Will Counterfeit Bikes Put Riders at Risk?

FakeWe’ve touched on this topic before – counterfeit products hurt everyone. The maker of the real product loses sales and the consumer gets a cheap copy. With sporting goods there is a greater risk to the consumer, as the products can fail!

Our friends at BikeRadar recently noted that local shops in the U.K. are actually blending bike equipment with genuine parts to deceive the consumer. This isn’t a widespread problem, but it does show that things could get much worse very quickly.

By selling fake gear a retailer can make a short term profit, but it could hurt the industry in the long run as it costs tens of millions of dollars each year. Where it gets murkier is when shows that many small shops are also getting caught up in the fraud – and these shops aren’t out to deceive anyone. Instead they are buying from dubious third parties. In the end it could hurt the mom & pop retailers that don’t have deals with the big brands.

This will be a story to watch as it develops.

[Via BikeRadar: Local bike shops blend real and fake bike kit to mislead consumers]

Weekend Reading List (05.04.2013): Counterfeit Gear, Mulholland Falls, Back Pack Ban, Going Green

Counterfeit Gear

Counterfeit

From BikeRadar: Fake bike kit costing industry millions a year
Ten websites selling fake cycling kit such as counterfeit frames and jerseys have been shut down by US authorities – but one specialist has warned that the issue of fake goods is growing and costing the industry millions in lost revenue. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (05.04.2013): Counterfeit Gear, Mulholland Falls, Back Pack Ban, Going Green

Keeping it Real While Golfing

Direct Golf UK shows how close a fake can look like the real deal

With the Christmas shopping season around the corner, you might be tempted to save a few bucks on a gift for the golfer in your life. There are a number of online retail websites, auction sites and classified sites that list new golf equipment at a substantial savings, but are you really getting a good deal if they are fakes? The U.S. Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group has developed a website with tips to help you avoid buying a fake.

Continue reading Keeping it Real While Golfing