The Fake Epiphone Thread II

[snaredrum]

Originally Posted by The Guitarist

ok made out of dead leaves? that good enough for you?? huh?? HUH??

dead leaves and the dirty ground still sounds great to me...

i know what you mean though. no quarrel here

[dennistruckdriver]

Originally Posted by chrisjephcott

....But to cut to the story....So cut to today, and the guitar has arrived.....

A lot of 'cutting' going on.....however, this headstock logo:



looks a bit suspicious to me. I am not calling 'fake', but the thickness of the Les Paul signature looks too thick to me....

[snaredrum]

yeah, it rang alarm bells with a few people i think.

[Cid]

Originally Posted by Cid

I bought a new Epi LP custom ebony on eBay this week. I was sceptic about eBay, but there were a few things that helped me decide:

• I payed with paypal
• Positive feedback for another epiphone custom
• He offers me a refund if there is something wrong with the serial
• He states it's a "genuine new epiphone"
• Real epiphone pictures, uploaded from another official site

I think the last two are the most important when it comes to product conformity (and eBay/paypal buyers protection)
Still, the guitar is 200€ (about 280$) cheaper than retail price. Looks too good to be true...

I'll update when I receive the guitar.

I think that I managed to get it solved before getting too much in trouble. I'm negotiating to get a refund before the guitar is sent to me. I'm not taking the risk of receiving a fake one and then try to get my money back.

[chrisjephcott]

Right then guys, an update on the saga regarding this guitar...

So finally the seller has contacted me and offered a full refund - however - last night I got an email off him asking if it would be possible to keep hold of this guitar for a few more days.

The reason given is because I did actually get the wrong guitar sent to me, and he wants to get the other guitar back and then I can send this fake onto the correct person. He has said though that the refund will be in full as soon as the other guitar arrives back at his place.

Obviously, I'm in a bit of a split mind on this - I don't want to pass off the fake to an unsuspecting person, and kind of feel a little bit like a middle man on the entire thing. However, if that's what it takes to get my money back, then that's what I'll have to do I guess.

I just feel sorry for the poor person who is going to end up with this guitar and believes it to be a genuine one.

Cheers,

Chris

[The Guitarist]

Originally Posted by chrisjephcott

Right then guys, an update on the saga regarding this guitar...

So finally the seller has contacted me and offered a full refund - however - last night I got an email off him asking if it would be possible to keep hold of this guitar for a few more days.

The reason given is because I did actually get the wrong guitar sent to me, and he wants to get the other guitar back and then I can send this fake onto the correct person. He has said though that the refund will be in full as soon as the other guitar arrives back at his place.

Obviously, I'm in a bit of a split mind on this - I don't want to pass off the fake to an unsuspecting person, and kind of feel a little bit like a middle man on the entire thing. However, if that's what it takes to get my money back, then that's what I'll have to do I guess.

I just feel sorry for the poor person who is going to end up with this guitar and believes it to be a genuine one.

Cheers,

Chris

Easy. Just send them a note with the guitar in regard of the situation, and they can ask for their money back as well! problem solved!

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Originally Posted by The Guitarist

Easy. Just send them a note with the guitar in regard of the situation, and they can ask for their money back as well! problem solved!

Yup, that's exactly what I wanted to say. Just put a note in the package where you explain the whole situation. You can also direct the recipient here.

[Cid]

Originally Posted by chrisjephcott

I just feel sorry for the poor person who is going to end up with this guitar and believes it to be a genuine one.

Chris

I know what you mean. I feel the same about my negotiation. I agreed to give him positive feedback to get the refund.

I can still contact authorities or Epiphone though.

[chrisjephcott]

I'll leave a little note in the guitar, under the bubble wrap for the recipent - that was what my intention was really.

I haven't told the seller that I know it's fake at the moment - I do have an address though, and as soon as I get my refund, I will be informing a higher authority.

