Results and comments from the Aug/Sep 2003 survey.

	Ýves’ big SCA rapier survey #1 ~ Merchants: Triplette Competition Arms
	Updated: May 24, 2005

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Policy blurb

By default, authors of comments sent in response to this survey are named only by their permission. Usually, other people mentioned in a comment are named only with their permission as well. Each comment represents only what the author typed in for the survey at the time.

» This survey was conducted during August-September 2003. Things change over time. «

Some comments were edited for content. Certain harsh words have been changed for your amusement. Opinions expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect those of the surveyor.

To get YOUR name listed with YOUR comments, just give me permission. See the e-mail button and information at the bottom of the page. Let me know your SCA name and kingdom (as of Aug/Sep 2003), and I'll add the attribution to your entries.

# of Responses
by Kingdom
 
AEth.  = 34/235
Anst.  = 36/240
An Tir = 56/347
Art.   = 12/124
Aten.  = 27/460
Atl.   = 60/425
Caid   = 49/400
Drach. = 21/76
Eald.  = 12/77
East   = 46/480
Loch.  = 22/120
Mer.   = 27/140
Mid.   = 52/640
Nor.   = 25/164
Out.   = 26/214
Tri.   = 46/237
West   = 14/70
Unk.   = 2

The gist

These comments were sent in response to Questions 13 and 14.

Respondents share why they like and dislike Triplette Competition Arms (TCA) as a supplier for SCA rapier.

TCA is located in Atlantia and is now also known as Zen Warrior Armory — but it's still part of the Triplette Web site (the last time I checked).

The comments

Note: Any remarks in the comments below from Yves look like this.

Comments about other suppliers are on separate pages.
See the links at the bottom of this page.

Jump to: Neutral/Mixed comments, Unfavorable comments

FAVORABLE

Æthelmearc

Φ TCA- knowlegeable...  ``Po
Φ Triplette -- good prices and basic supplies.
Φ Triplette - well known, can trust their stuff.  ``Sasha

Φ triplette is my primary source, due to a balence of cost and availablity.
Φ Triplette--Walter has always helped to equip new fencers at a low price.  ``Corwin
Φ Tripillete, they have always provided excellent service at a reasonable price.
Φ tripplette. sent my first order to Montana, and replaced it without argument.

Φ Triplette Competition Arms - good for spare epee and foil blades and stuff like blade tips.  ``Jean

Φ Most purchases are from TCA. Except for the heavy rapier stuff. For that I have no favorite.  ``Ivan

Φ Triplette Arms, because of excellent customer service and the fact they have just about all the basics.

Φ Formerly tripplet compitition arms. they are going throught a name change right now but for the most part very knoledgeable on regs.

Φ Triplette Competition Arms- good middle of the road supplier. They are a good resource for basic equipment and I strongly recommend their masks.  ``Christian

An Tir

Φ Tripplette - good swords!  ``Cormac
Φ TCA (affordable, quick shipping).  ``Gwydion
Φ Triplette. Excellent customer service.  ``Laurin
Φ Triplette - decent product and service.  ``Vincent

Φ Triplette Why Ease of order and delivery.
Φ triplette-- good service and quality stuff.
Φ TCA for cheap stuf to let my students use.  ``Samuale
Φ Triplette for availability of parts and variety.

Φ TCA. Rapid delivery. Excellent communication.
Φ Triplette--decent stuff and good beginner prices!!!
Φ Triplette- For Don Paul, and convenience and price.  ``Gabrielle

Φ Triplette - Good selection, knowledgeable staff, decent prices.  ``Ruaidhri
Φ Triplet, universaly accepted across the board with few exceptions.  ``Caiaphas

Φ Triplette Competition Arms... I trust their name from years of use of their products.  ``Tristan

Φ Triplette - Good basic equipment, fast delivery, good customer experiences for several friends.  ``Mughain

Ansteorra

Φ Tripplet, dependable.  ``Chiara
Φ Triplette, price and convenience.
Φ Triplette -- good people, good stuff.

