Has anyone ordered from Honig's lately?

[UMP25]

First, I preface this post by saying I'm not trying to rip on Honig's here. I'm simply relaying information and making an inquiry.

Recently, I had to order a couple new shirts and a jacket (the one with the blue shoulder stripes) from Honig's for use in the Midwest Collegiate League. Most of us received our items last week. Well, one of my partners calls me and asks me if I tried on the shirts and jackets. He asked me because of what several of us have noticed:

• The shirts and jackets are now made in China
• The polo blue shirts are of a markedly different material and sized MUCH larger than the original polo blues (I have a few of those)
• The jackets are shorter in the sleeves and tend to run a bit smaller
• The jackets feel thinner and much flimsier; the collars are like paper

So, I was wondering if anyone has experienced the same thing lately.

[Welpe]

I haven't purchased any baseball items from them lately but I had an issue with the dye running on their football pants and ruining the white stripe and they didn't really seem to care. I've written them off and only order from them if I absolutely have to.

[briancurtin]

I like the material on the newer shirts. The jackets not so much.


Now, if we could just find a way to get someone to stop carrying these awful Richardson hats and go back to NewEra, I'd be a customer of theirs for life.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Welpe

I haven't purchased any baseball items from them lately but I had an issue with the dye running on their football pants and ruining the white stripe and they didn't really seem to care. I've written them off and only order from them if I absolutely have to.

I have not ordered any baseball stuff either. But I have ordered the football pants and I did not seem to have that problem. I know others that did have the problem with color ruining or bleeding into the stripe. But I wash everything in cold water and I am wondering is that the reason I have not had this problem. I know they did change who made those pants. Maybe this is the case with many of their items.

Peace

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by UMP25

First, I preface this post by saying I'm not trying to rip on Honig's here. I'm simply relaying information and making an inquiry.

Recently, I had to order a couple new shirts and a jacket (the one with the blue shoulder stripes) from Honig's for use in the Midwest Collegiate League. Most of us received our items last week. Well, one of my partners calls me and asks me if I tried on the shirts and jackets. He asked me because of what several of us have noticed:

• The shirts and jackets are now made in China
• The polo blue shirts are of a markedly different material and sized MUCH larger than the original polo blues (I have a few of those)
• The jackets are shorter in the sleeves and tend to run a bit smaller
• The jackets feel thinner and much flimsier; the collars are like paper

So, I was wondering if anyone has experienced the same thing lately.

I have noticed over the last three years that as their prices have gone up, their quality has gone down. I no longer send them my money.

[Rich]

I stopped when they made deals with state HS associations to force officials to buy their crap. Thankfully, my state hasn't sold their souls. Yet.

I deal mainly with Jim Kirk and UmpAttire now.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by GROUPthink

I stopped when they made deals with state HS associations to force officials to buy their crap. Thankfully, my state hasn't sold their souls. Yet.

I deal mainly with Jim Kirk and UmpAttire now.

My state has a deal with them, but we do not have to buy the stuff. It is just available to them. Actually this started with Gerry Davis Sports first in my state.

Peace

[Rich]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

My state has a deal with them, but we do not have to buy the stuff. It is just available to them. Actually this started with Gerry Davis Sports first in my state.

Peace

Deals and discounts are fine. But some states (Florida is one that comes to mind) has announced that without the little state logo, one that only Honig's is licensed to put on the uniform, officials cannot work the playoffs. In other words, Honig's has made a backroom deal with a state association to force all their officials to buy stuff from them -- and that I find distasteful.

That kind of deal will push me (whenever practical) to another vendor.

If I truly like Honig's stuff the best, I'll buy it. However, when there's a choice (for identical product like shoes and protective gear), I'll buy elsewhere.

And like others, I've found the quality of the goods to be lacking. Last season I worked a tournament where they provided us with pants -- the non-polywool charcoal variety. In my mind, these were the lowest quality umpire pants I'd ever dealt with.

[JRutledge]

We are not getting a deal or a discount. We just can buy a shirt for example with the state logo on them if we choose which can replace the state patch, but is not required. Actually there are three different vendors that we can use to buy shirts or other items like hats with the IHSA logo on them. It is actually more for each item with them putting the logo on them.

I cannot speak to the quality of baseball stuff because I have not purchased anything from them in baseball for a few years. The last time I got something from them it was a pair of pants which were OK. I did purchase many football things this past year because the NCAA changed their shirts and we had to purchase entirely different shirts and were required do go to a different pair of pants and those were just fine as well. I just have heard people complaining lately and I do think they have changed some manufacturers in the last few years. That is probably the problem. I know they had some problems with some back orders of items because who they were working with had changed. At least that is what I was told by one of the guys that comes to our camps.

Peace

[mrm21711]

Originally Posted by UMP25

First, I preface this post by saying I'm not trying to rip on Honig's here. I'm simply relaying information and making an inquiry.

Recently, I had to order a couple new shirts and a jacket (the one with the blue shoulder stripes) from Honig's for use in the Midwest Collegiate League. Most of us received our items last week. Well, one of my partners calls me and asks me if I tried on the shirts and jackets. He asked me because of what several of us have noticed:

• The shirts and jackets are now made in China
• The polo blue shirts are of a markedly different material and sized MUCH larger than the original polo blues (I have a few of those)
• The jackets are shorter in the sleeves and tend to run a bit smaller
• The jackets feel thinner and much flimsier; the collars are like paper

So, I was wondering if anyone has experienced the same thing lately.

