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Post by plumbum on Sept 22, 2014 8:10:02 GMT
In January I bought 5 sets of Elixir Phosphor Bronze stings on Ebay. They were apparently very good value at £9 per set; certainly the best value at the time. I keep a reasonable stock of strings so used the first set restringing my Lowden on Saturday. When I played the guitar I instantly thought there was something odd, they didn't feel like coated strings. I didn't think too much more about it and didn't play much on Saturday. I played on Sunday and pretty quickly came to the conclusion that something was wrong. This guitar with new Elixirs is unbelievably bright and zingy. The low E just produced a dull 'thunk' .
I compared with a different set of Elixirs and the colour and feel of the strings is completely different. The packaging of the five cheap sets is very very close but has very subtle differences. Looking at the sellers feedback (overall very positive), I now see that he has had a few complaints where people have received strings that are supposed to be D'Addario EXPs and Elixirs but that are just cheap nasty strings.
I have contacted the seller and asked him politely what he intends to do. I will see what his response is and if not satisfied will point out that it is a criminal offence to supply counterfeit goods and contact trading standards. I could use the Ebay/Paypal resolution service but I'm not sure how much use that will be as I bought the strings 9 months ago.
I just wanted to let you all know in case you're tempted by apparently cheap strings online. At this stage I don't want to publish the name of the seller but am happy to share it privately (message me) if you are thinking of buying online. I guess, as they say "If it seems too good to be true...it probably is".
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Sept 22, 2014 8:58:14 GMT
Hi,
Interesting post. I have been buying strings on-line for years. I now use D'add EXPs most of the time. Used to buy from Stringsdirect, but elsewhere (on price) in last 12 months or so. I have had no problems with about 6 sets bought direct through Amazon and also some from guitarbitz on ebay. Agree with your wish to not publish the dealer you've had trouble with but would appreciate a pm if you have time to warn me off them just in case. I tend to only buy in one or 2 sets at a time provided postage is free. The price you paid of around £9 for your elixirs is about what I've been paying for the d'adds.
My experience with ebay returns/complaints has been very good if I have had a problem with anything provided you notify within I think 45 days OF ORDER (NOT delivery; I fell into this trap once with an overseas order which took 3 weeks to get here; eBay's clock starts from when you ordered/paid and not when goods arrived). Outside of the 45 days doesn't work so well although I did have 1 'fraud' case with some perfume and still got money back when seller had disappeared 2 months later.
Good luck with your follow up.
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Post by Banadog on Sept 22, 2014 9:41:22 GMT
I bought a dodgy set around that time for the same price but there seemed to be no negative feedback which was really surprising because a lot had been sold and they were obviously not genuine. I suggest you contact Elixir, they asked me to send them the strings with details of the seller and I got a replacement set
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Post by plumbum on Sept 22, 2014 12:03:28 GMT
I've bought many many times on EBay and Amazon and this is the first time I have had any problem. I think I may well get in touch with Elixir too. Thanks for the suggestion.
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Post by ricardo on Dec 21, 2014 16:03:29 GMT
Hi Plumbum, Have you had any success either through the eBay seller or through Elixir themselves? I have just found the elixir strings I bought off eBay do not seem to be the real thing either. Unfortunately it is two months since I bought them, I have already placed good feedback because the package turned up on time and looked legit. I bought two packets of 11-52 custom light nanoweb 80/20 bronze, my usual string, but when I re-strung today I instantly noticed they did not sound right, they were more dull than the old elixirs I was replacing! Then I tried playing and they did not feel right either, they do not have the normal slipperiness that elixirs have. On closer inspection of the packaging, the individual string packets are glued together slightly differently from a real (from my favourite guitar shop) packet, and the serial number on the back of the individual packet (under the recycling logo) does not seem to line up with the string gauge as it does on the real packet. Other than that the packaging looks identical. I'm not really sure where to go from here (hence the question how did you get on). I'm not concerned with getting my money back, but I would like to stop counterfeiting b******s from continuing to dupe other people.
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Post by Banadog on Dec 22, 2014 20:49:41 GMT
I would try emailing Elixir, they seem pretty keen on finding these people. If buying off a non Elixir dealer I suggest that as soon as you receive the strings check the windings at the ball end against a genuine set. In my experience the differences are quite noticable, especially the unwound strings. That way you can see right away if they are real or not
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andrewjw
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Post by andrewjw on Dec 22, 2014 22:20:40 GMT
It is not just strings either... There are loads of fake Shure mics around...particularly SM 58's and Beta 58A's... The old adage "If it seems to good to be true , it probably is" possibly applies...