Just as an observation, how many of the guys who are selling fakes appear to be from Asian origin? The guy I'm dealing with at the moment is for certain... the email keeps on picking up Chinese style text in the emails.

[Cid]

I don't know if the seller is Asian, but he speaks terribly bad English. And he also sells cheap PSP memory cards (typical) and earphones.

[GNR4EVR]

Originally Posted by chrisjephcott

Right then guys, an update on the saga regarding this guitar...

So finally the seller has contacted me and offered a full refund - however - last night I got an email off him asking if it would be possible to keep hold of this guitar for a few more days.

The reason given is because I did actually get the wrong guitar sent to me, and he wants to get the other guitar back and then I can send this fake onto the correct person. He has said though that the refund will be in full as soon as the other guitar arrives back at his place.

Obviously, I'm in a bit of a split mind on this - I don't want to pass off the fake to an unsuspecting person, and kind of feel a little bit like a middle man on the entire thing. However, if that's what it takes to get my money back, then that's what I'll have to do I guess.

I just feel sorry for the poor person who is going to end up with this guitar and believes it to be a genuine one.

Cheers,

Chris

I will tell you why hes doing this- Lately, Paypal is telling people to destroy fake guitars and send them back. He just wants an intact guitar to move on to someone else. I wouldnt waste time, contact paypal and let the chips fall where they may.

[Lynyrd77Skynyrd]

If you forward the guitar on to another innocent person then technically you are sending counterfeit merchandise and are breaking the law, even if you put a note in it. Just go down the correct channels; open a dispute with Paypal and Ebay stating it is a fake.
The idea of sending it on with a note sounds stupid to me, imagine if it was you? Passing on the worry and stress of the whole thing just to get your money back is not the way to go IMO. So i agree with GNR.

[River]

I really don't know when Shifty sleeps. He may be Borg after all.

Shifty, you are in a different time zone than me, aren't you?

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Yes, I'm in a different time zone!
If I'm not mistaken and depending on if you guys in the States also put your clock one hour ahead in the summer, I should be 7 hours ahead of Colorado time.
Oh, and yes, I do sleep!

[stophadog]

Originally Posted by chrisjephcott

Right then guys, an update on the saga regarding this guitar...

So finally the seller has contacted me and offered a full refund - however - last night I got an email off him asking if it would be possible to keep hold of this guitar for a few more days.

The reason given is because I did actually get the wrong guitar sent to me, and he wants to get the other guitar back and then I can send this fake onto the correct person. He has said though that the refund will be in full as soon as the other guitar arrives back at his place.

Obviously, I'm in a bit of a split mind on this - I don't want to pass off the fake to an unsuspecting person, and kind of feel a little bit like a middle man on the entire thing. However, if that's what it takes to get my money back, then that's what I'll have to do I guess.

I just feel sorry for the poor person who is going to end up with this guitar and believes it to be a genuine one.

Cheers,

Chris

Chris, take pics and email to Gibson Customer Support USA FAO Vince Wynne. He should be able to write you a letter confirming it is an Epi-Phoney. I had the exact problem and reported to PayPal and had to produce inside 10 days evidence the item was fake. I also took it to a local guitar store for a hands on inspection (I reported all this higher up this thread, take a read)
You have up to 45 days from the sale to report them so you have time to get the evidence.

DONT send it back and stick you guns, I would def go that route.
Here is mine after I was asked to destroy it by Paypal
IMG_0954.jpg

In my personal view there is a central hub in Manchester (again address higher up this thread) and that place seems to have many (and they are always Chinese) people selling from satellite locations.

Don’t send it on, stick to your guns, get the evidence and report to PayPal. Good luck
Oh incidentally since I left a Neg for the person I got the Epiphoney from there have been no further items for sale! Splendid!

