Online Kendo retailers

[jediado]

I've been in search of online kendo retailers for quite some time. I've browsed e-bogu, e-mudo, kendoshop, and some others. I'm looking for a retailer that is based in the US so I won't have to be charged like $30 to ship something as simple as a tenugui. Some of the sites like e-bogu and e-mudo don't have a wide selection of some accessories such as tenugui that I'm looking for. I was able to find a wide selection on kendoshop, but the shipping is astronomical. Anyways,
anyone have any suggestions?

[yohed55]

I think you should look at those places a little more, if you live close; I know a few of them have warehouses that you can visit, eliminating the shipping problem. Who knows, maybe they have some things there they don't online???

[jediado]

The only problem is that I live in central Virginia. Unless there's a retailer in Roanoke or something.

[Taisaburo]

Both E-bogu and Kendoshop are in America. Kendoshop has a place... somewhere, you just have to go to .net I believe, in order to get the American shop. E-bogu is in California.

[jediado]

I went to kendoshop.net and the first thing I see is "Merry Christmast" on the front page. There's also nothing on any of the pages. I go to all sections, bogu parts, shinai/bokuto, etc and there's nothing listed.

[jediado]

I went to kendoshop.net and the first thing I see is "Merry Christmas" on the front page. There's also nothing on any of the pages. I go to all sections, bogu parts, shinai/bokuto, etc and there's nothing listed.

[Kitsune]

E-bogu is in California.


In which part of California exactly?

[yohed55]

20220 S. Normandie Ave
Torrance CA 90502 USA


^^^ E-bogu

[Kitsune]

Thank you... Maybe I'll tell my dad to buy me something

[Haji]

Why don't you visit Bogu-zen.com
They are located NJ, USA and they do free shipping in the US.
http://www.boguzen.com/

[Kitsune]

Well, my dad comes back to Chile in a few weeks and he's in Long Beach California, that's why I ask for a shop that is a lil bit nearer.

Thanx anyway for your help.

[nothing]

Torrance is abotu 20 minutes from Long Beach. Plus Ariga Sensei and his staff are more than helpful and friendly too boot. Eguchie is also in Torrance.. I'd reco pulling soem stuff off their site and ask yoru dad to pick it up. Ebogu (IMHO) make quality gear at very reasonable prices, and their return policy and customer service are second to none...

[nysamurai]

I went to kendoshop.net and the first thing I see is "Merry Christmas" on the front page. There's also nothing on any of the pages. I go to all sections, bogu parts, shinai/bokuto, etc and there's nothing listed.

Jediado,

I have found eguchi - www.eguchi.com (http://www.eguchi.com) . They are also located on the left-coast, in Torrance, CA (L.A. area) and they have a fairly good selection of equipment, though not extensive. And while you cannot easily get there from Virginia, I have also found them to be VERY service oriented via e-mail and / or on the phone. They will gladly spend the necessary time with on most any issue you have. It's the next best thing to being there. Save that, you need to take a trip, though I am not entirely sure that you have to go all the way to the Pacific ocean.

[nothing]

Jediado,

I have found eguchi - www.eguchi.com (http://www.eguchi.com) . They are also located on the left-coast, in Torrance, CA (L.A. area) and they have a fairly good selection of equipment, though not extensive. And while you cannot easily get there from Virginia, I have also found them to be VERY service oriented via e-mail and / or on the phone. They will gladly spend the necessary time with on most any issue you have. It's the next best thing to being there. Save that, you need to take a trip, though I am not entirely sure that you have to go all the way to the Pacific ocean.

OH and let me give my humble opinion of Eguchi... The y have some amazing cutting edge kote. They were at the North South competition this weekend, and I got to check out their stuff. They have a reasonably priced set of kote with Clarino plams.. ( i use hockey gloves made of clarino) and find that the material dry's well, breaks in quickly and holds up to moisture and hard workouts. ANother pair of Kote I saw have some type of strong rubberized material for the webbing of the hands (between the thumb and finger compartments where the kote meets the shinai itself)

good stuff..

[RC_Kenshi]

I'll second the recommendation for Eguchi. I've always gotten good service from them. As for other e-tailers mentioned in this thread, let me just say, I've always gotten good service from Eguchi.

As far as recommendations, I think you may be out of luck. Unless you live close to a kendo supplier (being a left-coaster I don't know any suppliers on the other side of the continental divide) I doubt it's ever going to be cost-effective to order a single small item such as a tenegui. It's always been this way, and not just in kendo. Many years ago, I looked into ordering film (35 mm camera film) from a supplier in New York. To make it cost effective I had to order it by the brick (20 rolls at a time).

What you can do, is:

1. Factor in the shipping cost for the item as part of the total cost (just like you have to factor in sales tax). Sure it makes a $6 tenegui cost about $14 (assuming you can wait for ground shipping - but I guess if you gotta have it tomorrow the shipping is closer to $30), but your choices are fairly limited. Would you feel any better if they said the cost was $15 with free shipping?

2. Get together with others in your dojo and make a group order from Eguchi that totals more than $50 (that way you get free shipping). I usually can find something I desperately need if I look hard enough - that's why I don't look very hard. Granted this way takes a bit more planning, but then again, what are your choices?

3. Plan to buy small items well ahead of your need. Fortunately once you have your bogu, kendo is a relatively "equipment un-intensive" activity. I've picked up half a dozen tenegui at various seminars, taikai, and as souveneirs on vacation, so I seriously doubt I'll ever be faced with ordering a single tenegui in the foreseeable future. Plan on doing kendo for a long time? Order all your "consumables" at once (to get over that $50 hurdle and take advantage of free shipping). If you don't have a second keikogi, consider getting one (you'll appreciate it on the second day of a 3-day seminar). How about a book on katas, or the rules for shiai? Pick up another shinai, or some shinai oil or knife. How about replacement himo? Stash it in your bogu bag for when the inevitable occurs (probably right before a shinsa or important taikai.

Well, those are all the suggestions I can come up with for now. Got to get moving, keiko awaits.

RC_Kenshi