Review of ashcraft baker. Buyer BEWARE!!!

[pamonyet]

.....and we saved one from clutches of the A/B monster!

[Caine Bealdhere]

So does anyone know what is going on with Ashcraft? My brother ordered a helmet back in Dec it was paid for on christmas and we aint seen no helmet.

[Roland Brokentooth]

Has anyone else noticed that most of the people who inquire about Ashcraft Baker have low AA post counts?

I don't think that is a false correlation...

[Elricxiii]

Because if we new about AA at the time we would have known better :-p

[Roland Brokentooth]

Because if we new about AA at the time we would have known better :-p

I always try to tell my newbies about the AA. "Just watch the classifieds young man...soon someone's wife will make them sell the helm of your dreams."

[Louis de Leon]

I always try to tell my newbies about the AA. "Just watch the classifieds young man...soon someone's wife will make them sell the helm of your dreams."

Boy isn't that the truth. I slack off for a couple of days and someone sells the Mattmaus "happy accident" helm. For $200! I'd have paid twice that, easy.

[RalphRivard]

here is what i have to say about ab
go somewhere else
the main construction of my helm is ok pretty solid alot of gaps i had to bag out with a hammer
quoted 4 to 6 weeks for my hel took 8 weeks for my helm a friends helm took four months
never returned emails
try someone else

[Milos]

Because if we new about AA at the time we would have known better :-p

I always try to tell my newbies about the AA. "Just watch the classifieds young man...soon someone's wife will make them sell the helm of your dreams."

Amen

[Ironbadger]

All too true.....

-Badger-

I always try to tell my newbies about the AA. "Just watch the classifieds young man...soon someone's wife will make them sell the helm of your dreams."

[Pitbull Armory]

Thank you Herrhauptmann!

I appreciate the plug, I try to treat people like I want to be treated, I guarantee Ill never let any of you down, or your money back. This is a fact I will always stand by.

If the customer is not happy, I'm not happy. If the customer don't look good, I don't look good, simple as that. Thank you for your support.

Id also like to recommend Hjalmr for a starter helm, you cannot beat him for price/quality, and service.


Have a good week!

Pitbull

[Pitbull Armory]

PS, Dont feel bad Louis, Normally I never am fast enough to get any of the good deals. I just got really lucky on that helm. (chortle....smirk....)

Take care

Pb

[Stonekeep]

Normally, I stay clear of posts about another armory, but in the past several years, Ive had quite a few ashcraft baker helms brought to me to be made legal for Ansteorra. The main problem was shoddy spot welds, where a full weld line needed to be placed. Ive also had to add metal at times. There were some various issues on the various helms but welds were a major theme. ALL of them I ground the existing welds down where they were not pointy. All of them I spent a few minutes on the sanding belts sanding them so they looked better, cause brand new they looked like they had been in someones fighting bag a few years. A lot of the same issues with the helms could be said of the shield baskets and sword baskets, and Ive worked on a lot of those that were brand new out of the box getting the welds ground safer. The safety and non-marshall passing issues of the helms, I sat down and wrote a brief, but clear, non-condemning and precise email to Ashcraft Baker to explain why his helms were failing inspections here and outlined the simple fixes they needed to make to avoid that happening. I received No reply for the effort, and the following year had a brand new helm brought in again with the same issues.. I just dont understand that..

[Vladimir]

Because if we new about AA at the time we would have known better :-p

Not busting on you, but that is not a good rational.

I was in the SCA for several years before I had heard of the Archive. Probably before the archive even existed. I've been here since the days of the old blue and yellow forum.

Anyway, even without any internet at all I was able to make armour purchases that I was perfectly happy with.

In fact, I've never had a disappointing armour purchase, ever. Even when buying things as a broke college student.

Its simple. Ask around, research the product (it can be done without internet), know what you want and what you are getting, know what you are willing to pay, and know the rules that the equipment must pass.

[Louis de Leon]

PS, Dont feel bad Louis, Normally I never am fast enough to get any of the good deals. I just got really lucky on that helm. (chortle....smirk....)

Razzin frazzin mumble grumble...

Tell you what though, old bean! You can make it up to me. Learn to make that hat in stainless then PM me. We'll call it square then!

[Randy W]

Normally, I stay clear of posts about another armory, but in the past several years, Ive had quite a few ashcraft baker helms brought to me to be made legal for Ansteorra. The main problem was shoddy spot welds, where a full weld line needed to be placed. Ive also had to add metal at times. There were some various issues on the various helms but welds were a major theme. ALL of them I ground the existing welds down where they were not pointy. All of them I spent a few minutes on the sanding belts sanding them so they looked better, cause brand new they looked like they had been in someones fighting bag a few years. A lot of the same issues with the helms could be said of the shield baskets and sword baskets, and Ive worked on a lot of those that were brand new out of the box getting the welds ground safer. The safety and non-marshall passing issues of the helms, I sat down and wrote a brief, but clear, non-condemning and precise email to Ashcraft Baker to explain why his helms were failing inspections here and outlined the simple fixes they needed to make to avoid that happening. I received No reply for the effort, and the following year had a brand new helm brought in again with the same issues.. I just dont understand that..

Not everyone has your work ethic Mike, you care, he obviously doesn't

[Swete]

Because if we new about AA at the time we would have known better :-p

Not busting on you, but that is not a good rational.

