Growing up, I have been told many times how lucky and blessed I must feel being a Singaporean. We have a strong government, no coruption, a strong economy (one of the strongest in south east asia), a beautiful country thats clean and green, a cosmopolitan environment where business opportunities with the world are abundant, and also, Singapore is a country that faces no danger of natural calamities (earthquake, flood, volcano etc).
However, when dealing with golf products, I feel that being a Singaporean is to my disadvantage.
Many people feel that anything coming from Asia are fakes.
Just today, I have had 2 email enquiries:
1) "I am being told to be very careful of overseas sellers as the Taylormade R9's are fake. They say R9 coming from China and Singapore are fake/replica's. Is yours fake? "
2) "Hi, I notice you are from Singapore, is your FCT sleeve a replica?"
Ok, as a seller I know that these are common questions to answer, especially with the amount of fakes around. However, you can see that both emails point out to the fact that sellers in Singapore are selling fake stuff. This feels like a sweeping statement to me. Its like saying that all Muslims are terrorists!
First, for anyone of you who do not know, Singapore is a very strict country. Even throwing a piece of paper on the ground, will see you charged a minimum of $500 fine and a week's worth of corrective work order (you will basically collect litters around Singapore for a week, wearing a stupid looking vest). Piracy is a big crime. Singapore is not like China, Thailand or any other asian countries where you can find people selling pirated DVDs, fake Gucci or fake Rolex on the streets openly. Anyone who has been to Singapore will know what I mean. Intellectual Property and Copyright Infringement is taken very seriously here.
Many people never even heard of Singapore. They realize its in Asia and immediately jump to conclusion that everything coming from here is fake. You need to know that the Asian Tour is one of the up and coming tour, do not discount that just because its 'Asian'. Look at the Indian players - Jeeve Milkah Singh, Jyoti Randhawa.....the Korean K.J Choi etc. Authentic golf equipment and legit tour issued stuff can be obtained if a person has the right contacts. Please do not assume that everything coming from Singapore is fake, that's so shallow! My own cousin works on tour, so I know my stuff well. It really is quite insulting to get such emails at times. Although I understand that it is only right for buyers to be concerned and to be extra careful, maybe its the way they phrase the question that pissed me off. I get other emails enquiring about authenticity and I have no issues with replying them, I guess its the same respect we should show each other between a buyer and a seller.
Many people think that only buying with the US will guarantee that the item is authentic. That is also very shallow thinking. Look at it this way:- a US seller can buy from a replica wholesaler in China and then sell the goods within the States. Just because the buyer has a lame mentality that US sellers are safe, he convinces himself that what he is buying is authentic!
Some people question my price. They feel that $250 - $300 is too cheap for a tour issued head. All thanks to eBay, where Tour Issued stuff are sold at crazy prices like $800....
People think that cheap = fake.
You see, I am a very reasonable person. My main profession is a headhunter. Selling golf clubs = not my main source of income. I sell golf clubs as a passion, because I love golf. I am not out here to make a profit and ripoff other people by selling at high margins. You know, I have been supplying to some ebay sellers in the States for almost a year now. Lets say I sell it to them at $250 per club, they sell it for $800. People will still buy from them over me. Why? 1) They are from the States so they believe its definately authentic. 2) Its expensive so its definately authentic.
What many people do not know is that those clubs are the exact same thing supplied by me. Just because the person lives in the States, the price goes up 400%!
Some people will choose to pay $800 over $250 just because the person is based in USA. Its ok. I would be happy too. I need my buyers to sell well, so that they in turn buy more from me. Either way, if you buy from me direct, or from my sellers from the States...it still benefits me in the end.
Why am I writing this then? Well, maybe because I just need to vent it out. I have had 2 people insulting me and my Nationality today.....so in case I sound like a crazy woman, I apologize. I guess I see this a s a place to let it off my chest.