Φ Triplette because they're quick and easy.
Φ Triplette. Good Products, Price, and Service.  ``Jacques
Φ Tripplette - Gotta buy epees from somewhere, right?  ``Henri

Φ Tripplet--it has easy access at large events and a up to date web site.
Φ Triplette - many useful items esp auxillary (gloves, socks); good prices.

Φ I use Triplette for regular fencing stuff because it si easy to order from them -- they understand what the SCA wants.  ``Doré

Artemisia

Φ Triplette for swords.  ``Spanish Dan
Φ Triplette Arms, Quality & Price.

Φ I currently use a Triplette blade because it was the cheapest and in Law school that is a major consideration.  ``Nathaniel

Φ Triplette I like because they have reasonable prices, good shipping times, and back up their equipment. I send all my students to triplette to put their first kit together.  ``Justin

Atenveldt

Φ I really like TCA great stuff if you know what to ask for.

Φ TCA - their beginner package is still the best overall deal available to provide a "complete package" for the new fighter or as loaner gear.  ``Egan

Atlantia

Φ Triplertte : local.
Φ Triplette - reliable.  ``Ihsan
Φ TCA - Price and service.
Φ Triplette obviously for armor.  ``Dante P

Φ Triplette, very reliable, and close.
Φ TCA- good starting point, helpfull staff.  ``Cam
Φ Triplette for masks and odds and ends.
Φ Triplette. Friendly helpful people, good prices.

Φ tripplette quick easy and cheap the [harlot] of SCA fencing.
Φ TCA, easy to buy from, reasonable prices, available at Pennsic.

Φ Tripplettes Competitive Arms - they are very friendly to the SCA.
Φ Triplette Competition Arms - He's a SCAdian and wants to please.

Φ Triplette Arms, very reasonable prices, good gear, very SCA-friendly.  ``Renard
Φ Tripplette Competition Arms -- Best masks and good overall supplier.  ``Belphoebe

Φ Triplette - they're close, know the SCA, and generally have good stuff.  ``Costanca
Φ I got the starter kit from Triplette, and have been pretty happy with it.

Φ Triplette, cna never say enough good stuff about Walter and the gang.  ``Jean Claude

Φ The Dagger is from Triplette as well as my mask. They were at an event.

Φ TCA - Cost and convienence (It helps that Walter is a member of Atlantia).

Φ Triplette. Only ones I have really worked with, but I like their customer service.

Φ Triplette. Inexpensive and good with returns. Affordable for the college student type that I am.  ``Keelin

Φ Triplette - because I know some people that work there and have no problems attaining what I need.  ``Gunther

Φ TCA are always there. That is good. Their equipment is good enough for the average. I use them for blades, daggers and misc.  ``Nikolai

Φ Triplette has been a good supplier for the basics, like starter kits and new blades. Their prices are reasonable and they care about their quality.  ``Briana

Φ Triplette is good for equipment that isn't swords, such as masks. Triplette messed up an order once, but they were very good about fixing it.  ``Rois

Φ Triplette (or whatever the new name is) because Phillip has been so great to fence with and learn from. The company has always been friendly, helpful and on time with their shipments.  ``Iseulte

Φ I use Triplette blades and like them very much. They seem to be very sturdy (at least in my experience), are close by (I live in NC), and they are fairly well-integrated into providing the SCA with good weaponry and safety gear/armor. Major bonus points from me.

Caid

Φ TCA for reliability.  ``Eogan
Φ TCA, easy to deal with.

Φ tripplette for assorted reasons.
Φ TCA - good prices and selection.  ``John James
Φ TCA, easy to contact and order from.  ``Njall

Φ TCA - they have everything you need.
Φ Triplette Arms has been very good to me.  ``Iliana
Φ TCA - Reliable/easy to get in contact with.

Φ I got my schlager from TCA and they've been great.  ``Stefano
Φ [http://www.triplette.com/] They know how to help.
Φ TCA: They have everything we need at decent prices.  ``Johann
Φ Triplette- I've been a customer before I did SCA rapier.  ``Vladimir

Φ triplette - decent decent quality, great service, always there for us (SCA).  ``Arabella
Φ For armor, Triplette is friendly and understands SCA requirements.  ``Todde

Φ Triplette (TCA) - they know SCAers and treat them right, good protective gear & starter armor.

