[nabs-l] Telescopic cane question

Joshua Lester JLester8462 at pccua.edu
Sun Mar 31 08:50:18 UTC 2013


I met Chris Park at the 2012 convention!
He's into his canes, and he bad-mouths anyone and everyone that doesn't order his stuff!
He's not a really nice man, unless you are using his products!
That's not a good P.R. move!
Blessings, Joshua
________________________________________
From: nabs-l [nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Kaiti Shelton [crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2013 8:07 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Telescopic cane question

Hi all,

Chris Park's site is:
www.chrisparkdesign.com

As we were saying earlier on the thread though, there unfortunately
isn't a way to purchase through this site.  You could try emailing him
on the contact page and seeing if you could just go through him
directly, but he seems to sell through NFB.  Having had experience
with both the NFB and his model of telescopic cane, I'd totally
recommend going through the Independence Market and just requesting
his model.  In my experiences it's totally been worth it.

Chris: Really?  I didn't know Ambutech started making lighter models;
that was why I started going with NFB for all my canes, although like
you I found their folding ones had joint problems and some other
issues and didn't last long.  You'll have to share how that one feels
when you get it.  :)



On 3/30/13, christopher nusbaum <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com> wrote:
> Arielle, I agree. I got my NFB folding cane for Christmas, but after
> only 2 months the joints are chipping to the point that I can no
> longer fold it without having to do a lot of wiggling to get it
> unfolded. I was very excited about this folding cane, but
> unfortunately I have been disappointed by its performance, or lack
> thereof. I now have an Ambutech Ultra Light folding cane on order.
>
> Chris Nusbaum
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Mar 30, 2013, at 5:34 PM, Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Could someone send the URL for the Chris Park site? I would really
>> love to get a better-quality telescoping or folding cane than what
>> I've gotten from NFB. Their straight canes are wonderful, but I have
>> yet to be satisfied with any non-rigid cane from them.
>> Arielle
>>
>> On 3/30/13, christopher nusbaum <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> You might also call the Independence Market at our national center.
>>> The number is (410) 659-9314, option 4 from the main menu.
>>>
>>> Chris Nusbaum
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>> On Mar 30, 2013, at 3:45 PM, Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> That is right, unless you clarify in the comment section the model you
>>>> want.  If you tell them you specifically want the Chris Park model in
>>>> the comments they won't ignore that and you'll get what you want for
>>>> your $35.  The clarification might be there for people who don't know
>>>> to do the comment thing, (which I'm assuming would be the majority of
>>>> people), but they don't make it impossible for you to get what you
>>>> want for your buck.  Actually, my ability to see the pictures probably
>>>> further complicated the issue; had I just gone off the cane type and
>>>> commented that I wanted the Chris Park model from the start I would
>>>> have saved myself some confusion, although I'm not sure many other
>>>> people would have known to do that either.
>>>>
>>>> Have you been able to purchase directly from Chris Park's site?  That
>>>> was where I looked after the NFB store was confusing me and before I
>>>> called, but I didn't see any links to the specific models or to
>>>> checkout/purchase anything.
>>>>
>>>> On 3/30/13, Brice Smith <brice.smith319 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> Right. So if you just order a type 7 cane from the NFB store, there's
>>>>> no guarantee what you'll actually get when you spend your $35? You
>>>>> might get Chris Park's model, but you might also get the old (pre
>>>>> 2010) model that most people universally seem to dislike? The amusing
>>>>> thing here is that while Kaiti can check out the pictures, other users
>>>>> of the store ... can't. So the NFB's lack of clarification here makes
>>>>> perfect sense! Got it.
>>>>>
>>>>> Anyway, Chris Park has his own website.
>>>>>
>>>>> http://www.chrisparkdesign.com/sub_01_new.html
>>>>>
>>>>> Brice
>>>>>
>>>>> On 3/30/13, Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Brice, I guess what they do is they just classify the canes by type.
>>>>>> E.G, all the 5 or 6 section telescopic canes are listed on the site
>>>>>> as
>>>>>> type 7.  This type includes all the models that fit into that
>>>>>> category, so when you buy one you might get any model depending on
>>>>>> what they have in stock unless you specifically tell them you want a
>>>>>> specific type, E.G. the Chris Park.  That one is still the latest and
>>>>>> greatest thing out there, so I guess we were both lucky to get it
>>>>>> when
>>>>>> we bought our canes.  What got me into trouble looking through the
>>>>>> search results was that I didn't remember the exact type, so I
>>>>>> assumed
>>>>>> that the Chris Park would have it's own little category in the search
>>>>>> results, (I didn't buy my last cane either, so I wasn't familiar with
>>>>>> how to get to it from previous experience).  Looking at the picture
>>>>>> for the type 7, it shows two different models of NFB canes, but
