Now I can't help but be really suspicious of how BG can offer Uhlmann's 350N Jacket to customers for only $69 when we also carry this same jacket and we pay more than that just to Uhlmann themlselves (and that's even before shipping and the insane taxes and duties we pay to have them imported from Germany).
I'm just wondering because we've had one customer who just purchased one of these Women's jackets from us, only to see at Summer Nationals that the other vendor was selling them about 40% or so cheaper.
Then I received a call yesterday from another customer who was thrown off by BG's extremely low price (they had the same jacket on back order with us). The customer said that she called BG to ask if there was anything wrong with the jackets that they were marked down so much. Vanessa told them that it's because Uhlmann is discontinuing the 350N and World Cup line which is why they're so cheap now.
Of course this caused the customer to immediately call us and ask why we didn't tell them Uhlmann will no longer be making World Cup or 350N uniforms and about their jacket on back order. Surprised by this information we contacted Uhlmann immediately asking them why they didn't let us know this! Well.. as it turns out, they're not. They said of course they're still making all those uniforms, they're very popular.
I let the customer know this, and they called BG back I guess, because then I got a call again a few minutes later where BG apparently told them we must not know what we're talking about because they are the only official supplier of Uhlmann.
For anyone else who has heard this, I'd just like to let them know that despite what may be said, I promise you that we contacted Uhlmann personally and they told us that they certainly were not discontinuing any of these items. In addition, has anyone purchased the 350N Uhlmann Jackets from BG? Are they the same quality? It just doesn't seem possible to me that the uniforms can be completely legitimate if they're selling them for less than what even they pay for them, as even clearance & final items still usually at least mean you break even, but certainly not lose money!
If you're about to purchase one of those jackets (BG only has select sizes left) let me know how the quality is if you don't mind.
Really, Absolute doesn't try to dominate all fencing business and isn't money hungry, and if you can get one of these jackets for cheaper than ours and all the quality is the same then we say go there. I'm just really suspicious however because Uhlmann verified they're still making them, so why did BG tell a customer otherwise, and how can BG sell them to customers cheaper than what we pay Uhlmann even for them! Something sounds shady!
I don't know whether to encourage our customers who mention it to us to simply by them from BG at the moment then while they can because we have no idea how they can sell so low, so we surely can't match anything even close to it .. or to tell them don't waste their money buying those clearance uniforms because there has to be something wrong with them. I hope someone has some sort of idea on these uniforms or has purchased one before at this price so they can offer some feedback!
I let the customer know this, and they called BG back I guess, because then I got a call again a few minutes later where BG apparently told them we must not know what we're talking about because they are the only official supplier of Uhlmann.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Uhlmann Royal/Allstar Ecostar lines are going to replace the World Cup/Athens. It wouldn't make much sense to manufacture two products in the same price range.
Maybe they are discontinuing the World Cup/Athens lines but not the 350 N, and the customer misinferred?
Perhaps they're simply using it as a loss leader? It's a fairly common business practice to have a high-demand item at a ridiculously low price, usually eaither at cost or maybe even taking a loss, in order to draw customers in so they spend their money on other (usually more expensive) stuff as well. You'd be surprised how many places do this (Savemart, Home Depot, etc)
Of course, this only works if you are a big enough business to take that loss until your other items start making up the difference and it works a little less with online stores compared to in-store shopping...
Justa thought...
"I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend, to the death, your right to say it."
If you're about to purchase one of those jackets (BG only has select sizes left) let me know how the quality is if you don't mind.
My specific implication was that you should buy up their entire stock and resell it at your higher prices. I'm not really in a good position to unload any volume of fencing equipment.
Eisley: why don't you order one before they go away?
I guess, IDK tbh I hate dealing with BG, they're never nice on the phone, ever. Once I called and got asked to hold for a minute.. so I'm holding.. and holding.. my cell phone minutes are getting eaten up.. finally I get mad, hang up, and call back and asked what happened and the girl was like "Opps! I'm sorry I forgot I put you on hold, I got distracted!" -_-;;
Plus if I do order one, I really am afraid the quality might be sub par so what do I do with it then? I'd rather not waste my money since it's non-returnable. If anyone does feel like getting one though, let me know!!
