Officials Choice Sale: Shirts at $15 and SHIPPING at $16. Plus, they got really defensive when I emailed them and brought it up. Now they are trying to buy my silence with a free shirt! LOL My advice: BOYCOTT OFFICIALS CHOICE!

Maybe instead of boycotting, we can all call and complain. Free shirts for everyone!!!

I agree to. Purchase Officials is a better company.

Honig's is the most consistently reliable for good service and reasonable prices. I don't even look anywhere else.

Honig's has absolutely bent over backwards for me in returning items to get the correct sizing (seems the pants run a bit smaller than my jean size). And when I intially called them, they referred to their other store which would serve my area better. I've purchased all my football and basketball gear from them and haven't been dissappointed with either their service, friendliness or shipping times and expense.

I only wish they had a better bag selection. Next season I'm grabbing a +pos bag.

Honig's gets the thumbs up! Unless something significant happens, they have a life long customer here.

If you don't even look anywhere else, how can you substantiate your first sentence? lol

I'm not saying Honig's isn't a very good, reputable company, just being picky here lol

Mr. Semantics is in the house!

:)

What's their number again!? :D :)

I can agree with that. I've had issues with other places before (not naming names), but I have had nothing but good experiences with Honig's.

Well I have ordered from many places over my years as officiating. I have at one time had a problem with all of them at least once about something. I ordered from one place recently with a big order from they totally screwed it up.

What I have found is that depending on the sport some places do better than others. Or they have better quality for one particular sport and not such good quality stuff in another sport.

Peace

Off this topic
 

JRut,

By any chance you are attending the Class A State Finals in Peoria this year?

Big Ten Tournament time!!!!
 

No, I will be attending the Class AA Tournament the following weekend. The Big Ten Tournament goes on the same weekend as the Class A Finals. I go to the Big Ten Tournament every year and this year will not be any exception.

Peace

Re: Big Ten Tournament time!!!!
 

Rut,

Who's on your crew? Are you the CC?

Re: Re: Big Ten Tournament time!!!!
 

I wish.

I can guess who will be there. Ed Hightower, Donny Gray, Teddy Valentine, Ted Hilary and a couple of other guys I cannot remember their name (that have worked every year I have been attending). It should be especially interesting this year.

Peace

Purchase Officials prices almost always beats Honig's.

MTD, Sr.

Honig's
 

Just ordered from them. Took 5 minutes tops, wonderful service, items will be here in a few days -- probably Tuesday.

Re: Honig's
 

That's what's great, I was going to pay extra once for their two day service, she said that my package would probably make it there anyways but not for sure, so I told her not to pay for the two day. It made it in two days with regular shipping.

Re: Re: Honig's
 

Same here Snake. I actually paid for it on one order and they didn't catch it. Ordered again and was going to do it and they said that I probably shouldn't cause it would take 2 days no matter what. Just great service, period. Sure in the hell not $16.95 for "standard shipping".

I agree with forksref, I ordered the "OC" shoes last summer,which was advertised by officials choice to be delivered before the end of august,of course I got them in sept. ok, but when i questioned this, instead of "oops,sorry", I was quickly reminded of the popularity of the shoes,and how lucky I was to be getting the best!!

Okay, I can buy the fact that there service is not the best. However, I really like there micro-soft shirts and they seem to be the only ones that carry this particular brand. I know the Honig's and others carry mesh shirts. I have bought a couple of them, but don't like them as much as OC's micro-soft shirt. If you can lead me to a place the carries these particular shirts, I will boycott OC's.

Letter
 

I too wrote a letter. Their reply was that their expenses for 2005 were calculated into their shipping costs. However, they did offer me and anyone around in my area free shipping for the month of March.

I've been ordering online (ebay, etc.) for quite some time, and expect "some" issues every now and then. I have ordered from OC about 5 times, but I've never had problems and have never had extremely high shipping.

Because their shirts and pants are by far the best, I will keep using them.

The "Pre-game board and the shoe bags I brought from them are really good. I have heard bad things about them on other items such as shirts and pants so I didnt order any of that from them. I order all that from Honigs where I am very pleased with their service. :) A+++ for Honigs.

Received this reply from Paul at OC

Over the past week, our company has received numerous messages in support of our promotion. A fine gentleman just made the following point, he stated, if "OC" has the best shirt in the industry priced at $15.00, plus $10.00 shipping/handling, that comes to $25.00. The competition has the same shirt, which they've just copied our new design, for $25.95, plus shipping/handling for $6.95, that comes to $32.90.
Therefore our offer saves you $$.