I was in the SCA for several years before I had heard of the Archive. Probably before the archive even existed. I've been here since the days of the old blue and yellow forum.

Anyway, even without any internet at all I was able to make armour purchases that I was perfectly happy with.

In fact, I've never had a disappointing armour purchase, ever. Even when buying things as a broke college student.

Its simple. Ask around, research the product (it can be done without internet), know what you want and what you are getting, know what you are willing to pay, and know the rules that the equipment must pass.

Haha. Actually, Elric did get advice from me and Paul the Small, not to buy ANYTHING until we had looked at it first. But he is an impatient bugger.

[EirikrulfrThorisson]

[Effingham]

If we can't have stickies for "good and bad armouries" how about a sticky that just says, "BEFORE YOU ORDER FROM ANYONE -- ANYONE -- DO A SEARCH HERE TO SEE WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT THEM"?

[jsyoyo1]

Buyer beware is an understatement.
Yeah, I'm one of those Old timers, I bought a helm from them years ago and received it in 3 weeks. I've sent multiple people to them over the years with no problems until now. I feel bad because I sent this new fighter to AB 6 months ago and he still hasn't received it. They won't answer emails from the poor kid and he's understandably upset. I've even sent them a few and have got nothing lol. Over the years I've sent 15 new fighters their way. Kind of sad really and I'm never sending anyone their way again.

Hey Ashcraft, customer service is a good thing, learn it.

Johannes of Seleone

[The Iron Dwarf]

a newb should never part with money until they have checked what they want to buy is what they need and that the seller has a very good reputation, and dont just check with one person as that person may be biased.
IF IN DOUBT ASK
IF STILL IN DOUBT ASK MORE.

[Bender]

*chokes*

Ab gets $150 bucks for ANY of his helmets?

[Roland Brokentooth]

Another good way for a newbie to get nice armor cheap is to go to a big war (Gulf, Lillies, Estrella, Pennsic) and look for the real frustrated guy. When he throws down his helm and exclaims that he's "Done with this s**t!" very quickly swoop in with a cash offer.

[Lord Jozef]

Just order from Beau at Emorokian Arms...solid nice looking starter gear and at great prices. Also is doing more custom gear as of late. His Helms can't be beat for the price.

[hjalmr]

Hey Ashcraft, customer service is a good thing, learn it.

This is probably the most important part of doing business. I don't always get stuff done on time, nor do I always get the stuff done correctly -but my constant communication with customers has always got me through the day.

Many people do business with me just because I stay in touch.

O.o

[Andrew Sterner]

I always try to tell my newbies about the AA. "Just watch the classifieds young man...soon someone's wife will make them sell the helm of your dreams."

This is the sole reason I own a hjalmr and not an AB helm. Well, not you, but another person that led me to the site.

[Ronan220]

As a new person another armour to beware of is "Performance Armor" don't ever give them your money, if you do give them money consider it gone cuase even if you get armor from them for the money 90% or more of the time its not gonna be usable.

[Tomburr]

*chokes*

Ab gets $150 bucks for ANY of his helmets?

I know! I'm in the wrong business.

I could shit a prettier helm than anything A/B has ever made.

It really goes to show you that you get what you pay for, and that goes beyond just the physical product itself.

A/B is a waste of good money, even if the customer service were second to none.

[Hrolfr]

If we can't have stickies for "good and bad armouries" how about a sticky that just says, "BEFORE YOU ORDER FROM ANYONE -- ANYONE -- DO A SEARCH HERE TO SEE WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT THEM"?

Was speaking to someone interested in getting into armored combat today. I gave hime my email addy and strongly urged that before he sent a single penny, contact me (or some others in his local area).

[dukelogan]

i am always amused when folks want to buy the cheapest stuff, even if its ugly as shit, and then act all surprised when things go south. always.....

regards
logan

[Effingham]

i am always amused when folks want to buy the cheapest stuff, even if its ugly as shit, and then act all surprised when things go south. always.....

+1

[Bender]

People these days aren't very well educated about the difference between"economy" and "false economy". They just look at the price point-and wonder why the have to buy the shitty thing three times. They could have bought the good one once, and paid less in the long run.

[herrhauptmann]

People these days aren't very well educated about the difference between"economy" and "false economy". They just look at the price point-and wonder why the have to buy the shitty thing three times. They could have bought the good one once, and paid less in the long run.

The Sam Vimes "Boots Theory of Economic Unfairness"

A poor man can only afford low quality boots that are $10 and last for about a year. A rich man can afford good boots that cost $60 and will last him for a decade.
In that decade, the poor man will have spent more money on boots, and will still have wet feet.

I'm sure that armor works much the same way (ignoring the many people who keep buying new armor to replace stuff that isn't broken)

[pamonyet]

to save a newbie!

[Drust map Cirig]

Same story here, answered my emails within hours before I sent money. Quoted 4 to 6 weeks for delivery, that was 10 weeks ago! Kelly will not respond to my emails. Im ok with it taking longer than promised if he would just communicate with me. Im ready to be authorized but can't until I have a helm of my own; think I will just get with my bank to pull funds and keep looking on AA until I find a Spangenhelm that will fit and is in my price range! Live and learn, I will definitely check here before handing over money in the future!

[tim_Belcher]

drust talk to hjalmr on here, he will hook you up with a nice hat on a budget