Eh, looks like just another thread hating on a newer company with baseless accusations and psychological projection.
Lower profit margins, overhead and operating costs for starters (resulting in savings for our customers). Better customer service (try finding an unsatisfied customer), increased agility (orders packaged and mailed the same day), and a lower tolerance for mistakes. I haven't played every dama on the market but based on the numerous Sweets, KUSA, Kroms, Ozoras, etc that I have - I'm rather confident that there isn't a better playing (and looking) dama at this price point. Our strings and bearings are absolutely phenomenal and included with every dama we sale (we're also known to toss in a couple extras for free) and our paint's tackiness, ken shape/balance and tama bevel are all optimized for performance and playability across the entire spectrum (lunars, spikes, birds, slingers, etc). Colorways are designed and chosen for improved trackability. Serados and kens are individually weighed and matched prior to being paired with their tamas and we're more than happy to build one to the customer's personal weight specifications upon request. We also have the best company name, logo, and team (although I'm obviously biased).
Yeah, I could probably do that. As determined as I am to keep our amount of 'freebies' minimalized (for the previously mentioned financial purposes), I'm a huge fan of his and this is like the 3rd time it's been suggested. I'm a huge proponent to transparency so I'll go ahead and admit I was mostly holding off on the idea until we release our new colorways to better justify it as an "advertising expense". There's several reviews from customers if you're strictly interested in 3rd party opinions although I just suggest watching clips of players jamming our damas and compare them to clips of them jamming other companies' (since it's a more objective comparison). You'll find several examples of players finally being able to lace stuff that they've previously been inable to.
Very Nice! I enjoy viewing his take on gear, it feels to relate more from someone who is still honing in on their skills. Edit: oh, I have made one purchased based on his review as well.
Does he even have any negative reviews? It seems most YouTube reviewers simply use their platforms in order to trade the resulting promotion for free swag IMO (but I haven't watched the entirety of his material).
This is something that I actually thought of as well, so far the damas I've seen him review are all great damas. I don't think ben is really in it for the sport of being a critic though, but more on representing dama, the new stuff coming out and his high level take on things.
I mostly just do unboxings and my impressions. I'm don't feel nearly qualified enough to give a thorough "review" per se. I could easily get critical and nit pick but I don't really see the point. Most everyone is making excellent damas right now (at least in my opinion.) Most of the time it comes down more to personal preference than actual side by side comparisons of what is "better" or "worse."
well said, i think the term review here is being misused, but more "lets watch some cool vids with Ben playing with a pretty Laced kendama"
how do you guys feel about laced. I just got sponsored by them I wanna. Know what you think about the company. http://www.lacedkendamas.com
[mod mode, activate!] Dear @Jacob Watts, i’ve merged your thread with an existing one, to answer your queries. Also, congrats on being sponsored by @LacedKendamas!
I have not played one yet but they look like a good ken. The paint looks similar to DWI sticky af and each kendama comes with a bearing. They have sold out of a lot of product so I would say they have something going for them, they could low key be one of those sleeper companies some kendama "elitists" are just stubbing for no apparent reason. like @Ben Lowe said, a lot of companies are making great kens these days and it really all comes down to preference.
Really hate that everyone hates on smaller companies, as if it's not like sweets and kendama usa use chinese manufacturers, what's the point of putting someone down? We should be building people up.