Review of ashcraft baker. Buyer BEWARE!!!

[pamonyet]

say hjalmr three times and click ya heels.....you won't be dissappointed!

[Drust map Cirig]

I just sent hjalmr a pm, thanks!

[brewer]

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.

This. Oh, sweet baby Jaysus, THIS.

The Vimes Boots Theory is what I'm always on about when people in the "dress up in funny clothes" hobbies start talking about buying stuff. The attitude of "get em on the field" by urging them to buy sh!t is terrible. It's monumentally stupid. Here's how the argument usually goes:

Me: Here are the period thing you need.
Him: But it's $50. I'm too poor for $50.
Me: But it's high quality and it's perfect.
Him: But here's a different thing for $25.
Me: That thing is not the right thing, it is of lesser quality.
Him: I don't have $50, I have $25. I'm too poor for $50.
Me: If you save the extra money and buy the right thing, you'll be better equipped and happier.
Him: Don't care! I'm buying the $25 one.

Later

Me: How are you? I see you're wearing the widget I advised you to buy.
Him: Yeah, the other one broke after two uses and it wasn't quite right anyway.
Me: How much did you spend?
Him: $50.
Me: BZZT! Try again! You spent $75.
Him: How do you figure?
Me: Because you not only bought the $50 widget, you also bought the $25 one. In total you spent $75 to do the same thing. I thought you were too poor for $50? Now you're out $75!
Him: [blush] I guess I should have listened.
Me: [fetches doofus a clip to the back of the head; laugh track]

No one does anyone any favors by urging them to half-assery. The only thing you do is urge them to throw good money after bad. That right there is the definition of false economy.

Cheers,

Bob

[ARMOURER ERIC]

For the last 3 years, I have had many comments on how can I possibly afford to make full steel arms for $100 (they were $145 before the recession, and are rapidly getting back there again), well over the last year I have been heavily timing my work and i realized that if I took the resultant labor rate for a $100 set of arms and applied it to basic helms, a mild steel visored bacinet would have to be $650, no body is going to pay that. In fact recently, a client who bourght arms, legs, elbows and knees for $110, 145, 65 and 75 respectively and commented about what a good deal it was, proceeded to ask why my helms were more than $75. When it comes to general stock, i spend 2 hours of my 6.5 hours exclusively on that, usually, I alternate quarterly between helms and non helms (arms, legs, shoulders, elbows, knees, gauntlets, etc.) Not this year, I am going to use the helm quarter to make stainless versions of my ebay stuff, the profit margin is way higher than helm, there are plenty out there proud to kill themselves making $5 an hour on helms, god bless them.

[dukelogan]

again, when you pay for shit you get shit. a can of spray paint will never make it acceptable.

but then again i am often yelled at for asking that folks dress themselves in a manner appropriate for the sca based on what the rules state.

regards
logan

[Conn]

This type of shit really pisses me off (the OP, not all of the commmentary). Last year, I did a crap load of homework on a nice seamstress, spend hours and hours looking at reviews, contacted her, paid her $235 and...crickets. She (Melanie Weymark, Caterine on AA) has fallen off the map. The saga started in October. I have since written the money off, but still...real life happens, but simple communication would go a long way.

I should not care or expect better, but something inside me cringes, huffs and eventually goes mad at the various lowlives out there that take peoples money on a verbal/written contract and renegs or disappears.

Now this A/B crap. I actually was going to send a newbie to them last year. Glad I went another route.

A huge thank you to all of the honest craftsmen and women on this site. I won't mention them all, but you are what keeps this place and Our Dream (at least in the SCA) alive!

[Tamlin]

I have been fighting in an AB helm for about eight years now, I believe. I was pretty happy with it, for the price, and have sent many others to them. Lately, I have been hearing some pretty disturbing things about their customer service from those I play with here in An Tir. I will have to reconsider sending more business in their direction until I hear they have fixed this situation. Conversely, I second every bit of praise for Hjalmr. He takes great pride in his work, is an amazing person and, for what it's worth, a heck of a fun fight.

