U.S. Government Shuts Down 175+ Fake Golf Merchandise Websites
The United States government intervened yesterday in the counterfeit golf club black market, shutting down more than 175 websites which once sold fake clubs at low prices for a high profit margin on auction sites like EBay.
Sporting goods manufacturers and professional teams alike depend on merchandise sales for a large portion of their annual revenues. As technology has increased, and the ability to hide behind a digital business with no brick-and-mortar location has become simplified, the incidence of counterfeit items has become increasingly common.
Unfortunately, for investigators it wasn’t as easy as scoping out fake watches with obvious knock-off names like “Bolex” may be– in fact it was the opposite, due to the sophistication used by counterfeit manufacturers to hide the clubs in plain sight.
The U.S. District Court for Southern Florida has done their due diligence, however, and has shut down more than 175 sites for selling the fake clubs, and is in pursuit of another 60 suspected of doing the same thing.
According to HookedOnGolf.com, more than 250 sites total have been shut down this year for selling fake golf merchandise. A group called Keep Golf Real has been formed in the effort to fight counterfeiters and mass marketers of fake merchandise.
The easiest way to nip this trend in the bud is to educate golfers that buying fake clubs is of no benefit to anyone along the supply chain, and will ultimately have the opposite effect one might expect– prices will be driven up because of over-supply in the market rather than keeping things on the cheap.
When counterfeit items enter the market, it forces companies selling legitimate, branded items, to spend money “killing” the counterfeit brands, and therefore that cost has to be passed on to and absorbed by the consumer.
It’s a no-win situation for everyone involved.
—
Kris Hughes is a Network Manager for Rant Sports. If you enjoy his takes, you can follow Kris on Twitter, check out his personal Facebook page, or stop by his personal Tumblr page.
—
More articles on the government’s bust of fake golf merchandise websites:
U.S. Government Shutters 175+ Fake Golf Websites: http://yhoo.it/HCUIEK
175+ Websites Who Sell Counterfeit Clubs Shut Down: http://bit.ly/HzrLE8
FEATURED PARTNERS
- October 23rd Is The Worst Birthday
- Should You Buy Facebook Stock?
- Watch A Teaser For "Anchorman 2"
- Brooke Hogan Joins the Pro Wrestling Biz
- NY Giants -- We Got a Ring!!! [PHOTO]
- Terrell Owens -- Foreclosure Fight in Miami
- Hey! Go ‘Like’ Us on Facebook and Follow Us on Twitter (Rumor Has It We’ll Follow You Back)
- WhiteRaverRafting’s EDM Trip Of the Week: Five EDM Tracks and Your Hot Rave Girl of the Week
- ‘To the People that Kept Me Up All Night Having Sex…’ And Your Best Links of the Day