Φ Triplette Competition Arms. They offer good stuff at good prices and deliver in a timely manner.  ``Kelan

Φ Triplette-really easy to order from, practical stuff, good prices, always willing to help out SCA people.  ``Lot

Φ Tripplette because they care about SCA fighters and carry most of the right stuff to get people started.  ``Grainne

Φ Tripplette for students needing beginning equipment; package deals, reliable equipment, and customer service that ensures the students get what they need.  ``Curteis

Drachenwald

Φ Triplette - He understands the SCA requirements because he plays our game. He is able to provide good equipment at a reasonable cost.  ``Muirghein

Ealdormere

Φ Triplette - Cheap and reliable.
Φ Triplette - Good service, good value for the money.
Φ Triplette - consistency, availability of materials, quality of service.  ``Nicholas
Φ Tripellete –> good prices and good selection of different equipment.  ``Wilhelm

Φ I make most of my own garb, and buy armour from local armourers, however I bought all my original equipment from Triplette Competition Arms. Relatively good prices, and great customer service.  ``Sebastian

East

Φ Triplette - cheap.
Φ I usually use Triplette.
Φ Tripelette... T05 dagger.
Φ Tripplet is goo for basic stuff.
Φ Triplet. Has everything I need.

Φ Triplette--- knowledgeable staff.
Φ Triplette (choice and speed of delivery).
Φ Triplette - they have the kind of gloves I like.  ``Brita
Φ TCA: excellent equipment and reasonable prices.

Φ Triplette - beginner's kits (especially here in the East).
Φ Tripellete - got my first equipment from them at pennsic.  ``Astridr
Φ Triplette - a mundane supplier that carries SCA-legal stuff.
Φ Triplette - easy ordering, quick response, good customer service.

Φ I use Triplette a lot. They have a good website and understand our needs.

Φ Triplett-bought my schlager blades from them at Pennsic, they were the lightest I found.  ``Maire

Φ Triplette Competition Arms - good selection, nice people, decent prices, conveniently located at Pennsic.  ``Lilia

Φ I've only used TCA, they tend to be very quick, moderately friendly, and very affordable (which is good for us poorer folks).  ``Matatias

Φ TCA (name soon to change) has some nice stuff tailored to us, at reasonable prices...quality not the same, but you get what you pay for...  ``Alain

Lochac

Φ Triplette, good prices good range, realistic delivery times, blade only and custom work.

Meridies

Φ triplette - good values.
Φ Triplette for convenience.
Φ Tripplet - Available at Gulf Wars.

Φ Triplette, can get everything there.
Φ Triplett. Cheap and (so far) reliable.
Φ Triplette - good prices, quick service.

Φ Tripplette--great stuff with people who know their stuff.

Φ Triplette is okay, good service, but lesser "appeal". Good for starter gear, masks and gloves.

Φ TCA - they are easy to work with and (typically) sell good quality items at an affordable price.  ``Sigurd

Midrealm

Φ triplett, price.
Φ tripplette- their cheap.
Φ Triplette. Great products.
Φ Triplette because of the prices.
Φ Tripplette - Caters to our needs.

Φ Triplette for their masks and jackets for practice.  ``Robert
Φ Triplette - fast, friendly, reliable, reasonably-priced.
Φ Tripplette. The give good value and reasonable response.  ``Alexander

Φ triplette-very knowledgable and equipment is fairly priced.  ``Luisa
Φ Also Tripplette is good for masks-- easy access and low cost.
Φ Tripplet, very accomidating, and helpful, they know there stuff.

Φ Tripplette. They are very fair in pricing and have a great beginners kit.  ``Zygmunt
Φ Triplette has always been consistent and will correct problems immediately.

