Counterfeit Clubs - BEWARE!!

[gills]

I just confirmed the serial number with Taylor Made...my driver is real. *phew*

I was under the impression that TM couldn't verify the authenticity of your club even with a serial number. Plus, I would imagine a counterfeiter would be able to get legit serial numbers and add them onto their clubs w/o much deliberation.

How exactly did you confirm it? Check out TM's link about knock-offs and counterfeits: http://www.taylormadegolf.com/custom...ce.asp?#Q47724 This is starting to stress me out because I just bought a R7 superquad from ebay and now i'm skeptical. It was 242.50 w/ shipping and the guy didn't have a picture of the club itself. Just one of those manufacturer pics. However, he's been on ebay for 8 years with the same name and has 22000 feedback with a 99.3% approval and I emailed a previous buyer who got the same club as me and he's confident that it's the real deal. I'm keeping my fingers crossed until i receive, regardless.

[SpacklersEdge]

I was under the impression that TM couldn't verify the authenticity of your club even with a serial number. Plus, I would imagine a counterfeiter would be able to get legit serial numbers and add them onto their clubs w/o much deliberation.

I think I know the seller you are referring to, and if it's the one I think it is, you're okay I think. Obviously in my case I should have bought from him. PM me and I will tell you the name of the guy I think is 100% legit. Although I can't confirm since I have not actually gotte na club from him.

[gills]

I think I know the seller you are referring to, and if it's the one I think it is, you're okay I think. Obviously in my case I should have bought from him. PM me and I will tell you the name of the guy I think is 100% legit. Although I can't confirm since I have not actually gotte na club from him.

PM sent. The only negative feedback this guy has received is from some ignored emails and stuff like that.

[gills]

Also, he is located out of St. Louis and the package left from St. Louis as well, not China. Still, you never know and i'm not sure if the price i paid is 'too good to be true.' I think it's borderline...

[Maverick]

See my first post, the club is currently "en route". I originally opened a "dispute", but because the user was removed from eBay, it was automatically escalated to a "claim".

Sounds a little different than the way I approached it. Just as long as your dispute matches with the problem at hand you should be ok. I jumped fof the handle and as soon a sI found out the seller was bogus, (his PayPal address was in China) I filed for non-receipt (assuming he wasn't going to send anything) but he ended up sending me the bogus TM driver..and thus, according to PayPal policy, I really didn't have a non-receipt claim since I got the club..even though it was bogus.

The kicker here is that PayPal wouldn't let me go back and ammend the claim to the correct one..item not as described. PayPal is good for legit tranactions but horrible when it comes to the claim/dispute area. Hope your goes well.

[SpacklersEdge]

Sounds a little different than the way I approached it. Just as long as your dispute matches with the problem at hand you should be ok. I jumped fof the handle and as soon a sI found out the seller was bogus, (his PayPal address was in China) I filed for non-receipt (assuming he wasn't going to send anything) but he ended up sending me the bogus TM driver..and thus, according to PayPal policy, I really didn't have a non-receipt claim since I got the club..even though it was bogus.

I may be in this same situation though. Although the seller did contact me today and tell me the club is coming from China because "supply is low in US". Huh? Also says it is authentic. So, we'll see when it shows up. He also said if there is a problem when I get the item to let him know. So, it may be possible for me to teturn it if I don't have a good feeling.

[teal]

I feel bad - supply low in the US - Dicks here in town has about 25 of them on the rack. I am sure we aren't sitting on a honey pot of TM drivers either.

Good luck.

[SpacklersEdge]

I feel bad - supply low in the US - Dicks here in town has about 25 of them on the rack. I am sure we aren't sitting on a honey pot of TM drivers either.

Right? Well, as long as the guy is scared enough to admit it and give me my money back then I will be okay with the result.

[SpacklersEdge]

I was under the impression that TM couldn't verify the authenticity of your club even with a serial number. Plus, I would imagine a counterfeiter would be able to get legit serial numbers and add them onto their clubs w/o much deliberation.

I called Taylor Made, they are more than helpful over there, understanding this hurts them badly. They said I could call in the serial number when I ge the club and they can tell me if it is authentic. Unfortunately though, the copiers will use a real serial number they get off of a real club and make multiple copies of them. so it is not a 100% safe way to tell.

[Chief Broom]

I've recently invested in a new set of clubs since taking up the sport again. I did a lot of research on line and Ebay specifically in order to compare prices. I wasn't opposed to buying slightly used clubs in order to save money, but in the end I wound up buying new from a local big box store (Dick's Sporting Goods). Quite simply I wasn't impressed with the cost savings I was seeing on Ebay, even for used equipment. I purchased older models that were on clearance: Wilson Di7 irons, TM R7 Draw driver and fairway woods, and a R7 Draw 3 hybrid. I wound up paying Dick's what I would have paid on Ebay for used stuff. That alone made buying from Dick's a no brainer, plus I didn't have to worry about getting ripped off with bogus stuff.

