cheap West Vest
 

For any of you who are interested...Amazon has the original brand new "West Vest" on sale for $29.99. I know it's pretty bulky and lacks in protection in the under arm area, but you can't beat that price. You could even sell it on ebay for at least $80 or $90. Other websites are selling it for $100 plus. Click on the link below to see.

http://www.amazon.com/Wilson-West-Ve...sporting-goods

By the way, has anybody tried out the Champion or Pro-nine chest protectors that resemble the honig's K1? I figured they are not as good quality as the K1, but I was thinking about getting one for when I do younger kids. Also, what's a good, cheap pair or leg guards? I already have the west vest gray shins, but was looking for something less bulky for when I do youth ball. Thanks alot

Luke

I was thinking the original was by Douglas. But I guess it's still a good buy for what it is.

I ordered a couple of them, and I'll report back when I get them. Delivery will be after Christmas.

I use the Pro 9 CP and am happy with it overall. :D Much less $ than the Honig's K1.
Ordered the inexpensive WV tonight-should get by end of Dec. 06.
Curious how this will compare to my Pro 9 CP. :rolleyes:
Sam

DG: I think the original is by Douglas...my mistake. It just seems when I see this model on other websites it is labeled as "original". But in reality, this one and the Douglas one are pretty much the exact same thing.

For those of you who are ordering them, let us how how they turn out. For some reason I want to be skeptical b/c how could they sell such a quality, expensive chest protector at such a cheap price? Also, it has the suggested retail at only $65, while other websites have it as at least $90 and many well over $100. I would order one, but I already have the west vest platinum and I love it (though for some reason I can't get the top to tighten anymore and need it to be a little tighter...I'm not small...about 6'0 190lbs.)

thanks for the advice on the pro-9. Surely there has to be some catch there as well. How can you sell a chest protector that resembles the K1 for about $100 cheaper? The quality surely isn't as good. Also, please give me some leg guard feedback, I don't want to pay $70 or $80 for a pair b/c I already have a good pair, but I'm looking for a pair to wear for youth ball and am willing to spend about $40 (does anybody have an opinion on the itech umpire shins...I believe they are discontinued now). Thanks alot, keep us updated on the west vest on amazon.

Luke

I have ordered a bunch of stuff from Amazon and I have never had a problem.

I ordered one last night. It is supposed to arrive by Friday. I am happy with the one I have but my oldest son could use a new one, and if it arrives by Friday it will be good timing. We will see.

The one on Amazon is the exact same one that sells for $109.00 on Baseball Plus, so it is probably a really good deal.

Guys, ask yourselves why the price is so low? These are the original WV markings, probably made by Wilson. If they are, they are discontinued. This means no support! If something breaks or fails, you are on your own!

Hey, for thirty bones delivered, I'll take that chance. My old WV hasn't needed much service in the last five years. I'm keeping one as a backup, and donating the other to my local LL youth umpire program.

Let's see, if I report a $109 donation to the IRS, I'm just about even......

You could buy one to wear and two for parts and still come out ahead.

Many day to day decisions are about risk. I was on a conference call today discussing a million dollar decision. Someone said "what if all our information is wrong and we select the wrong product". My response was "throw 'em in the ocean and start over". You use the best information you have and sometimes evaluate risk. And $30 is not a lot of risk. I ordered one for my son. If it is crap I lose about the same amount as a bet on a football game.

I simply have a problem donning a $29 piece of equipment that is supposed to protect me from a 90 MPH fast ball!

I would be too if the $29 item was a long sleeve turtleneck. But this is supposed to be a quality product, ON SALE. My chest protector cost $85, regular price, and I have no problems with it and have taken some 90 MPH fast balls off it. So if this one is equal to the one I have it should be fine. If not I throw it in the ocean and start over.

I was just looking at my WV Platinum and wondering. What if it wasn't one of the best around, didn't a have a pro endorsement and such a small market. I mean it's just some plates of plastic, foam, cheap rivets, velcro and woven straps. If WalMart sold the thing, what would it cost? $20-30, probably.

And how about the +POS plate coat in my closet. Three bills for that thing?! Pa-leeze. I mean it's a quality garment, but JC Penny would sell it $79.

Look, we're a very small, niche market that is forced to overpay for our specialized gear. I just thank my lucky electrons that Al Gore invented the internet so I can get my stuff waaaay cheap.

The picture of the protector looks exactly like the Douglas I sold on eBay for $175. Some umpires will by anything.

In case you didn't see the picture, this is a west vest, one of the best quality chest protectors around. To see it on sale for $30 is absolutely unheard of. They have since made small improvements on some of the newer models of the west vest, but this thing can take 90 MPH fastballs all day long, regardless of price.

If for some reason they don't send you the one in the picture, then just send it back, but if they do, then you got a heck of a deal. You can't even find a piece of crap used west vest some fat guy has worn and sweated on for 6 years for $30 on ebay, much less a brand new one. I'm curious to see how they turn out and what the people who have ordered them will say. Keep us posted.

Luke

For what it's worth, a friend of mine I mentioned the sale to ordered it online on Sunday and he received it today (Tuesday.) He says it's perfect, brand new, and fits him perfectly, better than the Wilson MLU protector he was replacing. He is forever in my (and by extension, whoever started this thread) debt for clueing him in to such a great bargain. He called it the deal of the century.