5-6 years ago, I felt Honig's was top notch and dealt with them exclusively. Their service was good, their products were good (a few of their HMLS shirts that were made in the USA from about 5 years ago are my favorites) and their quality was "worth it." I cant say the same anymore.

Their HMLS shirts are made in China now and although they are "similar" to the Ump-Attire Ultimate Shirts IMO, they are the same price. How can Jim afford to offer a shirt made in the USA & Honig's has a shirt made in China for the same price? And Im sure Honig's has a much higher volume of shirts ordered, too. Their business model with a significant number of locations adds overhead which results in a more costly product. Jim has touched on it before and said he has no plans to "expand" like Honig's has because of the cost and limited benefits.

In their old made in USA shirts, I wore an XL on the bases and a XXL for the plate. With their new shirts, that has changed to a L on the bases and an XL for behind the plate. I can attest that their sizing has changed.

Originally Posted by UMP25

[*]The jackets are shorter in the sleeves and tend to run a bit smaller[*]The jackets feel thinner and much flimsier; the collars are like paper

During one of their closeout sales last year, I picked up a K17 jacket because it was only $39. I was shocked when I compared the quality to an older K17 jacket I had that was probably 8 years old or so. My observations echoed those in the opening post - much much lower quality and a lighter, paper feeling to the product.

I recently picked up one of their K14 "convertible" jackets and am pleased with the construction and quality. Its expensive too, but a far better value than their K17 jackets.

If you have followed them throughout the years, you will have noticed their prices went up by a dollar or two every single year until their HMLS shirts were around $33-34. Every year there seemed to be a difference in the material and construction (usually a decrease in quality) of their HMLS shirts as well. When they got to a point where they couldnt raise prices anymore, they brought in the shirts made in Pakistan for a year and then these current Made in China "Prosoft" HMLS shirts. I dont understand how a company of their size & "reputation" could even offer those Pakistan shirts? Didnt they receive protypes and test them for a season before offering them? Did they rush at the last minute because of a supplier issue and had to "settle" for those?

I look at the Smitty offerings and see a similar quality product for a much much lower price.

I was frustrated the one time I purchased a pair of Poly Wools and had an issue. If you look on the inside of the pants, the crease is lined with a glue/resin substance that maintains the crease for a long period of time. Well, on the pair I received, the substance was not properly applied and the crease was not straight - there were a bunch of little lines on the legs because the substance was not applied correctly. I had to jump through some hoops but then eventually took them back. I looked on some older pairs and noticed the same thing but didnt make an issue of it with them.

Originally Posted by dileonardoja

Has anyone noticed the poor design of the Honigs Dry-Lo ball bags. Velcro on the inside pockets (WHY???) and the pockets are ridiculously too deep Getting an indicator or plate brush out of the pocket is a two hand operation. The web site says "Manufactured to our specifications". That doesn't say much about their design team.

I ordered a pair of Dry-Lo bags from Evans over the winter and have been pleased with them. Mine dont have any velcro on the openings inside, though. They took a little while to "loosen up" ( I found the opening was a little tight on getting baseballs in/out at first) but I really like them and have no complaints.

Are you referring to these?
Honig's Whistle Stop - K40 - LARGE UMPIRES BALL BAG

I have a pair of these as well and they have velcro in them and the tag says "Made in China." I dont like these as much as the Dry Los.

[ajjl22]

I noticed a difference in the quality of the shirts and jackets when I got my Midwest Collegiate League order as well. Jacket seems a lot thinner than the other Honig's Jackets I have and the shirts are quite a bit larger than the old models I have as well. Overall I still don't think it is a bad shirt.

I also don't order shirts from Ump-attire because of the numbering issue. It is one less thing I have to worry about when I order a shirt

[briancurtin]

Originally Posted by ajjl22

I noticed a difference in the quality of the shirts and jackets when I got my Midwest Collegiate League order as well. Jacket seems a lot thinner than the other Honig's Jackets I have

I just realized that jacket doesn't have a lineup card pocket once I got on the field. I knew something was weird when they said they don't offer the open-bottom version (at least for the black with polo blue stripes).

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by briancurtin

I just realized that jacket doesn't have a lineup card pocket once I got on the field. I knew something was weird when they said they don't offer the open-bottom version (at least for the black with polo blue stripes).

A pocket is nice, Brian, but I don't even use the open bottom one for the plate. Those are just HUGE. I have always liked the elastic bottoms, and if I use one behind the plate, which is rarer now that I use a long-sleeved shirt or the thermal jacket, I just put my lineup card and its holder in my left ball bag or my rear pocket.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by UMP25

A pocket is nice, Brian, but I don't even use the open bottom one for the plate. Those are just HUGE. I have always liked the elastic bottoms, and if I use one behind the plate, which is rarer now that I use a long-sleeved shirt or the thermal jacket, I just put my lineup card and its holder in my left ball bag or my rear pocket.

I've heard the people who owned +POS bought out Honig's.

[briancurtin]

Originally Posted by UMP25

A pocket is nice, Brian, but I don't even use the open bottom one for the plate. Those are just HUGE. I have always liked the elastic bottoms, and if I use one behind the plate, which is rarer now that I use a long-sleeved shirt or the thermal jacket, I just put my lineup card and its holder in my left ball bag or my rear pocket.

The open bottom could have done with being a few inches shorter, but I've been a fan of it. I'm also a bit taller so I haven't had the problems a lot of people have with mass excess material.

I still want that pocket. It's on all of the shirts, I'm used to it, and there's no reason other than going cheap that it's not there. First world problems.