[teal]

I've recently invested in a new set of clubs since taking up the sport again. I did a lot of research on line and Ebay specifically in order to compare prices. I wasn't opposed to buying slightly used clubs in order to save money, but in the end I wound up buying new from a local big box store (Dick's Sporting Goods). Quite simply I wasn't impressed with the cost savings I was seeing on Ebay, even for used equipment. I purchased older models that were on clearance: Wilson Di7 irons, TM R7 Draw driver and fairway woods, and a R7 Draw 3 hybrid. I wound up paying Dick's what I would have paid on Ebay for used stuff. That alone made buying from Dick's a no brainer, plus I didn't have to worry about getting ripped off with bogus stuff.

That's what I am finding as well. Ebay offers the chance for me to save 4-10 bucks over new it seems and that's for used stuff. 4 bucks is cheap insurance when you buy from a big box place.

Still hoping and sniffing for a deal on a Cameron though.....

[DDBowdoin]

I love picking up older models that are still in good shape

my next purchase will more than likely be a set of 52,56,60 callaway vintage forged + wedges for 125 plus shipping in good condition

I have a 48 degree callaway that a friend gave me and I love the club, not as much spin as my SM vokeys but its not a big difference

[SpacklersEdge]

That's what I am finding as well. Ebay offers the chance for me to save 4-10 bucks over new it seems and that's for used stuff. 4 bucks is cheap insurance when you buy from a big box place.

Really, you can get drivers, legit ones, for 20% or more off. That's more like 60-70 dollars. I got my iron set when it was 700 in the store for 500.

[clemsontiger]

I will definely keep that in mind. I am glad that mine clubs came custom from the factory, or at least my irons.

[scooterguitar]

I've recently been doing a considerable amount of ebaying with clubs. I go for the actual big boys of golf on there that have 1'000's of positives, usually at 98% of higher with very few negatives, and usually the negatives are from slow ship or goof-up which is easy to see happening when you are dealing with hundreds of orders each day.
Now I am all for supporting local shops (in all aspects) and would prefer to get it locally, but I buy used, for example...one set fo clubs I saved $150 plus an extra wedge included. Saved $450 vs. new on one iron set and just saved under $500 on another iron set. (I'm buying used, trying/comparing, and then gonna put the non-keeper back on ebay.
I ask all sellers (some have authentic gurantee on auction page) if they are indeed real 100%.

[Chief Broom]

Really, you can get drivers, legit ones, for 20% or more off. That's more like 60-70 dollars. I got my iron set when it was 700 in the store for 500.

It really depends on what you are looking at. Even now the R7 Draw woods and hybirds are going for more on Ebay than what I payed at Dick's brand new. I did see some iron sets going for a decent discount compared to new, but in the end I felt better about buying new rather than taking a chance in order to save maybe $100. If you're looking for an item that is hot you can expect the bidding to wind up pretty close to retail. At least that has been my experience.

[Guest]

I was actually about to buy a set of Ping Eye 2's off of craigslist, but became skeptical when I saw only 1 club had a serial number, on the 4 iron. I called Ping with the serial number and he told me all about the clubs, that it was sold as a 3-9 Iron, PW, set. However, this guy selling to me had a set 2-9, PW. So I am now under the assumption that he has all bootleg irons to sell, with an authentic 4 iron. Is this the most likely scenario?

The Ping rep told me that EVERY ping iron that leaves the factory has a serial number on it. I did some more research to see that apparently Taylormade's only have a serial number on their 5 iron. Does anybody know if at some point (contradictive to what Ping says) Ping made irons with only a serial number on the 4 iron? Do different companies do this as well? Any input would be appreciated before I make my decision.

[teal]

I was actually about to buy a set of Ping Eye 2's off of craigslist, but became skeptical when I saw only 1 club had a serial number, on the 4 iron. I called Ping with the serial number and he told me all about the clubs, that it was sold as a 3-9 Iron, PW, set. However, this guy selling to me had a set 2-9, PW. So I am now under the assumption that he has all bootleg irons to sell, with an authentic 4 iron. Is this the most likely scenario?

Why would you doubt what the PING rep has to say? I mean he would more than likely know what is and isn't PING policy and I am sure with the explosion of on-line places to buy clubs they have heard the question more than once. I am sure they have their answer down as to just what is and isn't shipped from PING with a serial number.