fake or real

[Kyoko_fukada87]

hi.. i have just bought a new racket called MP99 and on the MP99 there is 3 different serial number. So i want to make sure that is this racket real or not..
can anyone help me check.. the serial number is..
~on the shaft is 3747880
~on the cone is 270369CH
~bottom of the handle(label) is833622SP

thank you..

[bigredlemon]

Originally posted by Kyoko_fukada87
hi.. i have just bought a new racket called MP99 and on the MP99 there is 3 different serial number. So i want to make sure that is this racket real or not..
can anyone help me check.. the serial number is..
~on the shaft is 3747880
~on the cone is 270369CH
~bottom of the handle(label) is833622SP

thank you..
Two location codes? 3 serials? Methinks fake.

[Yodums]

There will be two sets of serials but I've never seen 3, especially one on the bottom.

It should look like this:

http://www.badmintonforum.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=62481

One on the shaft, one on the cone. I think it might be a fake.

[Kyoko_fukada87]

o.. thanks

[bluejeff]

Could it be re-conditioned?
Or like, Yonex misprinted the code, and re-printed again on it?

I wonder.....

Jeff

[Yodums]

I highly doubt that considering no one on these forums came across that before, or at least I'd think. If it's real, it might just be a fluke. By the way, do you notice the codes are clean? They're not like on a slant or one letter is bigger than another?

[Traum]

Hey Kyoko, where did you purchase the racquet from in the first place? I don't suppose you got it from any of the local stores here in Vancouver?

-Rick

[ronk]

Show a picture of the racket. All MP99s have the MP bumps and are yellow in color. If there is no MP bump, then it is a fake. I doubt that the piraters can make authentic MP bums yet.

Ron

[Kyoko_fukada87]

Originally posted by Traum
Hey Kyoko, where did you purchase the racquet from in the first place? I don't suppose you got it from any of the local stores here in Vancouver?

-Rick

i got the racket from this person who is teaching me badminton.He told me that he got some friends that is coming to Vancouver and have bought some rackets from somewhere around HK and my couch sell me the racket for a very cheap price(around $98 can..)

[Kyoko_fukada87]

Originally posted by ronk
Show a picture of the racket. All MP99s have the MP bumps and are yellow in color. If there is no MP bump, then it is a fake. I doubt that the piraters can make authentic MP bums yet.

Ron

sorri ..... i m not able to show u pic...

[Yodums]

Ouch dude. I guess you can conclude it is a fake considering the price of it. You would never see a MP99 for 98 CAD.

[Kyoko_fukada87]

Originally posted by Yodums
Ouch dude. I guess you can conclude it is a fake considering the price of it. You would never see a MP99 for 98 CAD.
well i guess it is fake then but then whats the difference between a fake and real?

[ronk]

What is the color of the racket and does it have the muscle bumps. See this thread for the MP bumps (pic 7). All real MP rackets have the bumps at the top and bottom and the bumps are part of the molded frame. The MP77 in the picture looks real to me and just like my MP 77. My MP 99 is yellow/black in color.
Thread (http://badmintonforum.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9837)

Here is a link to a web page where you can see the real MP 99:
Web page of real MP 99 (http://www.bbeshop.com/details/ra_mp99.htm)

Ron

[Seot]

$98 CDN is a bit too good of a deal for a MP99, even if it came over from Asia.

[Kyoko_fukada87]

Originally posted by ronk
What is the color of the racket and does it have the muscle bumps. See this thread for the MP bumps (pic 7). All real MP rackets have the bumps at the top and bottom and the bumps are part of the molded frame. The MP77 in the picture looks real to me and just like my MP 77. My MP 99 is yellow/black in color.
Thread (http://badmintonforum.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9837)

Here is a link to a web page where you can see the real MP 99:
Web page of real MP 99 (http://www.bbeshop.com/details/ra_mp99.htm)

Ron
where is a pic 7 i can't find it

[ronk]

Scroll down the thread of ADT in the link I attached and you will see it. The web site I posted has many pics of the MP 99 with the muscle power bumps so that is a better link to check out. The MP 99 is Yellow and black, ugly colors I might add, but it is a good racket to play with.

