Retrofitted umpire chest protectors.

[Umpiresrock74]

Hello, everyone! How much would you be willing to pay for a team Wendy like retrofitted chest protector?

 

Thanks,

 

Mike

[Ump242]

6 hours ago, Umpiresrock74 said:

Hello, everyone! How much would you be willing to pay for a team Wendy like retrofitted chest protector?

 

Thanks,

 

Mike

Team Wendy like?   Or actual, it matters to some guys, and I just saw a TW cp on ebay go for $1800, and the shell was.like that of a wilson gold but by a different maker

[Umpiresrock74]

Team Wendy like, we are working hard with a production seamstress to make it look jsut like a team wendy. We hope to be able to sell these by the end of Febuary, or the start of March. 

[ousafe]

For replacement padding only - If it has an advanced foam that is clearly better than OEM, then I'd probably pay up to the cost of a new CP.  $100 would be a no-brainer. $150 very do-able. $200 I'd start to get picky and think about it. $300 ... maybe if it gets solid endorsement from the veterans on this forum.

That's just me right now.  I am easily parted from my money if it involves umpire gear.

[MadMax]

26 minutes ago, ousafe said:

I am easily parted from my money if it involves umpire gear.

Oh really?  

 

[wolfe_man]

18 hours ago, Ump242 said:

Team Wendy like?   Or actual, it matters to some guys, and I just saw a TW cp on ebay go for $1800, and the shell was.like that of a wilson gold but by a different maker

That was a Riddell Power, different beast entirely.  Wilson Gold TW is normally between $300-400, but a Power fetches a lot more.

[Umpiresrock74]

39 minutes ago, ousafe said:

For replacement padding only - If it has an advanced foam that is clearly better than OEM, then I'd probably pay up to the cost of a new CP.  $100 would be a no-brainer. $150 very do-able. $200 I'd start to get picky and think about it. $300 ... maybe if it gets solid endorsement from the veterans on this forum.

That's just me right now.  I am easily parted from my money if it involves umpire gear.

We are looking around $150ish.

[Umpiresrock74]

1 minute ago, Umpiresrock74 said:

We are looking around $150ish.

Mind you. We also fully customize it. You send us in your protector, and we customize it. Just like teams Wendy.

[ousafe]

12 minutes ago, MadMax said:

Oh really?  

 

There's a fascinating book "The Great Bridge" by David McCullough about that beauty.  And there's (still) a sh*t ton of sketchy wire rope in there...

[umpstu]

1 hour ago, ousafe said:

There's a fascinating book "The Great Bridge" by David McCullough about that beauty.  And there's (still) a sh*t ton of sketchy wire rope in there...

Well, Max must have an extra one to sell you as he has already sold me the original. He said he tagged it for me and all I have to do is take a U-Haul to the Brooklyn area, disassemble it and bring it home. What a guy, huh?

[MadMax]

2 minutes ago, Umpiresrock74 said:

You send us in your protector, and we customize it. Just like teams Wendy.

*Wince*. 

Mike, I really admire your enthusiasm and gusto, but I'm going to express caution, especially on this "send it in and we'll customize it!" ... all for $150 (??? 🤔🫣) 

I have it on authority from Team Wendy's that the biggest logistical headache for them was the burden of taking in CP's, asset tracking them, and then sending them back out. The actual construction of the pad jacket was relatively straightforward, and pretty much effortless for them. Too much time, far too much time was spent on cataloging each CP as it came in, disassembling it, then constructing the pad jacket so as to fit each one specifically, anchors and all! Then, reassembling the entire thing, making sure it was in working order (to avoid a grievance), and then send it all back out again. 

All while a customer is likely inquiring, "Is it done yet? When's it going to be done? Is it done yet?"

"Oh sure", you can say, "just make some ahead of time, and then put it on the plates when they arrive." Two massive problems there: 1) You're tying up material and labor on the chances that a particular CP may come in, which may not come in, if ever, and 2) The majority of customers do not know what exactly they have.
"Oh, I've got a WestVest!" 
Yeah, could we narrow that down, please? 
"It's a Wilson, and it's black." 
That might be the Gold. Could be an older unit. 
"I got it five years ago!" 
Which size is it? 
"Size? It fits me. There are no size tags on it." 
There's a 12", a 13", and a 15". Do you know which one? 
"I dunno. I'll measure it." ... <pause on phone; pause in a few hours via email> "It measures 14"." 
 

See the waste of time... valuable time... yet? 

Team Wendy's staff's expertise was being squandered on wrangling a service wherein the ROI was dwindling by the day, if not by the unit. 

 

[MadMax]

4 hours ago, ousafe said:

There's a fascinating book "The Great Bridge" by David McCullough about that beauty.

I have the audiobook! Not only is the material immensely intriguing, and fascinating as you say, but when the author actually narrates it, it's immensely more personal. So too, there are a handful of voices that I could listen to narrate anything, and be endlessly entranced... 

