Very suspicious of callaway x24's from golfetail.

[bigdogg2002]

This is noe the reply I got from Chris Witham of Callaway golf (If indeed he does work for Callaway)

Hi Derric,

Unfortunately once it misses the scan there is no way to input it which means the serial number can never be checked over the phone. Truthfully whenever we do check serial numbers we always let people know we can not authenticate anything over the phone and even though the serial number matches it doesn’t guarantee anything anyways since the counterfeiters are now counterfeiting serial #'s as well. Ive seen many numbers match and come in and be counterfeit so you're not really missing much. If there is ever a question, a club can always be sent into us to authenticate.

As far as the serial number on the shaft goes… that was mis-information. The shafts are True Temper shafts so any information that is underneath the grip will be True Temper info and will have nothing to do with Callaway Golf. I hope this helps.

Thanks,

CW

Should I take his word? Send them in? Kind of stinks that I have to pay for shipping and send it in when I should have got a set that was in the system in the first place. What happens if down the road I would want to sell them? What am I suppose to tell the buyer?? That he has to take my word that they are real because I took another guys word? Kind of sloppy busines if you ask me.

[B-Con]

Can a Callaway representative directly confirm to you that this store is an authorized retailer? This is the main question. If they are not, that would conflict with what they told you and they are liars. If Callaway vouches for them unquestioningly, which is what the forwarded e-mail said, then you should feel comfortable with them. But it's still in your right to send them back. Even if you have to pay shipping, if you're going to play the clubs for a few years it may be worth the peace of mind.

[newtogolf]

Does his reply include a signature that has his physical address, phone number, and e-mail address.  It seems strange that this "Chris" from Callaway has nothing else to do but respond to this reseller's customers inquiries.  I'd request a phone number and call him to ensure you're speaking to someone in Callaway and not getting played.

[ajschn06]

Pick a club from the set that you don't use as much and send it to them......it's the only way to be sure and feel confident...

[tristanhilton85]

I was pretty sure that they were real... Now I'm not so sure... this link is to the Callaway Golf Website where they have a list of Authorized Online Retailers... Golfetail is not on that list...

http://locator.callawaygolf.com/global/en-us/callaway/callaway-authorized-online-retailers.html

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by Shindig

I suspect the letter from Callaway would be enough for me in that situation.

I didn't even need to see that letter - I was aleady convinced by satisfaction level with your new belt.

[Kujan]

I'd contact Callaway and give them the serial number and see if it's in the range of possibility.  The numbers should be sequential and they should be able to see a gap that they missed.

[Shindig]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

I didn't even need to see that letter - I was aleady convinced by satisfaction level with your new belt.

Can't forget the belt!  Although the wedge is more likely the part that convinced me the first time.

Although I now don't see them on the list of Nike's authorized online dealers!  Yikes, I am somewhat worried.  Maybe I should ask them...

[Kujan]

Inspect the clubs and the shafts and see if you see any flaws.  If they look legit, they are legit.  Plus if the dealer is reputable they wouldn't sell fakes.

[bigdogg2002]

I have inspected them and I don't see any flaws, although I have read that golf pro ahev inspected some fakes and had a hard time telling that they were fakes. I am going to e-mail callaway and see if GolfEtail in indeed a authorized retailor. Also shindig let me know what you hear about your nike's. If nothing else I am going to send in a club that I hit the least (proly 4 iron) just to ease my mind because I do plan on having them for a while. Thanks for all the advice from everyone.

[clubchamp]

I don't understand how a major club manufacturer doesn't know what serial numbers it puts on it's clubs. Why would it matter if it was scanned or not why wouldn't the number be logged right after production? I just can't believe that callaway has clubs go out the door and they don't have any record on the club that ridiculous. I don't even blame golfetail I would tell callaway it's their fault and they can either exchange the set or pay to have me ship a club to verify. Plus if golfetail turns out to be an authorized dealer I would be upset if I was them at callaway for creating would could be a lot of customer complaints about serial numbers. I'm callaway fan but it sounds like they need to tighten up a little.

[newtogolf]

Originally Posted by clubchamp

I don't understand how a major club manufacturer doesn't know what serial numbers it puts on it's clubs.

That's what doesn't make sense to me as well.  The serial numbers must be stamped at production or inspection and registered.  If there's a pallet of clubs without serial numbers that I'd think that means they were a) stolen, b) didn't pass inspection,  c) didn't come from a callaway factory.   I also find it suspect that the e-mails are being passed from callaway through the reseller to the customer, why isn't Callaway corresponding with their customer?