Ron

[Cheung]

Originally posted by Kyoko_fukada87
hi.. i have just bought a new racket called MP99 and on the MP99 there is 3 different serial number. So i want to make sure that is this racket real or not..
can anyone help me check.. the serial number is..
~on the shaft is 3747880
~on the cone is 270369CH
~bottom of the handle(label) is833622SP

On the shaft, does it say MP99CH?

and what do you exactly by "bottom of the handle".

[LazyBuddy]

Originally posted by Kyoko_fukada87
i got the racket from this person who is teaching me badminton.He told me that he got some friends that is coming to Vancouver and have bought some rackets from somewhere around HK and my couch sell me the racket for a very cheap price(around $98 can..)

$98 CAN is about $60+ USD (remember, the seller already made profit out of it, so, his purchase price will be even lower than this!). The price in US market for MP99 is about $170+, even though HK and many other southeast region might sell it in much cheaper price, but this deal is just too good to be true.

Also, consider HK markets do have some "backgroud" of fake rackets, team up with the 3 serial # (even with different des. code), I think at least, there's a big chance of fake.

[Kyoko_fukada87]

soo what is the difference between a fake MP99 and a real MP99???

[LazyBuddy]

Originally posted by Kyoko_fukada87
soo what is the difference between a fake MP99 and a real MP99???

Do a search, with keywords like "fake yonex", "fake racket", "fake MP", etc. Then, I am sure u will find some recent threads (within 3 months) talking about fake yonex rackets, such as MP100, MP99, etc.

[emjay]

Well I just got a real MP99 to go with my fake one so thought I'd take some comparison pics... time to play spot the difference :)

[emjay]

Having the two makes it easy to spot the differences...

[emjay]

This is an easy one to spot...

[emjay]

The difference in quality is apparent here...

[emjay]

Not sure if this one makes a difference - the real one is a UK model, the fake is supposed to be a CH, and I do have a real MP100 SP that doesn't have the white side panels.

[emjay]

And finally the kicker... laser etched serial versus printed - seems to be the giveaway every time, at least for newer Yonex models, right?

As for weight, they are very close eachother, the fake one being slightly heaver. That's probably due to the 2 overgrips though. Haven't played with the real one yet, going later tonight, but in fairness the fake is very good to play with, and has been my preferred racquet since I got it.

[emjay]

Oh yeah, just in case anyone is confused, the real one is on the left in the 1st 2 pics, then on top for the next two, then back on the bottom - sorry, should've mentioned that earlier! The other main difference is that the real one is more an orange/yellow mix rather than the yellower fake - TBH I prefer the latter colour scheme :)

[ronk]

Yup, the real racket looks right like my MP 99 SP except that I cannot see the laser etched serial number on mine because the overgrip was wound to the top of the cone.

Ron

[kwun]

yeah. i have seen a few of these "CH" rackets. they all appear to be quite similar to the authentic Yonex rackets. most other fakes deliberately make spelling mistakes and other imperfections. but these "CH" rackets are less obvious.

the few things i noticed about them is that they are generally more "glossy" looking and the quality of the paint job is pretty good but not to the quality of Yonex. they all have a holographics sticker right over the date code serial number on the cone.

also, if emjay you have more time, you should also take a pic of the handle end cap. if i am not mistaken, there should be a etched serial number there beginning or ending with SP.

it seems that this type of "CH" rackets has been distributed to many places. i have seen a couple here in the US, there are reports of them in the Philipines and then in the UK.

the ones i saw were MP77.

i am still wondering if these are genuine low quality Yonex or fakes. the more i look at them, the more they look like fakes.

[Winex West Can]

Great pics, emjay.

I wondered if the CH-designated racquets are all fakes given that Yonex Korea also has a warning about them and also a set of comparison features between CH and KR racquets.

http://www.badmintonforum.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9469

[bigredlemon]

Originally posted by Winex West Can
Great pics, emjay.