- Garrison Keillor
- Morgan Freeman
- David McCullough 
- James Earl Jones
- Bill Kurtis 
- Stephen Fry
- David Perry

[Umpiresrock74]

32 minutes ago, MadMax said:

*Wince*. 

Mike, I really admire your enthusiasm and gusto, but I'm going to express caution, especially on this "send it in and we'll customize it!" ... all for $150 (??? 🤔🫣) 

I have it on authority from Team Wendy's that the biggest logistical headache for them was the burden of taking in CP's, asset tracking them, and then sending them back out. The actual construction of the pad jacket was relatively straightforward, and pretty much effortless for them. Too much time, far too much time was spent on cataloging each CP as it came in, disassembling it, then constructing the pad jacket so as to fit each one specifically, anchors and all! Then, reassembling the entire thing, making sure it was in working order (to avoid a grievance), and then send it all back out again. 

All while a customer is likely inquiring, "Is it done yet? When's it going to be done? Is it done yet?"

"Oh sure", you can say, "just make some ahead of time, and then put it on the plates when they arrive." Two massive problems there: 1) You're tying up material and labor on the chances that a particular CP may come in, which may not come in, if ever, and 2) The majority of customers do not know what exactly they have.
"Oh, I've got a WestVest!" 
Yeah, could we narrow that down, please? 
"It's a Wilson, and it's black." 
That might be the Gold. Could be an older unit. 
"I got it five years ago!" 
Which size is it? 
"Size? It fits me. There are no size tags on it." 
There's a 12", a 13", and a 15". Do you know which one? 
"I dunno. I'll measure it." ... <pause on phone; pause in a few hours via email> "It measures 14"." 
 

See the waste of time... valuable time... yet? 

Team Wendy's staff's expertise was being squandered on wrangling a service wherein the ROI was dwindling by the day, if not by the unit. 

 

You think it shoudl be more? I just want people to still be able to afford it. 

[ousafe]

56 minutes ago, Umpiresrock74 said:

You think it shoudl be more? I just want people to still be able to afford it. 

Carefully consider @MadMax's comments and develop a strategy. Pricing is one aspect. Efficiency of your processes is another.  He gave you a gift there - now you don't have to learn that lesson via hard knocks.

[Aging_Arbiter]

If I recall, TW used to do the retrofits for $125.

 

If nothing else, there is a guesstimate starting point.  Assuming your padding matches the quality that TW used.

[Rock Bottom]

21 hours ago, Umpiresrock74 said:

Team Wendy like, we are working hard with a production seamstress to make it look jsut like a team wendy. We hope to be able to sell these by the end of Febuary, or the start of March. 

Without knowing specifics about the padding it's impossible to say what it's worth - "looking" like TW is meaningless to me - it would have to perform well - personally I couldn't care less what the chest protector padding looks like as long as it keeps me safe and comfortable.  I have two AllStar CPU4000s, and that padding is really good - and wears incredibly well.  I have probably 500 games on mine and it looks almost brand new, and have a set of replacement pads from AS waiting to be installed when needed.  I just don't know if this is a big market.

[Umpiresrock74]

I get it. But I am willing to try. 

[Umpiresrock74]

I think my whole idea behind it is understanding what made team Wendy so special, was it the design, the fact that you could replace your old foam, the foam itself, etc.. We are using neoprene foam which has been known for being able to absorb shock. So we are going off of that. 

[Rock Bottom]

4 hours ago, Umpiresrock74 said:

I think my whole idea behind it is understanding what made team Wendy so special, was it the design, the fact that you could replace your old foam, the foam itself, etc.. We are using neoprene foam which has been known for being able to absorb shock. So we are going off of that. 

I don't think it was the design that made TW retrofits so special, it was the quality and properties of their implementation of their high-tech/military focused Zorbium pads. (I'm no expert in this area - so I could be wrong or others may have more to add/change.) All-Star is awesome since their CPs allow for incredibly easy replacement of pads, in addition to be great quality to begin with.  I haven't seen neoprene pads in any CP, so I'm not sure how that would be - I've only used All-Star and Schutt/Adams. 

Light, breathable, and protective - that's the key, and obviously everything is a tradeoff. 

[Umpiresrock74]

Yah. Agreed. I think we are just trying to offer a option for those west vest lovers. Or those Ridell lovers that want thinner padding. 

[Umpiresrock74]

We are also trying polyurethane foam. 

[BT_Blue]

I think a small part of the TW thing was location too. Made In America still carries weight.

Might want to include that in any advertising you do.

[Umpiresrock74]

Yes. We all do it locally, some of the stuff we use is imported, but it is all manufactured in America. Florida to be exact.

[BT_Blue]

1 minute ago, Umpiresrock74 said:

Yes. We all do it locally, some of the stuff we use is imported, but it is all manufactured in America. Florida to be exact.

I feel like that would work as "Made In America." As long as you don't do it as "Made Only In America" or something along those lines.

Besides... anyone that thinks that something doesn't include at least a little something that is imported it just someone with their head in the sand.

[Umpiresrock74]

Yah.