Average Joe Innovations, LLC was founded in mid-2020. But it began life in early 2018/2019 as a personal project to fix some of my broken and unsafe dumbbells rather than throw them out. As luck would have it, a wave of unanticipated interest in my first 2019 Bowflex® "dumbbell fix" video on YouTube led to a demand for dumbbell fixes and the company's formation.

There's a reason I use the tagline "Better than OEM." Ever since the day that I designed my first fix for some of my Bowflex® brand dumbbells, my focus has been on creating parts superior to OEM in every way. Heck, I'll put my grips up against any other aftermarket grips for Powerblock currently on the market, and mine will absolutely blow their doors off.

I'm not a reseller dropshipping parts I didn't design, from a manufacturer I've never seen, for equipment I've never actually used.

I begin with my own OEM-compatible designs. Then, I spec the best materials I can reasonably afford, and I deal directly with the owners of the shops who make my parts. I don't deal with go-betweens. All of my current Grip Kits are made in China. I do hope to manufacture some in the States some day if I can find a way to do it affordably.

And my kits are installed and used on my dumbbells long before I make them available to anyone else. So, yes, my grips are quality parts that I trust from day one.

Hands down it is the best material for this application. It isn't the least expensive, but it's the best while still remaining reasonably affordable. Average Joe 316 stainless steel grips are not plated. They are left exactly how they were machined. Stainless provides beauty, corrosion resistance and low maintenance that cheap coated steels simply cannot match. No rusting, peeling or pitting. With minimal proper care, Average Joe grips will look as good 20 years from now as they do today.

Stainless steel is easy to clean. Wash with a mild soap/detergent and warm water, followed by a clean water rinse. You can do this with clean, dampened rags. Then wipe dry.

If your grips have become extremely dirty with signs of surface discoloration due to a lack of regular maintenance, consider using a spray cleaner designed for use on stainless steel, and a soft bristle brush to get down into the knurling, before rinsing and wiping.

Try my grips side-by-side with Powerblock knurled grips. There is no comparison. In fact, several of my current customers own Powerblock's premium-priced Commercial Pro Series that shipped with Powerblock's knurled steel grips. They disliked the OEM knurled grips so much that they invested in two pairs each of mine to replace them. Here's how my knurled grips compare to Powerblocks's:

• Some Powerblocks use cheap coated/chrome steel versus Average Joe premium 316 stainless steel
• Powerblock chose to use an inexpensive simple cylindrical design because it costs less to fabricate, versus Average Joe grips designed and contoured to look Better than OEM
• Powerblock offers one knurl, take it or leave it. Average Joe uncoated knurling spans a range from light to aggressive.
• Powerblock advertises one size, 1.25" (~32mm), versus Average Joe grips available in 3 sizes: 30mm (1.2"), 35mm (1.4") and 40mm (1.6").
• Powerblock currently charges $99 shipped free in the States, while Average Joe grips are currently $110 (30mm), $120 (35mm) and $130 (40mm) shipped free in the States (outside the U.S., provide an address for a shippping quote).

The short answer is that it depends on what you prefer.

There is no single universally accepted standard for knurling. It's highly subjective and more art than science. Even the folks at Rogue Fitness® describe it as "more a beer tasting process than an exact measurement."

Aggressive-passive, fine-coarse, hill-volcano-mountain, different grades of steel, knurl parameters, finishes and coatings, and even the skin on the palm of our hands can influence the feel of knurling. As a result, no two manufacturer's knurling will have an identical feel despite being described as a specific type of knurl.

Here's a photo taken directly from some of my grips:

Yes, as long as your country is not currently on any export restriction list and service is available from DHL, Fedex, UPS, or USPS. Average Joe Innovations now has customers all over the world, from Brazil, Columbia, Canada, England, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain, to Abu Dhabi, Australia, Bulgaria, Czechia, Dubai, Israel, Kuwait, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam and more.

When you fill out the order request form, I will respond with a Paypal invoice that includes the shipping cost based on your address. I will also let you know if there is a slower or faster service available, and at what cost.

FALSIFYING EXPORT DOCUMENTATION: Average Joe Innovations will not alter, adjust or falsify the value of goods on export documentation. 13 U.S. Code § 305 states "Any person who knowingly fails to file or knowingly submits false or misleading export information through the Shippers Export Declaration (SED) (or any successor document) or the Automated Export System (AES) shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $10,000 per violation or imprisonment for not more than 5 years, or both."

I'm aware that some business owners and individuals are willing to risk everything to make a sale. I'm not one of them. I respectfully ask that you not request changes to the value of goods on your documentation. Thank you for understanding.

U.S. Customers: FREE USPS Priority Mail Shipping to addresses within the United States and any territories/APO/FPO/DPO served by USPS Priority Mail.

International Customers: For customers outside the U.S., shipping is calculated based on several factors, including the package size, weight, service level, insurance and destination. Please provide a shipping address if you would like a quote prior to placing an order.

U.S. Customers: Your State & Local sales/use tax may be added to your invoice when applicable. That occurs once I exceed your State's minimum sales volume in dollars or number of transactions within a fiscal year. If I have not yet reached the minimum requirement for your State, sales tax will not appear on your invoice.

International Customers: Your invoice will not include duties or VAT. You will be responsible for paying your country’s VAT/duties during the import process. Typically, the appropriate agency will contact you with the fees due based on current trade policies. Please keep this in mind so that you aren’t taken by surprise later.

I will continue to use YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, this website, and my mailing list as needed to keep everyone informed about the latest videos, product development, pricing changes, deals and more. Average Joe Innovations, LLC is still a one-person operation. I design, source, test, inspect, package, sell, ship, and support my products. I don't and won't have the bandwidth to reply to you all individually in a timely fashion if I begin receiving hundreds of individual requests for updates. I respectfully ask that you please refer/subscribe to the previously mentioned sources for the latest news and information.

If you receive a Grip Kit and decide that you'd rather exchange it for the next size up or down, you will be responsible for round-trip shipping to exchange the Grip Kits. In addition, you will receive either a credit or an additional charge based on the price difference between the two Grip Kits.

Note that I may not have the Grip Kit size that you want in-stock to proceed with an exchange. It depends on my available inventory at the time of your request. I hope to grow enough to maintain a regular inventory of grip types, sizes and knurls, but I'm just not there yet.

You may contact me any time to cancel an order, if it has not yet shipped. If you have not yet paid the invoice, you may cancel at no cost to you. If you have paid the invoice, a 15% cancellation fee will apply to any order placed on or after January 1st, 2024. That fee will be deducted from the invoice value, and the balance will be refunded through your original payment method.

At the moment, AJI is still a one-person operation. I handle everything from research, development, part sourcing, testing, and quality assurance to invoicing, packaging, shipping, and pre-/post-sales customer support. All of this, in addition to my "day job." So I squeeze in email replies whenever I can.

Generally speaking, I do my best to reply to customer inquiries and orders within 24 hours. However, it is not uncommon for me to reply after 48-72 hours depending on the volume of inquiries and other tasks on my plate. I appreciate your patience and understanding while I grow AJI to the point of being able to hire other folks to help out.

If you have not received an invoice or reply after 48 hours, please don't hesitate to follow up with me by email: joe@averagejoeinnovations.com

No. Powerblock® is a trademark and property of Powerblock, Inc. The company is not involved with the development, marketing, or sales of Average Joe Innovations product upgrades. It is not affiliated with AJI in any way, and Average Joe product fixes and upgrades are in no way endorsed by Powerblock.