buying direct leonpaul

[Hanzo]

any one ever bought stuff off of the leonpaul website that lives in the us?
also how does the conversion of currency work when using a credit card to buy ?

[whtouche]

I have.
I've found they're easy to work with, specifically when my order was late and I emailed them they respond within the day.

It was late because I ordered the sabre x-change mask, and apparantly the person who makes them was on vacation.

Also after I received it, I had a few questions which were also promptly answered.
Using a credit card I believe the exchange is done automatically so it works like ordering anything online. Just make sure you look up the exchange rate beforehand so you know what you're doing.

[DangerMouse]

I have also ordered from them a few times, but only small parts. They have been great with the customer service, the exchange with a credit card is easy and will get you the best exchange rate, and the shipping was downright cheap (parcel post).

Of course the product, the PTFE coated epee tips, is top notch.

-DM

[C.J.]

Yeah, Leon Paul is great. I am, overall, very satisfied with their service. Their Flick Master foil blade is just too fantabulounificent.

[arp]

Hi all,

We do our best to get everything out ASAP. Shipping is less than you would expect but the only tricky thing is exchanging things if you get the size wrong. If you do buy from us then I would suggest sticking to non clothing items. Many of our products really are the most advanced available in the world and they are simply not available in the states.

[R. Exnicios]

"Alex Paul"

Cool. The actual company dude.

There is so much cool stuff out there that we never see in the States.

It is great that Leon Paul will ship direct to us here in the U.S. Most of the manufactures will not. And some of the U.S. suppliers (not to point any fingers) sell second-rate stuff at top rate prices.

Cheers

[Craig]

Alex and Barry both frequent this site, so I would expect that they would be around to answer questions.

[JEC]

I can see that now they are sponsoring this site. Any discounts for Senior Members?

[arp]

Afraid not yet.

The new version of the software that we use will have a voucher system so we can give discounts to specific people between certain dates....

[R. Exnicios]

Originally posted by arp

The new version of the software that we use will have a voucher system so we can give discounts to specific people between certain dates....

Very Cool. Discounts are always a good thing!

[Barry Paul]

As MD of a fencing manufacturer I would have to disagree. I would prefer a concept of reassuringly expensive. Continuous discounting by the whole of manufacture leads to deflation, which as the Japon has found is a very bad thing.

In order to maintain a long term future you need to make suffient income not only to cover cost but to have sufficient to invest in R and D. Giving discounts is easy, surviving as a manufacturer for 60 years is a little harder.

Unfortunately many people want to buy on price without any regard to quality fit for purpose safety to the oponent. Coupled with an over valued pound for the last 4 years. Ops I am getting excited time to go and lay down it's my bed time. Barry paul MD Leon paul.

[R. Exnicios]

Originally posted by Barry Paul
As MD of a fencing manufacturer I would have to disagree. I would prefer a concept of reassuringly expensive. Continuous discounting by the whole of manufacture leads to deflation, which as the Japon has found is a very bad thing.

In order to maintain a long term future you need to make suffient income not only to cover cost but to have sufficient to invest in R and D. Giving discounts is easy, surviving as a manufacturer for 60 years is a little harder.

Unfortunately many people want to buy on price without any regard to quality fit for purpose safety to the oponent. Coupled with an over valued pound for the last 4 years. Ops I am getting excited time to go and lay down it's my bed time. Barry paul MD Leon paul.

Wow, what a philosophical response. I know a bit about micro and macro economic and that isn't what I was talking about. I know at least with my club when we purchase equipment for the club we need to get the most bang for our buck so there has to be a balance between quality and quantity.
20 FIE masks does me no good when I have 60 beguines.

All the same it's good to see Leon Paul making a bigger presence in the United States.

Cheers

[arp]

I am with Exnicios here I am afraid Dad.

Discounts are a good thing but to the right people at the right time.

The quality of kit and bang for your buck question is tricky. You want cheap blades but you definately don't want them to break!

It is all a question of balance. Lp try to produce a range of products with very different design principals to suit different needs. Ultimately though quality is paramount to us and if our kit is sometimes a little pricier than other options it is with good reason.

[Barry Paul]

My response was slightly tounge in cheek, however there is a serious point that there is a problem of just selling on price only.

In Europe there are now minimum standards and testing of equipment required before it is legal to sell fencing equipment.

Although initially expensive for the manufacturer it does mean that the equipment being sold reaches a minimum standard. This protects both the manufacturer and the coach or club using the equipment and ensures the buyer that the equipment is fit for purpose with, corect sizing, minium strength cloth and seams. In the past masks from Eastern European countries and China have been dangerous and had to be withdrawn.

One of the areas not covered by the European Standards is Blades which is an area of concern. Recently in the U.K. we lost a contract to supply fencing equipment to a new childrens activity centre as a result of a cost cutting drive. The contract went to a supplier from the old communists block. Four weeks later the centre was asking our advise because the blades were breaking.

The problem would be solved if the injured party was the user rather than the oponent. Barry Paul M.D. Leon Paul

[JEC]

Originally posted by Barry Paul
In the past masks from Eastern European countries and China have been dangerous and had to be withdrawn.

I am glad that a respected manufacturer shares this opinion regarding "cheaper" (lowest quality) segment of masks and blades. I was criticized last year by Tim Loomis because I made a similar statement after the Summer Nationals in Greenville. There, I had inspected an apparently defective Negrini mask with a hole in the mesh due to a penetration of an intact (not broken) epee blade during practice bouting a few weeks before. My comment was the cheapest Easter European and Chinese masks were also dangerous.

[Barry Paul]

Negrini is one of old respected family European Fencing Firm Manufacturers, who make their own masks. I am not aware that they sell other cheaper masks so prehaps the mask had an unlucky blow. It can happen to the best of masks. Barry Paul M.D. Leon Paul

[sallearmourer]

Barry as you know I have been a armourer longer then most pepole been fencing. I have at one time or another mask of all brand and make that had hole put in them with a blade blade inculde leon Paul. I said that all fie APPROVE MASK AS TO PASS THE SAME TEST INCLUDED THE MASK THAT BLUE GLAULET SELLS.

By the way Adelia who you know is going be referee at NATS she will come by and say hi

My Lovely wife wish she to be there as well and send her thanks for your regards. Wish I was there 20 years is to long to not to see a freind.


Tim Loomis

PS Adelia mention something about a sabre glove ? But would take a pair of sock instead.

[npkeith]

As to the question of currency exchange, it is done authomatically by the credit card company. After a recent trip to London, (OK, it was 2 years ago, and I wasn't fencing yet....) I learned that taking money out of ATMs in England got me a much better exchange rate than cashing travellers cheques. Apparently the credit card companies get a bank-to-bank exchange rate that is much better than a bank-to-consumer rate. They pass that rate on to the consumer, and just charge their usual ATM fees. It still works out to be a better deal, even after the fees.
Go ahead and order with your card.