Be good enough to post these points, or your interpretation of them.

I believe this will end the discussion.

Thanks for your time and look forward to serving you again.

I have a few problems with OC

Their service is horrible - if you tell me you are going to do something and I pay you to do that then you should give me some of my money back or at least apologize if you don't do what I paid for.

Also, they should mention to people that their shirts run a size bigger than some of the more popular brands. That information right there would save some time.

Unfortunately for anyone working on an IAABO board they have the monopoly for use of the logo. The only alternative is to buy a plain shirt and have the patch sewn on instead of buy a shirt from them with the patch stitched in. Shirts are the only thing I get from them. I can't imagine any pants being better than sansabelts so I order my pants from a company that sell them. Honigs is a great company IMO too.

I cannot boycott OC but the IAABO monopoly is the only reason they get any of my business.

I just went to the OC website and they are (apparently) charging $3.85 for USPS Priority (actual cost) on a pretend order I put in consisting of 2 microsofter shirts. Is it possible he saw what a customer service nightmare this is?

If they work this out by next season, I'll give them a try. My shoe experience was a bit weird with them this year (11 days wasn't enough notice for in-stock shoes, I guess) but I'll give people a second chance.

[Edited by Rich Fronheiser on Mar 6th, 2005 at 11:58 AM]

why hasn't anyone mentioned refshop.com? It is the only place i have shopped and I love everything but their shoe selection. on the topic of shoes does anyone have any suggestions. I wanted to try some asics but could not find any worth officiating in.

You're right, looks like they changed shipping rates.

Re: Updated Shipping
 

Just checked it out, they have updated their shipping and have actually added more options. UPS Ground is something like 6.05 and USPS Priority is something like 3.85
I've got to give them props for changing and listening to all the officials who complained. There's a good chance I'll give them my business once and we'll see how it goes.

I've used OC for a while now.

I have heard people complaining about them. I have *never* had a problem with them. The 1 time I needed to send something back (zipper broke on a pair of sansabelts) they replaced the item within a week, no questions.

BTW, the material they use on their new shirts is great, and I like the cut of their pants.

Re: Re: Updated Shipping
 

They haven't changed anything. I just checked the shipping on a $9.50 shirt. USPS Priority Mail is $18.95!

Re: Re: Re: Updated Shipping
 

I see the same thing now. It *WAS* $3.85 earlier today.

But what's the deal for charging $6.00 for a 2XL?

Like I said, I'll see if they're even around next season before worrying about this.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Updated Shipping
 

Yep, I mentioned this in my earlier thread as well. $6 extra for an XXL is ridiculous!

Re: Re: Re: Updated Shipping
 

Yep, just went back and they've changed it again. At about noon central time is when I checked it last and got those figures.

Contact
 

I did notice that they have removed their "Contact Us" link from their page. They must be getting mass e-mails about this whole shipping thing.

Well if anyone wants to contact them:

[email protected]

(973) 267-8874

I just went to check out the OC website and it is down today. Maybe they are relocating already.

Official's Choice
 

No....they're probably re-adjusting their shipping/postage rates....AGAIN. (Gas price increases, no doubt, will affect their bottomline!)

(This is Paul Anderson's email response I received when inquiring about recent rate "switches").
__________________________________________________ __________

"....I believe the shipping rates are the same as last week. To answer your question directly we just opened a fulfillment center in Great Falls, MT to service you the consumer better.

This company charges The Official's Choice, Inc. $5.00 per order. Therefore, since our expenses have risen substantially in 2005, the shipping goes up in kind.

Example is if a shoe order is $50.00, the $5.00 center fee, this is a 10% of the order amount, leaving us no choice but to cover it by revenue increases. And we don't make 10% profit on shipping, we have to pay for a box, tape, labels, stuffing paper, electric, gas and on and on and on.

Example 2, if company a sells a shirt for $25.00 and charges $6.95 for the shipping/handling, there shirt is $31.95 and that covers there expenses. Our company right now charges $15.00 for the same shirt, and $10.00 shipping/handling, where do you save more money. Plus, we have a better product. In closing, a few people have voiced displeasure in the exciting world of the officiating "chat rooms", but for the most part the many people who have purchased our fine products have sent us kind thank you notes. One more thing, it won't be long now before we get a notice from FedEx and UPS that due to the price of oil rising this week, their rates will rise again.