I wondered if the CH-designated racquets are all fakes given that Yonex Korea also has a warning about them and also a set of comparison features between CH and KR racquets.

http://www.badmintonforum.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9469 or could it be that more fakes are made in China due to its (relatively) advanced industrial equipment and (realatively) poor management of it, which makes it easy to slip in a few run of fakes without being spotted or for officials to just look the other way.

Another weird thing is that they don't use JP which is more valuable than CH. I guess people might think that it is a fake because they don't see real ones being sold with JP in China usually?

[kwun]

yeah. that adds to the confusion.

there are genuine CH rackets. the one posted in the Yonex KR website looks like a genuine CH racket. notice the serial numbers are of the same weight as the KR racket, while the ones posted by emjay are obviously different.

the counterfeiter may be trying to infiltrate the Chinese Yonex market, so they make the fakes ones to be also "CH".

[ronk]

I was told by a racket shop manager that one way to check for a fake Yonex is to remove the racket grip. The real Yonex has a laser holography under the grip. Needless to say, I have not tested any of my MP rackets to see whether they are real or fake, but all my MP rackets have the muscle power bumps and grommets.

Ron

[kwun]

Originally posted by ronk
I was told by a racket shop manager that one way to check for a fake Yonex is to remove the racket grip. The real Yonex has a laser holography under the grip. Needless to say, I have not tested any of my MP rackets to see whether they are real or fake, but all my MP rackets have the muscle power bumps and grommets.

Ron

nope. not true. i have taken off the grips of my TiSP, Iso900, MP100, cab20, cab22, etc, none of them have a holograph sticker.

[bigredlemon]

I have a really really old racquet (I think Yoneymama or yonex... not sure) that has a holographic sticker in the cone. It's a steel shaft & wood head/handle racquet in the oval shape. Frame is painted red with white. I could be mistaken though since I haven't used that in 7-8 years (I've had that for well over a decade or so now... i think it used to belong to my dad or grandfather...)

[emjay]

Here's a pic of the end caps... there are some subtle differences I guess; the real one (on the left):

a) is a lighter green than the fake
b) has more rounded corners
c) has a slightly raised YY logo. They both feel as though the logo in an insert though, rather than all one piece.

I guess the important part is how they both play... Well after one night's comparison, there's not much difference to be honest :)

I guess it depends on skill level; I'd describe mine as pretty average/intermediate, and although there was a slight increase in power with the real one, it was nothing major! Obviously I'm just not good enough to appreciate all the unique and advanced technology in a genuine Yonex racquet :D

[kwun]

emjay, thanks for the pic. yes, that really shows the difference. and to my surprise, there is no 3rd SP serial number at the end cap.

i really hope someone who has a genuine Yonex CH racket can post some pics so we can compare.

[Cheung]

Originally posted by emjay
I guess the important part is how they both play... Well after one night's comparison, there's not much difference to be honest :)

I guess it depends on skill level; I'd describe mine as pretty average/intermediate, and although there was a slight increase in power with the real one, it was nothing major! Obviously I'm just not good enough to appreciate all the unique and advanced technology in a genuine Yonex racquet :D

Thanks emjay, those pictures were quite interesting. I am always continually amazed how people pay so much attention to their racquets. I would as well...in the past:D

Not much to say except reiterate what you said in the quote

[frictionman]

Just want to raise an idea, we have fake yonexs brand coz the ones that are making them want to fool us into buying it, making us think its a real one. But what if we knew it was a fake? and since both perform almost the same but with just a fraction of the price of the real one. I got an mp100 and Ti-10 for just around $28 US Dollars
EACH from a small store. The paint job and overall attributes are very well and nicely done (perfect), even the logo. You really can't tell the difference from the real one, believe me... Don't get me wrong i know it's not a yonex but SOMETIMES some people is just sick and tired not getting the things we actually pay for (I've read Mp100 easily breaks). Try getting a real MP100 and Ti-10, i think both will cost you around $350 to $400 US Dollars. Out of that 400 bucks a huge part of it goes for the mall rent and for the brand name. And like i said both fake and branded almost performs the same.

