noob gear market survey

[whonew]

I'm trying to put together a "decent" plate newbie kit to sell. I think this would be a good starter kit. How's $300 for what's pictured in 16GA mild [unstrapped] , then options of rolled edges , strapping , etc. ANY input is good
3turretsarmoury.info

[Ingvarr]

Looks like a great price for a nice kit

[GvR]

I think that would be awesome and properly 14th century.

[AedanMac]

I would save my noob pennies and buy a set.

[GuntherofOrkney]

i think thats a great deal for the price and would give a noobie a decent lookin starting kit instead of the usual of throwing a tunic over some ugly beginner armor. maybe some splinted vambraces and thighs to help make it fit easier and possibly easier to make.

[Blaine de Navarre]

$300 is a remarkably generous price for that much kit.

[Pietro di Trento]

For that price I would pick up a set for myself and send the noobs in my shire your way.

[Randy Bobbyson]

how much more would aluminum or stainless be?

[Athanaric]

Great gear and price! What kind of sizing options would you do?

[wAUrrior]

That is a great deal. A friend of mine has been trying to drag me into 14th century and I would greatly consider this for a second set of gear.

[Sigismund von Helfenstein]

I don't have any remote need for any of this armour and I STILL want to buy it at that price.

I'd certainly send newbies your way for such a kit.

[losthelm]

The price seams very low.

how ever its not bad as a training excersize for someone new in the shop. How much time do you have tied up in one set?
And are you intrested in putting in the hours to make two or three each month.

[Kendrick le Oggesfot]

Wow, That's a sweet pricetag for a sweet starter kit! Will these be offered in custom or standard (S M L XL) sizes? What kind of turn around time on these?

[nicholas cochiolo]

for that price i would send every noob i know in your direction. maybee offer a couple of helmets that go with the kit for extra $$. i would hate to see a samurai helmet on top of that.

cheers,
nicholas
squire to duke edric V

[Karl Helweg]

how much more would aluminum or stainless be?

+1 Since we live in a rain forest these would be nice options.

Surplus aluminum road signage would be acceptable if it keeps the cost down.

[GunnarUlfson]

for that price i would send every noob i know in your direction. maybee offer a couple of helmets that go with the kit for extra $$. i would hate to see a samurai helmet on top of that.

cheers,
nicholas
squire to duke edric V

Here lays the trap that I see many of the folks in my short time on the AA fall into. Offer a great deal and then get swamped with TOO many orders to possibly handle.

I think that is a great price point, but seriously think you are under charging and hope that you do not fall victim to offering too good of a deal that ends poorly. Not that I know anything about your business practices, just saying that I have seen numerous people open up "great deals" to their own demise.

[Tostig]

+1 Gunnar's comment

Suggestion: make them, then sell them. Get a feel of things before you are obligated to a queue.

Also, noobs need extra wrap in the cuisse to protect that tender thigh meat

[Seaan O'Hagan]

I would +1 the suggestion of a wraparound splinted thigh. Otherwise looks like a solid kit for the price.

[thunderwinde]

+1 on wrap-around thighs.

If you can make these at a reasonable profit for yourself, it would certainly fill a hole in the market for full beginner kits at lower prices IMHO. I would tell anyone considering A-B or some other low-budget solution to jump on this. In fact, my brother wants to get in on the fun soon and I've been thinking of buying him a kit for his birthday - this might just be the perfect solution.

[Dafydd]

Wonderful! A new fighter would not only have great-looking, safe armor, but it would be stuff targeted towards a particular period and region. If they decided to stay with that period, they'd never have to upgrade those items, and could more easily save up for a truly nice helm to replace a more generic "beginner" helm.

Please make sure you can truly offer these items at that price and still receive a fair return!

[whonew]

ALL great ideas/suggestions , thanks to all. I'm going to make one set in each size to check and confirm time requirements then go from there , maybe just mild steel for now. Would 18GA be a consideration?
3turretsarmoury.info

[Ottawa Swordplay]

I would love to use those as starter kits for my armoured combat. I would actually prefer 18 gauge.

Once you get rolling, I will take a few sets; maybe a loaner or two, plus a few to have on hand for students who want starter gear.

[thunderwinde]

16g would be best for me, personally. If you were to include an option for stainless, I would probably take that.

[Ingvarr]

Also, noobs need extra wrap in the cuisse to protect that tender thigh meat

Then how are they going to learn to block?

