ten Means Not To Go Scammed on EBAY!

Nosotros did a random survey of 100 golf game society listings on EBAY a couple months ago and our "Golf Club Scam Alert System"   found that there was a high-probability that 24 of those listings were FAKES! (24% of the social club we surveyed were imitation)

Since this has go such a trouble we idea it would exist a proficient thought to help yous know what you are getting when you purchase something online. So today we are going to testify you x ways not to get scammed when you are purchasing equipment online. But first, we want to give y'all the groundwork on how this whole illegal operation all got started and why it is so rampant correct now.

How & Where Golf Club Counterfeiting All Got Started

During my eleven years in the golf game manufacture I have seen an explosion in golf game club counterfeiters.

Why? Well there are many reasons why this became such a popular profession and one worth serious jail time and heavy fines. It all started when foundries overseas started to get the majority of the golf game society production concern from the United States. Communist china and Taiwan began to get almost all the work in regards to golf lodge manufacturing nearly two decades ago. And now…the US produces next to nothing and the reason is toll and efficiency. The engineers and foundries overseas for the most office are finely oiled machines…they practice incredible work at unbeatable prices. They are very good, extremely creative and incredibly hardworking. The majority of their workers put in 12-hour days, seven-days a week, and are paid only near $150 a calendar month. But…and this is a big simply…they tin brand up to $10,000 for stealing an original design by an OEM…which is a huge motive when y'all consider the fact that it is more than they make in 5 years!

Secondly, and no less of import to the cause of golf lodge counterfeiting is the fact that and so many people now touch this production or design before it is completed. There are now lots of eye-men involved in the production of a golf game club…believe it or non in that location might be over 75 people touching a pattern before it hits the shelves. And this leaves much more room for mischief. This is where the majority of the shadiness begins. There is much less control when lets say a visitor like Taylormade gives its blueprint to a business firm overseas compared to i in its ain backyard.

The counterfeiting of golf clubs actually began in Taiwan although after the Taiwanese government started enforcing intellectual-property laws and the Taiwanese wages went upwardly compared to Cathay'southward, the roles reversed and now Mainland china is the main producer of counterfeit golf clubs. They brand almost 85% of all the counterfeit golf clubs on the market today. Although…ironically many are funded by Taiwanese investors…interesting huh. Employees make such footling money, that they're will ever be stealing and the selling of molds going on in this business. Even though many foundries perform daily torso searches with metal detectors at every entrance an exit and security cameras which sentinel over them similar hawks during their shifts…information technology still won't make a divergence. There is merely too much to proceeds…the market for this has merely gotten too large.

So, why practise we keep using these foundries to brand our clubs yous ask? Well the big OEM's will tell you…the benefits and rewards (profits…go figure) are just much larger then the risk of someone knocking off their club. If they didn't use these foundries, drivers instead of costing $300 would run you nearly $1000 smackeroos! And iron sets…shewwww fogetaboutit!

So How Do You Avert Buying A Counterfeit Club? How To Spot A Faux!

We spoke to reps from every major proper noun brand golf club company on the market place so put together a comprehensive checklist for you lot to utilise the side by side time y'all purchase something of EBAY or from any online retailer for that matter. And if you don't think these fakes are showing up in the big retail stores…guess again. Almost all of the big chains have had to implement mandatory inspections of every club that comes through their shop because the quality of the counterfeits are getting then expert. And that is why we put together the most comprehensive checklist.

GOLF CLUB MANUFACTURERS

  • Callaway i-877-CALLAWAY (877-225-5292)
  • Taylor made one.800.888.CLUB (2582)
  • Ping i.800.4.PING.FIT (ane.800.474.6434)
  • Mizuno 1.800.966.1211
  • Cleveland (800) 999-6263
  • Nike Golf 888 799 6453

Examples Of Counterfeits (Via GolfBidder.co.uk)

FAKE Club TEST #1 – Callaway X460 Driver

One of these is one of Callaway's superb long-hitting X460 driver manufactured from pure titanium. The other is a cheap imitation which hits the ball considerably less distance. The imitation, here, is on the left – note how the number nine denoting the loft is a slightly different font – and how Callaway written on the side is less defined. Note too that the plastic ferrule – which covers the join between club head and shaft – is slightly thinner on the false.

counterfeit golf clubs
FAKE CLUB Examination #2 – TaylorMade r7 460 Driver

The heads on the TaylorMade r7 460 drivers are uncannily similar – even the fonts are pretty shut – although the shade of orangish on the crescent isn't quite right. (The counterfeit is the on the left by the way).

counterfeit ebay golf clubs

False CLUB TEST #3 – Nike Sumo SQ 5900 Driver

To the untrained centre, the counterfeit driver (left) is not immediately apparent; the main giveaways are that the xanthous paint is non quite the correct shade – and the casting of the raised triangular shards within the yellow department are non as crisp and proud equally the genuine article.

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