[kwun]

i tend to agree. what if it is a fake, or even a clone? the difference imho isn't that much. if you try it and if it fits you, then heck, you get a good deal!

a friend of mine did the same. he went back to HK and bought a few of the Fleet MP100/MP99 clone, they are for something like US$50 for two. that's US$25 a racket, despite being a clonex, he was very happen with it as he got two full carbon racket for so little money.


what's not ok is if the seller is trying to sell it as real and makes you pay a lot of money for it, as we have seen in many places.

the other thing that should be aware is that the fake racket will not play like the real one. it will be another racket, but for all the fake/clonex i have tried, none of them plays like the real one. that's not saying they are better or worse, just that they will not feel the same and may not even feel similar.

[equus]

you can tell a fake yonex performs exactly like a genuine one since you have both? anyway, if you are unhappy with the quality of yonex racquets then why buy a fake one? i really don't understand why people buy fake racquets because i doubt the manufacturers of the fake ones can get the technology of the genuine ones to an exact science. i see fake racquets as racquets that just imitate the colors of genuine racquets but never have everything exactly the same (like in mp racquets, the bumps on the lower part of the frame). if one cannot afford a genuine yonex racquet then why not buy the cheaper brands? the only reason i can think of as to why people buy fake yonex racquets is so that from a far, other people will actually be fooled to thinking you are using a genuine one. i think buying a fake racquet totally negates all the technological advances that the manufacturers like yonex have been working on.

[frictionman]

I really agree with your comments guys a clone is still a clone, no matter how real it looks it still won't compare to the Original ones. But so far I've tested the weight and the stiffness of the racket and it's just the same, the frame can also handle a decent amount of tension around 24-25 pounds. And my play is just the same no complaints from here... I believe i got what i really paid for. For 25 bucks i paid only for the materials that made up my racket. I didn't pay for the mall rent, the middle men, shipping & handling, the taxes and the brand name. The price ($25 USD) is just too alluring to resist if i have 200 bucks i could have 8 brand new rackets that i know that almost have the same weight, the same stiffness, and could be strung around 24-25 tension and that would not affect my game play. And PLUS if it breaks (happens most of the time even if it's an Original) i won't feel bad coz i know i have 7 more to spare. I think what yonex has to do is to improve the quality of their products, their 1 ORIGINAL racket must outlive my 8 CLONE rackets and to lower the price of their products. Just imagine an Original costing around $150 to $200 USD that easily breaks around 24-26 pound tension and a Clone ($25 USD) breaking (same 24-26 tension) as often as the Original ones what would you do? money does'nt grow on trees i'd say.

[LazyBuddy]

Originally posted by equus
you can tell a fake yonex performs exactly like a genuine one since you have both? anyway, if you are unhappy with the quality of yonex racquets then why buy a fake one? i really don't understand why people buy fake racquets because i doubt the manufacturers of the fake ones can get the technology of the genuine ones to an exact science. i see fake racquets as racquets that just imitate the colors of genuine racquets but never have everything exactly the same (like in mp racquets, the bumps on the lower part of the frame). if one cannot afford a genuine yonex racquet then why not buy the cheaper brands? the only reason i can think of as to why people buy fake yonex racquets is so that from a far, other people will actually be fooled to thinking you are using a genuine one. i think buying a fake racquet totally negates all the technological advances that the manufacturers like yonex have been working on.

Equus,

I agree some of ur points, and I know someone DID using a fake yonex (high quality ones, though) tend to show off.

However, I think many cases are different than the ones u described. For example, there's a really good player in my club. He received a fake cab20 (his friend does not know anything about how to spot a racket, and thought he got such a good deal for RMB200 < USD$25) as a b-day gift several yrs ago. Of course, he won't point this out in front of his face, since that's from his friend, and that poor guy really wants to give him a surprise gift. Anyway, even though the racket is fake, but he claims like it a lot, and playing very well with it. I used this racket for a little while, and the feeling is completely different than the real cab20. However, if he likes it, and it serves him very well, why not a good deal. I know it's not right to using "Yonex" the name to make fake rackets, however, it's not the customer's fault by picking a cheaper but good racket. To me, as long as the racket is good, and if I can afford it, whatever brand name, I really dont' care. I don't think the little symbol (Yonex, clone, or blah blah or even fake yonex) can effect the performance of the racket. Of course, it's more legal to use its own brand name, but if they really used "fake yonex" strategy, many ppl still won't give up the good deal (and a lot of them really don't know anyway.)

