The Things LHS Do

[wrangler 157]

Pretty tough to add pain and suffering/emotional distress into the settlement for a lost skate.

Especially for a hockey player. Stereotype -- smiling through blood and missing teeth.

[theflash0000 0]

It would be academically interesting to raise the question of an addition to value, due to the skates having been baked to fit, and broken in.

Just thinking about the proof problems with that claim makes my brain hurt. I can't imagine convincing a judge, i.e. thru expert testimony, that the process of breaking in a skate actually increases its value. Unless of course the judge plays hockey...

To complete the thought experiment, I would suggest that the claim would fail because a broken-in skate has a shorter life expectancy, and therefore a lower present value, than a brand new skate.

This is why we have the concept of "fair market value"--emotional/sentimental value is both too difficult to prove and too difficult to judge.

[wrangler 157]

Just thinking about the proof problems with that claim makes my brain hurt. I can't imagine convincing a judge, i.e. thru expert testimony, that the process of breaking in a skate actually increases its value. Unless of course the judge plays hockey...

To complete the thought experiment, I would suggest that the claim would fail because a broken-in skate has a shorter life expectancy, and therefore a lower present value, than a brand new skate.

This is why we have the concept of "fair market value"--emotional/sentimental value is both too difficult to prove and too difficult to judge.

I obviously agree on sentimental value, but find the practical value of broken-in skates interesting. Yes, we'd have to weigh that against the decrease in value due to use, and it becomes an exercise for seriously bored law students.

[Chadd 916]

I obviously agree on sentimental value, but find the practical value of broken-in skates interesting. Yes, we'd have to weigh that against the decrease in value due to use, and it becomes an exercise for seriously bored law students.

You could also have the potential (cash) loss for games you paid for but were unable to play in due to the missing skate.

[DarkStar50 679]

I'm sure Judge Judy will be happy to have you in her court. Then you can follow up with Dr. Phil.

[Monty22 833]

This is why I always use a label maker to affix my last name to each skate. You should also check to ensure you are leaving a shop with both of your skates.

[alstick 0]

Bring skates in to LHS for sharpening, ask for 5/8. Pick em up an hour later and learn I got a 7/16, because he never changed the wheel from the 7 yr old figure skater before me. Feel like I'm glued to the ice. Thanks.

[crash_roberts 0]

In for new skates for my son yesterday (supposed to be one of the best LHS in the Ottawa area). Couple of guys working the store around dinner time - seemed to be more interested in video gaming on a tablet and texting on their phones but eventually one came over to help. Sized up the boy well enough (not great service but passable) and we decide to buy the skates. Off they went to the oven, as he comes back with the skates he hands them to me to put on my son - OK just wasn't expecting that. By the time I got them laced up he had left the store for some reason (nothing said to me and worker number two still engaged in his video game). As an aside I prefer shops that bake skates one at a time because when I tie up the skates on my kids it can sometime take 2 to 3 minutes and by that time the second skate is already starting to cool off....

After about 15 minutes the video gamer / texter says "should be enough time" and I take the skates off. I ask for him to check the profile (I wanted to verify that lightspeed are 9ft as my son has been skating on 10ft - no need to change just wanted the info, additionally on new skates I like to double check that both skates are profiled in balance). Video gamer tells me that they are new blades and no need to check the profile because it will be perfect. hmm?? I ask for a 7/16s and he grumbles something approaching a positive response and disappears into the back.

Finally the original guy comes back as the skates are returned. Blades are pretty much too hot to handle, I mention that they seem quite hot --- blank look --- and then he stuffs them into the box. Video gamer rings up the tally and I hand over my hard earned money, I think he missed only one text during the process as his phone buzzed away (sorry about that, hate to be bother...) but at least I have some quality skates for my son notwithstanding the lack of service.

Finally get home to find one of the worst sharpenings seen this season (topic of another forum post) as they apprears to be some chattering in the hollow, the blades were well overheated leading to discoloration, and both skates still significantly burred on the edges.

Not sure but I don't think I'll be heading back......