>>>>>> neither of them were the Chris Park.  I was looking for that distinct
>>>>>> grip which is much bigger than a lot of the NFB models and didn't see
>>>>>> it.  Now we know.  :)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I suppose every cane is different, Joshua, but I had significantly
>>>>>> more collapses with my NFB telescopic cane I bought in 2009 than I
>>>>>> have with the Chris Park model.  I don't think you had the newest
>>>>>> one;
>>>>>> the collapse-resistant model just came out in December of 2011, so
>>>>>> anything before that would be more collapse-prone.  A lot of people,
>>>>>> including myself, seem to really like this newer one.  Different
>>>>>> strokes for different folks, but don't base an opinion of an entire
>>>>>> company over one cane from several years ago which has since been
>>>>>> improved upon.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 3/30/13, Joshua Lester <JLester8462 at pccua.edu> wrote:
>>>>>>> Those Chris Parks canes are nothing but trouble!
>>>>>>> Those were the ones that collapse too much!
>>>>>>> His folding canes are awful too!
>>>>>>> I got the telescoping cane in 2010, and I didn't like it.
>>>>>>> Blessings, Joshua
>>>>>>> ________________________________________
>>>>>>> From: nabs-l [nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Brice Smith
>>>>>>> [brice.smith319 at gmail.com]
>>>>>>> Sent: Friday, March 29, 2013 10:45 PM
>>>>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Telescopic cane question
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I'm still a bit confused. Which model is the one listed on the site
>>>>>>> now? Is the Chris Parks model now "old" and is there a newer model
>>>>>>> out
>>>>>>> now? You and I both must Have bought his model last year. Have they
>>>>>>> replaced it with something different? Even better?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Mar 29, 2013, at 10:55 PM, Kaiti Shelton
>>>>>>> <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Yeah, they're well worth checking into, or at least I think so.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I found out why I wasn't seeing it in the search results; The NFB
>>>>>>>> site
>>>>>>>> groups all types of canes together, but doesn't descriminate
>>>>>>>> between
>>>>>>>> the models.  So, I was seeing pictures of the older canes because
>>>>>>>> that's the type the new one still fits under, (5 or 6 section
>>>>>>>> telescopic). The particular cane I got last time was made by Chris
>>>>>>>> Parks, and I just got it because it was what they had in stock.
>>>>>>>> They
>>>>>>>> don't show it on the site, but if you know the particular model you
>>>>>>>> want you can request it in the comments section when you check out.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On 3/29/13, Joshua Lester <JLester8462 at pccua.edu> wrote:
>>>>>>>>> I want to look at the new ones.
>>>>>>>>> Blessings, Joshua
>>>>>>>>> ________________________________________
>>>>>>>>> From: nabs-l [nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Kaiti
>>>>>>>>> Shelton
>>>>>>>>> [crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com]
>>>>>>>>> Sent: Friday, March 29, 2013 11:21 AM
>>>>>>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Telescopic cane question
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Joshua, I didn't say that you said anything, I was merely sharing
>>>>>>>>> my
>>>>>>>>> experiences. I've heard from several people that those canes are
>>>>>>>>> thought
>>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>>> be indestructible, so it seemed like it might have been a common
>>>>>>>>> misconception.
>>>>>>>>> That is what is so improved about this model of the telescopic
>>>>>>>>> cane,
>>>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>>> doesn't collapse near as much as the old oones. I rarely had to
>>>>>>>>> stop
>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>> fix mine.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Friday, March 29, 2013, Joshua Lester wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Hi Kaiti!
>>>>>>>>>> I never said that the Ambutech canes were indestructable.
>>>>>>>>>> I just wish that they'd make the telescopic canes more stirdy, so
>>>>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>>>>> they'll collapse, only when I want them to.
>>>>>>>>>> Blessings, Joshua
>>>>>>>>>> ________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>> From: nabs-l [nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org <javascript:;>] on behalf
>>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>>> Kaiti Shelton [crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com <javascript:;>]
>>>>>>>>>> Sent: Friday, March 29, 2013 3:02 AM
>>>>>>>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Telescopic cane question
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> *the beginning of that was supposed to say that I'm the opposite.
>>>>>>>>>> Sorry for the weird cut off.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> On 3/29/13, Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>> posite; telescopic canes last much longer for me than the
>>>>>>>>>>> folding
>>>>>>>>>>> ones, I think because of the weight and because of my pace.
>>>>>>>>>>> That
>>>>>>>>>>> is
>>>>>>>>>>> why I prefer the NFB canes and will most likely avoid the bulky
>>>>>>>>>>> folding ones.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> The next time someone tells you an Ambutech cane, or an aluminum
