You Have Questions?
I Have (some) Answers!
These are some of the most commonly asked questions I receive, especially from my first-time visitors, but also from those of you who are trying to dig deeper into the mechanics of skating.
1
"Are you open?"
"Yes!" (usually)
For my full-time job, I work from home, and I try to accept skate sharpening appointments throughout the day. You can always see my availability by visiting the Skate Sharpening Booking calendar. If you do not see a convenient time for your appointment, please reach out directly to see if I am able to accommodate you.
2
"Were are you located? I can't find your store!"
While there is NO storefront in a traditional sense, and with the changing retail/service environment of today's market, I currently operate out of my home, very conveniently located just seconds off of routes 1, 287, 440, NJ Turnpike, and minutes from GSP and route 9.
I am looking forward to offering you the absolutely best quality skate sharpening, profiling, and other services possible! You may also find it more convenient to get to/from then some of the "big box" stores.
3
"Can I wait for my skate, or do I leave them with you?"
You can certainly wait for your skates at the time of your appointment. However you are welcome to run errands in the area and comeback at your convenience. Ultimately, I am here to make your experience as seamless as possible.
4
"Do you sharpen figure skates?"
Absolutely! I am well versed in the uniqueness of figure skate sharpening vs that of hockey skates. I have spent the first decade of my skate sharpening career under the tutelage of one of New Jersey's best known figure skate professionals: John Santamaria.
Additionally, I have specific tools needed to perform sharpening on none-traditional style (Matrix) figure skate blades, if that pertains to your particular setup.
5
"Do you sell skates/gear?"
While I do sell some accessories and skate blades, I do not sell skates or equipment. There are a multitude of sources available to you, and ALL of today's skates/gear is the same no matter where you purchase it, however where you have those skates serviced is NOT the same. If you need fitting advice, I would be more than happy to assist.
6
"Do you use a (automated machine brand), or...?"
No, I do not! I still use a "traditional"/manual method to sharpening skates. I find it particularly important to be able to control and be able to adjust the grinding/polishing pass on the fly.
7
"What's your opinion on the automated machines?"
While I acknowledge the need for their existence and thus their prevalence, I always say:
"We all own a microwave at home, but does that make automatically make us master chefs?"
The current automated home sharpening machines cannot compare to an experienced operator who truly cares about their craft, understands the dynamics of skating, and most importantly, cares about you on-ice performance, safety, and confidence.
8
"What depth of hollow do you recommend?"
A lot of variables go into determining what hollow you should be skating on. Your personal preference is likely the most important factor, as well as experience, and skating style. I can assist you in gauging what hollow might work best for you at the time of the service, and adjust as needed during follow-up visits.
9
"I want to try a profile, what would you recommend?"
Blade profiling has been all the rage in the past few years. I would be glad to guide you through the process of ascertaining if a certain profile might be beneficial for you, or if at all. It is my recommendation for most customers is to determine what is it that they are trying to achieve through the application of a profile, is it a mechanical, balance, agility, stability issues, or a combination of?
In a lot of cases a good sharpening fixes perceived profile/balance issues.
10
"Do you have a multiple sharpening discount card?"
Although I do not have a "discount sharpening card", I do offer a Sharpening Loyalty Program, where every 8th sharpening is FREE.
Additionally, I offer FREE sharpening for Google/Facebook reviews and referals!
11
"What forms of payment do you accept?"
I am happy to take payment via cash, or for your convenience:
Venmo: @SharpSkatesNJ
PayPal: SharpSkatesNJ@gmail.com
Zelle: 908-501-9940
And I have been known to accept food and Lego as viable forms of currency!