[Sjolander]

I would buy two sets!

[PatternWeld]

Whonew,

I'd like to see the option of added gorget (maybe splinted leather?) shoulder cops (simple shell, no llame) and maybe a Westland 14th century gambeson/arming jacket (Like the ones Icefalcon sells, Westland has em for minimum order of 10 or so. Maybe Frank over at Viking Leather could help out?)

The pricepoint you have for simple arms, leggs & churburg body is great! I'd send noobies to you in a heartbeat.

Grimr

[Andeerz]

Holy crap! That is awesome! I wish you would have been around when I started...

A gorget would be nice to include...

[Lokotes of Osprey]

not to argue semantics, but i'd consider this more of an intermediate kit.

the basis for that statement is that several armorers offer a 'noob kit' that consists of most of the items needed to get into combat cheap. for instance, a cheap helm, simple elbows and knees, a gorget, gaunts and a sword basket for ~$200. not necessary pretty, but functional and cheap enough not to break the bank, and gets folks pretty close to armed up.

for the price that is a dynomite offering! Its a damn good deal!

[leekellerking]

Perhaps make a set without vambraces and cuisses for those of us who want to go splinted? (Or gamboised for the cuisses).

I would be sorely tempted to buy it as is, if that was not an option, though.

not to argue semantics, but i'd consider this more of an intermediate kit.

the basis for that statement is that several armorers offer a 'noob kit' that consists of most of the items needed to get into combat cheap. for instance, a cheap helm, simple elbows and knees, a gorget, gaunts and a sword basket for ~$200. not necessary pretty, but functional and cheap enough not to break the bank, and gets folks pretty close to armed up.

for the price that is a dynomite offering! Its a damn good deal!

[seanjohnson1]

Me wants an aluminum churburg 'just because i do'!

[Jestyr]

It looks like an outstanding value. I'd suggest adding a gorget to the kit.

I would recommend NOT offering any options, such as rolled edges, stainless, aluminum, etc. This way you can get very fast at offering *this* exact kit in a few different sizes, keeping your profit reasonable.

I think 18g for everything but the cops would be fine.

I would echo what all the other people said about offering this as in-stock only. You can have a queue, where you would contact people when a certain size is available (giving them "first dibs"), but I would not offer custom as it is somewhat counter-intuitive to the idea of a very low cost beginner kit in generic sizes.

[Hrolfr]

for that price i would send every noob i know in your direction. maybee offer a couple of helmets that go with the kit for extra $$. i would hate to see a samurai helmet on top of that.

cheers,
nicholas
squire to duke edric V

Here lays the trap that I see many of the folks in my short time on the AA fall into. Offer a great deal and then get swamped with TOO many orders to possibly handle.

I think that is a great price point, but seriously think you are under charging and hope that you do not fall victim to offering too good of a deal that ends poorly. Not that I know anything about your business practices, just saying that I have seen numerous people open up "great deals" to their own demise.

Les (whonew) makes kick ass gauntlets, and has for quite a while.
IMO and my dealiings with him, these would be sold as they are done, and of the highest quality.

I agree that the price is low, but if one buys a 14th C kit for cheap, and it is of good quality, one would be hard pressed not to purchase higher end gauntlets from Les.

[Talan Diofal]

Thats a great looking kit I'm going to save up and hopefully be able to get it soon.



Talan Diofal
Barony of Starkhafn, Caid

[Kendrick le Oggesfot]

not to argue semantics, but i'd consider this more of an intermediate kit.

the basis for that statement is that several armorers offer a 'noob kit' that consists of most of the items needed to get into combat cheap. for instance, a cheap helm, simple elbows and knees, a gorget, gaunts and a sword basket for ~$200. not necessary pretty, but functional and cheap enough not to break the bank, and gets folks pretty close to armed up.

for the price that is a dynomite offering! Its a damn good deal!

Sounds like you're describing an ashcraft baker starter kit. They are bad news & should be shut down. I like that you call it "intermediate" though... @Whonew, how about doing different kit options such as calling this an "intermediate", a "beginner" could be with just the cops & breastplate, "advanced" with everything pictured including spaulders & gorget?


Any update on this kit?

[Satheian]

Off topic, but why do you say Ashcraft should be shut down? Just curious.

On topic, I think the 'beginner, intermediate, and full' variations make sense, and also agree with keeping it simple and minimal to no options.