jimmy

The price is closer to $70 each, not a pair. Very tough to swallow. To some it will be worth it.

I sharpened my first pair on Monday. They came out very nice. Customer picked them up today so I'll see what he has to say. They have an unbelievable mirror finish. When I tried to take a pic to post here, you could see my camera reflection and my face in the pic. They sharpened fine, didn't seem to have much shavings/curls that needed to be honed, but I honed them with a 220grit followed by a diamond hone and it didn't mar the finish at all.

I have a big order of the Velocity steel coming in the next few days. This is my first Velocity I've gotten so for now can't say benefits other than simply it will hold edges better and be less likely to break or rust. I have 2 customers waiting for the Velocity, so after they test it out I'll see what they have to say. It is pricey, prob most wouldn't spend $65 per runner, although some would. Heck, figure skaters spend much much more than that, I guess it will be where your priorities are, e.g, flashy colored stick, or better performing steel. The regular Step steel is better than most manufacturers stock steel and virtually everyone who has replaced their stock with it is happy so I envision the same will be true with the Velocity. On some holders the Step needs a light tap with a rubber mallet to sit the steel the first time after installing, after that it goes in easy.

Hi, I know your predicament, I use to live in Southern Maryland and play up in Mt Vernon. I don't recall any LHS's in the area, I did all my business with a LHS near my home town. I really don't sell equipment like the online stores, I'm more of a local guy and really just sharpen skates my mail. Some MSHrs have asked me for stuff and I'm glad to help if their LHS doesn't have the product, but it's not something I want to get deep in to. I recommend you go to JR if you want something. This is his board, and from what many have said, he'll treat you right. If he can't then PM me and I'll see what I can do for you.

Jimmy: Actually, not to split hairs, I didn't misquote you, you mis-directed me to the "post above" rather than one 4 or 5 posts back. No wonder I was confused! And I remain confused in that you direct your customers to MSH so they can get information, yet you have repeated several times in this thread that you don't believe MSH should be "giving away information for free" because it is "cutting our own throats". As I said in my earlier post, from reading your comments in this thread... "Your stand seems to be, and I may be confused by this, that it is "much better to keep everyone UNINFORMED, so that I, the LHS, am the only source of product information and they are forced to come to me". Your second stand seems to be: "An informed person will rip me off/scam me by going and buying the product somewhere else."" Certainly the industry faces many challenges, and arguably the entire industry has been very slow to change. We agree, I believe, that brick & mortor businesses must evolve or die. Where we differ, I think, is where and in what way. I believe that a well-informed customer IS your best customer. Of all people they recognize the inherent value of a well informed and well stocked LHS. There are other areas to change; but of course, I'm not going to discuss that here, because it would be giving it away for free! Although I don't believe my business experience is relevant to the point, I'll satisfy your curiosity: Yes, I have owned a business; I am very much aware of profit and loss statements. I am now a marketing and advertising professor; I am well aware of the vast shifts in business practice and strategy as the world has transformed. And, just in case you subscribe to the adage "those that can, do: those that can't, teach" ... LOL, for many years I worked in advertising with experience in virtually every product and service category, (including both LHS and a hockey manufacturer) with a particular specialization in, and fondness for, retail. I have also developed business plans and strategies for on-line companies as well as developed strategies for retailers faced with stiff on-line and/or big box competition. I think your putting words in my mouth. I never said I want to keep customers MISINFORMED, that's your interpretation and your wording.. I have no problem ON THESE TYPE BOARDS, helping people find information about a product and do it quite often. Simply put, giving them exact instructions how to buy something on ebay or online is against my interests, and that of the local hockey stores in their area. I liken it to a auto mechanic or a doctor who worked hard learning his trade, then going on a board and posting info how to bypass their locals. The post I quoted is a perfect example of what I'm talking about. I notice you didn't have any comments about that, and that's fine. Well, got to go, I hear a guy at Coke is posting the secret recipe on a BB. :D

Hockeymom, I don't expect you to understand. Business has changed quite a bit since the online and ebay explosion. We brick and mortor stores have service as an edge over the online stores. Service includes the ability to feel, see and try on equipment and get proper fitting and advice. There is a price to pay for that service, yet some want to have it both ways. You misquoted the post I was referring about, here's the correct one: "I've got friends who recently bought skates of E-bay but used their LHS to try the skates on first to see if they liked them or not. Turns out that they saved about 400$ Cnd for XXX's. Now I personally think that it is not fair for the LHS owner as he provided a service but did not get any rewards. I think it sucks for the LHS. However, you can't blame the customer much either as he's saving a lot of money" My customers are not the enemy as you suggest. I actually have a MSH link on my website and encourage customers to visit this and other boards to get as much info as they can. Curious to know what your business is and what your internet competition is like.

I agree with you, those who don't have LHS's nearby have a dillema. When I was in the military and stationed at god-forsaken places that had no LHS's, I had to rely on advice given by phone from a trusted LHS in another part of the country. We didn't have online and ebay stores. However for every one person like you who doesn't have a LHS nearby and is using the board for true need, there are 20 who are on these boards just to save a buck, no other reason. You don't have to believe me, on this board alone you will find many posts from folks, who admit scamming their LHS, trying stuff on and then buying from ebay or online. Perfect example is the post above. Until you've been scammed, you really don't know how it feels.

