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Beware of the Superdeal by Dave Humiston


“Psssssssst!” “Wanna buy a nice Rolex and a 2010 Exa 500?” So… maybe the black market for field hockey sticks hasn’t quite reached that point, but it’s out there, and it’s readily accessible in the internet and email age. Online auctions and easy electronic contact with “suppliers” from around the world make purchasing such sticks relatively simple. And, while the similarities between knockoff Rolex watches, fake Chanel No. 5, imitation Coach bags, and high-end field hockey sticks isn’t obvious at first, they all suffer forgery activity because of their iconic status and appeal, and they are all relatively easy to make, albeit poorly.


Even in the smaller world of field hockey, consumers will unwittingly purchase highly sought after products as a savings measure, or may knowingly even seek forgeries for their caché. A benefit/risk analysis shows that the cost savings and the envy of your friends are not likely worth the effort. With counterfeit perfume, you run the risk of poisoning yourself, as everything from antifreeze to urine has been found in the fakes. With a counterfeit watch, you run the risk of it failing to work just as someone asks you for the correct time. But with field hockey sticks you invite inferior performance on the field of competi- tion, as shoddy production standards translate to a poor looking stick and a poor looking player. You may also run the risk of tainting the reputation of true manufacturers whose sticks are being imitated.


As equipment representatives travel to many tournaments throughout the country, they occasionally encounter someone returning a stick that “has something wrong with it.” Not every short-lived online auctioneer is caught, and the odd stick thus makes its way into the experienced hands of the manufacturer who immediately spots it as fake. Generally, they look a little off visually, but the feel is what gives them away. Quality materials cost more than cheap ones and weight and weight distribution is not easy to mimic with poor production standards. It’s probably only costing these producers $30 to $35 or less for a stick that they sell for a hundred or more over cost. With current costs for the highest quality sticks running $300 to $400, it’s easy to see why someone would stoop to forgery to get a piece of the action.


Fortunately, the extent of the problem is not epic, but it has gotten the attention of manufacturers and resellers and, hopefully after reading this, you too will be a bit more cautious.


Players, parents, and coaches to whom I have spoken are usually shocked and surprised that anyone would buy these counterfeits. Peter Jones, Head Coach of the USA National Men’s Indoor Team told a story of a parent who was very pleased at having pur- chased a quality name-brand stick online at tremendous savings only to discover, after paint and wrapping began to come off, that it was a stick from one manufacturer that had simply been painted over to look like a much more expensive stick. It is possible that there are counterfeiters who, by hook or by crook, obtain cast away, substandard sticks from one manufacturer and doctor them up to pass them off at considerable profit. Jones relayed an- other story in which a high school coach saved money by buying an entire lot of 15-20 top- of-the-line sticks for his team online. In time, they all began to chip and break, and the cost for replacements added insult to injury.


* COUNTERFEIT STICKS


It is fairly simple to stage a counterattack. Experts suggest simply to “know your source.” Buy from an authorized, reputable dealer, and avoid “super deals” offered in online auctions, the back streets of the city, or from your friend that just came back with a carton of inexpensive name-brand sticks from Pakistan. If it sounds like a deal that’s too good to be true, it probably is. If you think you’ve spotted a fake, go ahead and contact the manufacturer and/or your local authorized dealer and pass on your source for them to investigate. I’m sure they would appreciate the help, and you might save on your next purchase from them…worth a try anyway.


davidhumiston@hotmail.com


* The photo above illustrates examples of counterfeit Dita sticks, however, the problem is not isolated to Dita. All major international brands are having their top end sticks counterfeited.


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