Another eBay question

[Jascha Muller]

I am sorry if this question is asked too much but I would just like to make sense of these prices, maybe I am missing something?

 

Case study:

 

A normal Richtey WCS alu seatpost from CRC (copy paste link in browser):

www.chainreactioncycles.com/za/en/ritchey-wcs-1-bolt-seatpost/rp-prod160876

 

R 861 + R 111 (for shipping) + ~ R138 (VAT) = R 1110

 

A Ritchey WCS Full Carbon Fiber Seatpost from a "Top-rated seller" (from China) on eBay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ritchey-WCS-Full-Carbon-Fiber-Seatpost-MTB-Road-Seat-Saddle-Post-3K-Gloss-Finish/192512040730?hash=item2cd29c9f1a:g:wZoAAOSwT7Va1GAE

 

R 430 + Free shipping to RSA + ~ R 69 (VAT) = R 499

 

So my questions:

What am I missing? Is there a chance that the eBay product is fake? It does claim to have one year quality assurance and that it passes Europe and the Japan JIS standards and it looks pretty real? I know the markup in the bike industry is ridiculous so, is it possible that the eBay seller just has a lower markup since it is manufactured in China anyways (would that even be legal as an Ritchey re-seller?)? I also understand that you get better aftermarket services from CRC, but if you get a product twice the value at half the price I would say its worth it? 

 

Any comments would be greatly appreciated 

Thanks

[IceCreamMan]

My experience and my experience only, I have bought some stuff from China, took forever to get here and I kinda lost patience with the whole thing, item did arrive through and seems ok quality.

 

Without a doubt the eBay product is fake in some or other way, while it may be the same factory etc as the genuine article it is not supported or endorsed by Ritchey. And forget customer service with these Chinese suppliers.

 

Again, my opinion, for the relative lil saving of 500 I would go CRC, maybe wait for a special or something. Or pop them a mail for best price.

[Cat2forLife]

Unless the one on Ebay is second hand (therefor cheaper) it is fake. It is not made by the factory that Ritchey uses to manufacture their goods and it is not endorsed or certified by Ritchey. So, if it breaks while your sitting on it and you get hurt, Ritchey are not liable for any damages.

 

Don't get me wrong, not all Chinese carbon is rubbish. On the contrary, a lot of it is great product and amazing value for money, but in my experience, the "unbranded" stuff from reputable Chinese manufacturers are preferable to the knock- off stuff. The knock- off stuff is just made to look the part. They're not interested in performance.

[BigDL]

I suspect it would only take one splintered seatpost up the rectum when the fake breaks to highlight the benefits of real v fake.

[JScottP]

Looking on Ritchey's website, Ritchey don't sell a WCS carbon post with the carbon weave, so definately a Knock-off. For me, I wouldn't be comfortable having a knock-off possibly failing on me and causing some rather heavy consequences. Rather save up a bit and get the ali, which is actually 25g lighter than the ebay carbon

[Cat2forLife]

Looking on Ritchey's website, Ritchey don't sell a WCS carbon post with the carbon weave, so definately a Knock-off. For me, I wouldn't be comfortable having a knock-off possibly failing on me and causing some rather heavy consequences. Rather save up a bit and get the ali, which is actually 25g lighter than the ebay carbon

 

Which comes with warranty and, more importantly, GENUINE safety certificates.

[Jascha Muller]

Thanks for the reply guys! It makes sense then that it is a knock-off. I am a bit naive when it comes to "fake" cycling products because I don't think we get exposed to it much  (apart from the pinarello scandal). Its not like the fake sports-ware products being sold on the corners of streets.

 

I will then rather save up my bucks than have a splintered seat-post in an uncomfortable place.    

[Cat2forLife]

Thanks for the reply guys! It makes sense then that it is a knock-off. I am a bit naive when it comes to "fake" cycling products because I don't think we get exposed to it much  (apart from the pinarello scandal). Its not like the fake sports-ware products being sold on the corners of streets.

 

I will then rather save up my bucks than have a splintered seat-post in an uncomfortable place.    

 

Rule of thumb, most things on Ebay are knock- offs. Unless they're second hand, then that's the reason they are cheap. But the Chinese only sell knock- offs.

[kosmonooit]

I disagree about the Chinese only selling knock-offs, but you do need to be careful an uber wised-up. I've got genuine  items many times.

 

But the problem is the shipping, anything to do with SAPO is a disaster.

[Jascha Muller]

I disagree about the Chinese only selling knock-offs, but you do need to be careful an uber wised-up. I've got genuine  items many times.

 

But the problem is the shipping, anything to do with SAPO is a disaster.

Do you have any suggestion on how to get uber wised-up though? I mean how do you judge if something is genuine or not just by looking at the add? Cross-referencing the products and the looks to the actual Richtey catalog is probably one way like @JScottP mentioned.  

[Alouette3]

Most of the time the ebay/ aliexpress/ banggood product is a perfectly good product. But as said above, I wouldn't buy for the name brand, the majority of the time its just a sticker and not original.

 

So by all means buy the post, but don't buy it because it's a Ritchey, buy it because you want a carbon post and its a good deal. Even better, get one without branding.

 

Oh an expect it to take 8-10 weeks to get here. It will arrive... eventually

[shaper]

If in doubt and it is cheap from China and branded, you can pretty much say it is a copy!

[Alouette3]

Basically the same thing, unbranded, even cheaper and choose your finish.

 

Pick is a Matt 3K finish, go for a Gloss 3K weave and you got the ritchey without the branding. 

[porqui]

At times the product on Ebay is exactly the same as an original product - made in the same factory from the very same materials - just does not have the label or packaging. More often than not they do not advertise it as a name brand product. Sometimes there are deliberate overruns by the manufacturer.

 

The problem is which ones they are and not fakes.

With a lot of electronic products they are opensource so a company may legally copy a product and these are usually of the same quality but not always.

[Jascha Muller]

Cool, got it, thanks (the unbranded ones)...

 

I am still curious about my ignorant theory that the "official" branded products sold by the "official" dealers are sold at a % markup (which I've heard is massive) on the price that they buy it from form the suppliers (which I believe is in China). So could it be conceivable that some of these official products are being sold directly from the suppliers with no markup (e.g. eBay)? Or are these products the unbranded ones, and the branded ones are actual knock-offs made by different suppliers?

 

Sorry this is a very naive theory and I believe I am oversimplifying a complex process.