Is butterfly overpriced

[backspacer]

that is true, a lot of tt shops in germany don't sell butterfly, or when they do then not officially and just 'behind the curtains', because butterfly has a really restricted selling policy. i don't know many people playing butterfly in germany and when you do see one then there mostly full butterfly fans and come with a whole arsenal of stuff to the club as if there would be sponsered xD

I saw a kid here once in Kreisklasse C with Zhang Jike ALC, presumably Butterfly rubbers AND Butterfly trolley (those are truly overpriced). Who knows what else he got at home.

 

[K.K]

That may also be because they're German (i.e. local) brands, so likely to be cheaper and more popular?

yes that is true, we have the luxury that many TT brands are coming from germany, so maybe in countrys where you don't have tt shops and are only able to buy online there will be not much difference between butterfly and tibhar except for the price

 

[backspacer]

I've not heard this, how are they doing that?

I'm not sure how they enforce it, but Butterfly's online store is the only one with their stuff. My local shop can get Butterfly products no problem, but they aren't featured in his online store so you have to ask. He does have Viscarias on his blade shelf now which wasn't the case when I bought mine from him in 2019. The worst thing Butterfly does is denying price cuts though. When you buy two rubbers in Germany you get 15% off everywhere (used to be 20% before the recession). It increases the more rubbers you buy and usually you get another percentage for other products when you hit a certain total sum like 100€. Guess which brand is excluded? Butterfly. I would love to get Butterfly apparel for our league matches, but we aren't getting a price cut and no one would want to pay 50€ for a shirt. The Butterfly store has a limited sale on certain products every month, but they aren't great usually imo (this month 15% off of shoes). The best I have seen was Black Friday last year where you got 15% (?) off of two Dignics rubbers.

 

[NetProphet]

I completely agree, but you'd be amazed at how many people gladly pay the high prices of Butterfly if they're convinced it will win them just one extra point a game.... and the placebo effect will probably do that that!

There probably is something in that, I can't deny it even though my experience so far is seeing guys at my club paying €300-€400 for their racket and still not able to beat me. Not just that but I'm convinced it's even holding them back in some cases from improving as they should and would with more suitable equipment. They certainly can hit some shots that they didn't hit before but I don't see any consistency.
Anyway, as a decidedly average TT player trying to improve I suppose I understand why 'trying' the expensive equipment and hoping for a shortcut is enticing.
It's the willful blindness and sunken cost fallacy thinking where they persist with obviously wrong equipment that roll my eyes at 😂

 

[SFF_lib]

Does any one thinks that buterfly is overpriced?

For blades maybe? Inflated by engraving champion names on the handles.

For rubbers no. Even the cheaper Tenergy series still good enough for today's game and they last a long time.

 

[K.K]

There probably is something in that, I can't deny it even though my experience so far is seeing guys at my club paying €300-€400 for their racket and still not able to beat me. Not just that but I'm convinced it's even holding them back in some cases from even improving as they should and would with more suitable equipment. They certainly can hit some shots that they didn't hit before but I don't see any consistency.
Anyway, as a decidedly average TT player trying to improve I suppose I understand why 'trying' the expensive equipment and hoping for a shortcut is enticing.
It's the willful blindness and sunken cost fallacy thinking where they persistent with obviously wrong equipment that roll my eyes at 😂

i noticed the same and sometimes when i play against people and see their paddle first and think: "wow they play with viscaria super alc and dignics 05 both sides? oh shit they must be super good" and then i start warmup with them and they can't get more then 5 balls on the table i am seriously confused.

same thing i noticed with beginners these days having already a super expensive bat and talk about equipment so much, but not play more then 3 balls in a match. but maybe that is the reason why it also doesn't matter, because you don't need to be consistent. you will not need to rally anyway and the ball quality of your oppenent is just beginner level too, then you can get away with everything and will choose the paddle that is more fun and let you feel like a pro

 

[K.K]

For blades maybe? Inflated by engraving champion names on the handles.

For rubbers no. Even the cheaper Tenergy series still good enough for today's game and they last a long time.

since the price updates over the last years i would say yes, tenergy is a good choice again. but something like dignic 09c? that is some money making tool for me

 

[haggisv]

i noticed the same and sometimes when i play against people and see their paddle first and think: "wow they play with viscaria super alc and dignics 05 both sides? oh shit they must be super good" and then i start warmup with them and they can't get more then 5 balls on the table i am seriously confused.

Yes, that is so true, although that's not unique to Butterfly equipment, it happens with other brands as well. New players often want 'the best' equipment, which they assume the equipment that professional use (i.e. often sponsored players), while of course 'the best' bat is the one that's most appropriate to their level and style of play.

 

[mightymouse]

i was actually kinda shocked when i registered to this forum and saw how many people play or praise butterfly or DHS, because that is really uncommon in germany. here you have the opposite and the most played companys are andro and tibhar

@K.K

I was wondering for quite a long time, which German TT brand is the most popular in Germany (at least in the top-3)?
a. Donic
b. Tibhar (Tibhar was huge in France 5 - 10 years back, I am not sure now).
c. Andro
d. Joola (I believe they are not German company anymore, after being acquired by Joola USA)
e. Gewo

******************************************
From my own experience locally, Donic and Tibhar is quite popular here but it is because the TT store that selling the brands are quite good in marketing. Andro is catching up.

