How not to buy a fake racket?

**JustJon** · 01-15-2005, 11:35 AM

Hi Guys,

I'm considering buying a Yonex Armortec 800 Offensive from e-bay. I'm wondering if anyone has any advice on how not to get stung with a fake. (or whether to buy from e-bay at all). The prices that some sellers are offering vary a great deal (£50-£150) if I pay £50 is it probably going to be fake?

If I can the serial numbers first is there a guaranteed way of checking there authenticity?

Any advice would be appreciated.

**chickenpoodle** · 01-15-2005, 07:58 PM

theres dozens of threads regarding this.
first place to look - check the stickies near the top of market place.
there is a large thread that is updated quite frequently.

**JustJon** · 01-16-2005, 07:51 AM

Thanks.

I'm new to the forum and this probably wasn't the best section to post my question.

**Dave18** · 01-16-2005, 02:31 PM

Just buy it from the seller sumai03. His stuff is genuine.

**JustJon** · 01-16-2005, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by Dave18

Just buy it from the seller sumai03. His stuff is genuine.

Thanks for the response. I'm in the UK and presume sumai03 is in the states (would like to avoid import costs etc). Does anyone know of any good genuine sellers in the UK?

**Dot-tom** · 01-16-2005, 09:59 PM

There is a growing list of fake sellers in this thread.

http://www.badmintoncentral.com/foru...ad.php?t=13655

You can do a search on your sellers on e-bay first.

Good luck buying.

**LazyBuddy** · 01-16-2005, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by JustJon

Hi Guys,

I'm considering buying a Yonex Armortec 800 Offensive from e-bay. I'm wondering if anyone has any advice on how not to get stung with a fake. (or whether to buy from e-bay at all). The prices that some sellers are offering vary a great deal (£50-£150) if I pay £50 is it probably going to be fake?

If I can the serial numbers first is there a guaranteed way of checking there authenticity?

Any advice would be appreciated.

1. Buying off e-bay means larger chance of a risk, as you get dealing with a relatively "un-confirmed" individual blindly, rather than a reputable dealer in person.

2. Never think you win the grand prize, by getting some racket as like 25% as it should cost. I am not saying there's absolutely no 0.0001% of chance, but the chance to get a fake and get pissed off could be much larger.

3. The serial number could be a good way to "scare off" some not-yonex-expert fake sellers. However, it's NOT a guranteed way. I can simply copy paste a # (from a real racket) for u, and still mail u the cheap fake one after i get your $$$.

4. Download bluejeff's upated "fake e-bay seller" list, this is at least prevent u from some big fake sellers. However, u still need to pray, not to be a 1st victim of some newbies.

**Dave18** · 01-16-2005, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by JustJon

Thanks for the response. I'm in the UK and presume sumai03 is in the states (would like to avoid import costs etc). Does anyone know of any good genuine sellers in the UK?

sumai03 is from thailand.

Another seller in the UK who sells genuine stuff is chockablocka, take a look http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...126926554&rd=1

His stuff is a bit pricy though.

**chickenpoodle** · 01-18-2005, 12:08 AM

Originally Posted by LazyBuddy

2. Never think you win the grand prize, by getting some racket as like 25% as it should cost. I am not saying there's absolutely no 0.0001% of chance, but the chance to get a fake and get pissed off could be much larger.

its possible. just not with yonex products.
i scored a steal of a deal on a pair of karakal slti-80's and carlton ab superlites through ebay before.