All Jersey Talk

[DevsMan84]

I believe that icejerseys might actually use EPS for their customization, but not 100% sure. I would call or email them to confirm. I know the one jersey I had them customize years ago for me was done by EPS as the work patched perfectly with the work done by similar jersey I sent to EPS myself.

As for cool hockey I haven't heard bad things but they might not have the right font so be careful. Sportsk probably does the next best work outside of EPS but river city sports (RCS) is notorious for doing crap jobs so avoid them.

Yeah indo edges are retail authentics and not the same as the ones the players wear on the ice. They are kinda like a middle tier of jersey that you said but charge nearly authentic prices.

CCM in the late 80s and early 90s used to have three tiers too. They had on-ice pro quality, semi-pro and replica. Their replicas were absolute crap even compared with replicas today and can easily be distinguish as they had the CCM logo screened on instead of it being a patch or embroidered on. The semi pro was a more sturdy version of the replica and was pretty much the same as the pro minus the fight strap, reinforced stitching and elbows.

Honestly IMO reebok should embrace a three tiered jersey scheme with more sensible pricing. The current premiers should be $60-75 blank and $100 with factory customization. Indo-edges should be renamed Semi Pro and priced about $150 blank and $175-200 factory customized. The on-ice jerseys should be $250 blank and $300 factory customized. What ever margin they lose on the price drops would be made up by volume of people buying these instead of crappy fakes from china.

[CHIP72]

Honestly IMO reebok should embrace a three tiered jersey scheme with more sensible pricing. The current premiers should be $60-75 blank and $100 with factory customization. Indo-edges should be renamed Semi Pro and priced about $150 blank and $175-200 factory customized. The on-ice jerseys should be $250 blank and $300 factory customized. What ever margin they lose on the price drops would be made up by volume of people buying these instead of crappy fakes from china.

 

I doubt we'll see prices quite as low as you're saying, but I totally agree with the idea of 3 tier jersey system.  People should be able to buy true authentics, and fake "authentics" should not be sold for authentic-level prices.

 

On a related side note, it is absolutely pathetic that Reebok advertises the IndoEdges as being authentics (and sells them at the prices they do) when they AREN'T what the players wear on the ice.  If they were treated as high-end replicas and sold at a lower but not overly low price, I think hockey jersey buyers would have a lot less heartburn.

Edited July 12, 2014 by CHIP72

[hoekster316]

Honestly IMO reebok should embrace a three tiered jersey scheme with more sensible pricing. The current premiers should be $60-75 blank and $100 with factory customization. Indo-edges should be renamed Semi Pro and priced about $150 blank and $175-200 factory customized. The on-ice jerseys should be $250 blank and $300 factory customized. What ever margin they lose on the price drops would be made up by volume of people buying these instead of crappy fakes from china.

DevsMan84, I know you know this but it's worth noting for others looking to buy ACTUAL authentic jerseys. You can purchase blanks from Meigray for only $225. They were likely used in preseason and had the players' nameplate and # removed. The available sizes are usually pretty big (58) but you can sometimes find wearable sizes like this 56:

http://www.meigray.com/edealinv/servlet/ExecMacro?nurl=control/StoreItem.vm&ctl_nbr=2381&siId=6184250&catLevel=0&scLevel=&thisCatLevel=&oldParentID=&catParentID=4542&scId=4542

So if you buy one of these jerseys (which are $75 cheaper than the indo-Edge jerseys), send it to Exclusive Pro Sports (the company the Devils use for their jersey nameplates/#s) for customization and you have yourself a perfect authentic, customized jersey for $300 total.

[DevsMan84]

Yeah I know about meigray but really their supplies can often be quite limited as most of those jerseys are larger (58 and 60). Not only that but what if you want a player whose number is not that is already on the jersey? So you have to pay for shipping to EPS, $30 or whatever it is to strip it, $60 for customization and the $13-15 they charge to ship back. Now that jersey with tax and shipping from meigray (who charge $20 for shipping and tax on that is $15.75) as well brings it more towards $350.

I know reebok is slowly discontinuing the indo edges over the past year but it's been a slow process and quite frankly a ton of money still.

[CHIP72]

I ended up pulling the trigger on buying a white IndoEdge at IceJerseys, personalizing it with my last name and number (72) I use on other personalized jerseys.  (I know I'm in the minority on this issue, but my attitude with using my own name is 1) I'm not getting traded or retiring from the sport and 2) why put some other guy's name on my back when I can put on my own.)  With the jersey discount ($100), customization discount, $10 off discount code, and free ground shipping on orders over $85 to the continental/lower 48 U.S., the total cost ended up being $199.

 

I'll find out what the jersey and numbering/name plate quality is when I receive the jersey in a few weeks, but if one views IndoEdges as the high-end replicas they are rather than "fake" authentics advertised as true authentics by Reebok, then $200 for a customized IndoEdge is a good deal.

[NJDEVS1730]

Thinking about buying one of these: http://www.sportsk.com/devils-home-red-hockey-jersey.html Does it look ok to you guys? Is sportsk known for knockoffs?

Edited July 13, 2014 by NJDEVS1730

[CHIP72]

SportsK is a reputable, on-line NHL jersey retailer.  The majority of the jerseys I've bought on-line, I've bought from SportsK.  They have responsive customer service when you e-mail them (based on my experience), send out non-customized orders quickly, and are on the up-and-up.  More specifically in my case, in spring 2013 they gave me $10 off each on a pair of jerseys (1980 USA Olympic Team replicas) I ordered as an alternative when they mistakenly indicated on their website that the Devils red/green Vintage Hockey jersey I ordered was in stock in my size but actually was not (Reebok/CCM mislabeled the jersey sizes on the packaging they received), and at the end of December 2013 they included a free USA Hockey winter hat in my $300+ order when I ordered three hockey jerseys and a MLB jacket from them.

 

A related comment to the above - generally speaking, I think you can distinguish reputable on-line retailers from questionable retailers (i.e. those with prices too good to be true, though there are some shady retailers who sell jerseys at full price) if the retailer indicates their physical location and provides a mailing address on their site.  If you look closely at retailers' sites (especially) for those companies that sell NHL jerseys (though this is true for other sports apparel as well), the questionable retailers will not provide a mailing address anywhere on the site.  They also usually do not provide a phone number, and the e-mail address provided is very generic. Reputable retailers will provide a physical, mailing address, and provide much more detailed information about returns.  I think the last point is also why questionable retailers often seemingly have jerseys for half of a team's players advertised on their sites; they do not do/will not do returns.  By contrast, the reputable retailers don't keep as much customized player jersey stock on hand (because they don't do customization in a half-assed manner and it costs them more time and money to do customization) but will try to do a good job when they do get customized jersey orders.

 

Some reputable hockey jersey retailers I can tell you off the top of my head include SportsK (located in the Detroit area), CoolHockey (Toronto area), IceJerseys (Montreal area), and River City Sports (Winnipeg area).  There are a few others too, but I've only bought from the first three and have heard only positive feedback about River City Sports.

Edited July 14, 2014 by CHIP72

[hoekster316]

SportsK is a reputable, on-line NHL jersey retailer.  The majority of the jerseys I've bought on-line, I've bought from SportsK.  They have responsive customer service when you e-mail them (based on my experience), send out non-customized orders quickly, and are on the up-and-up.  More specifically in my case, in spring 2013 they gave me $10 off each on a pair of jerseys (1980 USA Olympic Team replicas) I ordered as an alternative when they mistakenly indicated on their website that the Devils red/green Vintage Hockey jersey I ordered was in stock in my size but actually was not (Reebok/CCM mislabeled the jersey sizes on the packaging they received), and at the end of December 2013 they included a free USA Hockey winter hat in my $300+ order when I ordered three hockey jerseys and a MLB jacket from them.

 

A related comment to the above - generally speaking, I think you can distinguish reputable on-line retailers from questionable retailers (i.e. those with prices too good to be true, though there are some shady retailers who sell jerseys at full price) if the retailer indicates their physical location and provides a mailing address on their site.  If you look closely at retailers' sites (especially) for those companies that sell NHL jerseys (though this is true for other sports apparel as well), the questionable retailers will not provide a mailing address anywhere on the site.  They also usually do not provide a phone number, and the e-mail address provided is very generic. Reputable retailers will provide a physical, mailing address, and provide much more detailed information about returns.  I think the last point is also why questionable retailers often seemingly have jerseys for half of a team's players advertised on their sites; they do not do/will not do returns.  By contrast, the reputable retailers don't keep as much customized player jersey stock on hand (because they don't do customization in a half-assed manner and it costs them more time and money to do customization) but will try to do a good job when they do get customized jersey orders.

 

Some reputable hockey jersey retailers I can tell you off the top of my head include SportsK (located in the Detroit area), CoolHockey (Toronto area), IceJerseys (Montreal area), and River City Sports (Winnipeg area).  There are a few others too, but I've only bought from the first three and have heard only positive feedback about River City Sports.

 

Regarding SportsK, I was thinking about picking up a Dano vintage white jersey:

http://www.sportsk.com/vintage-devils-daneyko-white-jersey.html

 

Does anyone know if they use the correct font/numbering? Just trying to figure out if I can just get the Dano direct from SportsK or if I should buy it blank and ship to Exclusive Pro.

[DevsMan84]

Regarding SportsK, I was thinking about picking up a Dano vintage white jersey:

http://www.sportsk.com/vintage-devils-daneyko-white-jersey.html

 

Does anyone know if they use the correct font/numbering? Just trying to figure out if I can just get the Dano direct from SportsK or if I should buy it blank and ship to Exclusive Pro.

 

From what I have seen SportsK actually does a pretty good job with their lettering.  Not 100% but probably the closest outside of EPS.

 

Worst customizer is RCS.  There are threads on jersey collecting sites with horror stories of their work.

SportsK is a reputable, on-line NHL jersey retailer.  The majority of the jerseys I've bought on-line, I've bought from SportsK.  They have responsive customer service when you e-mail them (based on my experience), send out non-customized orders quickly, and are on the up-and-up.  More specifically in my case, in spring 2013 they gave me $10 off each on a pair of jerseys (1980 USA Olympic Team replicas) I ordered as an alternative when they mistakenly indicated on their website that the Devils red/green Vintage Hockey jersey I ordered was in stock in my size but actually was not (Reebok/CCM mislabeled the jersey sizes on the packaging they received), and at the end of December 2013 they included a free USA Hockey winter hat in my $300+ order when I ordered three hockey jerseys and a MLB jacket from them.

 

A related comment to the above - generally speaking, I think you can distinguish reputable on-line retailers from questionable retailers (i.e. those with prices too good to be true, though there are some shady retailers who sell jerseys at full price) if the retailer indicates their physical location and provides a mailing address on their site.  If you look closely at retailers' sites (especially) for those companies that sell NHL jerseys (though this is true for other sports apparel as well), the questionable retailers will not provide a mailing address anywhere on the site.  They also usually do not provide a phone number, and the e-mail address provided is very generic. Reputable retailers will provide a physical, mailing address, and provide much more detailed information about returns.  I think the last point is also why questionable retailers often seemingly have jerseys for half of a team's players advertised on their sites; they do not do/will not do returns.  By contrast, the reputable retailers don't keep as much customized player jersey stock on hand (because they don't do customization in a half-assed manner and it costs them more time and money to do customization) but will try to do a good job when they do get customized jersey orders.

 

Some reputable hockey jersey retailers I can tell you off the top of my head include SportsK (located in the Detroit area), CoolHockey (Toronto area), IceJerseys (Montreal area), and River City Sports (Winnipeg area).  There are a few others too, but I've only bought from the first three and have heard only positive feedback about River City Sports.

 

This is 100% true.

 

Another giveaway is if the site mentions the jersey as being "wholesale."  That's basically BS that is another word for fake.  Hell a lot of people who wear fakes these days like to call them "wholesale" to make them feel less guilty or cheap.

[NJDEVS1730]

Just a quick question because I haven't sent a jersey to EP yet. What exactly do I fill out on the custom order form? Do I click custom order form at the top of the site or do I find my jersey first and enter the name/number info? What is the different between layered and reverse kiss? Thanks.

Edited July 14, 2014 by NJDEVS1730

[CHIP72]

Yeah, as it relates to DevsMan84's comments above, it should be noted that a distinction should be made between retailers who are reputable (Group A) and retailers that do a good job with customization (Group B).  Not all retailers in the first category fall in the second category.  More importantly however, I'd guess all retailers who do a good job with customization also are reputable with selling hockey jerseys in general.  Stated another way, ALL retailers in Group B are also in Group A, and some reputable retailers are only in Group A.  Questionable retailers probably don't do good customization, and don't fall into either Group A or Group B.

Edited July 14, 2014 by CHIP72

[DevsMan84]

Just a quick question because I haven't sent a jersey to EP yet. What exactly do I fill out on the custom order form? Do I click custom order form at the top of the site or do I find my jersey first and enter the name/number info? What is the different between layered and reverse kiss? Thanks.

Best is to describe exactly what you want done and don't be afraid to include a picture of the game worn jersey just to be safe. You can always email them and josh will get back to you. They do not sell jerseys and you do not have to "find" your jersey on the site. It should be $60 for a normal devils job.

Also choose layered. Devils have never had reverse kiss cut customization in their entire history.

[NJDEVS1730]

Best is to describe exactly what you want done and don't be afraid to include a picture of the game worn jersey just to be safe. You can always email them and josh will get back to you. They do not sell jerseys and you do not have to "find" your jersey on the site. It should be $60 for a normal devils job.

Also choose layered. Devils have never had reverse kiss cut customization in their entire history.

Well I was going to buy the jersey from SportsK blank and send it to EP for customization. I know they don't sell jerseys but you can go under Devils and select the color jersey you have and they will start an order form with the name/number you input. Do they charge a lot for shipping? If so, would I be better off just getting it customized from SportsK? Thanks.

[DevsMan84]

Well I was going to buy the jersey from SportsK blank and send it to EP for customization. I know they don't sell jerseys but you can go under Devils and select the color jersey you have and they will start an order form with the name/number you input. Do they charge a lot for shipping? If so, would I be better off just getting it customized from SportsK? Thanks.

They charge about $13-15 for return shipping. You also have to figure shipping to them which usually runs me $8-12 depending if I want to insure it.

Sportsk has good lettering for devils but it's not 100% perfect if you are anal about such things. Only EPS gets it 100% every time with devils jerseys so for me personally it's worth the extra time and cost and not be annoyed or pissed if it is not perfect.

[CHIP72]

DevsMan84 - just out of curiosity, what are the specific differences on Devils jerseys between the 100% true McCoy EPS customization and customization by the reputable hockey jersey retailers that do high quality customization like SportsK, CoolHockey (presumably), and IceJerseys (presumably)?

[DevsMan84]

DevsMan84 - just out of curiosity, what are the specific differences on Devils jerseys between the 100% true McCoy EPS customization and customization by the reputable hockey jersey retailers that do high quality customization like SportsK, CoolHockey (presumably), and IceJerseys (presumably)?

In terms if number the real McCoy from EPS have a more rectangular shape for their numbers while the rest are more square or in terrible jobs more roundish. Also EPS are the only ones who can get the number 7 down right.

The letters on EPS tend to be larger and have smaller black borders on each letter. The font from a lot of customizers tend to cut the devils letters way to small as well as thin/skinny.

[CHIP72]

DevsMan84 - thanks for the quick response, I appreciate it.

[DevsMan84]

DevsMan84 - thanks for the quick response, I appreciate it.

 

No problem.

 

I also see you post on the jersey thread on HFBoards too.  I never do as most of the regular posters on that thread don't know their ass from a hole in the ground.  I see a guy actually vouching for Locker Room Sports on there recently lol.  All that seller is good for is selling overpriced and incorrectly customized replicas to suckers.  An example is that Stevens white replica throwback he has for $250.  Get it for $110-120 from sportsk and then send it to EPS to get it customized and you have a properly customized white throwback replica for less than $200.

 

And don't get me started on Dorholt

[likeaboss2]

And don't get me started on Dorholt

 

Just went over and read a couple pages of the HF boards thread...they praise this guy like he's jesus over there lol

 

As long as EPS keeps their price affordable, you can't go wrong with getting the real thing.

[DevsMan84]

Just went over and read a couple pages of the HF boards thread...they praise this guy like he's jesus over there lol

 

As long as EPS keeps their price affordable, you can't go wrong with getting the real thing.

 

I see and that board pretty much keeps that domestic counterfeiter in business.  He used to advertise on here before some of the old jersey regulars on here chased him out and called him on his poor business practices and shoddy work.

 

I've seen his work and not impressed.  Cuts, colors and sizing are all weird on his jerseys, the placement of patches are wrong, and patches themselves look like poor reproductions and his stitching is so-so (seen letters that are half-crooked).

 

EPS is really the best way to go for Devils jerseys and the only ones to guarantee to get it right.  Sportsk does a decent job too it seems as well.

[CHIP72]

No problem.

 

I also see you post on the jersey thread on HFBoards too.  I never do as most of the regular posters on that thread don't know their ass from a hole in the ground.  I see a guy actually vouching for Locker Room Sports on there recently lol.  All that seller is good for is selling overpriced and incorrectly customized replicas to suckers.  An example is that Stevens white replica throwback he has for $250.  Get it for $110-120 from sportsk and then send it to EPS to get it customized and you have a properly customized white throwback replica for less than $200.

 

And don't get me started on Dorholt

 

I can't personally comment one way or the other on Dorholt's quality, but IMO if customization is highly important to someone, I think it would dumb for that person to NOT go to the company that does the Devils' own customization.  That's especially true if someone is (usually) spending extra money and buying a true authentic jersey rather than merely a good replica.  (In the latter case, I'd personally be okay with excellent but not perfect customization if I was saving significant money.)

[DevsMan84]

I can't personally comment one way or the other on Dorholt's quality, but IMO if customization is highly important to someone, I think it would dumb for that person to NOT go to the company that does the Devils' own customization.  That's especially true if someone is (usually) spending extra money and buying a true authentic jersey rather than merely a good replica.  (In the latter case, I'd personally be okay with excellent but not perfect customization if I was saving significant money.)

 

Thing is you are not saving significant money with Dorholt.  I see he usually charges $50 plus $10 for shipping for customization.  EPS charges $60 plus shipping (usually $13-15) for customization.  Thats only $13-15 more to ensure exact and perfect customization.  The only thing Dorholt has over EPS is turnaround time where it looks like he gets stuff out within a week or two while EPS takes anywhere from 3-8 weeks (for current Devils jerseys in me experience it takes EPS 4-6 weeks on average).  I guess Dorholt is for the people who just cannot wait an extra 2-4 weeks to make sure things are done right and are the "instant gratifcation" crowd.

[2ELIAS6]

everyone is different with their jersey priorities. some people who are extremely into it and it is a big hobby to them like you devsman which is great because you know the in's and out's so to say when anyone including myself has questions and then the huge group of people who dont care what the jersey is made of and buy china jerseys.. my brother is a big jets fan he has to have over 30 jets jerseys.. 25 of which are knock offs, but he simply doesnt care he would rather buy 5 of what he feels to be real good quality knock off jerseys than spend hundreds of dollars just for one. As for myself im somewhere in the middle, since i have discovered the world of game worn jerseys last year i have formed a huge interest in them, however most of which are quite exspensive and i have acquired 3 so far and plan to pick up more as time goes on.. i have a regular authentic in my collection that is framed and auto'd i have a knock off in my closet and i have 2 off the ccm jerseys that are equivilant to i guess the premiers. what im getting at is most people do not value quality as much as a lot of us hardcore fans on this site, they just want a jersey to have a good jersey and the cheaper the better for them which is why the market for knock offs is high.

[DevsMan84]

everyone is different with their jersey priorities. some people who are extremely into it and it is a big hobby to them like you devsman which is great because you know the in's and out's so to say when anyone including myself has questions and then the huge group of people who dont care what the jersey is made of and buy china jerseys.. my brother is a big jets fan he has to have over 30 jets jerseys.. 25 of which are knock offs, but he simply doesnt care he would rather buy 5 of what he feels to be real good quality knock off jerseys than spend hundreds of dollars just for one. As for myself im somewhere in the middle, since i have discovered the world of game worn jerseys last year i have formed a huge interest in them, however most of which are quite exspensive and i have acquired 3 so far and plan to pick up more as time goes on.. i have a regular authentic in my collection that is framed and auto'd i have a knock off in my closet and i have 2 off the ccm jerseys that are equivilant to i guess the premiers. what im getting at is most people do not value quality as much as a lot of us hardcore fans on this site, they just want a jersey to have a good jersey and the cheaper the better for them which is why the market for knock offs is high.

 

I can understand people's preferences and priorities in terms of jerseys can be much different than mine, but I wish they were a little more consistent with it which is where most of my problem is with these people.

 

People go to Dorholt because they do not know better.  My big beef with him is that a couple years ago I saw how he was trying to scam his own customers.  He was listing the white Xmas jersey back then on his site as being "sold out" for quite some time but on eBay he was selling them for $50 more at the same time.  Not only that but his quality is just terrible and you will notice a lot of the same people in his various "customer satisfaction" photos on his website.

 

In terms of quality, the knockoffs are crap.  When the first waves started hitting when the Edge system was introduce, I will admit they were not bad.  However, every year they look worse and worse and since the jerseys switched from logo to wordmark in 2011, all knockoffs look terrible.  I have posted a couple of times the guy's Henrique jersey where the Q is completely messed up and it looks like the name was split into 2.  That is not the only one I have seen with that issue and even for $30 I bet he was not exactly thrilled to see it.

 

But my other big issue is when a lot of these people whine and cry poverty about spending money on an official jersey, but in the end buy a ton of alcohol at the arena and other Devils stuff.  I again understand people's priorities are different so why not just say that they are too cheap to shell out on a jersey but no problem spending the same amount on tickets and booze to the arena?  It's this hypocritical crap that gets me.  In the end though as another poster told me privately it is at least good they are supporting the team.  That and arguing about this with other Devils fans who are non-jersey people is basically pissing in the wind which is why I do not talk about this as much lately as I used to.

 

I will end by saying that the one thing that does need to happen is Reebok really needs to re-think their price points for their jersey and just make the indo-edges the semi-pro level while cutting the prices for them and the premiers.  They will still make a profit by increasing volume and taking a bite out of the knockoff sales.

[newjerseydamo]

So this came in the mail today! Been wanting a white retro for a while, and who better than Mr Devils himself!

Will have to get it signed when I'm over next February!