>>>>>>>>>>> one,
>>>>>>>>>>> is indestructable, don't necessarily buy it.  In the first week
>>>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>>>> school this year I was going out to a campus event with some
>>>>>>>>>>> friends
>>>>>>>>>>> and because I had issues with people stepping on and breaking my
>>>>>>>>>>> telescopic canes in high school I chose to take my folding one
>>>>>>>>>>> from
>>>>>>>>>>> ambutech.  It was so heavy for me that when I stepped off the
>>>>>>>>>>> curb
>>>>>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>>>>> went down into a drainage grate.  It must have gone right
>>>>>>>>>>> between
>>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>> bars because I didn't feel it hit anything or realize it wasn't
>>>>>>>>>>> on
>>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>> ground, but I kept walking and tripped when I felt that my cane
>>>>>>>>>>> wasn't
>>>>>>>>>>> coming with me.  I dropped it and when a friend of mine grabbed
>>>>>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>>>> pulled it out of the grate the bottom shaft was sliced open
>>>>>>>>>>> where
>>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>> grate had dug into it and it was bent at a 45 degree angle from
>>>>>>>>>>> where
>>>>>>>>>>> it should have been.  For a while I used a straight cane that
>>>>>>>>>>> was
>>>>>>>>>>> kind
>>>>>>>>>>> of my old-faithful cane, (My O&M instructor and I made it when I
>>>>>>>>>>> was
>>>>>>>>>>> in the 4th grade and I still had it as a college freshman).  It
>>>>>>>>>>> was
>>>>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>>>>> little short for me, but I didn't grow much after making it so
>>>>>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>>>>> would have worked all right till I could order a new one over
>>>>>>>>>>> Christmas break.  Then again, I was walking with friends, and
>>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>> cane
>>>>>>>>>>> got stuck in a really big crack in the sidewalk.  When we pulled
>>>>>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>>>>> out the tip was still wedged into the crack, but the bottom of
>>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>> shaft was dented all over to the point where I doubt another tip
>>>>>>>>>>> would
>>>>>>>>>>> be able to stay on it.  (The kicker was that this all happened
>>>>>>>>>>> within
>>>>>>>>>>> a month).  Then I started using the telescopic cane because I
>>>>>>>>>>> had
>>>>>>>>>>> no
>>>>>>>>>>> other choice, and not only were people more conscious about
>>>>>>>>>>> avoiding
>>>>>>>>>>> stepping on a white stick, but all my problems with grates and
>>>>>>>>>>> sidewalk cracks magically went away.  (and my wrist liked it
>>>>>>>>>>> better
>>>>>>>>>>> too).
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> On 3/29/13, Joshua Lester <JLester8462 at pccua.edu> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>> Another thing I should mention, is that I found out that cane
>>>>>>>>>>>> tips
>>>>>>>>>>>> cost
>>>>>>>>>>>> over
>>>>>>>>>>>> $1.50, per tip!
>>>>>>>>>>>> Good grief!
>>>>>>>>>>>> Those tips are small, unlike the tips you find on VR canes!
>>>>>>>>>>>> Why not just charge 50 cents a tip?
>>>>>>>>>>>> Thanks, Joshua
>>>>>>>>>>>> ________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>>> From: nabs-l [nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Joshua
>>>>>>>>>>>> Lester
>>>>>>>>>>>> [JLester8462 at pccua.edu]
>>>>>>>>>>>> Sent: Friday, March 29, 2013 2:21 AM
>>>>>>>>>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>>>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Telescopic cane question
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> I bought an NFB folding cane, and a straight cane from them!
>>>>>>>>>>>> I had issues with the tip coming off of the straight cane, and
>>>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>>> folding
>>>>>>>>>>>> cane broke after the first day, because they aren't stirdy
>>>>>>>>>>>> enough!
>>>>>>>>>>>> I had a telescoping cane as well, and it would collapse when I
>>>>>>>>>>>> didn't
>>>>>>>>>>>> want
>>>>>>>>>>>> it to, and it wouldn't collapse when I did!
>>>>>>>>>>>> Ambutech, (on the other hand,) is awesome!
>>>>>>>>>>>> Their canes are stirdyer, and they may be bulky, but they get
>>>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>>> job
>>>>>>>>>>>> done!
>>>>>>>>>>>> I can't imagine myself with a thinner cane, no matter what it
>>>>>>>>>>>> is!
>>>>>>>>>>>> My Ambutech cane has lasted longer than my VR canes, and those
>>>>>>>>>>>> NFB
>>>>>>>>>>>> canes
>>>>>>>>>>>> combined!
>>>>>>>>>>>> Blessings, Joshua
>>>>>>>>>>>> ________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>>> From: nabs-l [nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Kaiti
>>>>>>>>>>>> Shelton
>>>>>>>>>>>> [crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com]
>>>>>>>>>>>> Sent: Friday, March 29, 2013 2:10 AM
>>>>>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/crazy4clarinet104%40gmail.com
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>> Kaiti
>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>> Kaiti
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Kaiti
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
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>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Kaiti
>>>>
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--
Kaiti

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