What I like about Donic and Tibhar are:
a. Their handle is not as small as those of Butterfly
b. They still offer many variety of ALL, ALL+, and OFF- blades.


Back to the topic, @OP... yes I think Butterfly is overpriced (for giving similar functions compared to other brands). But now every brands are offering their top of the line products at outrageous prices as well (seeing that BTY can get away with that).

DHS is too overpriced (the Ma Long series).

 

[rbtitco]

@K.K

I was wondering for quite a long time, which German TT brand is the most popular in Germany (at least in the top-3)?
a. Donic
b. Tibhar (Tibhar was huge in France 5 - 10 years back, I am not sure now).
c. Andro
d. Joola (I believe they are not German company anymore, after being acquired by Joola USA)
e. Gewo

******************************************
From my own experience locally, Donic and Tibhar is quite popular here but it is because the TT store that selling the brands are quite good in marketing. Andro is catching up.

What I like about Donic and Tibhar are:
a. Their handle is not as small as those of Butterfly
b. They still offer many variety of ALL, ALL+, and OFF- blades.


Back to the topic, @OP... yes I think Butterfly is overpriced (for giving similar functions compared to other brands). But now every brands are offering their top of the line products at outrageous prices as well (seeing that BTY can get away with that).

DHS is too overpriced (the Ma Long series).

Good point, Everyone complains about Butterfly, but nobody points out what a high percentage chance you have of tearing off half your Limba on a seriously expensive new 968.
Besides, if u pay the ransom for a Viscaria and don't like it, you can always resell it. Try that with the other brands.
Or you can just not buy a Butterfly at all and pride yourself on being a man of the people, that's ok too. Beating people with jacked old cheapo equipment is extremely satisfying.

 

[blahness]

Yes they are super overpriced, but what can we do? Theyre the only game in town which has

1) high performance without boosting which is a pain for most amateurs. Cant say the same about Hurricane for eg

2) Much longer durability compared to ESN

When ESN or DHS manufactures a high performance rubber that can last very long without need for boosting, then they can start competing.

Until then, unfortunately this is what us consumers have to deal with ugh

 

[Der_Echte]

BTY overpriced?

Is the Sahara dry and dusty?

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

i was actually kinda shocked when i registered to this forum and saw how many people play or praise butterfly or DHS, because that is really uncommon in germany. here you have the opposite and the most played companys are andro and tibhar

Thanks for the info, nice to hear something from the ground.

 

[NDH]

Ah, a topic close to my heart….

“Overpriced” clearly means different things to different people.

You can’t be “overpriced” if your performance makes it worthwhile (as some have suggested).

I actually think Butterfly is significantly LESS overpriced these days, than they used to be, because other brands have increased their prices significantly.

If we are talking about one match, with brand new equipment and similar level of players, then yes, butterfly is overpriced.

Dignics is not TWICE as good as other top rubbers for example.

But, for me, the longevity you get from Butterfly rubbers makes it worthwhile. It would likely last a lot of players an entire year (or longer). Where as alternatives may last half as long.

As for the blades, I personally think the fit and finish is better than almost all others.

BUT….. You don’t need to be spending more than £180 (the Viscaria/TB ALC level of blade).

None of this Super ALC or anything….. that’s where you get significantly diminishing returns.

I’ve been playing for nearly 25 years now, and I don’t regret sticking with Butterly at all.

The only thing I’d say….. if butterfly is beyond your price range, don’t feel bad about it. Depending on your level, you are likely not missing anything at all, and even if you are extremely good…. You’ll do just fine with any brand!

 

[Yuomay]

I agree, overpriced would depend heavily on your point of view.

I don't think for example that a salesperson at butterfly thinks their products are overpriced since they are market leader in large parts of the world.

They also seem to be involved in quite some R&D on material of which we all benefit, this needs to be payed.

But yes, if your budget is low, then Butterfly is not for you.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

Yes they are super overpriced, but what can we do? Theyre the only game in town which has

1) high performance without boosting which is a pain for most amateurs. Cant say the same about Hurricane for eg

2) Much longer durability compared to ESN

When ESN or DHS manufactures a high performance rubber that can last very long without need for boosting, then they can start competing.

Until then, unfortunately this is what us consumers have to deal with ugh

This. Which actually means they're not overpriced, because they bring the best combination of reliability, durability, and performance on the market, so they get to charge the highest price.

 

[dingyibvs]

Interestingly ZJK talks about his equipment in this video and mentions that his Butterfly rubbers are custom made, that they're 3-4 degrees harder than commercial ones. This should be definitive proof that what the pros use is not the same as what we can get.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

Interestingly ZJK talks about his equipment in this video and mentions that his Butterfly rubbers are custom made, that they're 3-4 degrees harder than commercial ones. This should be definitive proof that what the pros use is not the same as what we can get.

Timo really fooled people into thinking that top Butterfly pros are using what everyone else does...lol

 

[rbtitco]

What about talented ams or bottom tier pros? They get custom everything?

 

[ThePongCommenter]

What about talented ams or bottom tier pros? They get custom everything?

Butterfly doesn't sponsor the "bottom tier pros" but among the ones they do, the lower level ones don't get custom blades and rubbers. The ones who do are the ones that are around top 25 or maybe 50 in the world either currently or historically. I'm not sure what Talented Ams means.