Crash Roberts

[Axxion89 32]

In for new skates for my son yesterday (supposed to be one of the best LHS in the Ottawa area). Couple of guys working the store around dinner time - seemed to be more interested in video gaming on a tablet and texting on their phones but eventually one came over to help. Sized up the boy well enough (not great service but passable) and we decide to buy the skates. Off they went to the oven, as he comes back with the skates he hands them to me to put on my son - OK just wasn't expecting that. By the time I got them laced up he had left the store for some reason (nothing said to me and worker number two still engaged in his video game). As an aside I prefer shops that bake skates one at a time because when I tie up the skates on my kids it can sometime take 2 to 3 minutes and by that time the second skate is already starting to cool off....

After about 15 minutes the video gamer / texter says "should be enough time" and I take the skates off. I ask for him to check the profile (I wanted to verify that lightspeed are 9ft as my son has been skating on 10ft - no need to change just wanted the info, additionally on new skates I like to double check that both skates are profiled in balance). Video gamer tells me that they are new blades and no need to check the profile because it will be perfect. hmm?? I ask for a 7/16s and he grumbles something approaching a positive response and disappears into the back.

Finally the original guy comes back as the skates are returned. Blades are pretty much too hot to handle, I mention that they seem quite hot --- blank look --- and then he stuffs them into the box. Video gamer rings up the tally and I hand over my hard earned money, I think he missed only one text during the process as his phone buzzed away (sorry about that, hate to be bother...) but at least I have some quality skates for my son notwithstanding the lack of service.

Finally get home to find one of the worst sharpenings seen this season (topic of another forum post) as they apprears to be some chattering in the hollow, the blades were well overheated leading to discoloration, and both skates still significantly burred on the edges.

Not sure but I don't think I'll be heading back......

Crash Roberts

You probably should have stopped around this part...

[AIREAYE 248]

After about 15 minutes the video gamer / texter says "should be enough time" and I take the skates off. I ask for him to check the profile (I wanted to verify that lightspeed are 9ft as my son has been skating on 10ft - no need to change just wanted the info, additionally on new skates I like to double check that both skates are profiled in balance). Video gamer tells me that they are new blades and no need to check the profile because it will be perfect. hmm?? I ask for a 7/16s and he grumbles something approaching a positive response and disappears into the back.

Crash Roberts

Just an aside for the more knowledgeable people.

1. How does one 'check' the radius of steel?

2. What do most new skates have in terms of steel radius?

[jimmy 194]

Just an aside for the more knowledgeable people.

1. How does one 'check' the radius of steel?

2. What do most new skates have in terms of steel radius?

Well, that's a complex question. But in summary, I can check the actual radius on a runner but, it takes some time, and it's certainly not something I would do for free. To ask someone to "check" the radius is asking for a lot of work. It's actually almost takes the same amount of time as doing a radius.

The basic tools on the street to check a radius are not very accurate. I have a special method and equipment I use, not the typical 9/11/13 radius test bars which are not very accurate, and really are useless. I laugh at shops who visually judge a radius. What a joke.

One other way to check though is to actually set up the machine for the radius you think it's suppose to be, and do a dry radius test run and see if it will grind. If it will, then we know that that radius is NOT on the blade. For example if a skate is claimed to have a 9' radius, if you put it on a 9' radius bar, it shouldn't need any grinding. In my experience about 90% of stock blades do not have the radius they are expected to have. However to tell a customer exactly what radius is on the runner, well that's going to cost if you want an accurate answer. It's not easy and it takes some time. Most blades I test may have a 9' on 1/2" area in the working radius, then it can change every 1/4 to 1/2" to a 9.5, then a 10, then a 8.45, and the radius is all over the spectrum. Pivot points are off as well. You are better off to just have the blades radiused, even if just to the stock settings. Think of this like a front-end alignment on a car. Even if you don't change the so-called stock setting for performance, at least you have the left and right blades matched to the same specs.

[AIREAYE 248]

great insight

That makes sense, what you're saying is that even if one doesn't know if they are the correct radius, it's better to have both skates tuned to the same specs anyways?

While it's near certainty that you can adjust the radii of a pair of steel, it's difficult to judge just any random pair due to sharpenings/different brands and what not...