Agree with kwun, the manufacture / dealers are ok to provide clones, as long as using a different brand name. The worst possible, is, using low quality cheap fake rackets, but sell the same price a real one.

[Winex West Can]

Originally posted by frictionman
Just want to raise an idea, we have fake yonexs brand coz the ones that are making them want to fool us into buying it, making us think its a real one. But what if we knew it was a fake? and since both perform almost the same but with just a fraction of the price of the real one. I got an mp100 and Ti-10 for just around $28 US Dollars
EACH from a small store. The paint job and overall attributes are very well and nicely done (perfect), even the logo. You really can't tell the difference from the real one, believe me... Don't get me wrong i know it's not a yonex but SOMETIMES some people is just sick and tired not getting the things we actually pay for (I've read Mp100 easily breaks). Try getting a real MP100 and Ti-10, i think both will cost you around $350 to $400 US Dollars. Out of that 400 bucks a huge part of it goes for the mall rent and for the brand name. And like i said both fake and branded almost performs the same.

I think we need to make a distinction here. Fake is defined as "a worthless imitation passed off as genuine". The distinction here is that fakes are usually sold as the genuine item (abeit at a lower price than the original) and are marketed to the consumer as the real item.

Clone is defined as "one that appears to be a copy of an original form" but is marketed under a different brand name like Fleet, Winex, Ashaway, etc. The intent here is not to fool the customer in thinking that they got an original Yonex racquet but rather to show the consumer that there are cheaper and better alternatives. Will they play the same as the original, no, we all know that but they offer alternatives like different weight, balance, flex, etc. For example, the Mighty Muscle 200 is head heavy as compared to the Mighty Muscle 100 which is even balance and has similar cosmetics as the Yonex MP100. We have seen reviews of folks who bought and played with the MP100 (whatever model) and found that it doesn't suit their game, etc . Well, the clonex offer some alternatives.

Obviously, if you as a consumer bought a racquet thinking that you have bought the real McCoy, you would be rightly pissed if you found that you had been ripped off (e.g. seller on eBay selling those fakes racquets as being from Yonex).

Bottom line: Clones are NOT fakes and while they might copy the market leader in cosmetics and so-called "technologies", they do not claim to be Yonex

[frictionman]

Originally posted by Winex West Can
I think we need to make a distinction here. Fake is defined as "a worthless imitation passed off as genuine". The distinction here is that fakes are usually sold as the genuine item (abeit at a lower price than the original) and are marketed to the consumer as the real item.

Clone is defined as "one that appears to be a copy of an original form" but is marketed under a different brand name like Fleet, Winex, Ashaway, etc. The intent here is not to fool the customer in thinking that they got an original Yonex racquet but rather to show the consumer that there are cheaper and better alternatives. Will they play the same as the original, no, we all know that but they offer alternatives like different weight, balance, flex, etc. For example, the Mighty Muscle 200 is head heavy as compared to the Mighty Muscle 100 which is even balance and has similar cosmetics as the Yonex MP100. We have seen reviews of folks who bought and played with the MP100 (whatever model) and found that it doesn't suit their game, etc . Well, the clonex offer some alternatives.

Obviously, if you as a consumer bought a racquet thinking that you have bought the real McCoy, you would be rightly pissed if you found that you had been ripped off (e.g. seller on eBay selling those fakes racquets as being from Yonex).

Bottom line: Clones are NOT fakes and while they might copy the market leader in cosmetics and so-called "technologies", they do not claim to be Yonex



Fake is defined as "a worthless imitation passed off as genuine"

I don't think a fake, a copy or clone is "worhtless" if it performs the same as the real ones and breaks as often as the real ones with just the FRACTION ("abeit at a lower price than the original" does'nt even come nowhere close) of the cost.



