Try before you buy?

[JSchultz 25]

So I just contacted Mission, and Tour. Both customer service representives told me that nobody in my state (Illinois) even carries the high end skates (Code 1's or 9500s). This is freaking Chicago, one of the biggest metropolitan areas in the country! Come on!

So now I don't have the opportunity to try either skate before I buy. The mission guy told me to try a pair of 5500's or 7500's, because they fit the same. The Tour service rep told me "tough luck, find it online".

Is the skate business shrinking so much that I can no longer walk into a pro shop, point to a 400 dollar skate, and say "I'll take that."?

How many of you guys bought your new stuff sight unseen?

[Chadd 916]

A lot of shops are unwilling to get stuck with 25 pair of $400 skates that they couldn't sell. The fit should be the same on the mid-line Missions but you obviously won't be able to feel the stiffness.

[gee2626 0]

I've bought most of my rollerblades online as most LHS in my area do not carry high end inlines, only high end ice skates. Also apparently, LHS in Canada are not allowed to sell the new code 1's, so the only way to get a pair was by getting them online.

[stock07 1]

J,

I know it sucks Im in the same boat you are in as far as skate selection....I bought my 7500's from Epuck.com...the size I got didnt fit, they have a form that comes with everything you buy if you dont like it and havent used it you can ship it back to them and they will exchange it for free no restocking fees etc...The fastest way to exchange something which is what I did was make another purchase for what you want, a diffrent size in my case and when they recieve the first pair they credit it back on your card really fast and really simple and as soon as you make the purchase they ship the second pair back out to you(they shipped them 2nd day in my case, talk to them nice and they will hook you up). Yes you do get stuck with having to pay a few extra bucks to ship the item back, but they dont charge all these crazy restocking, rip you off fees other sites charge....This is the closest thing to try before you buy your going to find on the net.

[JSchultz 25]

Here's the deal though. I really wanted to give Tour a fair try along with Mission. It would be really unfortunate to have to buy a pair of Code 1's, try them...pay to send them back, and then buy 9500's.

How much does it cost to ship a pair of skates back to epuck?

[stock07 1]

Yea I know what your sayin...the only thing I can offer is call them and tell them about skates youve had before and like, what you like in a fit, and your foot type they may be able to help you make a decision based on that...It only cost me like $10 not to bad...depends I guess where you are located too though but the cheapest way is to ship them US postal service....I can tell you this as far as the mission fit...I wear a size 8 shoe and your suppose to go by your shoe size for the skate size, but I ended up with a size 7 which fits like a glove...I know tour skates used to fit a bit wider, so maybe they would be good for wider feet...Im sure others here have much more info for you on the fits of diffrent types of skates, there is probubly already a thread on that somewhere here on the site, give it a search or post a new topic asking about fits..

[JSchultz 25]

Well, I know I wear a size 6 in tour, and 7 in mission.

Thanks for the advice though. The thing is, I had a pair of Mission D2c's that were the biggest pieces of horsepoop, and they didn't start to break down until 3 months down the line. I wish someone would have told me they weren't that great, and I never got to try or see before I bought.

[stock07 1]

Well I snagged the 7500's and they are super super stiff and seem like they will hold up for awhile for sure...they seem to be much better built than past few years mission has put out...there are some pics in the roller forum under a thread called chassis question.

[JSchultz 25]

Well I snagged the 7500's and they are super super stiff and seem like they will hold up for awhile for sure...they seem to be much better built than past few years mission has put out...there are some pics in the roller forum under a thread called chassis question.

I am actually seriously looking at a pair of 950's from 2005. I was a bit comforted when Justin said they'd warranty the skates 1 year from purchase. If those are stiff enough, and Mission would warranty any issues, those would be good.

[shute 4]

not a big surprise... i live in canada b.c and no one around here carries any high end skates except for one shop that carries only mission roller skates.. this is freaking CANADA here and we have the largest roller hockey league (pitch) in canada here in B.C. i always have to end up buying online myself and don't get me started on wheels over here... try $70 canadian or $80 after tax for 4 rinkrat hornet wheels... YES i said FOUR not 8... :( i have to buy all my wheels online as well.

[saba 0]

I live in Wash DC and we have zero pro shops that carry high end roller skates so buying before you try is the norm. However, when the shops around here do carry high end skates we are talking 2004 models they were still trying to get top dollar. Online shops like epuck not only offer a good discount but as the above poster stated make the online experience a hassel free encounter.

