

LP USA - great site, great products, plus they are in ATL too so I can try stuff on. Good customer service.

[Ordway]

Fencing Post. Apart from the enormous convenience factor (my club fences at SDFC, so literally it is next door) Saul stands behind what he sells. He's got good prices on the stuff I usually buy (Allstar, etc.) and will make sure to special-order stuff for me without me having to go to any extra effort. (It is actually not easy to find the sizes that fit me in stock, at times.)

What has impressed me more lately is that he's attentive to the quality of his low-end gear. For my college club, I got some stuff from Absolute, and later got some from the FP... The FP gear was cheaper AND it has fit my students better and is proving to be more durable. I've seen a lot of vendors who don't pay much attention to their "bargain" items, but Saul does and my students benefit from it.

[SenorEquis]

Fencing Post is great, though the lack of a secure online shopping system is a bit annoying. I love their service and prices.

American Fencers has the best service I've experienced in the business, but man are they expensive.

And Leon Paul is wonderful, even if I have to wait a long while to get equipment from across the water. Can't beat free shipping.

[jmos58]

I'm Blue Gauntlet all the way. Never had any complants what so ever. Triplette on the other hand SUCKS!!!!!!! I orderd from them for two years and there was always somthing rong. Body cords would'nt work, springs in the tips where broken, just plain crap. BG ALL THE WAY!!!!!

#1 Blue Gaunlet
#2 Fencing.net
#3 Leon Paul
#4 Absolute
#5 Duellest

[SFfencer]

Originally Posted by jmos58

I'm Blue Gauntlet all the way. Never had any complants what so ever. Triplette on the other hand SUCKS!!!!!!! I orderd from them for two years and there was always somthing rong. Body cords would'nt work, springs in the tips where broken, just plain crap. BG ALL THE WAY!!!!!

#1 Blue Gaunlet
#2 Fencing.net
#3 Leon Paul
#4 Absolute
#5 Duellest

Oh Crap!!!
Please learn the English language!

[erik_blank]

12 years ago, I was a Triplette user all the way. I loved their catalog and it's quirky quotes, etc. At the time they were responsive, fast and easy to talk with. Since then I understand they changed hands and their quality went down hill considerably. I recently received a new catalog inthe mail from them and it mentioned that the Triplette family has re-established control of the company. I can only hope thathey can save my once favorite vendor from doom.

In the mean time, I have had good luck with Absolute. Again they have had fast turn around, they are responsive to questions both over the phone and via e-mail, and they were apparently very helpfull when my (non-fencing) wife ordered a LOT of new toys last year.

I tend to be pretty leery when it comes to Blue Gauntlet econo items. Our club (cash poor as usual) ordered a lot of bayonet cords and sockets from them and the quality was... what you might expect from cut rate 'econo' items. *sigh*

Thanks to ALL the vendors that I have orderd from in the past, and here's hoping that the Triplette family can get back to their previous high quality service and equipment that I used to know and love.

[fencerwallet]

Originally Posted by erik_blank

I recently received a new catalog inthe mail from them and it mentioned that the Triplette family has re-established control of the company.

I received the newspaper type catalogue in the mail a few days ago. I have purchased things from so many places, I hope that is how they got my mailing address (vs. somehow obtaining my contact information from some purchased list of USFA members floating around of which I am not aware...).

Not to be a joy sucker.

[blackfencer]

what do you mean?

[Monash_Armourer]

I have had tremendously positive experiences with orders direct from FWF, lots of communication, patience (first major order I did with them the bank buggered us around a bit) and assistance when the Australian Customs wrongfully held some of our order.

I've had smooth experiences with LP UK, I've not actually had to communicate with any of their staff so I can't comment there. Their orders generally ship very quickly, usually arriving here on a Friday morning if I place an order before their start of business on the Monday that week.

Locally a man by the name of Haluk Yeter gets my vote when it comes to vendors in Australia.

[Qbranch]

Originally Posted by parrythis

Fleche Fencing Inc. ( www.fleche.ca ) - Good quality products, good customer service, they are somewhat local to me (Toronto) so they are on-site vendors at some tournaments that I attend. If I want to try something on before I buy it it is quite possible that I will give them first shot at my business. On top of that, I occasionally fence a couple of the guys who run it. They are good guys. I like them.

I'll go along with this. A very good Ontario vendor. Nice people to deal with and very helpful.

So far I've not had too much occasion to deal with vendors but I've had no problems with Fleche or Absolute. Based on all the positive recommendations I've encountered I wouldn't hesitate to order through fencing.net either.

[SJCFU#2]

Originally Posted by erik_blank

12 years ago, I was a Triplette user all the way. I loved their catalog and it's quirky quotes, etc. At the time they were responsive, fast and easy to talk with. Since then I understand they changed hands and their quality went down hill considerably. I recently received a new catalog inthe mail from them and it mentioned that the Triplette family has re-established control of the company. I can only hope thathey can save my once favorite vendor from doom.

Based on many of the comments posted here over the years I would say the problems with Triplette started long before Walter sold the company in 2005. In fact, my first thought upon learning that Walter had regained control of the company earlier this year was that hopefully he wouldn't undo the progress they had made at turning the company around.

Personally, I'll stick with Absolute for club orders and a variety of sources for my personal gear.

[jfarmer]

Originally Posted by erik_blank

12 years ago, I was a Triplette user all the way. I loved their catalog and it's quirky quotes, etc. At the time they were responsive, fast and easy to talk with. Since then I understand they changed hands and their quality went down hill considerably. I recently received a new catalog inthe mail from them and it mentioned that the Triplette family has re-established control of the company. I can only hope thathey can save my once favorite vendor from doom.
........
Thanks to ALL the vendors that I have orderd from in the past, and here's hoping that the Triplette family can get back to their previous high quality service and equipment that I used to know and love.

I hate to burst your bubble, but TCA's problems began long before Walter sold the company. It looked for a while that the new owners would turn things around, but apparently it as too great a task...

The new flyer looks almost exactly like the last flyer Walter sent out before the sale. Indeed, the website hasn't been updated. I suspect that online ordering will be taken down (or it hasn't already).

I wouldn't hold out much hope for TCA, in some dealings I had with the SCA side of the house over the last several years, leads me to believe that TCA will still not be on my list of preferred vendors...

[GuyW]

Originally Posted by veeco

...My vote goes to Saul at The Fencing Post. Nice guy, quick shipping, and located near to where I live.

You call that CLOSE?

We walk over to the Fencing Post, literally...

We're pretty lucky in several ways....and it was, pure luck...that my son responded to a recruitment effort for new fencers by Saul....

Anyway, my vote goes thusly:

1. Fencing Post
2. HOM

[Nolano]

So far, I've had a good experience with LP USA, and no problems with Blue Gauntlet, either. Most of my stuff has come from them. However, this could be because my coach typically does the ordering, and they know better than to mess with him. He also gets a 3 month guarantee on everything he buys from there.

[jmos58]

Originally Posted by SFfencer

Oh Crap!!!
Please learn the English language!

You got a problem with me?

[Cookeit]

#1 Fencing.net
#2 LP USA
#3 Absolute

I only ranked Fencing.net higher than LP USA because they carry a broader range of products.