I wouldn't be surprised if the Uhlmann Royal/Allstar Ecostar lines are going to replace the World Cup/Athens. It wouldn't make much sense to manufacture two products in the same price range.
Maybe they are discontinuing the World Cup/Athens lines but not the 350 N, and the customer misinferred?
Sure, makes somewhat sense, but like I said we contacted Uhlmann and spoke to them personally and they said of course not! Unless they're trying to hide it, who knows! (I doubt they'd mislead us though, Amanda has a really good relationship with them).
Perhaps they're simply using it as a loss leader? It's a fairly common business practice to have a high-demand item at a ridiculously low price, usually eaither at cost or maybe even taking a loss, in order to draw customers in so they spend their money on other (usually more expensive) stuff as well. You'd be surprised how many places do this (Savemart, Home Depot, etc)
Of course, this only works if you are a big enough business to take that loss until your other items start making up the difference and it works a little less with online stores compared to in-store shopping...
Justa thought...
That is a thought, but.. BG just seems too .. ... I just don't think they would do that.
My specific implication was that you should buy up their entire stock and resell it at your higher prices. I'm not really in a good position to unload any volume of fencing equipment.
Oh, no. We wouldn't steal fencers' opportunities for a sale if the uniforms are legit. Also Amanda is hardcore about being honest and fair and odds are something is either wrong with the uniforms somehow or they did something illegal in customs to get them for so cheap if they're not taking a huge hit on this, which is something we wouldn't really want anything to do with.
We've gotten cracked down on extra-hard on before by customs because BG was doing something a while ago and so they went over us with a fine toothed comb to make sure we were doing everything legit. Who wants to get involved in a headache?
Sorry, I guess I wasn't clear. Why doesn't Absolute order one?
If something odd is going on, what better way to find out exactly what they are selling than buying one yourselves?
Originally Posted by Eisley
I guess, IDK tbh I hate dealing with BG, they're never nice on the phone, ever. Once I called and got asked to hold for a minute.. so I'm holding.. and holding.. my cell phone minutes are getting eaten up.. finally I get mad, hang up, and call back and asked what happened and the girl was like "Opps! I'm sorry I forgot I put you on hold, I got distracted!" -_-;;
Plus if I do order one, I really am afraid the quality might be sub par so what do I do with it then? I'd rather not waste my money since it's non-returnable. If anyone does feel like getting one though, let me know!!
Sorry, I guess I wasn't clear. Why doesn't Absolute order one?
If something odd is going on, what better way to find out exactly what they are selling than buying one yourselves?
Idk, because I guess there has to be someone on fencing.net that already purchased one.. right?
I got them, they appear to be legit, the 50 (42 US) size is small for me and the 52 (44 US) barely fits me. The Leon Paul Sydney that I have is also 42 US and fits me perfectly, the Team 360 42 US size that got in the dryer still fits me better then the 52 (44 US) size jacket...
The material does fill cheap and thin, no defects found.
If anyone is interested in the 50 (42US) left handed jacket, let me know.
I got them, they appear to be legit, the 50 (42 US) size is small for me and the 52 (44 US) barely fits me. The Leon Paul Sydney that I have is also 42 US and fits me perfectly, the Team 360 42 US size that got in the dryer still fits me better then the 52 (44 US) size jacket...
The material does fill cheap and thin, no defects found.
If anyone is interested in the 50 (42US) left handed jacket, let me know.
Some photos
The material isn't cheap but it usually appears that way because it's so thin, which is why a lot of people both do not like the 350N Jacket (because it doesn't seem like it offers much protection and seems cheaply made for the price) and why others love the 350N Jacket (because it's so thin and lightweight it's not as hot or restricting as some other jackets but remains 350N).
As for the sizing, an UH50 is more like a 42/40 US and UH52 more like 44/42 US, it's not a straight on conversion, which is why it's a little on the small size. If you asked someone there for sizing help they should have told you this, and also if you told them your size and they recommended what size to get I'd let them know.
At the very least they should (and more than likely will with a little persistence) let you exchange it for a L/H 54 (since that size appears available on their site). Uhlmann jackets and plastrons do shrink a little bit when washed.. so IDK how that 52 you have now will fit soon, so I'd jump on trying to let BG let me exchange the 50 for a 54 and then you can try to sell the 52 you have now.
Originally Posted by prototoast 