[epifan]

Originally Posted by stophadog

Chris, take pics and email to Gibson Customer Support USA FAO Vince Wynne. He should be able to write you a letter confirming it is an Epi-Phoney. I had the exact problem and reported to PayPal and had to produce inside 10 days evidence the item was fake. I also took it to a local guitar store for a hands on inspection (I reported all this higher up this thread, take a read)
You have up to 45 days from the sale to report them so you have time to get the evidence.

DONT send it back and stick you guns, I would def go that route.
Here is mine after I was asked to destroy it by Paypal
Attachment 13954

In my personal view there is a central hub in Manchester (again address higher up this thread) and that place seems to have many (and they are always Chinese) people selling from satellite locations.

Don’t send it on, stick to your guns, get the evidence and report to PayPal. Good luck
Oh incidentally since I left a Neg for the person I got the Epiphoney from there have been no further items for sale! Splendid!

all you guy's who can spot fakes stay vigilant, and we might clean up ebay and craigslist one day. It would be nice to buy with confidence. That's how it should be but greed is the cancer of humanity. So keep up the good work!

[epifan]

Originally Posted by spunout

dang. this is disappointing...my girlfriend put a down payment on this for my birthday. she knows how much ive wanted a les paul, since the COPS GOT MY LAST ONE (a real one, too. dont ask).
hmmm....well, now that you mention the sloppiness and lack of detail, i have seen the light. you guys RAWK!
thanks.

I would love to here that story. Seriously.

[epifan]

Originally Posted by -=[Shifty]=-

The safest way is to post the guitars here and ask if they're legit, but you already know that.
The people should stop lookin' for new Epiphones at half the price you would have to pay in a store. How do you think anybody could justify to sell a new guitar for half of the price?
Believe me, Gibson is trying, but those fake sellers are like the Hydra in the greek mythology. You take one out of business, and two take his place.

You know your greek. If Ebay could post this link on every epiphone, this thread could help people on a huge scale. The people getting these fakes are a lot of the reason everyone doesn't buy epi over Gibson. That's a lot of people who might think it's real and chalk it up to a bad guitar company

[epifan]

Originally Posted by Chinster

Yes, it's UK bought. The centre inlay on the headstock being goofy is something I noticed myself before buying, but a quick check of the other epiphones in the shop showed that a goofy inlay seems to affect some other epiphones. I think it's neat, adds character

I thought I'd fire off the pics to Epiphone Europe to see what they thought, they reckon it's genuine. The lack of the limited edition stamp is fine according to them as not all the Bullseye's have them.

I chucked a CD under the bridge and could see 'Epiphone' reflected on the surface (better than taking the bridge off I guess!).

Great freakin' idea with the cd

[epifan]

Originally Posted by -=[Shifty]=-

Sorry man, Fake!

It would be nice if no one bought from ebay.
Just my humble opinion.

[epiphone enthusiast]

murray defo A FAKE no real epiphone will ever hava a tuning nut whch overlaps the border around the headstock and just opened my lp to look at the wiring and urs is all wrong

[Lynyrd77Skynyrd]

Originally Posted by epifan

greed is the cancer of humanity. So keep up the good work!

Isn't Cancer the Cancer of humanity?

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Originally Posted by epiphone enthusiast

murray defo A FAKE no real epiphone will ever hava a tuning nut whch overlaps the border around the headstock and just opened my lp to look at the wiring and urs is all wrong

Wow, dude! You realized that you just answered to a 5 months old post from page 3 of this thread? We are on page 51, now!

[stophadog]

...oh dear another rip off merchant has arisen, “slowly999”, luckily the sellers leaving feedback are not annon and the listing can be tracked
Have messaged all buyers directing to MLP and re PayPal claim process and also reported all live listing from sellers to eBay

FAKE - epiphone Les Paul Custom in Alpine white on eBay (end time 18-Jun-09 21:53:48 BST)
FAKE – Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus Top-Translucent Blue on eBay (end time 29-Jun-09 21:15:56 BST)
FAKE – Epiphone Les Paul Custom Electric Guitar, on eBay (end time 12-Jun-09 21:15:00 BST)
Curiously this sellers listing seems the same as 2nd one above ... “maltonstone” hmmm anyone for sweet and sour, mainly sour...
FAKE – Epiphone Les Paul Custom Electric Guitar Ebony on eBay (end time 22-Jun-09 22:51:36 BST)

MLP Fake Hunter in the making...

