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Aldi Special

patto

3-Jul-2009
1:50:26 PM

On 3/07/2009 tastybigmac wrote:
>On 3/07/2009 sliamese wrote:
>>On 3/07/2009 nmonteith wrote:
>>>I just think a shipment marked Aldi Austria ended up at Aldi Australia....
>>
>>matching lederhosen will be on sale next week....
>
>is that where yours come from patto?

Unfortunately i will be needing mine tonight. So matching lederhosen will be so last week once it arrives at Aldi. To be honest im a little aprehensive about the lederhosen.

michaellane

4-Jul-2009
5:00:17 AM

>EDIT:
>Omega pacific Rap ring here
>http://weijunpromotional.manufacturer.globalsources.com/si/6008831056729/Showroom/3000000
>52802/19372/Rock-climbing-gear.htm
>

Thanks for posting this link and I thought I'd address it ...

That company is not a supplier nor a customer of Omega Pacific. We don't know who they are at all, actually, but are looking into it.

We actually manufacture about 90% of our entire line right in our own plant here in Washington State. Those items that we do contract out are built to our specifications by good and reputable companies.

On the larger issue, inexpensive gear is a good thing, especially in tough economic times, of course, but ... and I acknowledge I can't necessarily be completely impartial in this ... it's important to remember the benefits that come with supporting good brands.

Research and development isn't cheap. It's extremely costly, in fact. When you pay a little more for a name-brand belay device, for instance, than you might pay for an off-brand variant, you're actually investing in the future of climbing gear. Without that investment, companies can't move forward with new designs or technologies. Reverse engineering and knocking off existing goods is cheap and easy. It's why we don't see anything really new from these off-brand suppliers.

Should you ever have a problem with a piece of gear, it's vital that the company stand behind the product and work with you to resolve whatever issue you might have. Omega, for instance, has been in business for nearly three decades. We're at trade shows, climbing festivals and take an active role in the climbing community. We're invested in this industry and have a lot at stake; if the same can't be said about many of the inexpensive off-brands, why support them?

Not all "rated" products are equal. Getting CE or UIAA certifications on a product is only a minimum-level of standards and most excellent builders go beyond those specs to ensure consistency, quality and performance. And, to be honest, on several of the cheap off-brands' offerings, we've seen CE marks on the goods that were not, in fact, certified at all!

So, obviously, I wade into this discussion aware that I've got a self-serving angle on the issue, but even if I didn't depend on you to value a quality, name-brand to make my living, I'm still a climber ... I was a climber long before I became an Omega guy ... and I would still say the same thing. For those of you who do support Omega and the other brands that, like us, support the industry, push innovation and demand quality, I really thank you.

--ML

_____________________________
Michael Lane
Sales & Marketing Director
Omega Pacific
Airway Heights, Washington USA


hangdog

4-Jul-2009
9:03:58 AM

Hey great reply from Michael at Omega Pacific. I suppose thats why he is the Marketing man.

The spooky thing for me was the fact that an obscure forum in oz has been looked at in Airway Heights
Washington.

I now have an attack of the guilts after going into Aldi to pick up some cheap gear. I was too early for
belay device and biner but i did pick a really cool Dremel type tool for 30 bucks. I seriously thought about
the $99 air compressor but i dont have space for it. Or a need for one but it was so cheap!!


Phil Box

4-Jul-2009
9:58:29 AM

The compressor at that price would make an awesome piece of pro on a route, oh wait, that's been done before.


anthonyk

4-Jul-2009
12:49:35 PM

On 4/07/2009 michaellane wrote:
>Reverse engineering and
>knocking off existing goods is cheap and easy. It's why we don't see anything
>really new from these off-brand suppliers.

oh come on thats not true, here's some innovation-


Pat

4-Jul-2009
1:53:33 PM

Interesting variation on a Bears Paw. Do they come in blue? - that pink colour doesn't seem safe to me.

stonetroll

4-Jul-2009
6:01:27 PM

On 4/07/2009 hangdog wrote:
>
>
but i did pick a really cool Dremel type tool for
>30 bucks. I seriously thought about
>the $99 air compressor but i dont have space for it. Or a need for one
>but it was so cheap!!
>
>
Instead of the compressor you could buy a fly fishing vest. That could come in handy all the time.

devlin66

4-Jul-2009
9:20:26 PM

You could get the 4WD winch and haul yourself up the cliff as well. Save having to climb.

Kudo's to Michael from Omega taking the time out.

patto

5-Jul-2009
1:18:43 AM

On 4/07/2009 michaellane wrote:
>That company is not a supplier nor a customer of Omega Pacific. We don't
>know who they are at all, actually, but are looking into it.

