Help On Fake? MP-24 Racket (Pics)

[Pbanto]

Hello,
I know i'm new to this board, but i'm looking for a little help.
I recently bought a MP-24 Off ebay for 58$ plus 15$ shipping:rolleyes: . When I first opened the package, I was a bit skeptical. I wondered if it was a fake, so I decided to search on this board. Some of the qualities on my racket/bag matched with a fake racket, but some didn't. I took some pics (low-qual, compiled into a collage) and I was wondering if you guys could provide me with some helpful insight. Thanks!

http://server5.uploadit.org/files/peebeeanto-bag.JPG

http://server5.uploadit.org/files/peebeeanto-collagegrip.JPG

http://server5.uploadit.org/files/peebeeanto-collageframe.JPG

[Pbanto]

There are a few things I noticed on the racket and i'm not sure if it's regular or not. First of all there is no String Bump. There's just a solid curved part. There's also some blemishes in the paint, like little black spots in the "Muscle Power" part of the head. Additionally, on Yonex'es UK website, they say that the head is Ti Mesh. I saw a different pic of the MP-24 and you can visibly see the weaved part (the silver part of the head). It's solid silver on my racket. The black paint on the head part of the racket is also off. It looks like it ends abruptly and jets up, like a bad paint job.

The grip part is what makes me REALLY think it's a fake. First off, it wasn't shrink wrapped. There was just a plastic cover tightly wrapped around the handle with some Yonex inking and a label on it (I rubbed some of the ink off on the Yonex part). The clairity on the green part the grip is Semi-sharp(REALLY REALLY bad pics), and I can see two faint white bars going across the back of the "Japan" word.
The shaft has painted numbers .:( , I'm assuming you can physically feel engraved ones. The Grip also has painted numbers, the number is "050168TW" - Made in Taiwan?

Crappppppppppp, I think I got a fake racket:(

[LazyBuddy]

I think it's a fake, since the serial # really throw if off. Also, the bar code is 2U5? Really surprised as they even make a fake on lower end model.

One more question, the green butt cap, besides the Yonex Logo and Japan, does it has a very light "CH" something on top of the logo?

The funny thing is, recently saw a fake AT700 with almost identical serial # on the cone...

[c4r80n]

IMO...its a fake but i havn't really studied one before so i'm not sure..bout 99% The wrapper looks so fake because its not on tightly and it says MF-VF and all this stuff which doesn't really make sense. Also, there isn't any muscle power bumps which is awkward. but yah...das all i havta say...IMHO just report it 2 ebay an get your money back...and be warned because there are a lot of fakes on ebay...personally i alwayz buy racquets after i've seen and felt them. :D

[LazyBuddy]

Originally posted by c4r80n
IM it says MF-VF and all this stuff which doesn't really make sense. Also, there isn't any muscle power bumps which is awkward.

1. Lower end of MP series did incorporated with VF technology as well. I think I read it somewhere (BBE?), lower end MP ones are combined MP and VF series technology.

2. Not every MP has MP bumps. MP100, for example.

[nutty]

Also, I have seen an MP-24 up close before, and the paint doesnt seem so shiny, its more of the dull-like MP-88 type paint.

[kwun]

all MPs have MP bumps. but not all MPs have MP strip....

imho, this is a fake. the serial number is wrong. the wrapping, the lack of muscle bumps.

most pics are kinda blurry though so not very easy to tell.

this also complete destroys our theory that no one will bother to fake a low end racket... ;)

[kwun]

if you can show us well focused pics of the handle cap, the serial number, and the top of the frame. that will make our diagnosis much easier.. :)

[newbi]

i think its definately a fake.. i dont think yonex put the shiny sticker on top of the serial number.. and can u have SP racquet with a TW serial? the bag and the wrap also look suspicious

[LazyBuddy]

Originally posted by kwun
all MPs have MP bumps. but not all MPs have MP strip....


My bad, don't know what I was thinking back then... sorry... ;)

[cooler]

Yupe, it's 100%.... fake.

You guys did some real good investigative look over. Yes, there are too many (to list out) tell tales signs that point me to draw the same conclusion.

This case show us that fake rackets can still be profitable even for low model like mp24.

Pbanto, with ~$73 (58+15), u can buy a real one from a retailer.

[LazyBuddy]

Seems now, some manufacture start to make (import) fakes with "TW". The serial # for the fake AT700 and MP24 are both 050168TW.

However, the fake AT700 does not have serial # on shaft, though.

[Pbanto]

Dammit, I guess I'll just go to Dave's Tennis near my house, or San Diego Badminton and pick up a 27 or 28 When they come out.. Now the problem is getting back my Shipping $$.. I think I'm going to email the seller and return it through him first, then if he dosen't comply I'm gonna go through Ebay, Then finally Paypal..:(

Damn this sucks..

[LazyBuddy]

Originally posted by Pbanto
Now the problem is getting back my Shipping $$.. I think I'm going to email the seller and return it through him first,

If u ship it back, u will lose the only evidence...

I think u should contact the seller first, and see what he say about it.

[Pbanto]

Hell yeah I'm gonna e-mail him first. This isn't my first time dealing on eBay. Funny thing is, my brother just purchased 4 items off eBay, and 3 of those times he had to send back!
I'm emailing the seller as we speak....

