avery
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Post by avery on Feb 21, 2011 1:44:43 GMT
Marc over at Wiwingti Sword Supply is calling it quits. Begs the question what it'll do to prices overall in the market.
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Post by Cold Napalm on Feb 21, 2011 2:40:36 GMT
That's sad to hear...but the prices likely won't change as KoA still has the ridiculous low prices and they had that before WSS.
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Aaron
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Post by Aaron on Feb 21, 2011 4:24:38 GMT
I haven't seen Marc posting around the forum much lately, either. What's the cause behind closing WSS? Hope he's doing all right.
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Post by Kilted Cossack on Feb 21, 2011 4:30:15 GMT
Bummer. He always seemed a class act, and it was nice having him around. He's got my best wishes going forward. Better days!
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Sébastien
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Post by Sébastien on Feb 21, 2011 5:01:08 GMT
WSS is dead, long live WSS.
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avery
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Post by avery on Feb 21, 2011 6:25:10 GMT
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Aaron
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Post by Aaron on Feb 21, 2011 6:54:05 GMT
Wow. I have no words for what that guy did to Marc....Hopefully he decides not to close shop, but that whole situation with that blade was just.... :shock:
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Feb 21, 2011 14:31:35 GMT
Actually.. KOA started dropping their prices dramatically when Marc opened WSS. Those two sellers entered into a price war of sorts... Marc would lower prices, then KOA would lower them.. and so on... till both of them were so low that their margins were like maybe 10 dollars or so a sword.
With WSS closed, KOA might feel safe to raise their prices a bit to what they were before WSS.
Tho that may be bad for bargain hunters, it might be good for the industry long term, as its hard to sustain the level of discount that has been going on lately and stay in bizz.
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Post by chuckinohio on Feb 21, 2011 14:40:54 GMT
True true what you say, but I hate to see Marc go.
Marc was always a super guy to deal with, and that Katana mangler tried to screw over a genuinely good dude.
The fellow who tried that juke job should be strung by his nethers.
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Hairu
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Post by Hairu on Feb 21, 2011 14:50:46 GMT
I only bought one sword from marc
but he was extremely helpfull and affordable
plus hes canadian which I love
I will dearly miss his store because although I didnt shop there a lot i certainly did browse the prices
actually one time I tried to buy a sword from him but he wasnt able to ship it to me cause of the size
I got a full refund it was quite good
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Talon
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Post by Talon on Feb 21, 2011 18:47:35 GMT
a very sad state of affairs :? one less supplier can only do harm to sword manufacturing in general,though i have never had any dealings with marc,ill be sad to see him go over such a shamefull buyer ,who clearly has no scruples or morals it seems to me not good at all  |
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Feb 21, 2011 19:07:42 GMT
There is a lot more to it then just the one buyer... but that was just the straw that broke Marc's back, so to speak. Marc bent over backward to take care of his customers... often covering returns and exchanges at a loss to himself out of his own pocket... this is why we love him, but its hard to stay in bizz that way. I think he set his own bar so hgih that some people started taking it for granted... and taking him for granted. Marc's a passionate guy... he wears his heart on his sleeve. He got into this not to make hoards of money but for love of the sword collecting hobby... and I feel bad for him. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2011 21:11:35 GMT
+1
He sent me a Hanwei DVD a while ago, which made Hanwei really embedded into my head. Since then, I've lost my job so my sword collecting journey ended as quickly as it began.
Now that I'm working again, I was in the market for a new sword. The first person I contacted regarding the sword I wanted (or maybe I should call it a beast?) was Marc at Wiwingti. Not only did he have it available, it was far more competitive than KoA (never dealt with KoA but people here sing praises towards them).
Well, my Hanwei Odachi arrived just as Marc stated (would be 7 to 8 days to where I live). No bullsemprini, quick responses to my questions during the transaction, and that's it...
I really hope WSS isn't closing its doors... My next piece would be from WSS again. I was actually anxious to see some of WSS Katanas and pieces since his site says "pics soon."
I had limited dealings with Marc compared to some of you, but the few that I had, Marc is a stand up guy and no bullsemprini kind of guy...
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Post by Student of Sword on Feb 21, 2011 21:51:48 GMT
I think Marc was abused by many sword collectors. For example, his WSS Ko-Katana. He ordered them based on the number of people who said they would buy them at a certain set price. Well, they did not keep their promises and Marc was stuck with a large amount of swords which he had to sell at substantial loss. Even when he lowered the price of the Ko-Katana, still the people who promised to buy did not bother to buy them. I was the one who bought one even though I never promise to buy it. It turned out to be a great sword. I thought that the situation was wrong in so many levels.
There is an expectation of customer service from sword sellers. But there must be an expectation of decency and fairness from sword buyers as well. It is a great loss to the sword community.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2011 3:37:15 GMT
I only just bought from Marc. Nothing much just half a dozen broadsword hangers. However when I made the transaction through Paypal and clicked on the return to website button, nothing happened. So I emailed Marc later to see if he had recieved the order and he responded almost immediately. For a small $24.00 order he contacted me instantly. That is great customer service. I am sorry to see him go out of business.
Student of the Sword
I noticed that Marc still has some of the Ko-katana for sale on his website. I am considering buying one just because like you I feel when a commitment is made you follow through. Don't misunderstand me, I never made a commitment to Marc, I wasn't even aware of this, I just recently started looking at Marcs website. I just feel for the guy.
So I thought if you could give me your opinion/details of the sword that would help me decide to go ahead and buy.
I really don't need to be buying a sword at this time, I just spent a lot of money buying swords in the H/T lineup and am pretty low on funds at the moment, but I would like to try and help Marc out. Of course I do end up with a sword so its not like I am really doing that much.
Edit: I read the review by M. Ridgeway and just ordered the sword.
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Post by Cold Napalm on Feb 22, 2011 4:30:58 GMT
Wow...just wow. That is horrible what that guy did. Marc really went the extra mile for the guys and for him to pull something like that is just...GAH!!!!
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Post by Anders on Feb 22, 2011 14:59:47 GMT
I only bought one sword from Marc. There was some trouble along the way but non if it was his fault and everything did work out fine. Over-all, he was a great guy to do business with; unfortunately I don't order swords with much frequency, or I wouldn't have minded doing so again.
Sorry to see Wiwingi go.
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