Ethics

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By John M

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  • 12 Replies
  1. John M

    John M
    Asheville, North Carolina

    Military

    I think most if not all of my fellow Team Members has gone on Ebay and seen Titleist clubs and gear for sale. It’s safe to assume that some of these items for sale are counterfeit which is why I’ve never bought anything Titleist on Ebay. While I could investigate the seller and try to determine their honesty, I’d rather buy my clubs and gear directly from Titleist or a licensed dealer. My question is this: suppose you played with someone who stated that they had bought a new GT2 driver for say $ 75.00 on Ebay and that he stated it was likely to be a counterfeit but the deal was too good to pass up. What would you think of this person? Would you continue to play with him?

    I’m asking this because I believe Golf is a game based on honor and ethics are important to me. Am I a dinosaur?

  2. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    Buying equipment is more of a financial decision and not an ethical decision. Not everyone is committed to buying a $700 driver for casual golf. I’d even suggest that this not a whole lot different than the next ball in play is the last one found. Not my game, but it won’t impact me.

    I won’t deal with eBay for golf equipment. Buying or selling. Selling is the worst. The buyer just wants to try the product and then insists the listing was incorrect and wants me to pay shipping to return it to me. And if I had a dime for every posting on the web or facebook “is this rea?”, I could have retired 2 years earlier. The price is the siren song.

    Caveat emptor.
  3. Dale V

    Dale V
    Surprise AZ

    Maybe if they told me they got their driver by stealing it out of a golf bag at the club drop, then I probably would steer clear of them for future rounds. I don’t normally preach morality to fellow golfers but many factors do go into who I like to pair up with on the golf course. I can’t imagine the conversation of buying counterfeit would come up in my foursomes. I’m a guy who likes to play with minimal conversations. Not a knock on my fellow extroverts, I’m just a Cam Young kind of golfer.
  4. Barry M

    Barry M
    Reno, NV

    Golf is an expensive sport. I don't criticize someone for trying to save a few bucks on equipment. I have bought a few things on ebay, but only from golf equipment suppliers I recognize, and only specific things I am looking for. None of those purchases can really be called a great deal. Not uncommon for somebody looking for a specific model head, shaft, etc that is no longer manufactured to turn to ebay in hopes of finding it.
    To answer your question, if they're enjoyable to play a round of golf with, I don't care where they bought their equipment or how much it cost them. For me golf is complicated enough that my focus is limited to my game. But I must admit that if they are bragging about the great deal they made on a club, and they shank it into the woods, most likely I am going to razz them about it.
  5. Dave N

    Dave N
    Dade City, FL

    My 2 cents is , if it's a fake then it won't perform like the "real" club is going to. Plus if all they want to do is "show off" clubs/brag about what is in their bag that tells you the type of person they are.
  6. JYoung

    JYoung
    Ohio

    I honestly do not care where someone gets their clubs or whether or not they are fake. Like others have said. Golf is expensive. It's nothing to have $4000+ wrapped up in your entire bag. Not everyone can afford top notch clubs. I'd only get mad if they beat me with those fake clubs. Haha
  7. Dino S

    Dino S
    Ohio

    I'm not sure buying a club on eBay for $75 would come up in my casual conversation during my round. I think if someone makes a decision like that there must be a reason behind it and I'm not going to judge them on it. On the other hand there are certain people I prefer to golf with regardless of what they pay for their driver. That person may or may not have bought their driver for $75.
  8. DStover

    DStover
    Smithfield, NC

    I would NOT buy a fake club but if I were playing with someone with a counterfeit club I would not care. If they were happy with it fire away.
    With the escalating cost of clubs I can see the appeal. I have purchased slightly used clubs from Ebey and FB marketplace. (GT2 driver and Tsr1 hybrid) but from a reputable seller. LOL
    Probably why the D to C companies are doing so well, A lot of people are getting priced out of the big brands.
  9. Palmer C

    Palmer C
    Ashland, MA

    Just beware that there a lot of knockoffs and forgeries out there. There’s nothing wrong with saving a few dollars as long as what you’re buying is authentic.
  10. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military
    It's about choices and those choices ;you have to live with. The guys I play with are retired seniors and not purchase equipment off eBay. If they are looking for Titleist equipment they hang around until I get new and and purchase from me.

    Buying off eBay does not guarantee it is authentic and l live by the rule, "buyer beware when purchasing off eBay. when the price seems to good to be true, it's fake."
  11. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military

    John M said:

    I think most if not all of my fellow Team Members has gone on Ebay and seen Titleist clubs and gear for sale. It’s safe to assume that some of these items for sale are counterfeit which is why I’ve never bought anything Titleist on Ebay. While I could investigate the seller and try to determine their honesty, I’d rather buy my clubs and gear directly from Titleist or a licensed dealer. My question is this: suppose you played with someone who stated that they had bought a new GT2 driver for say $ 75.00 on Ebay and that he stated it was likely to be a counterfeit but the deal was too good to pass up. What would you think of this person? Would you continue to play with him?

    I’m asking this because I believe Golf is a game based on honor and ethics are important to me. Am I a dinosaur?

    Guess I would think that that person is one who looks for shortcuts and is cheap. Would you end a friendship because he is cheap. Your choice. We all have cheap friends. Hakuna matata.
  12. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military

    John M said:

    I think most if not all of my fellow Team Members has gone on Ebay and seen Titleist clubs and gear for sale. It’s safe to assume that some of these items for sale are counterfeit which is why I’ve never bought anything Titleist on Ebay. While I could investigate the seller and try to determine their honesty, I’d rather buy my clubs and gear directly from Titleist or a licensed dealer. My question is this: suppose you played with someone who stated that they had bought a new GT2 driver for say $ 75.00 on Ebay and that he stated it was likely to be a counterfeit but the deal was too good to pass up. What would you think of this person? Would you continue to play with him?

    I’m asking this because I believe Golf is a game based on honor and ethics are important to me. Am I a dinosaur?

    You know, on second thought, I play with a lot of retired seniors and some have mixed bags of whatever they can afford. We don't judge them by what's in their bag. Know one even has one of those old swoosh drivers that makes that aweful loud noise. At our ages, happy to be out on the course playing golf. Some don't even know how many they can carry. Being judgemental is just thrown out the gate when we enter the course, for most. We are there to have fun. Played with a guy yesterday and his concern was that he was too young for our group. Young whippersnapper is 65. Told him no worries, anybody of 50 is welcome in our seniors group, as long as you are breathing. Our last WWII veteran in 2024. We Vietnam Era veterans are starting to fade here and there. At our muni, when locals reach 90, you get to play for free. #19th ranked muni in US, behind Torrey Pines, golf.com.
  13. Mario T

    Mario T
    canada

    I get where you’re coming from. I’d be wary too buying a super cheap “likely counterfeit” club just feels sketchy. Doesn’t necessarily mean I wouldn’t play with them, but it does make me question their judgment a bit. Golf is about honor, so yeah, your stance isn’t outdated it’s just valuing the integrity of the game.

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