How can you spot a fake?

[wicket94]

Hi all
In my quest for a new driver I've been searching ebay. A couple of drivers - R7 superquads caught my eye.
However, considering the level of feedback and the number of clubs available etc I'm concerned they might be fake.
How can you tell?
ebay items - 200166647899 and 280166639430
They might be genuine but what do you think?
wicket

 

[GB72]

Should always look out for sellers with a large number of clubs and no connection to golf. Also look at the feedback, it will normally be amongst a group of people who leave feedback for each other and also details of the transactions will be hidden.

 

[wicket94]

One of these sellers has never sold anything, as you say no connection to golf. All previous feedback comes from buying items under £1 in the last week or so.
Sometimes these deals are too good to be true - I wonder how many people have bought fake in the past?

 

[medwayjon]

There are a couple of sellers on ebay (I just looked) who have sold a lot of these and sets of callway X20 irons for £150 a set with a free bag. Mmmmmmm.

If it sounds too good to be true then I would be supsicious.

A brand new superquad should be £200 upwards.

Having looked at the item numbers I would definately view these to be fake.

All reputable sellers always say things like 100% genuine guaranteed, money back, I don not sell fakes, etc etc etc.

Personally, I only ever sell on ebay. When buying golf gear I only got to the pro's at my local centregolf shop and range in Chatham Kent. This is my personal choice, I don't bother shopping around as I trust these guys and am proud to support them.

It's amazing what a bit of loyalty will do, a free lesson here and there may wing your way!

To protect yourself only ever buy from a reputable company or if going down the ebay route there are a few genuinly good guys on there who friends have bought from.

 

[tpred]

hi wicket i use 2 or 3 sellers on ebay who is 100% genuine.Ihave bought from them quite a few times and have never had a problem.I even have the telephone numbers for them.i have actualy seen one of these fake superquads up close.A guy came off the course with the clubhead in his hand as it had snapped off cos the shaft was only just in the ferrel,we compared it to my own superquad and the only way you could tell it was a fake was that the weights were not far enough into the club a proper one has them quite far into the head.And some of the paint work was slightly wavy on the yellow line.The guy paid £160 for his and was gutted as the pro told him there was nothing he could do to salvage the club.If you want the sellers names who i buy from get in touch but i would say buy it from your local pro

 

[tpred]

The 2 clubs you have highlighted certainly look dodgy deals to me

 

[brendy]

Surely they have serial numbers?

 

[redmike]

The 2 clubs you have highlighted certainly look dodgy deals to me

agreed! gets a lot of feedback from people no longer regsitered with ebay and on products that cost less than a quid! Very fishy.

 

[tpred]

even if they have serial numbers you are stuffed cos the deal is done they have your money and you have a shite club.Some times you are covered by paypal insurance on ebay but some items arent covered.My mrs had a real bad experience with an r7 driver on ebay which she got for my cousin and that was a fake and paypal refused to refund,its along story but if any one wants to hear it il post it

 

[madandra]

....... All previous feedback comes from buying items under £1 in the last week or so.
Sometimes these deals are too good to be true - I wonder how many people have bought fake in the past?

Don't touch it with a barge pole.

It aint a bargain when you get hee haw for your £70. Buy from retailer or buy a used item.

 

[redmike]

even if they have serial numbers you are stuffed cos the deal is done they have your money and you have a shite club.Some times you are covered by paypal insurance on ebay but some items arent covered.My mrs had a real bad experience with an r7 driver on ebay which she got for my cousin and that was a fake and paypal refused to refund,its along story but if any one wants to hear it il post it

I'd like to hear it

 

[tpred]

My cousin saw an r7 driver on ebay Buy it now £107.+ £15 postage.The seller looked genuine with 100% feedback and was in the uk.(i thought it was a bit dubious)i said to my cousin was he sure and he said to go ahead and buy it.I bought it and paid by paypal. Within 2 hours I received an email from EBay saying the account was highjacked!! I immediately contacted paypal and was advised to make a claim. I raised a claim as item not received(not realising this was incorrect)and sent the email I had receive from EBay to Paypal supporting the account was hijacked.Paypal contact the hijacker!! and was given a tracking number.They said the item was dispatched. It duly arrived and I got the club professional to confirm the club was a fake which it very obviously was.I sent this information along with a crime report number from the police as requested by Paypal.Paypal refused to reimburse me the money as the claim I had made was item not received and not a fake item and I was unable to change my original claim.So even though EBay confirmed the account was hijacked,I got a crime number and also had it confirmed the club was a fake we lost out! I then tried to claim back on my credit card but was told no can do as paypal is a 3rd party and I was not covered. So all in all not a good experience and even after numeous phonecalls to paypal and EBay nooone was interested.If it looks too good to be true beware it is! Dont always assume you can claim your money back either.The club itself was posted from China and was the worst example of a fake you could ever imagine!The picture on EBay was a genuine club but what arrived was completely different!

 

[clubchamp07]

if you want to but golf club's go to your Pro. then you will know what ur getting Never mind penny pinching Just buy the real mccoy................

 

[viscount17]

Can't say I'm fond of ebay at all. I got an email from them saying I was banned when I hadn't even been on the site in two years.
Tried to reply to find out why - either you can't send to them or they can't be bothered to answer.

 

[clubchamp07]

Yeah a mate of mine go stung last year he bought an R7 off ebay and it turned out to be fake. Nothing he could do £150 he paid for it and it wasn't worth the bog it came in.
I always say expect what you pay for.

I bought a trolly off ebay and guess what it lasted 6 rounds I contacted the seller and he gave me a website but the company had gone bust for not paying taxes or something like that......

 

[muttleee]

I have an old set of Titleist DCI 962s which I keep thinking I should try to sell on eBay but I've never used it before and don't know if anyone would buy from someone with no history and no feedback. Having said that, you have to start somewhere! Would I be wasting my time?

 

[madandra]

Muttleee you will get bugger all for them. I started using ebay a few years back and you could get a fair price for stuff but people are wanting things for next to nothing. I once sold a new pair of cricket shoes I got for £2.50 (bulk buy = 200 pairs) and got £54 for them but I don't bother now.

Keep them for nostalgia or try www.adtrader.co.uk

 

[USER1999]

If they are in reasonable nick then golf bidder might buy them. I sold a set of Cleveland TA5s to them, as I couldn't be bothered with ebay. Got £130 for them and an Odessey two ball. Could maybe have got more on ebay, but very easy to do with golfbidder, and no dealing with idiots and swindlers. Better than just stuffing them in the roof. May yet get rid of my R7 this way too.

 

[LynxGolf]

There are no guarantees with eBay.

Manufacturers only sell to registered traders who are either PGA professionals or exisiting store owners (on-line or bricks and mortar).

eBay won't like you for it but ask sellers if you can buy the product from their web-site or see the product in store. You don't ever need to visit, just establish a bona fide trader.

Don't be tempted to check out clubs with a local pro and then buy them on eBay cheaper. Firstly you risk the pro never offering that service again and secondly you could end up with a pile of scrap metal.

 

[Teetotal]

Have only sold one club on ebay - a Taylor Made driver which was about 2 years old and had barely hit it. I got about £80 for it which was better than it rotting away in garage. With ebay there are scams but you have to believe that people are essentially good and honest. I would only buy second hand from real people and never from one of those 'shops' or 'buy it now' as I've been disappointed with the quality.