Ebay Pitfalls

[brgolf]

Hi folks,

I've been considering buying a set of used irons on ebay. This is something I never would have considered before but when I saw my £250 driver (2003) for £10 I began to realise there may be value to be had. So I've been looking at AP2 irons 3-PW which seem to cost about £550+ and there they are on ebay for £350 used. I've never made this kind of purchase on Ebay before and wonder if there are any notable pitfalls.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Titleist-AP2-I...item20b13778cd

[Kingfisher]

Looks pretty legit to me. The seller has 100% feedback and people so there's 138 other folks who have been happy with him. I've bought a few things of ebay and sold a few myself, all with no issue, but no doubt there are a few bum deals out there.

These appear to be the older model of the AP2 - I don't take much notice of Titleist clubs, but I know they just brought out a new version. This could explain why the price is a bit lower than you may expect - everybody wants to buy the latest version!

If you're not sure, throw a couple of questions at the guy...

[brgolf]

I have now identified a deal for 2010 AP2s at £430. In truth I am far less convinced about this seller although his feedback seems fine there isn't a lot of it. I have asked him to confirm the clubs are new. Despite the threadbare nature of his advertisement some of the people who give feedback on him have availed of similar deals and seem happy.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Titleist-AP2-2...item1e5c458f3a

Think I might bid. Thanks for the information kingfisher. Overall there is no way that I can be 100% sure until I receive the item.

[rickp]

I have purchased many items including golf clubs from Ebay. So far have been lucky no serious problems. Good luck and remember to check out the feedback.

[ET-Taylor]

they are the old model as they have PX shafts and they dont have 710 on the hosel

[brgolf]

Thanks for the info.

Unfortunately I have come across a site mygolfpurchase.com which looks in every way reputable and professional selling the AP2 2010 for £300. However some research suggests these could be chinese fakes. Unfortunately this does not put my mind at ease for any purchase no matter the price unless there is some easy way to prove a golf club is genuine.

Any particular way to do that- serial number perhaps?

[shades9323]

  brgolf said:

Thanks for the info.

Run away from this site. They are not legit if that is the price. As for your second ebay auction, I would stay away from that as well. Low levels of feed back and no pictures at all is not a good scenario. There is nothing describing the clubs condition at all.

[stebed]

Take a look at the golfloftuk.co.uk, This guy will source any clubs you want, I got mine from him.

[brgolf]

Cheers.

In conclusion I have decided to avoid ebay and avoid any websites that I just don't know that well. I might have one alternative- to get my friend in USA to bring a set over when he's coming if they happen to be signficantly cheaper across the pond!

[shades9323]

  brgolf said:

Cheers.

There is no need to avoid ebay. You just need to be smart about your purchases on ebay. There are too many great deals to avoid it all together.

[anthony]

I bought my irons on ebay for about 60% of retail. They came brand new, in the box, still wrapped in plastic. I don't know how people can sell new clubs so cheap on ebay, but there are tons of deals to be had.

[alomar123]

If worst comes to worst you ask any shop to verify the clubs, and if they are fake you get all your money back, including shipping.

[alomar123]

  brgolf said:

Thanks for the info.

Ill give you advice, if you ever see that live help line on the site, they sell fakes. They all use the same standard help line. Those are fakes.

[enis750]

dont be scared on ebay bro
i have bought 97% of my bag from ebay/TST or WRX.com (exception - putter & the bag itself)
i am in around $1000 for my whole set up and the shaft alone in my driver is $400 retail

*driver w shaft-$225
*fwy metals-$75 for the pair
*3i-$35
*4-PW-$260
*Wedges-$145
*Putter-$169
*Bag-$119

Total - $1028 shipped to my door

there are deals to be had my friend
i wouldnt be scared of 100% feedback from a seller w 138 transactions, thats a lot
plus your protected when you pay w paypal

that first quction looks legit to me
if your worried about the "legitimacy" (if thats a word) get the S/N from the seller and call Titleist to verify it

[robbo323]

I have had good luck with ebay myself. I bought my Scotty on there still in its wrapping and for about $230. My 909 I just got used for right at $200. My 907 I got used also and with a little blemish near the hosel I got it for about $135 about a year ago. Here are my tips from buying: real photos only, 99-100% feedback and a lot of customers. Also I make sure that the sellers positive feedback has been for a long time. The guy I just bought my 909 from has 100% feedback by over 200 buyers. When buying on ebay you just have to be smart. No one here would believe a 909D3 with an Oban shaft all brand new for only $99 its just stupid fake. Just like no one would believe a Circle T Scotty Cameron for only $200-$300, we all know those things are generally $500-$700 putters depending on the condition and headcover. Anyway bud good luck finding a set of used irons.

[HytrewQasdfg]

ebay is great if you follow a few simple rules.

1. Know how much you would pay for an item if you just ordered it off the internet. I can't count the number of times I've seen people bidding more on ebay than they could just go out to a web site and pay for it.

2. The "buy it now" is not the retail going price. I'm convinced some people set it high to get you to overbid.

3. Pick a few favorite vendors and stick with them. Golf equipment has a very high fraud rate on ebay (imho), but there are still plenty of good vendors on there also. Stay with people you know and trust (even if it means passing on a few "deals") and you won't ge burned.

4. Show some common sense. I recently bid $35 for a Wilson/Staff fybrid from a vendor I wasn't familiar with. I figured (1) I could afford to lose $35, and (2) the odds are low that people would be creating fake Wilson/Staff equipment (because it isn't that expensive to begin with). Had it been a Ping hybrid I would have passed, because the odds that I could get a genuine Ping hybrid for only $35 are pretty low.

[bocbass]

I've bought a few clubs on ebay, and haven't had any problems. However I wasn't going after the more high end stuff that would have a much higher chance of fakes.

[shades9323]

  alomar123 said:

Ill give you advice, if you ever see that live help line on the site, they sell fakes. They all use the same standard help line. Those are fakes.

That is not a very good rule. GPPgolf has the live help line and they are very legitimate. A better rule is if they are selling current line clubs at a price too good to be true, they are fakes.