Ping refusing online sales?

[toonarmy]

Apologies if this has already been raised, but I've noticed today that all the major online retailers are no longer 'selling' Ping equipment.

http://www.onlinegolf.co.uk/pages/ping_internet_policy/index.asp

Now, is it just me or is this just bloomin' insane? Can they really afford to do this? And what if your pro doesn't stock them?

Curious...

 

[SammmeBee]

Counterfit issues I believe.....

 

[Parmo]

Counterfit issues I believe.....

from official sellers???

Seems daft to me, but then again if I can get the same product online cheaper I will.

 

[forefortheday]

Seems strange to me especially with there only being a few custom fit centres across the country?

Are they suggesting that Golf superstore "custom fitting" is better than buying from somewhere like OnlineGolf?

Don't want to re-ignite the whole cf debate but personally I think in 3-4 months time their stance may well be reviewed!

 

[USER1999]

May be they are not selling enough through these outlets. Or may be these outlets are under cutting their traditional retailers who have all complained, or may be their stuff is junk and they have finally withdrawn it all from sale until they make something decent. (You might guess from this that I don't like Ping).

 

[viscount17]

or another possibility, most Ping clubs are (or end up) fitted. Selling through these outlets puts Ping in the position of honouring their retro-fit policy at a loss if the outlets are getting the clubs that much cheaper in the first place.

it could also mean that there might be a change in Ping policy on the horizon - retrofit only if bought through an 'approved' outlet.

all part of controlling your brand I think.

 

[Parmo]

Why withdraw bags and the likes?

 

[viscount17]

didn't know they had. I must say that seems really odd, more like a complete retrenchment, clothing as well?

They haven't been reading a certain magazine have they and got the idea that we're only interested in TM?

 

[USER1999]

That would tie in with their retailers complaining about online price structure. Price fixing, isn't it a marvelous thing.

 

[HTL]

Big Big move by Ping, agree with Parmo why remove bags? However they are probably the easiest to produce fakes.

Will be interesting to see how this goes for them.

 

[theeaglehunter]

It has always been the same hasn't it? As far as I am aware it is purely to stop fakes being sold online- you can still order items from home most places give you a separate order line which you can phone and order your Ping merchandise from. It is not as if you do have to go into a ping stockist to buy their products.

 

[viscount17]

spoke to our proshop this evening about this. it seems that there is or will be a total ban by Ping of online sales, even if advertised by one of their stockists. the story is that an offender will get one warning then they can lose their dealership.