I had bid problems with the D1C but have had zero problems with my tour G-90's and now the Beemers. My advice stay with what works for you. Both companies are good to the roller community and both will stand by their products. If the online retailer is worth anything they will stand behind the product as well.

I think you will be happy with either skate and yes evey paragraph starts with I cause I got it like that

[shute 4]

tour standing behind their products... you should talk to #96, :lol:

[Eazy_b97 1]

I'm in a similar situation and went the Ebay route. Found out the size I needed and did alot of research on here for the skates I was looking at. Nobody carries anything above the $350 CDN around me, so I opted to get a used pair of 9500's for a great deal on Ebay.

[Justin 1933 134]

Remeber, any store that has Mission product, can order an skate in our lineup...

[Eazy_b97 1]

Remeber, any store that has Mission product, can order an skate in our lineup...

You'd be surprised how bitter some stores get when you ask them to do this.

[shute 4]

agreed... :lol: and on top of that they'll ask for an arm and a leg for the special order as well.

[JSchultz 25]

my LHS still has a pair of D1C's from 2004 in my size if I want them...for the bargain basement price of $299!! :lol:

I guess if I've always used mission, I can buy them sight unseen. And they better honestly be warrantied from the day I buy them, or else I'll be angry.

[ash_96 0]

Id suggest going with a newer model over the D1c's i had big problems with my D1's and everyone i know with the D1's or D1c's had problems with the sole breaking off from the boot.

The newer mission look much stronger and stiffer.

just my 2 cents

[Eazy_b97 1]

My 9500's appear to be extremely well build from the ground up.

[CSW1618 5]

My 9500's appear to be extremely well build from the ground up.

Eazy_B97- trust me, they are well built B) I havent gotten one blister yet from these skates and they are so comfortable.. no complaints what so ever.. and not to mention rediculously stiff

[Snigglefish 0]

I can vouch for epuck's making it easy. I got a pair of the Tour Bluemax in size 11 (wear a 12 shoe) and the seam on the outside of my left foot was excruciating. I was really excited about the all 80 setup (replacing a pair of ancient Tour 902s) but couldn't justify trying to break them in. The skate felt great on my right foot, but like a torture device on my left...they killed just sitting on a couch with them. I was bummed as I got them for $169 and had loved my 902s.

I exchanged them for a pair of Mission 7500 which just came in today...and have been on my feet in the house much to the chagrin of my wife. The 7500s feel GREAT....very stiff, very comfortable....i try them out tomorrow. I feel so good in them I may have to exfoliate and moisturize my mishapen fungally feet and maybe get a pedicure before popping the cherry on my beautiful new skates.

Thanks to those of you who have answered questions for me in the past on this board. I went with the Mission and so far (ok, its only my living room) so good. Hopefully Mission has corrected their chronic durability problems.

Exchange was straightforward with epuck and they seem to have figured this as normal in their business process.

I tried an 11 and 12 of the Mission at my local LHR and was told "thats all they have"....11 was too small on my left and 12 was too big on my right. 11.5 were dead on.

[reaper07 0]

good lord

i tried my 7500's today also

my feet look like they have been to hell and back

(tryed to break in super stiff skates with ankle socks)

next time its doulbe socks for me

*ouch my feet hurt*

[tour17 0]

Any dealer that gives you a hard time about special ordering a pair of skates, needs to be careful, your the customer and you can take your business elsewere. I suggest you make sure that the dealer agrees to your terms, if for whatever reason the skates aren't what you expected, you don't have to take them. When your putting up this kind of money you should to be 100% satisfied, and any credible dealer will make sure your a satisfied customer.

[utvolsfan007 0]

agreed...  :lol:  and on top of that they'll ask for an arm and a leg for the special order as well.

Epuck will special order anything you need without complaint and will not charge any extra to do so. I have had to have them do it many times, as I am in the DC area without any real shops to buy from .

[Roach 0]

Id suggest going with a newer model over the D1c's i had big problems with my D1's and everyone i know with the D1's or D1c's had problems with the sole breaking off from the boot.

The newer mission look much stronger and stiffer.

just my 2 cents

Same suggestion here. I found the stiffness of my D1C to go from stiff to soft after only a several months of use.

I have read excellent posts on the 9500 and the 10000 on MSH. I felt both in my hands and they felt very, very stiff. I wasn't able to skate in them though.

I'm now on Code 1's but would be willing to try either the 9500 or the 10000.