GR8-Call Umpire Equipment

[wolfe_man]

Has anyone bought or used any of this stuff yet?  It looks like they copied some of Honig's designs to me and they're also based in Colorado.  I like the minimal logo's and am tempted to get one and test it out.  I noticed that Gerry Davis carries their uniforms now.

 

 

This top CP is their regular model, comes in 13" or 16" and is $80 + $10 S&H.

 

 

This model is their elite model. It also comes in either a 13" or 16" and is $89 + $10 S&H.

[834k3r]

Their website gives me pause. Everything appears to be legit (customer service number is a Colorado area code) but it just seems...off somehow, like the whole operation is run by a U of Colorado business student out of his fraternity room.

If you get one of the CPs, a review for us here is a must (as they say, inquiring minds want to know).

[wolfe_man]

3 minutes ago, 834k3r said:

Their website gives me pause. Everything appears to be legit (customer service number is a Colorado area code) but it just seems...off somehow, like the whole operation is run by a U of Colorado business student out of his fraternity room.

If you get one of the CPs, a review for us here is a must (as they say, inquiring minds want to know).

I am hesitant also, but I see one on PIAS website (pick-up only option, so can't test it from there) and the fact that GD uses them too tends to give them credibility.  GD is selling their uniforms for several sports and ball bags, but no equipment to speak of yet.

[The Man in Blue]

3 hours ago, 834k3r said:

Their website gives me pause. Everything appears to be legit (customer service number is a Colorado area code) but it just seems...off somehow, like the whole operation is run by a U of Colorado business student out of his fraternity room.

If you get one of the CPs, a review for us here is a must (as they say, inquiring minds want to know).

Soooo … a modern version of +POS ? 😁

[wolfe_man]

41 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said:

Soooo … a modern version of +POS ? 😁

We can’t say that yet. Until dozens of orders and emails go unanswered it isn’t fair to do that to them.

I’m probably going to try an order soon.

[ChrisUrbz]

7 hours ago, wolfe_man said:

We can’t say that yet. Until dozens of orders and emails go unanswered it isn’t fair to do that to them.

I’m probably going to try an order soon.

If you google the address and click on street view there is no visible signage and they have 2 dock doors

[wolfe_man]

7 hours ago, ChrisUrbz said:

If you google the address and click on street view there is no visible signage and they have 2 dock doors

Great idea!

I get the feeling that they are not a retail store.   Reading their return policy and other info at the bottom of their page makes me think they ship direct from the supplier on some items.

[The Man in Blue]

16 hours ago, wolfe_man said:

We can’t say that yet. Until dozens of orders and emails go unanswered it isn’t fair to do that to them.

I’m probably going to try an order soon.

I meant the feel of the website and ordering process … but, yes. 😁

[wolfe_man]

3 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

I meant the feel of the website and ordering process … but, yes. 😁

Yes, that part is spot on.  Very limited details to their item descriptions.  I'd love to see more pics also.

[ChrisUrbz]

9 hours ago, wolfe_man said:

Great idea!

I get the feeling that they are not a retail store.   Reading their return policy and other info at the bottom of their page makes me think they ship direct from the supplier on some items.

Yeah a little suspect to me I called the number they have listed and it went straight to a voicemail that had no greeting message of who they are.

[Jimurray]

21 minutes ago, ChrisUrbz said:

Yeah a little suspect to me I called the number they have listed and it went straight to a voicemail that had no greeting message of who they are.

From "Our Story" on their website: Please join us, Gene Bouwman of Colorado, and Hank Wang of Taiwan in enjoying our fine quality and reasonable priced merchandise."

Bouwman seems to have been associated with Honig's in the past.

[The Man in Blue]

That is what I was suspecting, @Jimurray ... somebody who was in the distribution business and was/is an official (I'm guessing football was his main thing) and is starting to dip his toe in the waters with "his own" products (sourced from overseas, of course).

Kudos to him if this is the case ... we need more quality products and innovations that aren't driven from a mass-production point of view.

EDIT: A quick Google finds a Gene Bouwman who is the football officials coordinator for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in Colorado.  😁

[The Man in Blue]

20 hours ago, ChrisUrbz said:

If you google the address and click on street view there is no visible signage and they have 2 dock doors

 

[BT_Blue]

Interesting that the "non hard shell" looking one is the more expensive CP. The hard shell almost reminds me of a P2x0 from champion.

[Aging_Arbiter]

On 7/27/2023 at 11:12 PM, ChrisUrbz said:

If you google the address and click on street view there is no visible signage and they have 2 dock doors

If you look at the actual address on the building (via Google), the window/door shows 3221.  That address goes up until the last unit, I think it was 3229.  Then an intersection.  The NEXT building is 3301.   I couldn't find 3241 as it lists on their website.

 

 

CAVEAT EMPTOR!

 

 

[sealmac]

It's in the building behind the one you're looking at. No signage but I do see a referee shirt in the window.

[The Man in Blue]

I think the guy seems to have pretty solid credentials and is trying to make a go of something.

 

The quality of the product is the actual question.  

[wolfe_man]

Let's crowdsource a piece of gear or two... if you all send me $20 then I'll take a chance and reply on here with a description and opinion of the gear.

[The Man in Blue]

@wolfe_man, you'll just turn around and re-sell it in a few weeks anyway ... 😋

[834k3r]

4 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said:

@wolfe_man, you'll just turn around and re-sell it in a few weeks anyway ... 😋

[wolfe_man]

I have some equipment and shirts inbound. I'll share my opinion on all of it upon arrival. 

Based on what I've been told, the guys that used to run Honig's are now running GR8 Call.   So, their stuff should be good quality and we know they're good service guys.  The website needs worked on, as Honig's did when they ran it so that's nothing new.  But it sounds like we can trust them and count on them to stand behind their gear.

[MadMax]

On 7/27/2023 at 10:12 PM, ChrisUrbz said:

If you google the address and click on street view there is no visible signage and they have 2 dock doors

C’mon. Gerry Davis is in the middle of an ol’ strip retail/commercial building in Appleton, WI, with a white sign in the opaque’d windows, locked and closed to visiting public! And we’ve got fellow umpires who speak of them like “GD” is just missing the “O” in the middle. 

Do I think umpire gear shops should be walk-in? Yes! Do I expect them to be like a Scheel’s?… 😲… 🤔… 

… well, it’d be nice. 

[MadMax]

On 8/4/2023 at 7:53 AM, wolfe_man said:

Let's crowdsource a piece of gear or two...

Sorry, bud, but I already had to purchase my piece of gear. 

Didn’t cost me an arm 💪🏼, but nearly cost me a leg. 🦵🏼

😆

[MadMax]

On 8/3/2023 at 12:54 PM, Aging_Arbiter said:

If you look at the actual address on the building (via Google), the window/door shows 3221.  That address goes up until the last unit, I think it was 3229.  Then an intersection.  The NEXT building is 3301.   I couldn't find 3241 as it lists on their website.

… 🧐

… 😳

… Weren’t you in Artillery, Bill? 

[Aging_Arbiter]

9 hours ago, MadMax said:

… 🧐

… 😳

… Weren’t you in Artillery, Bill? 

So we should take out the entire grid square??  Copy!