Φ Triplette. They're helpful, friendly, and are usually well-stocked with quick delivery.
Φ I'm also fond of Triplette for entry-level and loaner equipment: decent, cheap gear.  ``Christian

Φ Triplette: They provide good quality equipment, and provide a good resource for new fencers.

Φ Triplette. They have reasonably priced starter kit and I have found no problems with their stuff.  ``Molly

Φ Triplette - they are currently the only supplier I have much experience with, and have no complaints...

Φ triplette, they are good people to work with and are always willing to help out with problems on orders.

Φ Triplette - customer friendly and I can send new fencers to them and know that they are getting a basic set up.

Φ Triplette, they're working with the fencers in the society and adding/modifying equipment to the needs of the scadian fencer.  ``Uadahlrich

Φ Triplette is good for the need to have stuff and the fencing tunics they have are very nice to fence in when at practice. Their swords are good starter swords too.

Φ Triplette for all blades, has Zamorano blades of different lengths which are my favorite yet. Also good masks. Reasonably priced. Wish they had more period-style swept hilts.  ``Kriemhilt

Northshield

Φ TCA - friendly and honest.  ``Fiskr
Φ Triplette: availability and pricing.  ``Cy
Φ Triplette -- good service, quality stuff.  ``Maisy

Φ Triplette is okay for basic stuff, masks. Helpful.  ``Margalit
Φ triplet- fast, standard to good quality, reasonable prices.

Φ Triplette - they have always been more than reasonable to deal with.
Φ Tripplette. They are just so great and have been good to the SCA overall.

Outlands

Φ Triplette, for ease...  ``Volker
Φ Triplette - nice and easy.  ``Ildiko
Φ Tripplette - easy to order, easy to get.  ``Seuilla

Φ tripplette has always done well by me.  ``Diana
Φ Triplett - They have the affordable stuff.  ``Christian
Φ Triplette for non-blade stuff, good quality and price.

Φ Triplette (good service, friendly staff {Don Philip rules!})  ``Antoine
Φ Triplette - inexpensive and anxious to work with the SCA.  ``Guillaume
Φ Triplet because it's great beginner stuff with decent prices.  ``Rebekah

Φ Triplette-good as a general supplier, no good or bad feelings either way.  ``Peryn

Φ I rarely buy new gear, but when I do it is usually Tripplete or whoever has Del-tin's.

Φ Tripplette, easy going, easy to work with, know about our SCA variant sport and appreciate our business.  ``Jalid

Φ Triplette -- they're affordable, and have a nice set-up available for beginners to get without breaking the bank.  ``Rivka

Trimaris

Φ Triplett for cost.
Φ tripplette-ease and availibility.
Φ Triplette - Priceing and service.

Φ TCA, good stuff at reasonable prices.
Φ Triplette, good prices, quality supplies.
Φ Triplette - Ease of ordering equipment.
Φ Triplette,Walter takes good care of me.

Φ Triplett. Everything is on the internet. Ease of use.
Φ Triplette-usually have what I need for decent price.

Φ triplett, provide what I need,and they have a good attitude.
Φ I like dealing with Triplette and have had good success with them.  ``Dulcia
Φ Triplette - good one stop shop to get new fencers up and running.  ``Silvain

Φ Triplette, good long list of supplies and accurate delivery of my orders.  ``Porthos
Φ triplette... great equipment very good customer servce, very fair pricing.
Φ Triplette - approved, don't have any hassles with the Marshalls using their stuff.

Φ TCA- Carries Blaise Frere epee's. Easy to work with once you know what they need from you.  ``Cillian

Φ TCA- Tripelette has, with little exception, come through with fast service and good quality produce.

Φ Triplette for their fencing mask. I like the removeable bib especially after a long practice and you are smelly and your mask is stinky.  ``Lillian

Φ Triplitt Compitition Arms. They know the SCA and what is acceptiable in this context. They will assist in finding rairity items or suppliers of "something sp;ecial".  ``Cathal

Φ Triplette... Theyve got a good name, great customer service and are very accessible. Ive looked for other suppliers and have had a hard time finding any that supply SCA equipment.  ``Gavine

West

Φ tripplette lots of goods.