I hope this helps you understand where we are coming from on this end. If my business doesn't cover the expenses, then we will fall into the same trap as 90% of small business that closes in the first year of business.

Have a good evening and thanks for the message."

Paul

[Edited by imaref on Mar 11th, 2005 at 09:57 AM]

Re: Official's Choice
 

Yes their company right now does charge $15 , however they are having a sell and whenever their prices go back to orginal price, then you sing a different tune.

I just got a new computer and was cleaing my old one out. I was looking through my in-box and saw an e-mail I recieved a couple of months ago from the officials choice. I inquired about shipping an order of shoes to Canada, and was quoted $15. That sounded fair and reasonable. I only hope that the actual shipping costs they charge me now will be around that figure.

If they're charging $15 to Canada they should be charging less than that to ship domestically. It's too bad that they have a type of monopoly over the IAABO officials and with the patent leather shoes.

I've been getting my fishnets from OC. Does anyone know if the other places carry them? :)

What's shipping costing you Mark? :D

I've seen them at Honigs.

Re: Official's Choice
 

I've said it before and I'll say it again. BULLSH1T!!

[Edited by BktBallRef on Mar 10th, 2005 at 08:37 AM]

Re: Re: Official's Choice
 

That's what's great about America....we all have choices and can do business with whom ever we wish! :D

wl

[Edited by BBall_Junkie on Mar 8th, 2005 at 09:52 AM]

I'm interested in this info too, I have contacted the IAABO to tell them that they need to find another vender.

I heard that OC makes a substantial donation to the IAABO charitable fund to keep the license.

I just got my shipping quote from them $54.00, un-believable. Complete bull-****. Paul quoted me $15 about a month ago. I've already sent them an e-mail complaining. This is complete BS. I don't know how they stay in business. :(

What were you going to order -- a pair of shoes??

I ordered 4 Pairs of shoes, an equipment bag and a pair of pants.

Damn!!!! Well, that's how they stay in business... get people to buy into their shipping bull*hit.

Hopefully by the time I need more new shoes, I'll have figured out a way to avoid the outrageous shipping costs.

I'd hope so, LOL. What the hell are you going to do with 4 pairs??? Rotate every 4th game? :D

2 for me, 2 for my Dad. That's two season's worth of shoes. Meaning I won't have to deal with the Officials Choice until they have another $50 shoe sale. Maybe next time, I'll make a road trip down there. It seems to be cheaper than shipping. :)

You'd think if I'm pumping over $250 into their business they'd go easy screwing me over. But I guess this is the world we live in.

I've got it!!!!
 

I have an idea, I remember someone mentioning that they lived close enough to the Officials Choice to go and buy their stuff in person. Now if this person is willing, why don't we place our orders through him, he'll pick them up and charge us face value for shipping plus expenses, and a little for himself, and we'll have cheaper gear. :)

Just a thought.

Re: I've got it!!!!
 

Could work, you'd have you come up with a catchy name though.

Officials Second Choice
Officials Next Choice

How about,

The Officials All Purpose Contingency Choice

:D

Re: Re: I've got it!!!!
 

The Good Official's Choice
The Best Official's Choice
Cheap S&H Official's Choice

Re: Re: Re: Official's Choice
 

not when they have a monopoly on IAABO products. If you want an IAABO shirt or jacket you have no choice.

I ordered 4 pairs of shoes, one gear bag, 2 shoe bags, and a pair of pants.

I expected this to come altogether. Man was I wrong. I got 2 pairs of shoes in the mail today. The duty and taxes on the shoes was $50.00

Now I'm expected to pay another $50.00 when the next 2 pairs come in. And God only knows about the pants and bags.

Moral of the story. I don't think I'll ever deal with the Officials Choice again.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Official's Choice
 

I thought IAABO was supposed to be an organization for the officials...not for a sweetheart deal for a company that rips off the officials.

Just buy the IAABO crest. The crest is $6. Officials choice charges 10 to embroider it. Just buy a shirt from Honigs, and ask your board secretary to put his name on your order form for crests.

Re: Official's Choice
 

5 pages long???? Who was it that was looking for a 10 pager a short while back? Rainmaker?

Good thing Paul did so well in school. He must have mastered english like he did math. There vs their?

$66.00 was their quote for shipping for me. I'll continue to shop with Honigs.

Someone let me know when the "exciting" part of the chat room starts.