JamGolf

JamGolf can now underline its credentials as a credible channel through which golf clubs, shoes, bags, clothing and balls can be sold directly to the general public. After a three day appearance at the country’s leading trade show in Harrogate with the influential buying group TGI Golf, we can proudly announce the 101 golf pro shops from all over the UK are now signed up and selling product in Golf’s Authentic Marketplace.

The prefix ‘Second hand’ has seen a huge increase in the search engines ( for example, the term ‘second hand golf clubs‘ has seen a 25% rise) and we can report a large rise in the numbers of visitors with a 15% increase in visitors each month for the last two months. We will not rest on our laurels however, with some exciting link ups to be announced soon.

Just launched our Facebook group. Check out Geoff Swains hilarious trick shot outtakes.

In order to further distance jamgolf.com from the unscrupulous practices involving the sale of fake goods on auction sites, jamgolf.com is scrapping the auction model and will be offering a simple interface that includes the option to ‘Make the Pro an Offer’ from, September 1st.

We believe that due to the ongoing court cases and legal judgements involving the sale of counterfeit goods on eBay, this is an ideal way to show our commitment to the golf industry. JamGolf.com has developed some exciting and rewarding relationships in the few months since launch and this has influenced our thoughts on the best way to progress when considering the wishes of retailers, manufacturers and consumers alike. We will continue our strong opposition of the fake trade in golf clubs and maintain our guarantee – If it’s Jam it’s Genuine.

We are offering golf manufacturers and retailers the chance to link up with an authentic, legitimate clearance facility that could help revolutionise the way retailers approach their stock commitments. JamGolf.com is a new tool to clear slow moving / overstock / end of line and trade-in products and can remove the requirement for stock rotation or return.

JamGolf.com is currently visited 40,000 times per month by consumers actively looking for golf equipment. Through the use of ‘white label sites’ (the first is at golflinks) we will increase that figure to 150,000 within the next 15 months. We are continually growing our retailer base and project the number of retailers to exceed 200 within the next 6 months.

Well, there you have it. eBay has thousands of counterfeit goods for sale on its site, not put there by eBay but by unscrupulous sellers who don’t give a damn about whether you’re struggling with your swing, or want to impress your loved one with a new diamond. The court in New York has upheld the ruling that eBay does not have any responsibility for the counterfeits advertised throughout the world on its various sites. Read about it here, or here, or, hell infact everywhere. You can’t escape it. If you want to ensure that you are buying genuine product ensure that it is coming from a genuine retailer. In the golf world that means only one auction site - JamGolf’s only sellers are GENUINE RETAILERS. Nuff said.

We’d like to say a big thanks to Puma and GolfPunk by the way for an excellent party at this weeks Open Championships.

Agence France Press today reported the fine of 40 million euros dished out to eBay in France for selling fake luxury goods. LMVH, who called the decision a major coup against illegal sales on the internet took the auction to court to seek damages for the auctions of fake goods. eBay are appealing, but until then, are also banned from selling Christan Dior, Kenzo, Givenchy and Guerlain perfume whether its genuine or not.

The market in luxury brands such as designer perfumes is high value, much like the golf industry and it is the launching of sites like www.jamgolf.com that are leading the fightback. JamGolf works much the same as the auction sites like eBay, but is different in that the only sellers allowed to sell on the site are previously vetted authorised stockists of the goods for sale. The selection of golf clubs on the site are essentially ‘clearance’ items from golf pro shops, offering the everyday golfer the opportunity to benefit from auction prices while shopping in the knowledge that they aren’t dealing with somebody trying to ’scam’ them.

An auction site with a difference has been launched in the UK. It’s similar to the eBay experience but with one big difference. The only sellers are recognised professionals and authorised stockists. The bargains are still there but the risk of being scammed by the fakers has gone.

Golf belts are being tightened and the temptation to search out bargains on the internet is a big one. Unfortunately, many of these ‘bargains’ seem just too good to be true and guess what? In many cases, they are.

The number of golf clubs purchased on the internet that turn out to be fake is steadily increasing. This means more and more golfers finding not only their game ruined but the loss of any residual value in the club and the ribbing from the rest of the weekly fourball leaves the one-time bargain hunter fuming.

A fake handbags or perfume, for instance is often bought because of its hugely discounted price and that fact that it is fake doeasn’t seem to concern a lot of people. In an industry worth approximately £400 million in Europe and with the average price of a genuine product being high, the number of fake golf clubs available on non-golf websites is quickly increasing, resulting in more and more golfers being deceived.

How do you spot fake clubs?

There are several problems that face the prospective purchaser here. Firstly, the manufacturers have found themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place in that if they issued precise instructions of what to look for, they are also informing the counterfeiters what not to do. The other big problem is that by buying remotely from strangers the purchaser doesn’t see the club until it is in his hands.

Surely, as with other fake products, the price is a giveaway? This used to be the clincher but when the couterfeiters put the items up for sale at a similar price to the genuine golf clubs it is very difficult to tell.

It is therefore very difficult to spot a fake but there are tell-tale signs. The colour is often slightly different to the original, the pattern on the shaft may vary or the club may be magnetic when it is advertised as being precisely made from non-magnetic titamium.

There is one difference you’ll notice straight away - hit a fake club after an authentic one and you’ll feel the difference. Imagine a club head that has been made to weigh more at one end and has been labouriously made in order to transfer the weight in the correct spot and then compare that to what is just basically a lump of steel. They may look similar but are very, very different.

PGA pro Matthew Groves of www.JamGolf.com says: “It is best to compare the suspect club to one you know is authentic. Put them side by side and contrast the finish, the fonts, the colouring and the weight”

Also, do not compare your new suspect club to your current one. That maybe fake – visit your local PGA professional for advice or check the serial number. You could also telephone the manufacturer and ask for a serial number check or visit their website.