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I've had the pleasure of reviwing some of Ray Dionaldo's training blades, as well as some plastic trainers from Sharkee. The reviews are here:
Warrior Craft Trainers
Sharkee Trainers
Warrior Craft Trainers
Sharkee Trainers
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Thanks for the review Chief.
What did you think of the pricing? Is what you get worth what you pay? The Sharkees are only $12.99 each plus shipping. How does that compare with others?
Oh, and one more thing. Could you possibly find a bikini model to help display the products for your reviews. That guy with the glasses holding the training knife is gonna give me nightmares....
Spanky -
Egads man!!!
Well, take heart, I heard they where going to hire some models from cameltoe.org
to liven the ads up.
WilliamComment
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Spanky,
That's a really good question, and one I've given some thought.
The Warrior Craft blades, being machined aluminum with cord wrap, are significantly more expensive than the molded Sharkee blades. Part of this is just production cost, but of course there's the demand factor as well. I know my threshold for what I will or will not pay for something tends to fluctuate with my income and my mood -- and is different from the next person's. I don't feel ripped off paying the asking price for Ray Dionaldo's trainers, but there will be people out there who's personal "demand curves" intersect the supply curve different. (Whoa, Economics flashback from college.)
What pleases me about the martial arts training gear available today is that there is a nearly limitless supply of different items with different features, all of which have different costs. The student can pick what he or she is willing to pay based on what he or she gets out of training with the specific equipment. (Hopefully, my reviews help in making those decisions.) You can buy plastic trainers at various prices, rubber training knives for next to nothing (five or six bucks), or folder "drones" like the Spyderco Gunting Trainer that have pricetags every bit as hefty as "live blades." I hesitate to tell anyone, "Yes, this is worth it," or "no, this isn't worth it," because each person's idea of "worth" is a little different. For that reason I generally don't get into pricing in the reviews, unless something is so very inexpensive or so extremely costly as to figure into the character of the piece.
Oh, and I'm sorry, but PhilElmore.com has a strict no sleaze policy, which will prevent me from hiring any models to display the reviewed products. You are stuck with that ugly guy in glasses who seems to be all over my webpage.
Last edited by Sharp Phil; 12-26-2002, 09:12 PM.Comment
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Good points about the "worth" of a product being different to each individual. Me being the jack of trades that I am will always come up with a way to make/or design something myself instead of paying someone else to do it. Unless of course it doesn't make economical sense in terms of time/worth vs cost. But then again, I have access to resources that the average Joe (well, maybe not Crazyjoe) doesn't which allows me a wide lattitude in the range of products I can make for myself.
BTW, good reviews. Now, let's work on that sleeze policy of yours...
WilliamComment
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Phil-
I understand the sleaze policy. But Sleaze to some is art to others!
You can't run a respectable business on the web with bikinis, I'll admit to that. When you have different client bases, you have to make sure that all bets are covered.
However, I'll gladly send in some rather racey photos of Bri Thai from last Halloween. That should make EVERYONE happy!
I appreciate the position on the pricing and recommendations. It can get sticky. You give a good objective review pointing out the good and the bad.
William-
If you want to see some hot chicks mixed in with some martial arts, go see Nikki! She's better lookin' than Phil's model any day!
SpankyComment
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I'm quite certain that asking the bearded fellow to pose in a bathing suit would result in a severe beating-up of me.Comment
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I'd be willing to throw in some Gen-U-Ine Idaho Spud candy bars to sweatin' the pot!
Or maybe I should fire up my Adobe Photoshop and see what I can come up with....
Ok, I won't. The nightmares and lawyer fees would be more than I can bear....
Sorry to detract from the serious thread with off color humor. They are good reviews and I know how Bitty hates it when I do that. Bobbies, go figure....
SpankyComment
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William- If you want to see some hot chicks mixed in with some martial arts, go see Nikki! She's better lookin' than Phil's model any day!
No offense to the bespeckled model, but that ain't saying much. My dog's better looking.
However, I'll gladly send in some rather racey photos of Bri Thai from last Halloween. That should make EVERYONE happy!
If he's on that fried Mars bar fad like the rest of those gits over there, I think I'd pass on that one.
You can't run a respectable business on the web with bikinis, I'll admit to that. When you have different client bases, you have to make sure that all bets are covered.
Well, I guess that pretty much means you won't let the "Man Show" use the Juggies to promote them? (Sigh)
I liked your reviews though (even without the sleeze).
William
Disclaimer; No disrespect meant to the following people or groups:
Bespeckled models
Fried Mars bar eaters
Gits
Respectable businesses
Diffrent client bases
The "Man Show"
Juggies
Sleeze (in whatever form it may take)Comment
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Ohhhh, another dried wit type of fellow...
I see you didn't include my name in your disclosure. Thanks for nuthin!
You must have one sexy dog to be better lookin' than Sharp Phil's model...
Fried Mars Bar? Wassupwitdat?Comment
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Fried Mars Bar? Wassupwitdat?
Bri Thai could fill you in on that. It's some kind of Limey delicacy. Take a Mars bar (a chocolate candy bar of some sort) and deep fry it and munch away. I've got a buddy who poses as a research scientist at the University of B. (don't want to blow his cover) who keeps me informed of what our bad toothed brethen are up to at all times. I can have him put a line on our friend if need be?
I see you didn't include my name in your disclosure. Thanks for nuthin!
Sorry, I think I lumped you into Respectable Business. Wait, or was it Sleeze? I don't remember.
You must have one sexy dog to be better lookin' than Sharp Phil's model...
He's a SSSTUD!!!
Are you around the Twin Falls area there Spanky? Just curious, I seem to remember a number of MA schools in that area. More than you would think for the size of the town.
WilliamComment
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I currently train in Boise. About 2 hours northwest of Twin. Check out my website. I have quite a few TF schools listed in theTraining Directory.
Idaho, Utah, and Oregon have a cornucopia of martial arts. I am slowly pulling them out of the woodwork and giving them a bit o' free advertisement.
SpankyComment
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Nice site.
Idaho, Utah, and Oregon have a cornucopia of martial arts. I am slowly pulling them out of the woodwork and giving them a bit o' free advertisement.
Oregon has quite a few excellent groups/people that fly below the radar. Some very capable folks like to keep a low profile. But, you may just coax them out.
WilliamComment
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