Are these shafts damaged goods? (pics)

[Law Goalie 147]

I freely admit I know nothing about player sticks beyond wood/composite and tapered/standard. I bought these off eBay after reading good things in general about Missions. The seller described the M-1 shafts as 'lightly used', and they had, of course at least been fused one-pieces that had the blades pulled.

When I received the shafts, I noticed problems on both. On one, the outside of the shaft had 'frayed cuts' (as I'd describe them) near what I imagine to be the flex point:

On the other, there was a small chip missing from the inner layer of the shaft:

Now, would you say these are 'lightly used' shafts that I'll be able to use happily for quite some time, or are these damaged goods that will snap the first time I lean into a shot? I don't want to send them back, but I also don't want to end up with two broken shafts at the next clinic.

[Ogie Oglethorpe 14]

Nah... those don't look bad. Not sure why they'd have to cut the shaft though as I think they're a heat-and-pull OPS conversion.

The chip you see on the inner part of the shaft is just the graphite layering has flaked / chipped one layer off. Doesn't look that deep, so I am sure you'll be fine.

PLUS... M1's are tanks. The cut in the 2nd (from the top) pick looks sort of deep, but doesn't look like it's in a place where you should have issues with it (i.e., lower on the shaft in the flex or slash zones).

[fatwabbit 93]

second shaft you mentioned looks ok, looks a little superficial... the first one though depends on where it is. Most of the time its alright, but I'd go easy on the shots in the beginning to see how it goes. Like Ogie said, Mission shafts are tanks...

[Law Goalie 147]

Great - thanks Ogie. That's exactly what I was looking for.

[fatwabbit 93]

just to ask, is the fraying near the bottom of the shaft? or the top end?

[thejackal 46]

those dont look that bad at all. a couple of games and new shafts may look like that.

[James 0]

The frays are just a cosmetic scratch from an oponents skate blade etc.

[Law Goalie 147]

just to ask, is the fraying near the bottom of the shaft? or the top end?

The bottom, just about three inches above the insertion point.

---

Thanks for your reassurances, guys. This has been a major day of relief. I also got word back from my podiatrist that what I thought was a bone spur was actually just one of the worst, most intensely localised cases of bursa inflamation she'd ever seen. Hooray for not needing surgery, or to return eBay shafts!

[fatwabbit 93]

so i gather that the shafts are tapered? I wouldnt care and flip them over to use the top end with standard blades... but thats just me

[Law Goalie 147]

There are a reasons I'm hell-bent on using tapered - partly because I just ordered a bunch of tapered Missio pro-stocks, partly because the lower flex-point makes them shoot more like a goalie stick (which is, in its own curious way, a tapered stick).

[Jarick 5]

My Missions have the same fraying (L-2). One got nicked the first time I used it, and I've put another 20 games on it and they're fine. Most durable shafts I've ever used.

[fastmiele 59]

I freely admit I know nothing about player sticks beyond wood/composite and tapered/standard. I bought these off eBay after reading good things in general about Missions. The seller described the M-1 shafts as 'lightly used', and they had, of course at least been fused one-pieces that had the blades pulled.

Now, would you say these are 'lightly used' shafts that I'll be able to use happily for quite some time, or are these damaged goods that will snap the first time I lean into a shot? I don't want to send them back, but I also don't want to end up with two broken shafts at the next clinic.

if you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for these two shafts plus shipping ? The way I look at it, its a final sale. If you paid cheap, then its probably not worth it to have them shipped back even if the seller agreed to take them back. I would just enjoy them as is and not hold back on shots.

If you paid a significant amount of money then I would say its warranted to contact the seller about these issues.

I look at things at "glass half empty" when buying USED items on ebay/online. So whenever I get subpar products I suck it up and look at it as unfortunate incident. 8-9 times out of ten the stuff I get online is good/great so 1-2 so so's is acceptable for me.

[Cue 0]

Did you buy these from a guy from BC?

[Law Goalie 147]

Point well taken, fastmiele. I was chiefly interested in knowing whether these things would blow up in my face, but secondarily in whether these could reasonably be considered 'lightly used shafts,' or whether they were cosmetically acceptable 'damaged goods' that weren't worth the packing they shipped in. I simply didn't know.

Cue: yes. A rather nice guy, in fact. No complaints about his handling of things; I just don't have enough experience with player sticks to know any better.

[fastmiele 59]

Point well taken, fastmiele. I was chiefly interested in knowing whether these things would blow up in my face, but secondarily in whether these could reasonably be considered 'lightly used shafts,' or whether they were cosmetically acceptable 'damaged goods' that weren't worth the packing they shipped in. I simply didn't know.

Cue: yes. A rather nice guy, in fact. No complaints about his handling of things; I just don't have enough experience with player sticks to know any better.

I have a couple of used shafts which I purchased that have the same type of precise slits on the shaft (same area of the shaft). I am going to take a guess that it was slit from a skate(s). I have used them for a while and never had a problem with it. I was originally worried that if I ever put enough torque on the shaft it would crack/fold. Nothing has happened yet.

Another thing to think about is the seller might not think the slit is a problem at all. Light scratches he may see it as. So opinions will vary.

Good luck.

[Law Goalie 147]

So they're probably just normal cuts/scrapes for light use - cool. That's what I'd hoped.