Fake Callaways?

I have been toying with the idea of buying some new clubs for some time, having at last started to shave  a few shots off my handicap. I had intended to go the whole hog and get measured for something, but given that I'm 5'10 and pretty much average in every way i decided, following the advice of one of my playing buddies, to take advantage of some of the amazing deals on the internet.

Golf Direct take some beating, I must say, but when you look further afield, there are even better bargains, apparently. The site I found was called Golf18.com. On the face of it it appears rto be American, and it has amazing 24 hour online assistance.

To cut a long story short, I have ordered a set of Callaway X-24's, an Ft-iZ driver, fairway wood and 2 diablo hybrids for £620, a cool £300 less than any UK site could manage.

However, since ordering, 2 things have caused me to worry about this. Firstly, Callaway have apparently forbidden internet sale of the X-24 until December, and secondly, the shipping company's tracking information is in Chinese!

I am beginning to wonder whether I have just ordered fake golf clubs, especially having read all the stuff about the number of fake clubs coming out of China.

Has anybody had any dealings with Golf18.com, or any information that migth enlighten me?

doesn't sound good Peter.

When I was looking for my Callaways I also came across a few of these sights which advertised very low prices.  I tried contacting a few of them to see if they were genuine and I either got no reply or a not very convincing reply.  If it seems too good to be true it usually is.  I opted to get mine from Direct Golf so that I was certain I was getting what I was paying for.  I've had a look for golf18.com but can't even find the site.

As far as I know you don't get the same level of protection with a debit card as with a CC.  With a credit card the money is not yours when it was transferred therefore they are liable for problems with the purchase if the supplier refuses to honour it's debt - refuse (with good reason - ie fake goods) to pay and the onus is on the CC company to get it back, and they will.  With a debit card the money comes straight out of your bank account, it's as good as cash, so it's buyer beware I'm afraid. 

 Peter, I do believe that you do get the same protection on a VISA debit card as a credit card. It's called reverse charging (some of the call people do not realise this) and all the companies signed up to this. 

 Sounds like these particular Chinese are incredibly inSCREWtable. Still all might be well. Good luck.

Many of these fake clubs are actually the same clubs as the real thing.

For instance, Ping will get a chinese factory to make so many clubs for them.

The factory continue to make the clubs after the original run has finished.

They then sell the clubs as genuine clubs, which they are all apart from the serial number.

But under no circumstances will Ping acknowledge these clubs as being genuine!

Russ

You're nearly right Russ, but underestimate the duplicity of the major club manufacturers.  The conversation would go something like this:

Ping:  How much for a run of 50,000 of our new club heads?

Chinese Manufacturer:   Oooh, that'll work out at $1.45 per head for that quantity.

P:  That's a bit expensive, we'll only be making  $1.5m on that range - any way we can make it cheaper?

CM:  Up the production run to 100,000 and they'll cost 80 cents each

P:  We'll never sell the extra 50,000 - they're our top of the range set so we need to keep them exclusive.

CM:  Don't worry about that, we'll take the others off your hands.

P:  Ah, I see.  No serial numbers and stuff though?

CM:  Of course not, but you'll still pretend to be outraged by the forgeries market but not take any action?

P:  Sure thing.  Business as usual then.

CM:  Yep.  Trebles all round! 

Take a look at the trolleys on offer at the above site. They even sell a Stewart X3 trolley - not called that obviously.

The site are not selling authentic gear.  That is manufacturer approved, should I say.

As above, any difference in quality may be arguable.

Oh, also the protection offered by a credit card is far more than a debit card as you are actually borrowing the money to pay for goods and you are covered by the consumer credit act, not the case with a debit card so your money may be as good as gone!

After this long running story, what was the eventual outcome. 'Fake' or 'Genuine' Clubs.

Peter I don't know you and I hope this doesn't ruin your day. I also hope I ain't too late.

I dealt with Golfstore18 (Also mygolfwholesale.com) ............ FAKE FAKE and more FAKE

It cost me money that took months to get back through Paypal. Who have now struck them off their client list.

DON'T be cheated out of your cash.

Also spread the word to other golfers.