Wilson titanium mask

[SJUMBA93]

Interesting that Between the Lines has the new mask at $179.00:

http://www.btlofficialsgear.com/deta...&category=1375

I have ordered from Davis in the past and found that service is good, but pricing is on the high side.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by SJUMBA93

Interesting that Between the Lines has the new mask at $179.00:

http://www.btlofficialsgear.com/deta...&category=1375

I have ordered from Davis in the past and found that service is good, but pricing is on the high side.

I sent an email to customer service at Davis. Just want to see what kind of spin they put on it.

I'm happy with the mask, super happy. But saying that $199 is a special price is obviously nonsense based on BTL's price.

[L.A. Umpire Guy]

Ump-attire.com has started carrying it, too, but they're not giving it away like BTL ($224 to $179).

That means that by buying it from Davis, I spent $20 extra to have it for this past Sunday's game. I'm glad I took a shot. That may have made it worth the extra 20.

BTL's not making much on this thing if they're selling it for that price. But good for them in trying to get it out there.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by L.A. Umpire Guy

Ump-attire.com has started carrying it, too, but they're not giving it away like BTL ($224 to $179).

That means that by buying it from Davis, I spent $20 extra to have it for this past Sunday's game. I'm glad I took a shot. That may have made it worth the extra 20.

BTL's not making much on this thing if they're selling it for that price. But good for them in trying to get it out there.

Rex sets his prices fairly. I am a huge fan of Honig's shirts and pants or I'd give Rex more business. I did buy a pair of shoes from him a few seasons ago.

Who knows, it's possible he doesn't have a huge number of them and is doing this to show he's cheaper than Davis. They're both in Appleton and I'm sure there's some competition there. Not sure if there's any personal history between the two, though.

[L.A. Umpire Guy]

I like his site very much, and his printed catalog is one of the best. He also seems like he truly loves it, which makes a huge difference. But the same goes for Jim Kirk and a couple of others. And then there's the Honig's quality and service benefits that you pay a premium to enjoy.

I guess the key is that if you're looking for a particular piece, you go to the site with the best price, if you can wait; and you go to the one with the best service and availability if you can't.

I really wanted that mask the minute it became available. I have been watching our two local catchers--Russ Martin & Mike Napoli--wearing their sleek-looking titanium masks for a couple of years now, and I always wanted to wait for it to be available by Wilson, rather than buy one of the other featherweights, (or ANYTHING that says "Nike" or has that infernal swoosh). After the Wilson finally became available, I looked for it for a week or so on all of the other sites, and because Davis had it for a few bucks off, I jumped.

I also got the umpire model Shock FX for $200 from a site that I used to go to for bats:

http://www.hq4sports.com/wilson-umpi...-a5590bla.html

Others have it for about that, too. Wait until you put that thing on. The comfort and visibility are unreal.

[mrm21711]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Rex sets his prices fairly. I am a huge fan of Honig's shirts and pants or I'd give Rex more business. I did buy a pair of shoes from him a few seasons ago.

Who knows, it's possible he doesn't have a huge number of them and is doing this to show he's cheaper than Davis. They're both in Appleton and I'm sure there's some competition there. Not sure if there's any personal history between the two, though.

I believe Rex used to be an operations person with Davis before starting BTL a few years ago.

I totally agree that Davis' prices are ridiculous in most areas. For example - the MLU Gray Wilson shin guards are $79.90 there...higher that most places. And Davis' shipping costs are no bargain either.

I have bought a few items (a Wilson Dyna-Lite mask this spring, a pair of the A3409 Wilson black shin guards 2 years ago) from a small retailer named CAT Sports in Indiana. Much lower prices ($10-15 lower on the mask, $15-25 lower on the shin guards) than other places. Shipping was great - got the order in two days. IMO, there are very few reasons for me to shop at Davis. Their prices are normally MUCH higher than others.

[L.A. Umpire Guy]

The one thing that's worth the price at Davis--outside the peculiarity of the new mask situation--is the plate slacks, which fit perfectly. They're sized right to begin with, but have these little waist-expanders at the beltline. Four bucks more for slacks that fit. Too many brands are sized inaccurately (why?), so these slacks have been a nice find in the charcoal shade. And charcoal grey is approved for 2009 in FED baseball.

The other sites are the places to go for just about anything else. Honig's is also a high-priced place. They're great for slacks too, though.

[L.A. Umpire Guy]

I agree, but they cost $103.00 once they're shipped and hemmed. That's nearly twice as much as the others.

Honig's are definitely the best. They'd better be.