Of course, the century is still very young. :)

thanks for the heads-up
 

Just ordered one a few minutes ago. I'm getting back into officiating after a long haitus and appreciate any bargains I can get on my limited budget.
Does anyone know of any deals on plate shoes, plate pants, jackets and shirts?

Hoing's is having their 10% Holiday sale now.

I use the Pro9 CP and have not had a problem with it...I have used it in HS level of play and had zero issues with it, protection, quality, or fit...

Check out New Balance express' website. Today, if you order by midnight, they have their plate shoes and base shoes 10% off and free 1-day shipping!

Has anyone used the NB Plate Shoes before?

I have used 2 pair of the Honigs K90's.

Low Low Price
 

Amazon must clear shelf space for the new model that LtDan showed us a few months ago.
http://www.sportsauthority.com/sm-wi...pi-372648.html
Amazon is probably passing along a good deal from their own overstocked suppliers. Wish they did the same thing with plate shoes and other umpire gear.

What's hilarious is that these things are already being put on eBay. Mine are scheduled for delivery on Thursday. Report to follow. It won't replace my Platinum, but might work better under my plate coat. I'll even look like a tall, lean version of Cowboy Joe!

Somebody likely has a significant overstock so Ebay is the quickest way to resolve, likely selling at cost or even a small loss. The buyer benefits and thus Ebay thrives and we all happy. Mine is due to arrive Friday.

No. Guys here are buying them from the aforementioned site, and reselling them on eBay. More power to them.

Got the WV I ordered today. It is what it is advertised to be. It's not Platinum or Gold but the original (not Douglas) WV. I could take it to my first association meeting in January, lay it on a table and say $70 and I would be stormed (not a good plan). I didn't need it, I am perfectly happy with the CP I have, but for the price I couldn't resist. I will probably just give it to my oldest son. The younger son has the same CP I have so he don't need one.

Thank you "lmathews19" for the inexpensive WV CP info.
Mine arrived today (ordered 12-17-06). Good deal for just over $38.00 total. Probably an old or discontinued model.
Made some strap adjustments and CP seems to fit me well.
Not used to a 13" model as my original CP (many years ago) was 18" and my current Pro 9 CP is 16". I am sure I will "adjust".
Certainly more protection than the "ribbed" type.
Sam

I got mine today.

It's a quality piece. I got two for about $65(free shipping for orders over fifty bucks). Nay sayers can bark all they want, but they're new, great quality, and dirt cheap. If they're new old stock, NOS, you can't tell. They seem quite fresh.

It's great to see that the deal was legitimate and you all are receiving your orders. I'm glad I could help my fellow umpires out and hook them up with probably the greatest umpire equipment deal I've ever seen. I just happened to stumble across it by typing in a google search Sunday evening b/c I was doing research on what type of CP my brother should get, and in the process I was able to hook some of my partners up with a great deal, I'm delighted because of this.

Good luck to you all and Merry Christmas. Be sure and let your associations know of the deal when you have your winter meetings. Being an umpire is not cheap.

Luke

Good job Luke! You're my new best friend.

I ordered two, and they are scheduled to arrive next week. I do not really need one, but also could not pass on this bargain (free shipping on orders over $50). My son will get one of them (hopefully it will fit OK, he is 13), and I will put the other one to good use somehow, starting with me deciding if I like it better than my current one. Thanks, Luke, for giving us a "heads up" on this.

I'm not able to get the amazon link to work in either firefox or IE? Is anyone else having trouble with it.


Tim.

just go to amazon.com and type in west vest. After this, in the left-hand corner click on the "Sports and Outdoors" link. It should be one of the first options.

Luke

anyone got a picture of theirs?

Tim,

I use SeaMonkey, which is a Mozilla project, and FireFox. The link worked in both for me. (I only use IE if a site is specifically enhanced for IE.)

Tim are you still trying to get use out of that that old 486 you bought for $2,000 about 15 years ago? :D

If you need a real picture, go to eBay. Search for "West Vest umpire" and a few will show up. A couple have recent pictures, not just the stock image.

It is a platinum model in low level lighting.

***posts are in response to SAUmp's query as to what kind of WV was shown on e-bay, which he deleted.***

The e-bay picture:

http://i7.ebayimg.com/02/i/000/7d/09/d9e5_2.JPG


The platinum model from Gerry Davis Sports:

http://www.gerrydavis.com/Merchant2/...r4166-08-s.jpg

There are slight cosmetic differences, which is due to the semi-annual re-vamping of products.

This link will show you all three West Vests - the original, the Platinum, and the Gold, as well as the Wilson MLU knockoff.

http://majorleagueumpires.com/umpire_equipment.htm

I received mine today, $36.98 with shipping, and it looks absolutely great. I removed the hanging arm guards and it is going to make a wonderful back-up chest protector.

Thanks Luke!

The deal is no more. The price is now 66 bucks. I'm glad I got two. I'm guessing the price was just mismarked, and after the rush of sales they fixed it.

Thanks again Luke.

http://www.amazon.com/WILSON-WEST-UM...sporting-goods

This guy really knows how to model the vest...wow.

That's friggin' hilarious!!! :D

hmmm
 

i find it funny that the oringal price was $324.58...and the sale price is $194.75 :eek:

This would be hilarious if it weren't so pathetic. Where on earth did he get the retail price he came up with? I'd love to see his expression after getting nailed with a 90 mph pitch right where the collar protector was supposed to be!:eek: