.
I wrote exactly that to Magnoli today. I asked him why he doesn't put on an actual picture of the "real" thing. To be honest - I don't expect an answer. At least he knows now, that he's on the WB radar...
Robby
Who is "Alex Borton"...???
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Robby Amper
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Robert Wurth
The big problem here is that Magnoli caters to people with much more money than sense.
It isn't just that he's charging $700 for a sloppy whip.
He's charging over-inflated prices for everything.
Now generally, I'm not one to criticize pricing. ESPECIALLY in the prop world, where a lot of hand-crafting goes into products, and a lot of times, very short runs. Who am I to say what a person's time and effort is worth?
But generally, this also goes along with an assumption of quality.
The photos of this whip are, in my opinion, abysmal. Not even costume-worthy. Honestly, I'd direct someone to Todd's Costumes before Magnoli. Todd's whips may not be functionally all that great, but at least whoever is making them understands how not to get gaps every other strand.
When I bought my Joe Strain whip, it was from an Indy costumer who was selling his gear. My whip came bundled with a few other props, two of which were a blank Grail Diary and a blank Ravenwood diary -- both from Magnoli. Both are just as inaccurate and sloppy as the whip. Had they not been essentially free with the whip, I would not want them. I certainly would have been upset if I'd paid Magnoli and received these as the product.
Maybe his clothing is better? Maybe that's where he gets his pricing model from? I don't know.
But based on what I've seen of his products, I just don't get the loyalty the Indy guys -- a lot who are notoriously picky about "screen accuracy" -- have for this guy.
It isn't just that he's charging $700 for a sloppy whip.
He's charging over-inflated prices for everything.
Now generally, I'm not one to criticize pricing. ESPECIALLY in the prop world, where a lot of hand-crafting goes into products, and a lot of times, very short runs. Who am I to say what a person's time and effort is worth?
But generally, this also goes along with an assumption of quality.
The photos of this whip are, in my opinion, abysmal. Not even costume-worthy. Honestly, I'd direct someone to Todd's Costumes before Magnoli. Todd's whips may not be functionally all that great, but at least whoever is making them understands how not to get gaps every other strand.
When I bought my Joe Strain whip, it was from an Indy costumer who was selling his gear. My whip came bundled with a few other props, two of which were a blank Grail Diary and a blank Ravenwood diary -- both from Magnoli. Both are just as inaccurate and sloppy as the whip. Had they not been essentially free with the whip, I would not want them. I certainly would have been upset if I'd paid Magnoli and received these as the product.
Maybe his clothing is better? Maybe that's where he gets his pricing model from? I don't know.
But based on what I've seen of his products, I just don't get the loyalty the Indy guys -- a lot who are notoriously picky about "screen accuracy" -- have for this guy.
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David Cross
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Marko Juni
That's just it. The hardcore Indy fan won't really buy the deluxe whip as there are better options out there. Some, mostly beginners who are there for just costuming and prop collecting just snatch up the costume whip. Some don't even know how to use a whip. Those who try to crack the costume whip (and get hooked on whip cracking) eventually upgrade to better whips made by Strain, Celeste and other well known whip makers (or just buy a well-made nylon whip keeping the costume whip as just that - a costume).Robert Wurth wrote:I also have to wonder how many of these he's really selling. He has a $70 "budget" option that people seem to snap up as costume pieces, but people in the Indy groups have been strangely silent about this "deluxe" whip.
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Marko Juni
Well, that is the pattern I've seen in Club Obi Wan anyway. Those who really get into whip cracking really invest in their whips and purchase from reputable whip makers.
I, on the other hand, live in a country that isn't that forgiving to leather whips (or jackets for that matter) so I chose to go the nylon route. That and I can't afford a really good leather whip (haha!).
Here's a pic of my Indy jacket after just a year or so...
Acidic sweat? Critters eating the collar? Too much leather conditioner? I dunno.
I, on the other hand, live in a country that isn't that forgiving to leather whips (or jackets for that matter) so I chose to go the nylon route. That and I can't afford a really good leather whip (haha!).
Here's a pic of my Indy jacket after just a year or so...
Acidic sweat? Critters eating the collar? Too much leather conditioner? I dunno.
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Fritz Ehlers
I don't think Joe Strain makes whips anymore, .....Marko Juni wrote:Those who try to crack the costume whip (and get hooked on whip cracking) eventually upgrade to better whips made by Strain, Celeste and other well known whip makers (or just buy a well-made nylon whip keeping the costume whip as just that - a costume).
