Broken Tendon Guard on One90's.

[Gongshow11 1]

Alright JR, I quit.

Maybe one day I will change my mind about NBH when I try the one90s and experience 0 durability problems like my vectors.

BTW JR, can you tell me why NBH is no.1 in retail and NHL? (I ask this in a good way). I mean on eBay I see people paying $200+ on XXs today but are reluctant to get the S500s for around $100. Surely you can't disagree on the fact that S500s are better skates than vapor XXs?

the XXs are better than the xxxs and the xxxxs. They are the last pair to be made in canada, if i recall, and I've had 4 pairs

[epstud74 24]

The Vapor XXs are a better skate in general or a better skate because they're made in Canada? I've tried on a few Vapor XXXs and didnt like the fit.

[DarkStar50 680]

Alright JR, I quit.

Maybe one day I will change my mind about NBH when I try the one90s and experience 0 durability problems like my vectors.

BTW JR, can you tell me why NBH is no.1 in retail and NHL? (I ask this in a good way). I mean on eBay I see people paying $200+ on XXs today but are reluctant to get the S500s for around $100. Surely you can't disagree on the fact that S500s are better skates than vapor XXs?

Thanks for the last line. I needed a laugh first thing this morning! That one half of 1% of NHLers in S500s a few years ago really proved how wrong the other 55% of NHLers in Vapor XXs were. Before you say "the pros get their skates for free.", say "the pros get the skates that fit and perform the best for them." I'll give Mission credit for continuing to fight their way into the skate market but they are fighting a losing battle. I guess its too simple to figure out: When a company has the highest number of skates in the marketplace, any problem with the skate will show up based on the volume of skates being used. If there are 25,000 ONE90s being used and only 1000 S500s being used, which skate has the greater probability of having a problem and then having that problem show up here on MSH? The answer is the skate with the larger sample. Which generates the next question? If S500s were so great A. Why didn't they sell better? B. Why were they given such a short shelf life by Mission? C. Why does Mission change their skate line-up so quickly so often?

[nicksmission14 0]

First off, I'm a huge supporter of Mission and a big fan of their products.. With that being said I feel they have some issues. At least here in the Connecticut region they do.

I've visited pretty much all of the LHS's around here and it's the same story at all of them. They don't know anything about the mission skates, They don't know any specs about them and don't try to sell them period. In a nice way they tell customers to steer away. I started off in a pro shop where most of the time I was the only employee. I was able to put people in a skate that fit them and had quite a bit of Mission sales. When the pro shop was sold out to a professional hockey team I was moved to the main store. When I worked for the main store, Trying to sell a Mission skate was hell, Every time I was close to having a Mission sale a customer would ask the opinion of some co-workers and it was the same "You don't want to skate in those, those are roller hockey boots" Which was a complete load of BS but customers bought into it because the majority of my co-workers thought that way.

How can Mission have any chance of succeeding if the employees won't sell Mission unless they absolutely have to?

Educate the LHS Employee's, Maybe some better advertising.. Yes it's great that Teemu Selanne switched to Mission skates after xx amount of years, But what makes your product better then others.. Is it weight? Durability? Quality? Is it all of them? How much do Mission skates weigh? People like to know what they are buying. If the LHS employee's can't enlighten them they have to dig to find this info places like MSH. Ford doesn't sell Mustang Cobra's because John Force drives a Mustang funny car.. But the amount of power for car's in it's price range makes it a big seller.

Mission makes a great skate, they just need to sell it better. Just my 2 cents.

[DarkStar50 680]

The weird thing about the S500 and a lot of Mission skates is their shape. I can hold the left skate in my hand and it looks like it goes on my right foot. The outside of the boot on the instep arch has no shape to it and doesn't look anatomically correct. This was definitely happening in their boots from a few years ago. Mission skates are like any other brand not named NBH or CCM/RBK. These brands either fit you perfectly and you swear by them or they don't fit you at all and there is no way you could skate in them. When $ = inventory in the LHS, your $ are best spent on inventory that sells through. Mission is an extremely tough sell-through skate in the shop.

[nicksmission14 0]

I agree DarkStar about the Inventory and Sales. We only ordered 1 pair of each size of the top mission skates, Once that pair sold they weren't re-ordered unless a customer had to have them.

But, I feel that our shop personally, we never even gave them a chance to succeed because we wouldn't even fit people in them and we had them in inventory. And people didn't ask to try them because there was nothing overly exciting that they heard. So it was a mix of both.

[djinferno 2]

if i had one90's and they broke like that, i'd call my insurance to put in a claim... those things are expensive...

