Trenchworker Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 Today, I was asked by one of my customers about fake Dominant strings being sold on Amazon. Does anyone know if this is true, or what is the evidence? I don't buy my strings from Amazon, but my customers may wonder why I charge more for Dominant strings than they can buy on Amazon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advocatus Diaboli Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 Definitely seen steel core 'Dominants' and 'Evah Pirazzi' among others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stavanger Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 Everything that can be faked, is faked - so I'm sure it is possible. I bought some dominants on ebay a while back, and the package was sendt from Hong Kong... Suspicious, yes, but everything checked out and they turned out to be the real deal (or at least a REALLY good fake, both string and package wise)I guess a lot also has to do with profit margins. A dealer in HK that orders 10.000 sets from Thomastik would get a better deal than "bubbas violins" that order 20 sets. And with cheap labour, the HK dealer is happy with maybe only 1$ markup, while bubbas needs 15$ to break even... Amazon is also quite strict on counterfits, so I would think they are legit... (a bit more sceptical if you order on aliexpress) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Nichols Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 I have a lot of faith in Amazon and if there are fakes I am certain that Amazon will instantly refund your cost if you get a fake set. The issue to me would be if you could tell that you got a fake. But, then I guess that brings up the more difficult question, if you can't tell they are fake, does it matter? From the point of view of wanting to support a company that makes a good product it would matter to me, for others it might not mean as much. Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trenchworker Posted October 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 Frank, to me it DOES matter if an item is a fake, whether one can tell or not. Taking advantage of someone elses hard-won name reputation is not part of our "social contract". If you are correct that it doesn't matter, then why the effort to provenance a violin labled Stradivarius? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Nichols Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 Frank, to me it DOES matter if an item is a fake, whether one can tell or not. Taking advantage of someone elses hard-won name reputation is not part of our "social contract". If you are correct that it doesn't matter, then why the effort to provenance a violin labled Stradivarius? Trenchworker, I did say to me it would matter, from the point of view of supporting the company that makes a good product, so we agree. I was trying to acknowledge that some people would not care - a sad but realistic evaluation of people today. In a previous life I was a wedding photographer, and it was not uncommon for people to steal (copy) the photographs that I produced and copyrighted. They felt no remorse at the fact that they were stealing my hard work and cutting into my ability to make a living. So, yes, I completely agree with you, and do so from first hand experience. Frank Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwie Posted October 21, 2016 Report Share Posted October 21, 2016 Shar Music recently went on a counter-offensive on these counterfeit products, especially those marked as coming from Thomastik-Infeld. They had a massive sale on their products which discounted their popular sets like Dominant, Alphayue, and PI between 30%-50%. I ended up taking a chunk of my ensemble budget for my school and acquiring many sets of strings, which we were holding back on because of cost (and our refusal to buy cheap knockoffs). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deans Posted October 21, 2016 Report Share Posted October 21, 2016 I've seen Chinese strings on instruments that had the Dominant thread colors that were clearly not Dominants. But I've never seen fake strings that were actually packaged and advertised as Dominants. Anyone ever see this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stavanger Posted October 22, 2016 Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 Lets see. These should be fake, right? A set of tonica's for usd 7.90 on aliexpress.https://www.aliexpress.com/item/PIRASTRO-TONICA-violin-string-full-set/32679193305.htmlThe cheapest set on ebay and amazon are right below 30usd.If I remember correctly I dont think tonicas are plastic wrapped like this, and the color windings are incorrect - I believe.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stavanger Posted October 22, 2016 Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 ... So I just wrote the seller, asking if they are real or fake. He admitted to them being "made in china." Then I implied that Pirastro does not have any factory in China, so therefor they are fake. Then he blacklisted me! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rue Posted October 22, 2016 Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 Troublemaker... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael.N. Posted October 22, 2016 Report Share Posted October 22, 2016 Is it Amazon selling them or one of their associated sellers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violadamore Posted October 25, 2016 Report Share Posted October 25, 2016 This news item may have some relevancy here: https://www.yahoo.com/news/amazon-counterfeits-put-mans-business-140007731.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamiya Posted October 25, 2016 Report Share Posted October 25, 2016 Lets see. These should be fake, right? A set of tonica's for usd 7.90 on aliexpress.https://www.aliexpress.com/item/PIRASTRO-TONICA-violin-string-full-set/32679193305.html The cheapest set on ebay and amazon are right below 30usd. If I remember correctly I dont think tonicas are plastic wrapped like this, and the color windings are incorrect - I believe.... my local B&M purveyor reminds me that "NEW FORMULA" Tonica (red slash on packet top left) has been on sale for over 7yrs... At same meeting he also advises Pirastro distributor has told him next batch will be going up 15%. Doesn't make it easy to stay loyal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Merkel Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 On 10/25/2016 at 4:42 AM, Violadamore said: This news item may have some relevancy here: https://www.yahoo.com/news/amazon-counterfeits-put-mans-business-140007731.html Interesting product and interesting story. To me, he's running his business wrong, as if it was a perfect world, and he's throwing away resources trying to make it a perfect world. The problem in the article has been around since before China was riding bicycles. If your product is worth anything, competition is going to infringe or circumvent or wear you down in court. Best advice even back when everything was domestic for a small company with a new product was make your money and get out -- because if your product is any good then competition you can't whip is coming to put you out of business. It's nothing new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nathan slobodkin Posted May 23, 2017 Report Share Posted May 23, 2017 On October 21, 2016 at 11:47 AM, gwie said: Shar Music recently went on a counter-offensive on these counterfeit products, especially those marked as coming from Thomastik-Infeld. They had a massive sale on their products which discounted their popular sets like Dominant, Alphayue, and PI between 30%-50%. I ended up taking a chunk of my ensemble budget for my school and acquiring many sets of strings, which we were holding back on because of cost (and our refusal to buy cheap knockoffs). Since all the dealers who have stuck to their implied agreement with the importers minimum advertised price policy got seriously screwed by this I can't really see this as a good thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Merkel Posted May 24, 2017 Report Share Posted May 24, 2017 If China never produces a good , inexpensive string it'll probably be because they know other Chinese would be knocking it off and undercutting it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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