I could find LOTS more but I have an axe to grind

[stophadog]

Originally Posted by -=[Shifty]=-

Wow, dude! You realized that you just answered to a 5 months old post from page 3 of this thread? We are on page 51, now!

LMAO ... that is funny .... !!!!!!!!!!!

[stophadog]

Well I said I'd do it
Here is my review I need people to vote for it to get it up the listings - it is the only one I know of that directs people to this wonderful MLP FAKE II Thread
eBay.co.uk Guides - How to avoid buying a fake Epiphone Les Paul

[GNR4EVR]

Originally Posted by epifan

It would be nice if no one bought from ebay.
Just my humble opinion.

Weeel, the reason people DO, is theres still some good deals to be had. If you go in educated, youll have more success. I have bought ALL of my guitars there, My 2005 Elitist Standard PLus top: $725.00 and my 04' Epi G400 SG: $200.00.
And last night I just won a brand new ATI Radeon HD3650 PCI Express 1GB RAM Video card for... No kidding, $26.00 with shipping....

The link to prove it:

VisonTek ATI Radeon B2 3650 1GB PCIE DVI 900233 - eBay (item 320391973709 end time Jul-05-09 12:30:57 PDT)

Just be educated, theres no need to fear the Ebay monster... He doesnt bite

[stophadog]

FAKE ...? Like Jordons chest I guess ... !? Epiphone Les Paul Custom Wine Red Electric Guitar. UK!! on eBay (end time 10-Jul-09 18:30:00 BST)

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Originally Posted by GNR4EVR

Weeel, the reason people DO, is theres still some good deals to be had. If you go in educated, youll have more success. I have bought ALL of my guitars there, My 2005 Elitist Standard PLus top: $725.00 and my 04' Epi G400 SG: $200.00.
And last night I just won a brand new ATI Radeon HD3650 PCI Express 1GB RAM Video card for... No kidding, $26.00 with shipping....

The link to prove it:

VisonTek ATI Radeon B2 3650 1GB PCIE DVI 900233 - eBay (item 320391973709 end time Jul-05-09 12:30:57 PDT)

Just be educated, theres no need to fear the Ebay monster... He doesnt bite

Wow, congrats, buddy! That's a steal!

Originally Posted by stophadog

FAKE ...? Like Jordons chest I guess ... !? Epiphone Les Paul Custom Wine Red Electric Guitar. UK!! on eBay (end time 10-Jul-09 18:30:00 BST)

Yup, fake.

[stophadog]

Originally Posted by GNR4EVR

Weeel, the reason people DO, is theres still some good deals to be had. If you go in educated, youll have more success. I have bought ALL of my guitars there, My 2005 Elitist Standard PLus top: $725.00 and my 04' Epi G400 SG: $200.00.
And last night I just won a brand new ATI Radeon HD3650 PCI Express 1GB RAM Video card for... No kidding, $26.00 with shipping....

The link to prove it:

VisonTek ATI Radeon B2 3650 1GB PCIE DVI 900233 - eBay (item 320391973709 end time Jul-05-09 12:30:57 PDT)

Just be educated, theres no need to fear the Ebay monster... He doesnt bite

I'm agree with you GNR - some OUTSTANDING deals to be had, RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH is key and personally I won’t buy off anyone with sub 98% f/b .. or outside the UK .. usually! i
In 216 transactions I have been "stung" twice, once with the Silverburst kitchen table .. so that is sub 1% and I won PayPal claims and got full refunds both times What narks me is surely eBay know this goes on so why not stamp it out, I guess with fees they have a vested interest, gits!