Stick Manufacturers Moving to One-Pieces Only

[ctaz 0]

If anything I would think that the blades would be better for most companies as wood blades would tend to break more often than composite ones. Someone correct me if I'm wrong about that. I agree with everyone else though if they switch to OPS only, they would have to improve the price and durability of the sticks in order for any average Joe to be willing to buy them. I personally would probably quite hockey if I had to buy a OPS to continue to play.

[chippa13 1844]

As one who is fickle when it comes to what curve and blade he's using, I wouldn't like to see companies go strictly OPS.

[dangle7 0]

i dunno about you guys, but i really love the feeling of a fresh woody, lol, stick that is. like a freshy/ moist sherwood 9950 ...yaaaa, amazing feel, classic origional.

[jjtt99 0]

I don't think the issue is getting rid of shafts and going 100% OPS. I understood my LHS manager was talking about Easton dumping wood blades and only having composites.

[badsk8ter 0]

I prefer the shaft and blade, standard 2 piece combo.

[hyprlte 0]

not such a good idea....people are starting to go back to wood

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Easton doesn't own a wood factory, so it won't hurt them to stop offering wood blades (company-wise)

[kovalchuk71 212]

Who do they buy them from?

[hehatemefrisbee 0]

Bauer more or less already has, only offering the crappy Endure shaft and blade this year.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Who do they buy them from?

Same place as the other guys who don't have wood factories...

[Reaper 0]

Who do they buy them from?

Same place as the other guys who don't have wood factories...

You're so coy...lol

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

Easton/NBH/Mission/TPS/Itech...that's right...Synthesis/Ether/7500/R2 - same blade, different wraps!

[Go Pio's 0]

Who do they buy them from?

There are quite a few places in Canada, China and Pakistan that make OEM product for the big guys. We make wood product for a few smaller companies.

[Joker518 0]

The market will determine what direction the companies go with. I think we may be somewhat biased as many of us are older and have disposible income but with more and more kids playing hockey at all ages and income levels there is and will continue to be a need for products to meet these brackets.

I agree with SailRace, the price point is key. If you can produce OPS at $20-$30 then its feasable however the trend will likely be these glorified laminated wood hybrids with semi-composite blades masquarading as True OPS for the time being.

I can definitely see a time when two-piece stick setups are phased out but only when the price for performance to mid-level sticks are the same price as stick blades. Don't hold your breath

[nieminen18 0]

It doesn't sound like a good idea to me. People who use wood sticks would have less to choose from and sales would help small companies like Christian,

[Jason Harris 31]

Some of you argued that going to OPS only would cause the prices to come down.

Why?

The only way that would happen is if the factory tells Easton, "Well, you used to have us produce 250,000 OPS and 75,000 shafts, but now you're asking us to make 300,000 OPS? Okay, we'll lower your price by 8%." However, I doubt the factory would say that. If Easton were to increase the numbers to 500,000 OPS, then the factory might negotiate, but under the first scenario the resources consumed by the factory wouldn't change much.

Further, virtually every company runs its business by percentages: Rent is X%, Wages are Y%, Travel is Z% and so on. All this is geared toward hitting their target profit. To suggest these companies are keeping excess profit on their OPS is silly. NBH may have loss leaders, but I guarantee the majority of their products are priced to make the same percentage profit, and it's doubtful that changing the mix from OPS to shafts will alter that.

[DarkStar50 679]

Jason,

Thanks for the inside info. Of course, everything you say makes sense.

Peter

[jjalb29 0]

Some of you argued that going to OPS only would cause the prices to come down.

Why?

The only way that would happen is if the factory tells Easton, "Well, you used to have us produce 250,000 OPS and 75,000 shafts, but now you're asking us to make 300,000 OPS? Okay, we'll lower your price by 8%." However, I doubt the factory would say that. If Easton were to increase the numbers to 500,000 OPS, then the factory might negotiate, but under the first scenario the resources consumed by the factory wouldn't change much.

Further, virtually every company runs its business by percentages: Rent is X%, Wages are Y%, Travel is Z% and so on. All this is geared toward hitting their target profit. To suggest these companies are keeping excess profit on their OPS is silly. NBH may have loss leaders, but I guarantee the majority of their products are priced to make the same percentage profit, and it's doubtful that changing the mix from OPS to shafts will alter that.

Production cost per unit would probably go down due to saving on labor,switchover, and down time costs of, but wheather you would see that reflect in the overall selling price, might be doubtful.

More profit for the factory and manufacturer.

i agree with ya