You seem to understand correctly that the radius is proportunate to blade size. A smaller radius will be used on smaller size skates than larger ones. Depending on your skating style and ability, a 7 or 8' is more in line with a size 5 skate. You will not feel "tippy". However if you had a size 10 skate and put a 8' on it, yes, you could feel "tippy." That's prob what your profiling guy meant (I hope). Weight has nothing to do with radius, that effects the hollow you use.

I didn't realize this was a for sale site. If that's the case, I have everything for sale, just call. ;)

If you think the XXX goal skate is better, wait till you see the new Vector and RBK goal skates. Replaceable stainless steel, lightened and lowered holder. Sweet. I just ordered a 9k pump for me. IMO, the replaceable steel is a breakthru that will be accepted by goalies like never before. The stainless is only icing on the cake. If it's flash you want, go for the bauer. If it's fit and function (and durability), the RBK is the way to go.

Yes, exactly.

Find a LHS that knows what they are doing, not just one that does 9' on everyone, or one that only offers two choices. What radius (rocker) you need is vastly different than what others need. Never go by a recommendation of another skater. Seek advice of a professional sharpener/radius technician who can talor the rocker to your ability, position, skating style, positional play, skate size, height, as well as matching it to compliment a proper hollow. BTW, Rockering is an old term, for a service that was done freehand. It's now evolved into profiling and radiusing. Do a Google search for those terms and you will find some very helpful info.

All I'm saying is store workers should not be helping folks so they can bypass ther local LHS's. This has nothing to do with my store, but the "hockey world" as you say, in general. IIt's a macro thing, not micro. If there is no reason to go to the local LHS because you can get free fitting advice from MSH, then less folks will go to their LHS, they'll shop ebay. BTW, I don't believe I've ever mentioned the name of my store on this board.

No one is talking about making a profit on members.

Since many manufactures visit this site, I'd like them to give me the plans, materials and trade secrets on how they make their composite sticks. This is an "informative' site after all, isn't it? I'll wait for all this information to be posted, so I can start up my copycat factory and have some chinese guy make it for cheaper. It'll be a cold day in hell before I get it, I assure you. Why, you should be smart enough to figure it out. Once the word gets out that Chadd or JR will help fit you for skates so you can make the sweet ebay purchase or buy from Isellhockeyeeuipmenoutofmygarage.com, why on earth would anyone visit their LHS. Stop trying to be the "nice" guy. Either you have a business to run or you don't. Don't get so hung up on the holy-er than thou, we're just here to help the poor guy who doesn't have a LHS that knows what they are doing. Yo're being taken advantage of and you don't even realize it. "Bla , bla, bla, what size Kor do I fit into?" ....great ebay price on Kors. Suckers.

I agree this is an informative site. That's what's great about it. Information on a certain stick is way different than skate fitting services, something our LHS customers pay extra for. It's your site, if you want to give free services, that's up to you. Us LHS's have quite a lot of competition with the online stores, I just see it against our interests to help people so they can shop online. What's the next step, inviting all MSH'rs down to our store so we can fit them in person for that sweet ebay deal. Just being realistic.

I think it could be of value. I know Chadd and I have helped each othe rout when needed. If I got a stick he don't have that one of his customer's wants, or vice versa. Or an emergency piece of steel or repair piece. Also should unite in other regards. For example, why are we giving skate sizing info to the general public?. When we do this we are cutting our throats, our livelihood, helping folks bypass the LHS so they can buy off ebay and internet stores, to save a measly buck. Part of the reason we have to charge more is for our advice and fitting tme/info. Shouldn't be giving that away for free. What if a surfer is one of our local customers. I myself will not help with sizing info, that should be left to the LHS. Yes, some have crappy LHS's, but how do you know.

Any chance a forum for LHS workers only?

I can't agree when so many people have never had that problem before using Vectors. It's a very common problem with the top couple models, but not with many other brands. Lace bite is just not common with Vectors here. Never had any customer complain of lace bite on a Vector, any Vector, and I sell lots of them. Compared to a high end Bauer, the toungue is much better and does not break down as fast. I don't see what the problem is.

Got that beat, there's a rink near me that has an old figure skate machine, they do all skates on it, golalie, figure, hockey, without ever changing a setting or hieght of holder.

Before you have lessons, you must have proper equipment. Skate hollow and radius are the most important. It reminds me of a top NHL draft pick for the Canadians years ago, he was a goalie. Seems the equipment manager didn't want to cut the kids skates the way the kid liked them. He never made it in the NHL because of that. Can't remember his name. I'll have to do some searching unless someone has it on the top of their head.

The movie benefits the skaters, most don't have a clue that they even have choices. They just give the skates to the guy and he takes them and does what he wants. But I have to say, a lot of sharpeners are clueless as well. JR is always talking about some guy in his area who gives everyone the same radius.

- experience - ability - strength - height - position - style - type skate - hollow - personal preferences and more... Don't ask how each is evaluated, we have to keep some trade secrets! if we gave that info away for free how would M.E. suck all that money out of you for training and equipment. :)

You have to experiment with the different radius/pitches and see which works best for you, similar to how you experiment with stick curves. Your radius tech should be able to evaluate you to get a good starting point.

Don't you guys do radiusing at your store? You would think it's be popular in MI