[iPutt]

I feel like there's a simpler solution to this than anyone realizes. Take about three clubs from the set, bring them to your local golf galaxy or dicks or wherever (authorized callaway dealer), and have them analyzed side by side to the matching clubs from a store set. I'm sure that wherever you bring them wouldn't have a problem with this, and it would yield a straightforward answer. If they aren't fake, everything is fine and you can explain that to future buyers if you have to. If they are fake, then you have a very strong argument to get your money back from the site. By doing it this way, you wouldn't need to send the clubs out, and you don't have to live with the doubt in the back of your mind.

Also, apparently you should also check the weight of the clubs side by side along with the aesthetics. There is supposedly a very noticeable difference in the fake clubs.

[clubchamp]

Originally Posted by newtogolf

That's what doesn't make sense to me as well.  The serial numbers must be stamped at production or inspection and registered.  If there's a pallet of clubs without serial numbers that I'd think that means they were a) stolen, b) didn't pass inspection,  c) didn't come from a callaway factory.   I also find it suspect that the e-mails are being passed from callaway through the reseller to the customer, why isn't Callaway corresponding with their customer?

The other thing I found odd is in his email he pretty much says the serial number is useless because of counterfeiters. I mean if thats their stance than why even use serial numbers anymore since they are not a good way to verify your clubs. I'm not saying the clubs you bought are by any means fake but all the emails just seem rather vague to truly be coming from a callaway rep. I can tell you I've called to verify some clubs and they didn't tell me that verifying over the phone is a waste of time.

[tristanhilton85]

Originally Posted by clubchamp

I don't understand how a major club manufacturer doesn't know what serial numbers it puts on it's clubs. Why would it matter if it was scanned or not why wouldn't the number be logged right after production? I just can't believe that callaway has clubs go out the door and they don't have any record on the club that ridiculous. I don't even blame golfetail I would tell callaway it's their fault and they can either exchange the set or pay to have me ship a club to verify. Plus if golfetail turns out to be an authorized dealer I would be upset if I was them at callaway for creating would could be a lot of customer complaints about serial numbers. I'm callaway fan but it sounds like they need to tighten up a little.

I'm just not so sure that they are an authorized retailer anymore and that is what is upsetting to me.  According to the original letter that he recieved (the one that was forwarded to him through Golfetail) they are but according to the Callaway site they are not... Kind of makes me think that Golfetail may have made up the letter themselves and that Chris W. may not even exist.

[zeg]

Personally, I would communicate directly with Callaway on this issue. They do warn on their "Counterfeit Club Alert" pages that the presence of a serial number does not guarantee authenticity, so it's not entirely implausible they might not be able to guarantee authenticity simply based on a serial number. It's quite possible that good counterfeiters are fairly sophisticated at faking serial numbers. I don't know how Callaway handles serial numbers, but it's not always the case that manufacturers actually scan every item as it leaves the production line or that they even track specific numbers that early in the process. It's possible that rather than just numbering the clubs, they generate numbers according to a formula that can be tested for "authenticity" without having access to a central database. If so, it may be that authorized retailers do become involved to either verify the serial numbers they receive or that they sell, but that's just my speculating... Their page is below, in case you haven't seen it. I'd call or email one of the contacts on that page. http://www.callawaygolf.com/Global/en-US/CustomerService/ConsumerAlert-CounterfeitClubs.html

[sigfan2340]

You can make this easier and just return the clubs for a refund and buy from a retailer listed on Callaway's website. This would give you piece of mind and know you have the real thing. Sometimes paying a little more is worth it...........

[bigdogg2002]

Originally Posted by tristanhilton85

I'm just not so sure that they are an authorized retailer anymore and that is what is upsetting to me.  According to the original letter that he recieved (the one that was forwarded to him through Golfetail) they are but according to the Callaway site they are not... Kind of makes me think that Golfetail may have made up the letter themselves and that Chris W. may not even exist.

.

That exactly what I thought was up, that they had made up a fake e-mail account and that Chris W did not exist. So I e-mail Callaway directly from their web page and asked if a Chris W. worked for them. They e-mailed me back saying that Chris did indeed work for them and that he was a customer service representive. It still seems kind of fishy to me so I will proly still send a club or 2 in to Callaway just I don't think about it. Seems like an awful strange way to do business and I would still like to know if GolfEtail in authorized retailor. I have tomorrow off so I am going to make some phone calls and find out. And this might be me being really paranoid but I am going to call Callaway and ask to speak to Chris himself and make sure he is the one actually e-mailing me. If GolfEtail knows there is a Chris W working for Callaway it would a way to for them to just say that and them take the chance of people not going any further and just believing them.....if that makes any sense.