[Wenzel]

I remember this one time when you got after me for wearing cleats uncovered cleats on the field, your grace. After that I have primarily fought in period shoes, and enjoy it much more, strangely enough. The combat boots come out of the armor bag for large battles, but those get half-covered with leg wraps. I can dig it.

again, when you pay for shit you get shit. a can of spray paint will never make it acceptable.

but then again i am often yelled at for asking that folks dress themselves in a manner appropriate for the sca based on what the rules state.

regards
logan

[Wenzel]

Also, I got an Ashcraft Baker helm off of here as a piece of loaner gear for a friend- I think I paid something like $45 for it. It worked great. That said, I did not have to wait for Ashcraft Baker to make and ship it, and I did not have to pay full price. In that case, it was totally worth what I paid for it.

[chad_M]

I am new to the SCA and in the market for my first helm. I was so just about to buy one of his helms to day but some one at my first sca event told me about this site. I am very happy I looked here first be for I did.

[dukelogan]

i have an early period helm made by shamrock that i am selling. email me directly if you are interested. its a nicely done helm but it is not in the same price range as ashcraft stuff. it is a much better helm though and i encourage new fighters to spnd some money on a helm as it is the most important piece of armour and will last your entire fighting career if its the right one. ive had my helm for nearly 20 years and will never need another one.

regards
logan

I am new to the SCA and in the market for my first helm. I was so just about to buy one of his helms to day but some one at my first sca event told me about this site. I am very happy I looked here first be for I did.

[EnderPC]

Yea I think it's all pretty much been said. I like my AB helm, but I paid half price used and got it right then. Ordering from AB is asking for issues.

[MalkomeKarre]

Can we just put a sticky post up saying "Don't buy from AB they do business poorly, make second rate product and hate christmas"?

[pamonyet]

unfortunately not.....apparently its a liability/lawsuit thing.....but if we can keep bumping this thread hopefully we can save a few from the monster...hehe

[herrhauptmann]

Can we just put a sticky post up saying "Don't buy from AB they do business poorly, make second rate product and hate christmas"?

Maybe send a message through the various email lists...
Even then, a lot of guys buying from AB are doing it because Sir so and so remembered getting good stuff from AB 15 years ago. And a number of these knights have a low internet presence, so they might not even be aware of current problems.

A guy in my shire got a helmet from AB. Only like 9 weeks late. I'm not so sure how good a helmet it is when the lobstertail on the back lifts up to reveals the back of your head with no slats protecting it.

[Roland Brokentooth]

I don't understand why anyone would buy from AB with so many skilled people in the SCA world that would absolutely love to help a newbie build their first set of armour. You can make just about everything you need yourself (body, arms, legs) and then use the money you saved to buy yourself a nifty brain bucket.

[MJBlazek]

I don't understand why anyone would buy from AB with so many skilled people in the SCA world that would absolutely love to help a newbie build their first set of armour. You can make just about everything you need yourself (body, arms, legs) and then use the money you saved to buy yourself a nifty brain bucket.

Thats easy.

Time. I do not have the time to make things.
I barely have the time to practice/go to events.

Between work, Family, Rebuilding my house and sleep.... I do not have the time to make things.


Now.. I wouldn't buy from AB.. but there are other reasons for that.

[David deKunstenaar]

Just so he is not thrown completely under the bus. I have bought helms and other stuff from him, and for the price with was pretty good, sturdy and has held up well. Most recently I bought some gauntlets for my son. They are well made, not expensive, work well and it did not take long to get. Every armory gets behind on things, but I would rather get it from this guy than get stuff made from Pakistan or India that will get you hurt, and for the same dollar, that is your other option.