Wow I am so surpised that this was picked up by Omega Pacific!

Yes, afterwards, it did strike me as a little odd that an Omega Pacific item was up there. Especially because from my memory Omega Pacific certainly was a company that manufactured their own gear. I suppose it should come as no surprise that chinese companies are ripping off other companies graphics.

The points that Omega have brought up are very valid. However one must question the disadvantages of off-brands when some brands (not referring to omega) have resorted rebadging carabiners. I have seen this in the case of Mammut and Metolius to name two.

Not that I have any issue with those brands or indeed any other leading or secondary climbing gear manufacturer. (well except for one certain cam manufacturer with suspect QC, but we wont go into that here)


ajfclark

5-Jul-2009
11:31:26 AM

On 5/07/2009 patto wrote:
>Wow I am so surpised that this was picked up by Omega Pacific!

I'm guessing they monitor this site at some level. This thread is the top result from a site specific google for omega pacific: http://www.google.com.au/search?q=site%3Achockstone.org%20omega%20pacific

This is not the first time Michael has posted here either.

ninth10

9-Jul-2009
2:33:05 PM

Just picked up one of the tubualr belay devices. They are very lightweight. I could imagine it heating up very quickly. Also had some sharp spurs where the cable enters the body. But for less than ten bucks, not bad.


Sabu

9-Jul-2009
2:53:54 PM

I picked up the trekking poles. Certainly not on the lightweight side of things but they'll do
the job!


superbumbly

9-Jul-2009
11:05:12 PM

Grabbed a screwgate, pull test to come. I'll post the results

patto

10-Jul-2009
12:02:51 AM

On 9/07/2009 superbumbly wrote:
>Grabbed a screwgate, pull test to come. I'll post the results
That is awesome superbumbly. You rock!

I picked up an Aldi belay device. It seems well made and similar in construction to an original in ATC.

On further research it seems identical to the belay device marketed by C.A.M.P. as the shell. I speculate that they have come from the same factory. When sold by C.A.M.P. the device retails for $13 US. The newer version of the C.A.M.P. does not have visible cable ends like the Aldi tube but the shape is the same. The old version looks identical.

I have no reason to distrust this Aldi belay device any more than a C.A.M.P. device. That is, I have complete faith in the Aldi belay device. I haven't used it yet but I will be purchasing more as I require a couple new belay devices.

I have included photos of the device below and comparison with an ATC and a C.A.M.P. Shell. Compared to the ATC the Aldi tube seems to be similarly robust. It's walls are thicker than the ATC. However it is lighter than the ATC because the steel keeper cable is thinner. These qualities have already been observed in the C.A.M.P. device in the earlier linked site.


Sarah Gara

10-Jul-2009
12:48:42 AM

On 2/07/2009 Paz wrote:
>Hopefully we'll find some in the Horsham aldi dumpsters....
>
>capsicum - check
>carrots -yep
>flanny - sorted
>belay device - ?

Flanny? now is it just me or does that sound rude? what is it?

they must be rated -I'd use it if they were (now talking krabs not flannys) x


Sarah Gara

10-Jul-2009
12:52:58 AM

On 4/07/2009 Pat wrote:
>Interesting variation on a Bears Paw. Do they come in blue? - that pink
>colour doesn't seem safe to me.

aww come on that is so a love heart? does no one else see a love heart? x


Sarah Gara

10-Jul-2009
12:55:52 AM

I've got that orange belay plate -works great. at least it lloks the same. I'm gonna go to Aldi next time I'm passing. x

stonetroll

10-Jul-2009
8:52:46 AM

On 10/07/2009 Sarah Gara wrote:
>
>
>Flanny? now is it just me or does that sound rude? what is it?
>
>they must be rated -I'd use it if they were (now talking krabs not flannys)

Flanny is short for flannelette shirt , flannelette is a type of cotton fabric.

stonetroll

10-Jul-2009
9:00:24 AM

On 10/07/2009 Sarah Gara wrote:
>On 4/07/2009 Pat wrote:
>>Interesting variation on a Bears Paw. Do they come in blue? - that pink
>>colour doesn't seem safe to me.
>
>aww come on that is so a love heart? does no one else see a love heart?
>x

Yes they are love hearts, and it's sooo sweet , 'cause you can link the two together. How romantic ! Where's the gay climber thread when you need it ?


Eduardo Slabofvic

10-Jul-2009
9:03:11 AM

The "flanny" is to Australia what "Ron Hills" are to England

There are 64 messages in this topic.