[kylejt]

A light mask is really, really nice. I got the Schutt when it first came out, and my WV and Honig's have sat in my spare gear bag ever since. Night and day boys.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Chris_Hickman

Now we are getting into the cut-throat area. If this was Under Armour or Oakley we would not have this problem. A UA shirt in Calif costs the same in NY. At $179 Rex is not making much $$$. To make a decent, fair profit... Umpattire @ $224 is a normal markup. I would not bash Gerry for their $199 price. They were the 1st to promote it. I know that Honigs is going to carry it. We shall see what they put it @. Chris

Both places are in Appleton, WI, though.

I think that a question sent to customer service isn't unreasonable. Davis's prices are pretty high. I'm still happy with the mask, but don't treat $199 as if it's a super-duper price when someone across town (who's much smaller a business) can sell it for $20 less. That said, I made my own decision and was happy to pay $199 for it.

[L.A. Umpire Guy]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Both places are in Appleton, WI, though.

I think that a question sent to customer service isn't unreasonable. Davis's prices are pretty high. I'm still happy with the mask, but don't treat $199 as if it's a super-duper price when someone across town (who's much smaller a business) can sell it for $20 less. That said, I made my own decision and was happy to pay $199 for it.

My son just asked me for money for gas. I gave him a $50 and told him next time I'll give him enough to fill it all the way up. Then he said, "Can I get another twenty for lunch?"

Twenty dollars is not what it used to be. So the $179 loss-leader price (very smart) at BTL is the way to go for everyone else. I wanted the thing so badly that I waited only a week and jumped when it appeared that Davis had the inside track. (I suspect that they were taking orders before they had it, because as soon as I ordered it, a notice appeared that the initial shipment was gone and the new one will come in a couple of days. In business school lingo, that means they weren't even stocking it yet.) Davis's $200.00 price tag was not bad, and I knew that if I waited long enough, I could get the mask for significantly less, and a bare cage for $100.00 or less and use doeskins and MLB harness that I already have. But that could take months and I wanted it ASAP.

You take one look at this thing and it's love. The kind of feeling that one would only admit to other umpires.

[etn_ump]

I must be getting old.

I can't believe you guys pay $200.00 for a mask, but to each his own.

And as far as lightweight goes, how light does a mask really need to be? I mean, think about it, if your neck can't support 1-2 pounds, you really need to work on your neck.

JMHO

[L.A. Umpire Guy]

Originally Posted by etn_ump

I must be getting old.

I can't believe you guys pay $200.00 for a mask, but to each his own.

And as far as lightweight goes, how light does a mask really need to be? I mean, think about it, if your neck can't support 1-2 pounds, you really need to work on your neck.

JMHO

My skull, neck, face, eyes and brain are each worth a considerable amount to my family and me. None of us can afford to have any of those things damaged any more than they need to be in order that Dad here can go out all the time and watch these ballgames.

I piss away thousands of dollars each year on insurance that I never, ever use. This is a couple hundred (and the Shock FX is $200 more) for insurance that I have already used. I took a shot in the sixth inning of my first game wearing it. And I'll probably take a top of the head shot the first time I use the helmet in one of those bandbox cages they have at a lot of the LA city schools.

And the price of comfort is also considerable. These new masks and helmets are so lightweight and comfortable, it's almost indescribable.

[L.A. Umpire Guy]

I bought my son the i phone for his 18th birthday. My stepmother was aghast, because she's astoundingly stingy, and feels that everyone she knows should do without a lot of cool things like my dad does.

I told her that the very first time my son drove 45 miles from home to play a ballgame, he consulted Google Maps in order to avoid making a wrong turn in a tricky and hazardous area (of which there are many in L.A.). Good Lord, just that was worth a ton. When you have an 18-year-old traversing the L.A. freeways at night, and you know that he has a device that will keep him from being lost or out of touch, that's insurance that you can actually use, and insurance that's worth way more than the $399 we paid fot the damned thing. That's how I look at the value of certain things.

Even my intractable stepmother caved after that argument.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by L.A. Umpire Guy

My skull, neck, face, eyes and brain are each worth a considerable amount to my family and me. None of us can afford to have any of those things damaged any more than they need to be in order that Dad here can go out all the time and watch these ballgames.

I piss away thousands of dollars each year on insurance that I never, ever use. This is a couple hundred (and the Shock FX is $200 more) for insurance that I have already used. I took a shot in the sixth inning of my first game wearing it. And I'll probably take a top of the head shot the first time I use the helmet in one of those bandbox cages they have at a lot of the LA city schools.

And the price of comfort is also considerable. These new masks and helmets are so lightweight and comfortable, it's almost indescribable.

You don't have to justify spending money you earn however you want. Some people umpire to see how much they can squeeze out of the bottom line. Others, like me, look at it as a hobby that happens to pay a few bucks, so it doesn't bother me to invest in top quality gear.