Φ tripplette - good masks and body armor.

Φ Triplette has been the primary source for the equipment that I have used. I prefer them because they have a reasonable amount of equipment that isn't too expensive.  ``Staffan

Plus generic mentions from: AEthelmearc 3, An Tir 4, Ansteorra 2, Atenveldt 1, Atlantia 14, Caid 6, Drachenwald 2, Ealdormere 1, East 4, Meridies 4, Midrealm 4, Northshield 2, Outlands 5, Trimaris 4, and the West 2 ... (whew)

NEUTRAL/MIXED

Æthelmearc

Φ tripllette responds quickly but the blades tweek fast.

An Tir

Φ TCA is cheap and available. But not always so good...  ``Ramon

Φ Triplette - fairly good customer service. On the other hand, I have had to send back sub-standard equipment.

Φ I've only bought myself from Triplette, and I found them to be OK, but you MUST speak with the armorers directly about your blade or you'll wind up with an unacceptable piece of rebar!  ``Luaithrenn

Φ I have had trouble with Triplette in the areas of communication (they rarely tell you a total or a tracking number or other useful information without prompting) and time between order and delivery (three times in a row they screwed something up that kept my order from ariving within a month!)

Ansteorra

Φ Triplette - some of the stuff isn't so great, but it is quick and cheap.

Atenveldt

Φ I got my first blade from TCA, which was defective. I won't be buying any blades from them again. I do have a pair of gloves and several three weapons masks from TCA which I am satisfied with.  ``Isabella

Atlantia

Φ The only supplier I've used thus far is TCA.

Φ Tiplette - Service is excellent and weapons are good. THey need a better selection of daggers though.

Φ Triplette - disorganized customer service, low quality products, at albeit lower prices. Mr. Triplette has invovled himself from early on in the politics of Rapier in Atlantia, even before he started playing himself. He even tried to dictate our armor rules to us in the eraly ninties. The "historical" items they sell are not historical and I believe bring down the over level in Atlantia. That said, I do send some of my students there, for their starter kit, because of cost.

Caid

Φ TCA: good availability, but not great for individual consultation.  ``Felinah

Ealdormere

Φ Triplette is great for starter stuff, good solid kit to start, good prices on masks, but I avoid their starter packages, the weapon they provide with it is ridiculous (a bell guard with an epee grip and schlager blade, ugly as sin, and useless for period technique). Ohter than that they have a couple of nice period hilts (one swept hilt and one Papenhiemer type). Service from Triplette has always been good.  ``Albrecht

East

Φ TCA is a nice generic place to send the new kids too. They have a lot of decent stuff at good prices. I don't buy much there myself though. TCA is notoriously bad for not listening to my new kids when they order stuff. Especially the owner, Walter Tripplette. He is overly arogant and feels he knows best, even when they have specific sizes they are trying to order. This is most prevelant in our littlest fencers. Some women are very petite. If you try to order from TCA for them and you get Walter on the phone, he will insist on larger sizes because "That would only fit a 12 year old boy".  ``Brokk

Midrealm

Φ Triplette because they have an outstanding return policy. (which, unfortunately, many have to take advantage of.)  ``Lydia

Φ Triplette is a good source for masks, jackets, and relatively inexpensive rigs for beginners - especially the ring hilt and the pappenheimer hilt. They don't look terribly accurate, but they are much better than some of the other hilts Triplette sells.  ``Toshikage

Northshield

Φ Triplette - good for masks and basic supplies, but I hate their rigs.  ``Simon
Φ I've had both good luck and bad with Tripplette. All in all not a bad company.  ``Faelan

Trimaris

Φ Triplett, I will buy from them but I just don't like it.

Φ No preference normally end up at AFS or Triplicate Price and avalibility matter.

Φ Have had problems with Triplette's staff, but Walter has always corrected his employees mistakes quickly.