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Post by sigmadel on Dec 25, 2014 15:58:24 GMT
I nearly bought an sm58 earlier this year from Gumtree but was warned of it by a mate . I won't buy one second hand without seeing it in the flesh . These counterfeit artists are a pain in the preverbials .
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Post by plumbum on Jan 27, 2015 19:27:45 GMT
Hi Plumbum, Have you had any success either through the eBay seller or through Elixir themselves? I have just found the elixir strings I bought off eBay do not seem to be the real thing either. Unfortunately it is two months since I bought them, I have already placed good feedback because the package turned up on time and looked legit. I bought two packets of 11-52 custom light nanoweb 80/20 bronze, my usual string, but when I re-strung today I instantly noticed they did not sound right, they were more dull than the old elixirs I was replacing! Then I tried playing and they did not feel right either, they do not have the normal slipperiness that elixirs have. On closer inspection of the packaging, the individual string packets are glued together slightly differently from a real (from my favourite guitar shop) packet, and the serial number on the back of the individual packet (under the recycling logo) does not seem to line up with the string gauge as it does on the real packet. Other than that the packaging looks identical. I'm not really sure where to go from here (hence the question how did you get on). I'm not concerned with getting my money back, but I would like to stop counterfeiting b******s from continuing to dupe other people. Hi Ricardo Sorry for the delay in replying I've been pretty busy and not had a chance to get on here. Sadly, I got no joy (not surprising ) from the trader who trades on ebay as racroxford. Ebay could not help, basically once your outside the ebay dispute period you can't do anything. I phoned and they were sympathetic although it's obvious from this character's feedback that he's trading fake strings. I contacted Elixir and they said I should buy from an official dealer. Trading standards said I would need to get an expert report on the strings and then go through a long winded process ending up in small claims court trying to prove the strings I had were indeed the ones he supplied. Like you I just didn't want him to get away with it and wanted to stop others getting ripped off. Sadly, I now just check every pack of strings on arrival which is a sad state of affairs but goes to show the effect miserable gets like this have Cheers Martin
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007
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Post by 007 on Jan 28, 2015 8:49:36 GMT
Hi PB For what its worth here is the latest Distance selling regs so bays terms would have to as a minimum fit with these the problem is that ebay are global the regs only apply to the UK The advise you have been given is right but practically speaking whose going to take a seller of strings to the small claims court I am surprised that the manufacturer isn't being more proactive. Bet your bottom dollar that if he was seliing iPhones apple would be on to him like a shot Good luck www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/distance-selling-regulations
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paulroger
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Post by paulroger on Sept 1, 2015 18:26:57 GMT
In June 2015 I bought two sets off eBay (timotcon), which are fake but I only found out last week. Elixir won't do anything but just want the seller's name and I have since read on the seller's eBay site that others have also complained, to which some have had refunds and some haven't. I will now only buy from sources that I think I can trust even if it means paying a higher price - if it's too good to be true etc. etc.
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southman
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Post by southman on Sept 1, 2015 19:15:51 GMT
The same thing happened to me about six months ago on eBay .First thing I noticed that the paper strings sleeves were very creased.So I received cheap bronze strings in that had been switched to elixir packaging.The cheapest proper ones I have seen is two sets@£24 at Stringbusters.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Sept 1, 2015 20:15:07 GMT
Hi paulroger - welcome to the Forum! glad you've dived in with a contribution. Maybe you'd also like to say Hi to everyone in the Introductions section? Keith
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Post by moondance on Sept 9, 2015 16:45:53 GMT
It is not just strings either... There are loads of fake Shure mics around...particularly SM 58's and Beta 58A's... The old adage "If it seems to good to be true , it probably is" possibly applies... True. Funny thing is, I bought a S "Shure SM57" off eBay, all the way from China at £29. HAS to be a clone (or one assembled from genuine Shure parts in some employee's apartment. It's quite possibly the best mic I've ever had. Knocks spots off a Beta 58 I have in terms of output and clarity!
I've got some fake Elixirs, though. They're shite.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Sept 9, 2015 22:42:47 GMT
Hi moondance, and welcome to the Forum! Feel free to tell us a little about you in the Introductions section. Keith
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