Bauer getting out of pro stock
#1
Posted 19 February 2019 - 09:46 PM
#2
Posted 19 February 2019 - 10:26 PM
I was reading on another forum that the reason Bauer pro stock has been seemingly harder to find opposed to other brands is because they're trying to eliminate pro stock sales. Does anyone know if there's any truth to this? Fresh off of trying my fist Bauer twig (pro stock adv) and loving it. Hoping it's just a rumor.
I would characterize it as “only making pro stock only for pros” which is the way it should be.
IG: Fooj Media
#5
Posted 20 February 2019 - 06:09 AM
Formerly AussieCanuckHockeyLover
#7
Posted 20 February 2019 - 06:44 AM
So they are getting back to the ways it use to be. Instead mass producing "pro stock" and selling it to all the big retailers, the only way to acquire "Pro Stock" Bauer will be from a team sale or from someone who has a connection with that team. Makes perfect sense to me and wouldnt be surprised if Warrior followed suit soon as well. Using Prostockhockey as their fluffer to make their pro sales numbers look bigger is only hurting the retail side of Warrior. When you only have a choice of 4 colors on their top of the line retail glove but can get any NHL team color on PSH the customers are going to choose the custom colors 9 out of 10 times.
12 years ago there was no "Pro Stock" at Pure Hockey, Hockey Monkey, or any other large online retailer but now they ALL have it. So the manufacturers either started producing way too much by accident or they were pressured by these big stores which ultimately hurt the retail side of things every where.
Give someone the choice of buying a $289 retail stick with a 30 warranty or the same exact stick but "pro stock" with no warranty and $120 cheaper then that retail stick and the choice most people will make is pretty obvious. Take away that "pro stock" option and the consumer will be forced to buy that $289 stick eventually.
#8
Posted 20 February 2019 - 09:23 AM
Agreed.
If everyone opts out of pro stock, it will make us pro stock gear whore something to share when we find something rare, like it used to be.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pro-Stock-Hockey-Sports2Kcom/151010068304116
#9
Posted 20 February 2019 - 10:30 AM
Maybe pro gear will actually have some value again if it goes back to how it used to be.
#11
Posted 21 February 2019 - 09:25 AM
It appears I'm in the minority here, but I don't exactly yearn for the days when pro stock equipment was more scarce. I exclusively wear the gear I buy, on the ice, and couldn't care less if an actual pro did so previously. I don't sell much of my acquisitions so "resale value" or whatever it is that makes one wish their stuff was worth more, is lost on me. To each their own, tho. I, for one, don't mind SMU gear, and to be honest, I wonder why anyone would? How likely are any of us to just stumble across a pair of Max Pachioretty VGK gloves in the wild, for less than $200?
As people have stated, pro stock Bauer gear is already tough to come by and as a result, I don't care about it. They can make it as difficult to come by as they want, I'm still not buying their retail crap. Bauer, to me at least, is the "default choice" for hockey novices in the same way Nike must be for basketball noobs. All signs point to them being a crappy company to deal with. I may or may not be biased tho, I still hold a bit of a grudge over them buying Easton and burying the tech behind my favorite skate.
#14
Posted 21 February 2019 - 11:15 AM
It appears I'm in the minority here, but I don't exactly yearn for the days when pro stock equipment was more scarce. I exclusively wear the gear I buy, on the ice, and couldn't care less if an actual pro did so previously. I don't sell much of my acquisitions so "resale value" or whatever it is that makes one wish their stuff was worth more, is lost on me. To each their own, tho. I, for one, don't mind SMU gear, and to be honest, I wonder why anyone would? How likely are any of us to just stumble across a pair of Max Pachioretty VGK gloves in the wild, for less than $200?
As people have stated, pro stock Bauer gear is already tough to come by and as a result, I don't care about it. They can make it as difficult to come by as they want, I'm still not buying their retail crap. Bauer, to me at least, is the "default choice" for hockey novices in the same way Nike must be for basketball noobs. All signs point to them being a crappy company to deal with. I may or may not be biased tho, I still hold a bit of a grudge over them buying Easton and burying the tech behind my favorite skate.
Worked at a LHS while in college and Bauer treated my co-workers and I the best out of any equipment. They were always willing and quick to respond to any issues. Other companies seemed reluctant to even get us in their gear. I'm looking at you CCM.
If your bag has wheels, you don't.
#15
Posted 21 February 2019 - 12:33 PM
It's tough to buy retail when pro stock items are made and priced way better. I love bauer, pretty much bauer head to toe. But i'm not paying $339.99 plus 15% tax here for a retail twig with pro options at 2/3's the price and built better. Gloves in pro have way better specs including better palm material and cuffs. They used to use spandex/neoprene gussets in pro only way before it entered retail. Branding is way better on pro, it's clean and simple. So many more positives on pro gear than retail plus it's more rare which makes it even more dope. The fact that they're limiting bauer pro sucks big time as it was already hard to get. If it gets to be impossible I'm probably going to switch to another brand rather than pay retail for sub par products from bauer.
At the same time i understand that it's a big decision and they have to protect their retail lines as that's what their profits are, realistically profits on pro stock gear for us randoms on this forum aren't priority. If a company cuts back on pro stock you can't really hate them for it cause if you were a business you'd have to do that same if it was effecting your bottom line. I just wish they would give us pro options as an alternative if we choose to dish out a few more bucks.
Looking for BIOSTEEL jersey made by UA or Adidas.
Looking for Bauer Pro defender elbows size Large
My ebay (better prices for members)
#16
Posted 21 February 2019 - 12:38 PM
Worked at a LHS while in college and Bauer treated my co-workers and I the best out of any equipment. They were always willing and quick to respond to any issues. Other companies seemed reluctant to even get us in their gear. I'm looking at you CCM.
Unfortunately, I've heard this is not the case these days re: Bauer.
Custom everything.
#18
Posted 21 February 2019 - 01:48 PM
As people have stated, pro stock Bauer gear is already tough to come by and as a result, I don't care about it. They can make it as difficult to come by as they want, I'm still not buying their retail crap. Bauer, to me at least, is the "default choice" for hockey novices in the same way Nike must be for basketball noobs. All signs point to them being a crappy company to deal with. I may or may not be biased tho, I still hold a bit of a grudge over them buying Easton and burying the tech behind my favorite skate.
this is pretty much the key for me. Bauer's retail offerings are second rate, yet they want twice as much for them.
always looking for non Reebok L & XL shells......
#19
Posted 21 February 2019 - 03:42 PM
I understand why there's so much CCM gear available given their AHL and ECHL contracts. Like others have stated, I'm happy to be able to find pro level gloves in NHL color ways that look better than some of the goofy retail color combos. It's also nice to have more traditional palms on pro stock/SMU gloves than some of the gimmicky stuff companies put on their high end gloves.