Best Online Fencing Store

[Talyn]

I'm about to make a pretty big purchase and I just want to know which of the many fencing stores out there is the best, this is the stuff I want to get.
For Foil of course:
FIE 800N Uniform
3 StM Maraging Coloured blades
Shoes
FIE underplastron
2 compartment Roller Bag
1 maybe 2 Lames

Thats about it

[The0ne]

holy crap big order! Blue gauntlet is good, just don't buy any Blue-gauntlet brand stuff, they have great shipping and return policy, and i've generally been satisfied with everything except the stuff they make. But since everything you're getting is either FIE, or probably another brand, I could recommend them. Other than that maybe Santelli?

[downunder]

i've got you at about 820 Euro plus shipping, which is about 50 euro to australia...

mind you i'd have to get sizes off you, for the lame and suit

[Bout ender]

*whistles* nice sized order there...Santelli is good....Blue Gauntlet isn't too bad either....ever heard of Fencesmart? Their prices aren't too shabby either!

[wflaschka]

http://www.fechtsport-langenkamp.de (direct link to store) -- German supplier. Their prices on high-quality German equipment simply cannot be beat.

You'll see Adidas at 69 Euros. That's actually $69, because you add 15% for currency exchange, but then subtract 15% because you don't have to pay German VAT taxes. So for $70 and shipping, you can get shoes that BG (for example) sells at $105 plus shipping.

For hefty orders, FLangenkamp is pretty good.

[mfp]

Originally posted by wflaschka

You'll see Adidas at 69 Euros. That's actually $69, because you add 15% for currency exchange, but then subtract 15% because you don't have to pay German VAT taxes.

Since the original poster is in Australia, The EUR/AUD exchange rate would be more appropriate.

And since this would be a rather large order, it probably would be wise to investigate whether Australian customs would levy any duty on such an order or require additional paperwork.

[wflaschka]

Mmmm... didn't think about that stuff. FWIW, I've made two orders over $1k to fechtsport-lang and haven't had issues w/ customs and importers. May be different story in Aus.

[Feanor]

Originally posted by wflaschka
Mmmm... didn't think about that stuff. FWIW, I've made two orders over $1k to fechtsport-lang and haven't had issues w/ customs and importers. May be different story in Aus.

I'm with wflaschka on this... F-L has the best deal going for people in the US, I can't see how it would be much different for Australia unless there is a pretty intense dynamic going on for Australian Dollars vs Euros...

I've heard many stories about shipments getting intercepted by US customs with taxes levied (particularly for uniforms) which are deemed "textiles", but if you order foils, scoring machines, pistes, repair gear, spares etc, the worst you will get IF customs decide to take a look, is a bunch of "INSPECTED" stickers on your box. All fencing gear aside from uniform related gear is deemed as "machine parts" which in the US are exempt from tarrifs if under something like $4000 (edited: correction $2400)... The reason that uniforms get scrutinized is because the US is FIERCELY protectionist about its textile industry...

Like wflaschka, I've made several >$1000.00 orders from F-L and have always gotten the orders in a timely fashion and without inspection... My read is that if the inspections are not random, they are simply checking big BIG shipments, or lots and lots of little shipments to the same location (indicating a business as opposed to a single enthusiastic fencer )

Check out Fechtsport-Langenkamp, they're top-notch! To simplify the Euro-conversion the price in Euros that is shown on the website are just about what you pay in dollars since you subtract the VAT tax which non-Europeans don't have to pay and then multiply by almost the same percentage to do the Euro to Dollar conversion...

Shipping for 0-6Kg is about $50 and 6-10Kg is about $80 Figure that full kit including two weapons and a bag weighs about 8Kg...

Good luck to you!

[downunder]

the only thing would be our 10% GST....

our customs are usually pretty good with fencing gear