[JR Boucicaut 3809]

If S500s were so great A. Why didn't they sell better? B. Why were they given such a short shelf life by Mission? C. Why does Mission change their skate line-up so quickly so often?

A. Specialized fit concept, did not translate well in the marketplace. Ignorance from consumers who still view Mission as a RH brand, and uneducated salesmen who couldn't sell an alternative form of skate concept.

B. S500 was on a 2 year cycle, just like Vapor

C. They don't do it as much as Easton. When you have low market share, you must continue to push the envelope

I'm not saying that if "the skate is not NBH, it's junk," because that is not clearly the case. But almost 80 years of tradition is hard to not notice.

[number21 3]

Wasn't Mission formed by some guys who left Bauer when Nike took control?

A PIAS guy told my buddy that when he bought S400s a couple years back in Grand Rapids. To me, that gave a little more validity to the brand.

[nicksmission14 0]

If S500s were so great A. Why didn't they sell better? B. Why were they given such a short shelf life by Mission? C. Why does Mission change their skate line-up so quickly so often?

A. Specialized fit concept, did not translate well in the marketplace. Ignorance from consumers who still view Mission as a RH brand, and uneducated salesmen who couldn't sell an alternative form of skate concept.

B. S500 was on a 2 year cycle, just like Vapor

C. They don't do it as much as Easton. When you have low market share, you must continue to push the envelope

I'm not saying that if "the skate is not NBH, it's junk," because that is not clearly the case. But almost 80 years of tradition is hard to not notice.

I agree 100 times over!

[epstud74 24]

I had a sales rep at Mike Ramsey's hockey shop in Chanhassen, MN tell me that overall Mission was the best skate on the market for the money and service. He even had some old L7s for sale @ $170 in my size.. Very comfortable, even though I went with the Nike Flexlites from Westwood Sports. They were even more comfortable. I just dont get that feeling with Nike/Bauer's Vapor line like I did with the Supremes of 90s vintage. I liked the fit of the CCMs but wasnt wholly comfortable with the ankle fit and technology of the pump skates. But back to the original topic, it seemed as if Easton and Mission were regarded as the best skate at the shop for what I needed in my price range. They did have Nike One90s, but I said I didnt want to pay for them and after looking at my feet, he said I wouldnt like the Vapors either...and he was right.

[Miserable 6]

There is no "big difference." Let me ask you this - has anyone on MSH ever been denied a warranty claim for their ONE90s? No.

The representatives who participate on MSH have taken care of EVERY person's problems with their skates and beyond.

Everyone has been courteous, on both ends.

I agree with this 100%. The NBH reps on this board went above and beyond to help me out when I had issues with my One90's.

[cammerz12 0]

Every company has problems here and there. Your beloved SyNergy skates have had problems with cracked toecaps. It's all relative.

amen

[mew1838 0]

See there is just this thing with bauer. Even after the XXs turn to marshmallows, people still buy them and say they are the best skates. Imagine if the S500s were as bad as them? Mission would get slammed bad and people would start saying mission sucks and all that.

[hockeymom 2]

See there is just this thing with bauer. Even after the XXs turn to marshmallows, people still buy them and say they are the best skates. Imagine if the S500s were as bad as them? Mission would get slammed bad and people would start saying mission sucks and all that.

I agree with your basic point mew: Mission, as a relative newcomer, doesn't have the track record or the following as Bauer or CCM has developed over the years and therefore would not weather or survive a bad product hiccup as easily.

But here is the thing mew, you are doing the same thing you criticise in reverse: If I took the sum total of your posts, I would conclude that there is NOTHING NBH could do that would have YOU stop saying NBH sucks... all of their past, current and future skates. And you would view problems with a different manufacturer as isolated incidents.

The XX had big problems with their early production run. It was resolved and I understand they were excellent skates after that (later production runs). It hasn't been repeated. Not with XXX, not with one90's, not with any models since the XX. Can we possibly get over it?

Sorry to bring this to a personal level, but I really don't think you (and some other people) realize how flawed or biased your thinking is.

[mew1838 0]

If I am biased, how about those people who wouldn't buy skates if they don't say BAUER on it? Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against bauer but I just hope people would start giving other skate brands a chance and I'm sure bauer's market share will drop.

[t1tan 19]

Wasn't Mission formed by some guys who left Bauer when Nike took control?

A PIAS guy told my buddy that when he bought S400s a couple years back in Grand Rapids. To me, that gave a little more validity to the brand.

Mission was founded in 1995, Nike purchased Bauer in 1998.

