Honigs out as MiLB Umpire supplier Ump-Attire in

[mw94]

Might be a sale at Honigs on Poly-wools soon?

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121017&content_id=39874952&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb

[BRUMP]

Wow good for Jim.

[cyclonehokiece]

Yup, and Ump-Attire is in. Positive move IMO, was never a huge Honigs fan.

[Maineac]

Now if we can just get IAABO basketball away from Honig's....

[scrounge]

nothing good comes out of Ann Arbor

[guyinaredhat]

Wow lots of Honigs hate. Lol although I find them pricy , I've had excellent shipping with them and always had my stuff in a timely manner . That and I bought my first set of gear from them instilled some brand loyalty .

That being said I am alway looking for a good deal and I will be ordering my next mask from U-A . I think if I do it this week , I am can still get a 15% discount .

[Guest]

I wonder if they intend to undercut the discount Honig's gave to MiLB guys (20%).

Also, I wonder what this means MiLB guys will be wearing on the field next year shirt wise. Last I checked, U-A is looking for a new manufacturer for their own brand of shirts so they may have to use another brand.

[gnhbua93]

I wonder if Jim is going to celebrate this new contract making a good sale for us.

[Called3rdStrike]

What is the point of the switch? Does UA offer the same quality of clothing honigs does?

[BRUMP]

What is the point of the switch? Does UA offer the same quality of clothing honigs does?

In this economic climate it's all about the $.

[kylejt]

yawn

[johnnyg08]

Honigs always shipped my stuff quickly, but whenever I had an issue with product, I always felt like i was taking up their time and that I was not an important customer at that time.

With ump-attire, any time, and I mean any time, I had an issue with a product, I was their most important customer at that time and they took care of me. I think Jim's association with the Umpire School probably had something to do with this partnership as well. I've met Jim, he's as ethical as they come, a good business man, and just a good person. Why wouldn't you do business with him?

Jim always gets first shot at my business.

[Dannytheman]

I wish Jim success! Competition serves everyone!

[Pete Peterson Sr]

What is the point of the switch? Does UA offer the same quality of clothing honigs does?

I have never purchased anything from Honig's, but I have NEVER had any quality or customer service issues with UA.

[semperfiguy]

My Association bring in Honigs every spring for umpires to shop. They do a nice job. But I prefer to shop at UA. There customer service is top notch. Good for MiLB. UA carries an array of suppliers, with higher quality products (IMHO). Lets see what this does for the little guy now. Jim has always made the little guy a priority. Good for him. Terrific business move im sure.

[Marcus6]

This is a big marketing win for Ump-Attire. Plus it helps MiLB promote the Umpire School (because UA is the supplier for that) and vica versa. Jim is a marketing guy and hes quite good at it. Although I believe he is genuine, his constant interaction with customers via their blogs, facebook page, and on these forums is a marketing tool. I personally really like Jim and the business he has built. Does anybody even mention Gerry Davis sports anymore?

Id like to see him chime in here and discuss what the MiLB guys might be wearing from UA (if he can) - Im thinking their Poly-Wools and Ultimate Shirts. Im kinda curious what jacket options they may offer. Ump-Attire does not currently have a "house label" jacket and carries the Smitty & Majestic offerings. Id bet UA has a jacket in the works. Id still like to see an attractive, lighterweight windbreaker without zip off sleeves.

Id rather pay $27 (before any discounts) to Ump-Attire for a made in USA shirt than the same price to Honig's for their current HMLS ProSoft shirts made overseas.

[Stan W.]

congratualtions to Jim, this is a great thing for u-a and all of us umpires as well..............ive found jim responsive and active in the umpire community......my only word of advice is that +POS and now HONIGS lost business not because of the quality of the gear, but the quality of the customer serivce......

[Marcus6]

my only word of advice is that +POS and now HONIGS lost business not because of the quality of the gear, but the quality of the customer serivce......

Compare a Honig's shirt/jacket from today to ones made 5+ years ago. Night and day difference in quality. Huge decline!

[Haid D' Salaami]

funny.. i have no problem with the new Honigs shirts..and alot of college groups still use Honigs, so we look uniform... U-A will come up with a zip off jacket soon watch, I meet Brandon Cooper Jim right hand man...and U-A is not about making money on people, but helping..he could have sold a Chest protector to a guy, but figured out all he needed was a new harness...jim could have made some money, but chose to help.

With Honigs, I have always had good service, haven't had issuses, but i know it happens.

[Jocko]

I bought PWs from Honigs and needed to send them back. Emailed them 3 times. No response. Finally called them. Took 2 weeks to get it straight.

Every transaction with UA I've ever had has been flawless. They get 100% of my business.

[JaxRolo]

Ump-Attire the #1 supplier of Umpire Gear for JaxRolo!

[johnnyg08]

I bought PWs from Honigs and needed to send them back. Emailed them 3 times. No response. Finally called them. Took 2 weeks to get it straight.

Every transaction with UA I've ever had has been flawless. They get 100% of my business.

email = good luck. (Honigs) never received an email response, never, not even one time.

I've always been able to get a hold of the guy in the back room from Honigs, BUT I always feel like I'm bugging him.

Fairness in conversation to Honigs:

The one major problem that I had with one of their products, it took two or three phone calls, but they eventually took care of me after some prodding. (Why did I have to pester them to do what they should have done with my first phone call?)

When I bought my plate coat from them, they actually sent me one that they had in stock to try, it was too small (many of you saw my pictures), then they took that one back and sent my next order to Hardwicks where they had one custom made. That was nice, b/c had I sent my original coat to Hardwicks, it would've been too small and there are no returns on plate coats. (clearly stated on their website)

Email - same day response (Ump-Attire) you feel like their most important customer

Phone- instant response (Ump-Attire) you feel like their most important customer

Where would you spend your hard-earned game fees?

[T-Rav]

I just hope Jim and Ump-Attire have quality apparel, not some of the crappy chinese made stuff that Honig's has. I like and live near Honigs so they will always be my first choice but my wilson gold, allstar-cp, and allstar HSM have all been purchased from Ump-Attire. For basketball I tried a pair of pants on in the store and the buckle broke, then I purchased a new pair and that buckle broke. I went into the store with a shirt that had a ink spot on it(it was folded when the ink was still drying) and they replaced it along with my broke pants and told me that they have had issue with this batch they do take care of me well but that is probably because I am a walk in.

[Umpire in Chief]

My favorite is pretty obvious.

I've never had a problem w/ Honigs ordering on line. I did have not a bad experience, but a personally disappointing one. About 3-4 years ago I was going to be in Raleigh and called about stopping by and looking at some things. They welcomed me to come, and asked what I wanted to see. I was told some of the items weren't stocked in Raleigh and between things not being there and the tone it made me feel like they really didn't want me to come by.

But I will say they ship super quick. I've had items in 2 days on standard shipping.

[canadianump]

Ump-Attire won the contract for the minor league umpires.Honig s is still the official supplier to the major league umpires.