[cooler]

Pbanto , it's good u had found badmintonforum, where equipment freaks, oops, i mean equipment connoisseurs conjugate.:)

[Pbanto]

Yeah, I'm like that :). There's always forums for everything, where you can get good info from players, i.e. Gopednation or PaintballNation..

Thanks all of ya! I'll keep you updated on progress.:)

[cooler]

Originally posted by Pbanto
Dammit, I guess I'll just go to Dave's Tennis near my house, or San Diego Badminton and pick up a 27 or 28 When they come out.. Now the problem is getting back my Shipping $$.. I think I'm going to email the seller and return it through him first, then if he dosen't comply I'm gonna go through Ebay, Then finally Paypal..:(

Damn this sucks..

Hope u dont take offense to our reference of mp24 as being a low end racket. That term is a loose reference to what we are familiar with. Actually, there are 14 yonex models that are 'lower' than the mp24 while only 11 models are higher than mp24.

[bigredlemon]

A pbsi logo and SP coding on a TW destination racquet? :rolleyes:

[bluejeff]

I tell you what, the only thing that makes this racket to be a fake racket is this:

TW rackets NEVER have SP on the shaft, and that's all.

The way TW stores wrap rackets are NOT always shrink wrapped. Yonex TW have two methods of wrappings, one is shrink wrapped, and one is the bag wrapped.

[Pbanto]

cooler - No offense taken at all, I know it's a low end racket & I'm fine with that.:)

The seller emailed me back today. He said that he does imports from Japan, and that they have been previously inspected. He told me to go ahead and send it back, and he would refund my money. I plan to get delivery confirmation when I send it out, to prevent anything from happening with the package ;)

I have already taken many pictures of the package when it first arrived, and I just took many more of the racket packed up in the box. Playin it smart :cool:

[cooler]

Originally posted by Pbanto
cooler - No offense taken at all, I know it's a low end racket & I'm fine with that.:)

The seller emailed me back today. He said that he does imports from Japan, and that they have been previously inspected. He told me to go ahead and send it back, and he would refund my money. I plan to get delivery confirmation when I send it out, to prevent anything from happening with the package ;)

I have already taken many pictures of the package when it first arrived, and I just took many more of the racket packed up in the box. Playin it smart :cool:

LOL, yah, i got a sense that u like taking photographs:D

[bluejeff]

Originally posted by Pbanto
cooler - No offense taken at all, I know it's a low end racket & I'm fine with that.:)

The seller emailed me back today. He said that he does imports from Japan, and that they have been previously inspected. He told me to go ahead and send it back, and he would refund my money. I plan to get delivery confirmation when I send it out, to prevent anything from happening with the package ;)

I have already taken many pictures of the package when it first arrived, and I just took many more of the racket packed up in the box. Playin it smart :cool:

If you sent it back, you will lose the evidence.

All fake rackets sellers claim they got the rackets from JP, in fact -> NO.

If you really want to send it back, you should be ready to take the consequense that the seller will claim you send back a fake racket to him, and refuse the refund.
(You can do a search on my ebay story)

[Pbanto]

cooler - HAH! Ya this camera got hooked up and I'm taking some pics with it:D

bluejeff - Yeah, I read your story on the fake MP you bought off ebay, sorry man. I guess I'll just have to take that chance, and hope that the seller is honest
:( - I took some pics so hopefully that'll cover some things..
Sending out tommorrow, unless, you guys have some other method to do this?

[bluejeff]

if you really want to send it back, you need to certify the package and take the pictures in post office. There is no other way to do it than this (it will be perfect if you can open the box in front of the mailman when you received this and take a picture when you first got the racket, but it's too late now)

[LazyBuddy]

Originally posted by bluejeff
If you sent it back, you will lose the evidence.

If you really want to send it back, you should be ready to take the consequense that the seller will claim you send back a fake racket to him, and refuse the refund.


I tend to agree with BlueJeff, as the seller might just want to take away the evidence.

However, if Pbanto kept this racket, there's no benefit for himself as well, as he could not sue the seller, nor get the $$$ back.

I think taking a pic at post office sounds weired, but might worth to try. When u seal the package (say, put this racket in a bag, then seal it), let the post office stamp right on the seal, then take a pic (if they allow).

Then, pray...

[Pbanto]

Hmm..
If I took pics at the post office, that just proves that i'm sending him a fake racket. For all they know, I could have swtiched the rackets at home, then taken pics of the fake one at the post office. So, in essence, I took pics of myself sending him the fake racket, which incriminates myself. (SURE HOPE he's not reading this, might give him some IDEAS:( )

[newbi]

is there any reputable 3rd party that takes the item from the seller , examine the item (take a pic or sth).. then send it to buyer? that would be a perfect way of dealing... but i guess it will cost something...

[calvinlgoh]

i think that if you are not sure whether you will receive any reimbursements from the seller by returning the item, either in the form of a refund or an exchange, then IMHO it would be best you keep the racket. You could still use it and from what i have read in this board, the fake rackets are not as bad as some would think. Maybe you will like the racket when you start hitting some shuttles.

If you do send it back to the seller, be prepared for long period between replies and this refund process could take months and you would still be without a racket.

I would just keep it and take this as a lesson and be careful the next time around.


Good Luck:)

calvin