[JR Boucicaut 3809]

Wasn't Mission formed by some guys who left Bauer when Nike took control?

A PIAS guy told my buddy that when he bought S400s a couple years back in Grand Rapids. To me, that gave a little more validity to the brand.

Mission was founded in 1995, Nike purchased Bauer in 1998.

Nike bought Canstar in 1994.

[mm705 0]

i thought i was the only one who had this problem. one day i came to practice and picked up my right skate off its hanger and noticed that the plastic part of the tendon guard was completely broken and the guard itself was held on only by a few remaining stitches. these boots have been both great and awful for me at the same time. the break in period was by far the worst i have ever experienced, and they eventually did something (i havea doctor appt tmw to figure out what exactly) to the low ankle area of my foot. they have also begun to fall apart around the bottom of the boot on the outside. that all being said, while they were intact they were one of the best pairs of skates i have ever had, and definately outperformed the 8090s that i previously used. my real problem is that i dont want to go through the whole 90 experience again, especially as far as break in and dealing with other problems that will likely arise. these are great skates, but their durability is a huge issue that is pushing me away from these skates and towards something else, though i dont yet know what.

[DarkStar50 680]

See there is just this thing with bauer. Even after the XXs turn to marshmallows, people still buy them and say they are the best skates. Imagine if the S500s were as bad as them? Mission would get slammed bad and people would start saying mission sucks and all that.

Could you explain why all those guys in the NHL wore Bauer Vapor XX when they came out? Could you explain why so many of those players then moved into Vapor XXX when they came out? Could you explain why these players, who must get maximum performance from their skates given this is what they use to earn a paycheck, have not switched over to Mission skates? If the Mission product is as great as you claim, why am I not seeing increases in my Mission skate sales in my shop? Why am I not even having players ask for Mission skates? Mission has spent $$$$ on advertising in print, especially in the USAHockey magazine, which every registered USA hockey player has mailed to his house. Why does Mission continue the free Pulse OPS with skate purchase in the summer, if their skates are as great as you claim? Finally, when that special offset screw in the Pitch holder fails and falls out, why is it so hard for Mission customer service to get our shop replacements after I have taken them off existing stock skates just to keep the few Mission skate users happy?

[hockeymom 2]

Oh DS, DS, DS…. I have been scratching my head over this post of yours. Given the number of conversations you and I have had about marketing, and the respect I have for your knowledge of it, I am quite certain you are guilty here of overstepping a point in order to make a point.

But gosh darn it DS, Mission’s advertising campaigns have been great; I respect how they have built and managed their business. So it frankly disappoints me to hear your criticism. If I am not mistaken, even their stick with purchase program is better balanced for the retailer than many, if not all, other manufacturers’ similar programs. It is a legitimate marketing tool and is inappropriate for you to use it to disparage their product.

They have many more stories of "above and beyond" customer service than they have failings.

You simply cannot apply the differences in the marketing between NBH and Mission as any basis of a comparison of their product’s merit. They have different market share and thus, quite rightly, use different approaches. I could go on, but I think I am often guilty of posts that are too long… so I won’t indulge in a point-by-point counterpoint

[mew1838 0]

See we cannot help having bad feelings about certain manufacturers. It's obvious that DS does not have good feelings towards Mission.

[hockeymom 2]

See we cannot help having bad feelings about certain manufacturers. It's obvious that DS does not have good feelings towards Mission.

Well, actually mew, if I am not mistaken, I do believe the man was overstating a point to make a point about your attitude. I just didn't feel it should be left there as some people wouldn't get his message. Obviously you didn't.

[DarkStar50 680]

mew,

I have been dealing with these manufacturers for almost 30 years. It is my business. I do not have bad feelings about any of them. I have a positive working partnership agreement with all of them. Having bad feelings about Mission would be bad business for my business. I was one of the first dealers in the East to open with Mission/Bilt-Rite Roller when Kelly and Sander left Canstar to start Mission. I have been selling their product since Day 1.

hockeymom was correct. I was making a point about NHLers using Vapor XX and XXX, not Mission. I was hoping you could explain the lack of Mission skates among the pros. Mission has used their advertising in a positive way to generate as much exposure and sales as possible. I would think they could also influence, with their pro team reps, more NHLers to use their skates. Back to my original question: Do you have any idea why Mission has not been as successful as you feel they should be with their skates?

[mew1838 0]

Because NHLers are RELUCTANT to even try them in the first place. If you judge a product only by the number used in the NHL, how abour KORs? There are none used as far as I can see but they are definitely made for high performance.