Sir David

[Swete]

Me and my best friend both bought Ashcraft helms about 3 years ago. They were tough and they fit out heads with enough padding. But they were ugly and very non-period. Not a problem. You get what you pay for. I still have mine for loaner helm.
However, I had another friend who recently bought one and, after several months, finally recieved the helm, only to find that it did not pass inspection (bars were too far set). Now THAT is drek.

[Elricxiii]

and now i have a pretty valsgarde 6 helmy and i plan to sell my ab monster once i fix the bar lol

[Paladin74]

I thought that AB had a presence on here...am I wrong? I thought I'd seen them put out a few posts...if that is so, one would think they'd at least check things out on here and maybe say a word or two in their defense?

[pamonyet]

What might be the defense or justification for horrible service and dodgy products?!

[Paladin74]

Who knows, but you'd think they would at least try to address them here, since here is where the grievances are being aired.

[Otto von Teich]

Maybe hes waiting for Festivus? There will hopefully be feats of strength afterwards!

[MJBlazek]

even the dumbest dog knows to avoid being at the bottom of a dogpile (even if it is a well founded one)

[Paladin74]

LOL @ Seinfeld reference - nice one!

MJ, good point...still seems something, though. Guess it is not unwarranted.

[zippy]

I just received another email about Ashcraft. Let me make one thing clear. I am the current baron in the city where his shop is located. Ashcraft does not participate in the barony and hasn't for years. If you have a grievance or issue, the Barony of Tir Ysgithr (baron,baroness or marshal especially) have no way to help. We have no means or authority over him, and we have no relationship with him. It has also been suggested that we 'go down to his shop' on behalf of one individual. I assure you that we can not and will not ever do that. So please if you know someone that wishes to email the barony in reference to this individual, please discourage them.
thank you
Zhigmun'

[Samuel]

I don't understand why anyone would buy from AB with so many skilled people in the SCA world that would absolutely love to help a newbie build their first set of armour. You can make just about everything you need yourself (body, arms, legs) and then use the money you saved to buy yourself a nifty brain bucket.

years ago Id have been 110% behind this. Five years later I had a four ft by 2 ft wide by 8 ft tall shelf stacked with half done chunks that had been beat to death by people whod came to my shop, I went through it and took it all to the scrap yard as is. newbies love the idea of making thier armor until they try it, people that want to learn how to make armor on the other hand tend to know what they are getting into, buy thier own metal, finish thier projects, listen to HOW to make it and not expect the armorer to do the work. wanting to fight does not mean want to make things to do it in. many people would rather give up as little money as possible to do so. which is why armoring is rarely a profitable profession ( unless your damn good or have a huge stock and overhead.) In all cases of sucessful armorers, they all at some point have given something for nothing to someone who didnt deserve anything more than an assbeating for being a whiner. this industry is the ONLY one ive ever seen where you charge what it is worth and there are ten other people willing to sell thiers for half of that and think they did good when they made one hundred bucks for a weeks work.

[Elias mac Griogair]

Nope still no word from a/b and still no helmet. Paypal won't let me pull payment because it has been more then 45 days, and my bank isn't being to helpful either.

Quite unhappy at this point in time. To many wars coming up, just going to cut some eyes in a pot and call it good.

Svein have ya got the helm yet?

if when it gets close to uprising & ya still aint got a helm let me know and I can squeeze one of my loaners into the truck for ya to at least use during the war.

good luck to ya

[Almourol]

I would Demand a refund and look elsewhere for armor. THAT is complete and utter bs to be treated with such disrespect and dishonor.

[pamonyet]

Hey Almourol,
Welcome to the A/B fan club!

[EirikrulfrThorisson]

It's hard to demand something from somebody when they won't talk to you.

[Bulby37]

Bump for bigsexy

[Ingvarr]

What reason could there be for bumping this?

[herrhauptmann]

What reason could there be for bumping this?

JT can't sticky it without a lawsuit.
So it was decided earlier in the thread to keep bumping it instead.