Physical chess sucks!

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Oh man,

I ordered two electric epees from PC... wrong pistol grip size, to small. I have them send me two new grips, they send me ones that are smaller. Finally on monday, after 3 bouts with the epees, one of them will not go off, and fails the shim test, and the wire broke at the tang on the other. They are being dip-****s about this and not accepting the merchandise back because it has already been used for 3 bouts, and the piece of crap bell guard is already ding'd n' dented.

Wrong pistol grip sizes twice
Bad Weapons
Bad Service


The moral of the Story:

Dont buy from physical chess.

[Fechter1]

Did you buy their top-of-the-line blades, or something cheaper? I haven't had any experience with them yet, so I can't speak for (or against) them. Just general advice.

One reason I never buy weapons preassembled, not even prewired. I find I can do a better job myself, and my weapons are less likely to fail.

Handles: Maybe they just misunderstood you when you claimed the grips too small.

Guards: Pits and dings happen, and they can almost always be fixed/hammered out.

Blades: As mentioned, I don't trust prewired blades at all.

Generally, I like to give people the benefit of the doubt for one or two mixups. I find it far less aggravating that way. Also gets me much better service if I'm reasonable and understanding.
The weapons you have are most likely salvagable. Might take a few bucks (new wire on one?), but you'll have weapons again, right?
My advice: learn to build your own blades from component parts, including wiring your own blades. If you do it right, they'll last longer. you'll also figure out just how the stuff works, how it's likely to break, and how you can fix it. (I've been doing it for over 10 years, and I can fix a shim failure in less than 2 minutes...) Actually ends up being cheaper for me that way.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

No,

I bought the dirt cheap 40 buck chinese epees. They arn't worth a crap. But they shouldnt fail the shim test before the first bout, and the wire shouldnt snap after the fourth. I have a tournament on the 15th, and that is why I bought these epees.

[Almightynoitall]

one thing to remember... chinese gear= crap... no matter where it comes from...

they won't take back weapons you've fenced with because they don't know to what extent and damage the blades may have faced. All it takes is one bad fencer putting too much bend in the blade at a bad angle and it's almost guaranteed shot...

Keep in mind also that physical chess is run by a group of Russians who don't speak too much English... I usually deal with Svenke (who does all of their Ebay stuff) and have had to send a few things back... but they're usually great about fixing their errors (I've had ten minute phone calls from some of them with nothing but sincere apologies... they really do mean well.) So keep it specific what size you need and what handed, 'too small' or 'too large' is often just read as 'small' or 'large'. stick with "Left handed, large grip" and they'll never get it wrong. I've been more than happy to order, order, and reorder from them again and again.

[Almightynoitall]

Another thing... get buddy buddy-like with your armoror and learn how to wire blades/change tips yourself... it'll save you a fortune.

[whtouche]

Also, when someone sends you the wrong gear, dont fence with it then try to return it.
!!

[OCTAVIA]

You know armorers are a pain in the butt, I recommend taking a class and rewiring your own stuff; or send back to the manufacturer for rewiring. I was playing around with the armorer at a salle, and I bonked him on the helmit very lightly during a pause during an epee bout, and he became theatrical after that, ran over to the instructor and 'told' on me. what a nitwit. About two days later, the instructor at that salle started to scream at me, but it was for another reason, he wanted me like the same things as he and I wasn't interested.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

dang, what a prick.

I am taking some classes in armoring... seems useful.

[JEC]

"Often, there are two sides to a story." I was told that by an attorney.

Almost 99% of the armourers that I have seen are extremely helpful and very nice people, who actually are giving up some fencing time to fix weapons and run a tournament.

[Inquartata]

Originally posted by JEC
"Often, there are two sides to a story." I was told that by an attorney.

"My client's side and that liar's side".

[MyraTrue]

Also... It is a common thing to get epees that do not pass weights and shims. When you make the weapon, you assemble it, check its functional, and send it out. You assume that who ever sent you the tips and composit bits made them to spec.

I mean, I've bought complete tips and wires from Uhlmann, wired the blade, and discovered it didn't pass weights and shims. This is an easy fix, just a matter of lengthening one spring, and shortening hte other. This isn't something to hold against a company. (I have to check my weights and shims before every tournament, because I usually have to shorten a contact spring in ONE of them.)

You buy cheap, you'll get cheap. Likewise, no wire job is like your OWN. Learn to armor, and it saves you a lot of grief...

wait... once you learn, it does.

[The0ne]

And fence foil so shims are out of the question!

[remise]

That's too bad about the one armourer. I'm an armourer myself, and I know first hand what it's like to want to learn to fix stuff. I always try to help those who want to learn because it eases the burden on ME..........especially when faced with an anxious parent that wants to know if something can be re-wired within a couple of minutes or so.

[glowstix]

hey, i can't complain, physical chess has been good to me so far..they get my orders right and are very timely...

on the other hand, NEVER go with blue gauntlet!! they screwed up my order sending it to my old address which i moved from several months ago and i know for a fact that i put the right one down when i ordered online..it was verified after i called them.

[Feanor]

You fenced with the equipment even though you were intending to return it? That was an odd move unless you were desperately in need of it for the competition, but even still...

And they were $40 Chinese Epees? Hmmm... Some might argue that they gave you great performance for the price

I was actually thinking at one time of buying about 10 of their $8 dry foil blades so I could practice halting in the middle of an intense phrase when the blade snapped... I predicted that I could snap maybe 2 or three a night... Good practice!!! *laughing* (just kidding of course)

But seriously, sometimes I just tilt my head in confusion at some of the very very VERY inexpensive Chinese fencing items... If someone was going to use one fencing with me, I would lend them one of my own foils just for my own peace of mind

[wpotere]

Odd....

I have bought most of my equipment from Physical Chess and have had no problems with them at all. My initial order was for two starter sets as my wife and I just started. I recieved them but the masks were on back order. I called and they apologised telling me that they were on their way and that they would ship them priority when they recieved them. They kept their promise and did just that. We also had to return a jacket because it was too small. No problem, just shipped it back and three days later a new one was at the door step. I think that they are actually right by not accepting them back because you have used it. You probably should have tested them and then returned them when you realized that they wouldn't work for you. Also, their upgraded stuff is pretty nice and not badly priced either.

[Tomas N]

I just used Physical Chess for a large club order (about $2000). Other than some items being on back order, they shipped exactly what we ordered. The quality isn't the highest, but their club prices are remarkably low. If you're making a big order, ask for the club price sheet.

Tomas

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

I usually buy things so I can use them, not having the priveledge to rewire them before every bout.

[wpotere]

I understand your frustration, but you bought low end equipment and didn't inspect them once you recieved them. For me, new equipment, means a little inspection and testing before bout use. I still have to side with Chess on this one. However, I would offer to repair them at no cost to satisfy you. That, however, is about all I would do.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

I generally understand your point but they wont even bother to send a new wire and a spring.