Clone is defined as "one that appears to be a copy of an original form"

It's true, Clone appears to be a copy of the original form. Copy from the original form... so a fake is a clone because "it's a COPY of the original form".

if one tells you (your caucasian, 6 feet in height looks like Brad Pitt) that person is your clone (your supposedly clone is anything but caucasian, short and looks like Marlon Brndo). Right! I don't think anyone would agree.

In my opinion the fakes ones are clones coz they tend to look and have many similarities to the original ones. Based on your definition...

[equus]

lazybuddy,

i guess my point is it is ok to use cheaper racquets but why would people buy a fake yonex? because they want a ti-10? mp-99? but don't want to pay for the genuine thing? i mean as you said, the fake cab20 doesn't feel the same as the genuine one, right? so why not by a genuine wilson? prince? i tend to think people buy the fakes precisely because at least aesthetically they look like the real thing. not all sellers try to fool customers into thinking what their selling is genuine. they're just trying to make money buy addressing the market of people wanting rackets that look like genuine yonex racquets but are actually not.

[frictionman]

Originally posted by equus
lazybuddy,

i guess my point is it is ok to use cheaper racquets but why would people buy a fake yonex? because they want a ti-10? mp-99? but don't want to pay for the genuine thing? i mean as you said, the fake cab20 doesn't feel the same as the genuine one, right? so why not by a genuine wilson? prince? i tend to think people buy the fakes precisely because at least aesthetically they look like the real thing. not all sellers try to fool customers into thinking what their selling is genuine. they're just trying to make money buy addressing the market of people wanting rackets that look like genuine yonex racquets but are actually not.



A genuine Prince, Wilson and other counter parts of Yonex brands are still too expensive. I don't think we can accuire a mp100 or Ti10 original counterparts of Prince and other brands for only $25 USD. Don't get me wrong I'm a reasonable guy here, the reason I'm a Pro clone because the company that make authentic rackets
betray us loyal consumers into thinking they have this high technology stuff and high compounds stuff behind every racket they sold. Maybe they do, Maybe they don't but one things for sure they break easily. So again whats the difference between an original ones who breaks as frequently as the fake ones?... THE PRICE!

I personally think Original ones are expensive because of the 1.mall rent 2.the middle men 3.shipping & handling 4.taxes and here's the killer 5.brand name. ADD them all up then you'll have a very nice and expensive Original $150 - $200 USD racket. Remove the 5 things i pointed out then you'll have a very nice, economical, money saving also an Original $25 dollar racket.

The lesson here from those who is making Branded, Original racket is that make your product more durable! set your standard way way WAY! higher than the fake , copy or clone ones. Like i pointed out I could have 8 fake or clone rackets (25 Bucks per piece) if i have $200 Bucks. Make sure your items are 8 times more durable than the copied ones. HECK well be happy if it's just TWICE as durable as the fake ones.
Use your "high Tech stuff" in it! or the only "High Tech stuff" in your products is the paint job...

Do this! if it's really a $180 Dolla racket then make us feel it's a $180 Dolla racket.
Not a racket that any fake could go toe to toe with in terms of durablility and play.
If you can achieve this then i'll be the first one in line who'll buy your product (coz i know it's really worth my $$)...

[frictionman]

Originally posted by equus
lazybuddy,

i guess my point is it is ok to use cheaper racquets but why would people buy a fake yonex? because they want a ti-10? mp-99? but don't want to pay for the genuine thing? i mean as you said, the fake cab20 doesn't feel the same as the genuine one, right? so why not by a genuine wilson? prince? i tend to think people buy the fakes precisely because at least aesthetically they look like the real thing. not all sellers try to fool customers into thinking what their selling is genuine. they're just trying to make money buy addressing the market of people wanting rackets that look like genuine yonex racquets but are actually not.




