How can you tell if a club is a fake?

[level5s]

I have been filling my day having a nose around ebay.

Reading a number of listing where they guarantee 100% authentic clubs or you can return them and get money back.

How can you tell if clubs are real?

 

[Andy]

Difficult I'm sure from details \ pics on ebay m8, but you could ask for serial numbers and contact manufacturer.

Andy

 

[SammmeBee]

Watch out for anything made by PONG....

 

[Herbie]

Watch out for anything made by PONG....

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Most sets have a serial number usually on the 7 iron although this is usually only stuck on so may have faded or come off in use. The reason I never buy any clubs of e-bay and would rather pay the extra is that

a) I like to hit them before I part with any cash
b) I feel that I can trust most retailers like AG to have legitimate stock and that even with online stores (118 golf, golfonline etc) I feel that the legal process should the gear turn out to be snide would be less complicated than trying to deal with an anonymous (or hard to trace) e-bay dealer.

 

[Basher]

Buying off ebay can be a lottery, you can't be 100% sure you're getting the genuine article. Most ebayers still want top whack for new golf clubs, many of which can be bought at comparable prices from the likes of AG, DG etc without the postage costs.

Don't buy;

Cloveland
Callawax
Trailer Made
Tightlist
Mizoono
Adums
Rom
Nyke
Pang
KinCobra
Willsun

 

[Imurg]

The only way is to get the serial number(s) of the club(s) and contact the manufacturer. They should come back to you fairly quickly.

Just because a club has a serial number on it there's no guarantee is real.

 

[SammmeBee]

Virtually all the manufacturers have someone who 'watches' ebay and the tinterent for people who are selling their stuff and also fake stuff - some more so than others....

You will also find that manufacturers will also 'buy' stuff themselves to stop such activity...

The usual story of 'if its too good to be true then it probably is' is about right....

I have bought and sold (more selling) and there are people out their who are quite frankily just in to try to get something for half nothing but 99% of people are decent...There are bargains to be had and it's like anything, bid what you are happy to pay for something and if you get it well done - sometimes though it is the thrill of the chase, as opposed to getting served by a monotone, spotty teenager in one of them horrible chain stores....

 

[Smiffy]

Buying off ebay can be a lottery, you can't be 100% sure you're getting the genuine article. Most ebayers still want top whack for new golf clubs, many of which can be bought at comparable prices from the likes of AG, DG etc without the postage costs.

Don't buy;

Cloveland
Callawax
Trailer Made
Tightlist
Mizoono
Adums
Rom
Nyke
Pang
KinCobra
Willsun

What about DM though.
There OK yeah?

 

[ricardodaintino]

The usual story of 'if its too good to be true then it probably is' is about right....

I've been bitten on ebay before, bought a triball putter as the blurb and refund policy etc all seemed legitimate. Got the club and it was a mess, it was a fake chinese import and the face was worn and battered.

The seller was loath to give me a refund until I did a bit of digging and googled his seller ID. Turned out he owned a shop and I basically explained the laws about conterfit sales and how it make affect his business and reputation above and beyond ebay. Full refund followed shortly.

My advice; don't buy unless it has an actual image of the product and always ask for details like place of original purchase and serial number. Not fool proof but at least gives the seller a few hurdles to slip up on.

 

[Parmo]

In 2007 I started playing and saw 3 Cleveland CG12 wedges for £140 or best offer. Half of men knew that they retailed for about £70 each but thought it was a bargin, anyway I offered £100 and it was accepted, yes too good to be true!! Anyway after waiting 3 weeks for them they arrived, I just looked at them and could tell, the amount of stickers on them and when peeling them off it was like proper glue they had used and no matter what I did it wouldnt come off. I used them for about 6 weeks and as a noob couldnt really tell, but the half of me knowing they where fakes couldnt lie to myself, so I emailed the seller stating I had taken said clubs to my pro and he advised they where fakes!! I got an email back saying they would "look into their suppliers" and refund me asap, got my cash back and left them in the shed.

I was lucky and now only buy balls, tees and the likes from EBay, anything else comes from my pro, AG or online stores.

 

[CarpeDiem]

You can be sure if your Ping stuff is real as you can only buy from them direct, if I understand correctly.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think JC is right and that Ping don't sell via online stores

 

[Range_Ball]

i know that we can all get bargins on the internet. My advice if it sounds to good to be true then you are probably going to get had unless you are very lucky. my mate won a Taylormade TP burner on e bay and a ping G10 3 wood total cost he paid £140.00 for both you can make up your own mind.

RB