[crash_roberts 0]

Jimmy

I agree whole heartedly that new skates should be profiled whether you intend to change the radius or not. What you refer to as pivot points is what I think of as the balance point and it has always been my opinion that this aspect is very important for both skates to be balanced the same.

What concerns me is at the last three LHS I have visited the guys are telling me its a waste of money as the new blades are laser die cut and all perfectly radiused and balanced. I am skeptical so usually I ask for them to at least check with a profilining template or contouring bar to ascertain if the profile is at least close and if the two skates are at least close in profile and balance. Dependant upon which shop I'm in I get anything from blank stares to those that will grab a bar and discuss with me what they can see from this quick check. This is also how I have the profiles checked throughout the season to know when I need the radius touched-up.

Maybe they are just humouring me but even I seem to be able to see when a profile is still close and when it is well off.

Crash

[MN old and slow 92]

LHS in Eagan MN: I bought new white waxed laces. The cap came off on the 1st use. The guy gave me a new set no questions asked. Nice, it does help that he gets all my stick,skate,tape, etc business. The laces are $4. Can't get that kind of service on the net.

[Agent1.8 1]

This is why I always use a label maker to affix my last name to each skate. You should also check to ensure you are leaving a shop with both of your skates.

yup, I put my initials and FBV cut profile too

[raganblink 82]

LHS in Eagan MN: I bought new white waxed laces. The cap came off on the 1st use. The guy gave me a new set no questions asked. Nice, it does help that he gets all my stick,skate,tape, etc business. The laces are $4. Can't get that kind of service on the net.

Glad to hear good customer service. Seems most outcrys from lhs, or anything else really, is negatives.

[wrangler 157]

Glad to hear good customer service. Seems most outcrys from lhs, or anything else really, is negatives.

Like everything else -- satisfied folks aren't usually inclined to make noise.

[mnwild9 0]

I like going to my old LHS they own the one down where I live in Bismarck,Nd but the one down here is ok they normally have some of the NAHL player working there but two hours away in Minot,ND the guy who owns and runs it is amazing. Hes been around hockey for the last 30 years and still plays. One day I went in looking to buy a blade for a shaft. I was in there for about 3 mins and walks over and ask me what curve I was looking for. I told him the p92 he walked in the back and brings out a 6 pack of the blades. I told him I only wanted one he said he would give me a deal on the 6 so I said ok I told him I was going to look around a bit. So after about 30 mins I walked up to the counter and there sat 9 of the blades not 6 anymore. I looked at him and asked him how much he said $30 US dollars I almost dropped over. If I would have bought them any other place it would have costed me about 270 before taxes. I still can't beleave it to this day but he seem to give a lot of people good deals. Also in the country no one really uses shafts and blades unless they break a one piece or need it for the out door rink. I have never had a bad transaction at both of the stores the guys owns.

[Vulcan7905 88]

Well, My LHS tried putting me in an 11 4k when I was honestly a 9. I will never understand the reason for trying to put me in a skate two sizes too big and not even caring about it.

[Hradsky 1]

My local sport chek doesn't try to fit me into anything, they ask me what I want, I tell them and they bring it.

[17D1998 1]

My local sport chek doesn't try to fit me into anything, they ask me what I want, I tell them and they bring it.

Self-explanatory

[SolidifiedPenguin 0]

Little different at my sportchek/hockey ex. If someone refuses to get fitted (at least SIZED properly), or insists to buy a skate 3 sizes to big so little johnny can grow into it, I write on the receipt "Size not recommended - Final sale"

We do the same with out ski/snowboard boots as well.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

I used to do the same thing.

[Vulcan7905 88]

Also, my LHS bakes the skates, then tells people to go skate on them after 20 minutes when I know damn well they have to be cured for 24 hours. I just can't believe they tell people that honestly. Good thing I just get my tape from them now.

[DolomaticDangles 13]

Yeah Vulcan I was baking my 9ks at a reputable LHS and after like 10-15 minutes he told me to walk around with them on (apparenty you're not supposed to do that, right?) and then afterwards I said, alright, I'm not supposed to pump these for 24 hrs, right? And he said, "no, don't know where you heard that..."