Φ I do like Triplette, as they have a very wide variety of fencing gear, and the price isn't too bad. They have pretty good quality, as well. The quality of their blades has dropped a little bit, since they lost their main supplier, though.  ``Thorunn

UNFAVORABLE

An Tir

Φ TCA, cuz they have been filing down the tang of the practice swords, making the bell spin.  ``Samuale

Ansteorra

Φ Triplett - Wimpy epees.

Φ I will never go back. The owner lies and goes back on his word.  ``Pieter

Φ I (and others) have had several blades kink or fail soon after purchasing them.  ``Aeron

Φ Triplette Competition Arms is awful. I have been told by the owner that his equipement is basically perfect and any problems with it are due to user misuse, even when the faulty equipement was brand new. I'll never go back.  ``Benedict

Artemisia

Φ Triplette, a lot of bad blades... an unwilliness in the past to deal with me as a customer.  ``Sionainn

Atenveldt

Φ Triplette is a huge pain to deal with - they tend to give you what they have in stock, not what you order.  ``John Patrick

Atlantia

Φ Tripplett arms...I wont use their blades, they are to stiff in my opinion and everyone I have bought to date has broke within 3 months.

Caid

Φ Triplette, bad setup, blades.

Φ Triplette: I got two epees from them, one after the first failed within two or three weeks of first use. The second one failed in as short a time. Around the same time I had gotten a schlager from them, with poor welding on the hilt, so the plate (it's a clamshell) is rising off now.  ``Leonarda

Drachenwald

Φ Triplette Competition Arms. Their response time was slow, I had to nag a bit, and the so-called flexidaggers I bought some years ago are so stiff that the marshals I spoke to were extremely reluctant to allow them on the field. Being now a marshal myself, I'm inclined not to permit them either... :(  I might still buy equipment from them if it were recommended by someone I know, but only reluctantly and if it weren't available elsewhere.  ``Guntram

East

Φ Tripplette, Bad Mundane experieince with their equipment in tournaments.  ``Pascual

Φ I try to avoid TCA now due to many of the dirty practices they have used on people I know.  ``Griffith

Φ Triplette. They are still encouraging the strip fencing mentality with their weapons. Too many cup hilts, not enough period hilts. Above that, their quailty is not consistant.

Lochac

Φ Triplette, recieved unfinished weopons of low quality, and also was sent the wrong weopons.

Midrealm

Φ Quality and service at Triplette is going down. There is an inconsistency in the mask he is selling.. some have cloth liners others have non-cloth liners and you never know what you are getting when you order.  ``Gilebert

Φ Triplette: Because I find their business mores quite unscrupulous. Frank will sell you anything to make a buck, whether the equipment is legal in your Kingdom or not (and will argue the point even if you know better). These observations come from personal experience and are not apocryphal.  ``Grimkirk

Who's Frank?

Φ Triplette Competition Arms - when I first started fencing with my wife, we ordered a new mask (she had an old one from her father), two sets of armor, and two new schlager blades for the cup hilts we were using at the time. The armor we ordered was to nearly identical measurements - the only difference was in arm length. When we recieved the armor, mine fit perfectly. My wife's didn't fit her at all; the sleeves came down several inches below her fingertips and the jacket wouldn't close completely in front. Mine, however, fit her almost perfectly, save that the arms were just a little too long (go figure :). We apprised Triplette of the situation, and they said to fill out the return form and send it back, pay the postage, and get a new one. I did as instructed, filling out the return form with the proper measurements for my wife's size, and several weeks later recieved the same jacket with shortened sleeves. When I called to complain, I was told that my wife would never find a jacket to fit her frame. We're people of a fairly average build, so this was very upsetting to hear. I haven't bought anything from them since, and I never will again.

Northshield

Φ Normally use Tripplette. Recently have received a bad blade from Tripplett, then the replacement was really bad. They were a bit rude when called.

Trimaris

Φ Triplette would have to work hard to get my business again. Overpriced and poor service.

Φ Triplette as their blades are not well made and have had trouble with them exchanging for new blades. Bad tempering of the blades.  ``Seamus

Comments on other merchants

American Fencers . Darkwood Armory . James the Just . Scottie . The rest

Your feedback is most welcome!

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