A genuine Prince, Wilson and other counter parts of Yonex brands are still too expensive. I don't think we can accuire a mp100 or Ti10 original counterparts of Prince and other brands for only $25 USD. Don't get me wrong I'm a reasonable guy here, the reason I'm a Pro clone because the company that make authentic rackets
betray us loyal consumers into thinking they have this high technology stuff and high compounds stuff behind every racket they sold. Maybe they do, Maybe they don't but one things for sure they break easily. So again whats the difference between an original ones who breaks as frequently as the fake ones?... THE PRICE!

I personally think Original ones are expensive because of the 1.mall rent 2.the middle men 3.shipping & handling 4.taxes and here's the killer 5.brand name. ADD them all up then you'll have a very nice and expensive Original $150 - $200 USD racket. Remove the 5 things i pointed out then you'll have a very nice, economical, money saving also an Original $25 dollar racket.

The lesson here from those who is making Branded, Original racket is that make your product more durable! set your standard way way WAY! higher than the fake , copy or clone ones. Like i pointed out I could have 8 fake or clone rackets (25 Bucks per piece) if i have $200 Bucks. Make sure your items are 8 times more durable than the copied ones. HECK well be happy if it's just TWICE as durable as the fake ones.
Use your "high Tech stuff" in it! or the only "High Tech stuff" in your products is the paint job...

Do this! if it's really a $180 Dolla racket then make us feel it's a $180 Dolla racket.
Not a racket that any fake could go toe to toe with in terms of durablility and play.
If you can achieve this then i'll be the first one in line who'll buy your product (coz i know it's really worth my $$)...

[LazyBuddy]

Originally posted by equus
lazybuddy,

i guess my point is it is ok to use cheaper racquets but why would people buy a fake yonex? because they want a ti-10? mp-99? but don't want to pay for the genuine thing? i mean as you said, the fake cab20 doesn't feel the same as the genuine one, right? so why not by a genuine wilson? prince? i tend to think people buy the fakes precisely because at least aesthetically they look like the real thing. not all sellers try to fool customers into thinking what their selling is genuine. they're just trying to make money buy addressing the market of people wanting rackets that look like genuine yonex racquets but are actually not.

Definitely agree with ur idea of using "clone" instead of "fake". Out of my collection of 9 rackets, only 1 is Yonex, and the rest are all good alternate brands, such as babolat, yangyang, winex, sotx, etc.

I surely agree with "using fake brand name" should not be encouraged. However, maybe buyers when they purchase a racket, they have no idea about how to spot a fake. They got their "Yonex" not because they like brand name (many of them even don't know this brand very well), but just like the racket itself (if they have a chance to try it out). So, some cases are more like "discovered a gem in stone field".

I surely won't encourage ppl to buy "fake" rackets (mostly Yonex), and won't feel comfortable when ppl using fake one to show off. However, if the deal is already done, I can only wish them the best of luck to get the "racket" they like, but not falling into the trap of "brand name".

[frictionman]

Say that agian after you broke 2 original (ouch!) mp100 s, CLONEX is good alternative for the real ones for just 25 bucks... no change in my game play.

[frictionman]

I'm thinking of buying an Original Yonex ArmoTec700 i learned that it can be strung around 25-30 tension. And i'm willing to dish out 200 bucks just for psychological reasons, knowing you racket is a Yonex not a Clonex helps psychologically but as for game play their just the same. Maybe this time it won't break as fast as my original mp100s. well if it does break there's always the Clonex AT-700...

[cooler]

Local competitors are also getting into the business too, including one called Wu Mart, located about five minutes from the Wal-Mart store.

One might find clonex at wu mart;)

[ants]

The fakes is cheap... but they are not using the right materials. Not as sturdy and its not well balance.

[amir_ehime]

just wanna share info with you guys , i bought my yonex Ti2 6 years ago for yen11200(maybe about USD110) ,and recently yonex nanospeed 4500 for yen16000(around USD190) both without string here in Japan pro shop , i never bought a racket even in malaysia (i'm from malaysia ) , but i heard rackets are cheaper there ... i wonder why ... may be those are fake ..

[Gemcat]

Well, I can't believe you didn't notice the fake one doesn't have the Muscle Power Grommet bar on 4-5 o'clock and 7-8 o'clock. All high-end Muscle Power racquets have these grommet bars.