Having low return rates indicate that customers are generally happy with what they ordered and it fits. If a product had high return rates for ALL sizes, that would indicate to us that the product is not well-liked or its description is less than adequate.
However, what we find is that return rates on umpire protective gear is higher (and higher is worse) on the smaller size options of an item than on larger ones. So are smaller people harder to please? Unless you are talking about my kids (and perhaps yours), I wouldn't think so.
Here are some specific numbers we found from 2008 that back that up:
- Diamond DLG Shin Guards
-The 17" size had a solid rate of 3.4% (meaning only 1 out of around 30 people who bought it returned it)
-The 15" was a nearly double 7.6% return rate (a pretty high 1 out of 13) - Wilson-Davis Chest Protector
-13" was returned at a 4.2% rate (not the best, but much better than the smaller)
-11" was returned at 7.8% - Wilson West Vest Platinum Chest Protector
-When just 1 size option (13.5") was available prior to 2008, the return rate of the Platinum was a wonderfully low 1.6%
-The new 11" smaller size exhibited a staggering 20% return rate! No need to grab a calculator... mine says that's 1-in-5. - Diamond's DLGiX3 Shin Guards
-18 1/2" - 0% (that's right, no returns for the largest)
-17" - 3.1%
-15 1/2" - 8.4% ("yucky" is a word that comes to mind)
Ok, what are we saying here? That we should not sell small sizes in any umpire gear? Obviously not. There is certainly a market for small sizes - even for those 80% who bought and kept the smaller Wilson platinum. Basically, we are saying that if you have any doubt on which size to get, any doubt at all, or if you are in between sizes that the best bet is to size up.
Measuring yourself by our guidelines before purchasing doesn't hurt either.
Although people might think we're crazy for sharing this inside information, not shared by any of our competitors, we're hoping it will provide a greater impact on your decision-making than just us saying, "Hey, size up one size when in doubt already, won't ya'?!."
Although I don't expect a -0- return rate to ever occur, next year I hope to blog with a post listing new lower returns numbers for smaller sizes.
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So which categories of protective gear are returned more often? Here's some other stats that might be of interest to you:
- Umpire Masks are returned less frequently - 2.3% - than other protective gear. For one, there are no sizes involved. And two, masks are more similar than other gear, thus leaving less room for controversy.
- Umpire Chest Protectors return rates are a rather reasonable 3.0%.
- Umpire Shin Guards could use some more improvement with a 7.0% return rate - proving that shin guards win the prize as the toughest umpire protective gear category to get just right the first time.
I Hate Returns: Reduce Them with Knowledge
7 comments:
Can we be honest with ourselves? I cannot honestly say that anyone in my local association would be classified as "small".
It seems "slight of build" and being an umpire are mutually exclusive.
The only exception that jumps to mind is female umpires.
Good comment. In thinking about our local high school associations, I am having trouble thinking of 1 person who is a small as well. There is a female on the fast-pitch side but I would classify her more as a medium build.
But in thinking about some of our youth league umpires, many of which are teenagers themselves, there are several that might go the small chest protector or shin guard route - male and female. But those are a very small minority overall as you've stressed.
But in reading between the lines of what you are saying is that the problem may lie more in some who desire to themselves as a "small" when they really aren't.
I know our local little league utilizes teenagers sometimes for umpiring.
The league provides umpires shin guards, mask and an outside (old American League style) chest protector.
Most of these kids are older (16 & up) so the shin guards aren't a problem and the use of the exterior protector eliminates size discrepancies.
Let us identify "small". As a sports official (Football, Basketball, Baseball, and Softball) I am definately considered small at 5'3". My weight is 143 lbs. I think I may best be described as short rather than small. I wear a medium shirt and jacket which arn't any too big.
I do need a 15" or 15.5" shin guard which isn't that hard to find. However, my real equipment problem is finding good shoes in a size 6.5 that are REALLY limited in supply.
I am a female umpire for HS baseball/softball. I am on the small size @ 5'4". I wear a women's size 7 shoe. Can anyone help me find plate shoes in a small size? I guess, I could wear a men's 6, but cannot find any website that carries a size 6.
the wilson plantinum chest protector..is very uncomfortable ...i am 6-1 240 and i have a long torso..my leg inseam in barely 30 inches and when i was wearing the plantinum protector i was wide open in the ribs and abs...this protector needs to offer at least 15or 16inch version..but to be honest i bought a 17inch v sport hard shell..same as champion hard shell for 60 bucks delievered and am so happy...excellent chest protector...i used it in the IBL ..canadas best league and have been hit flush with a 90mph fastball and to be honest had no pain ...didnt even rock me...with the wilson u are paying for the advertising and getting a chest protector that weighs a ton almost 4 pounds and made for guys no taller than 5-10...im surprised jim kirk doesnt sell the champion...or v sport...he said u wont be able to find them cause of patent infringements...but not true...everyone sells them
I appreciate your comments on the Wilson CPs. We have been working with Wilson on an extension that can be retrofitted for any used (or new) Wilson hard shell to take care of the issue with them not being long enough for larger guys. We hope to have this sometime in Spring 2011 as it doesn't make sense to have the most protective CP out there but only for shorter guys or the MLB and MiLB guys who prefer the smaller versions.
I'm glad you like your Champion CP. Indeed, there were patent issues with. We did carry it, the patent issues were brought to our attention and we felt there was enough there to put a moratorium on selling them.
At the time, at least a few competitors chose to continue carrying them as Champion claimed they were not an infringement. However, I have recently learned that Joe West won a settlement with Champion that has resulted in Champion making changes to this CP that does not have any patent issues. My plan is to look at the revised one and re-consider purchasing.
Now whether or not everyone you see out there who carries this one or now the old one I can't speak for them. Perhaps, more are selling them now. So please don't accuse me of lying as this at one time was an accurate statement. However, you are free to do so of not updating everyone promptly on the issues at is relates to what you are discussing. Obviously, with some legal ramifications, I have chosen to not speak too openly until some things shake out (which it appears have).
I do know that one issue I had with the Champion that Joe West brought to my attention was that there were areas where the padding was sewn so tight that it left areas where there was not a continuous run of padding. This left basically hard shell only in some places.
I'm looking forward to seeing their changed version (should have circular silver rivets on front instead of all black Velcroed) I will write more once I know more.
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