Ever hear of this place?

Out of curiosity, I sent an email about the originality of their products, because I thought they were clones at those prices. They tell me they are from the original factory and the sale will continue until december, when they will raise their prices. I'm sure it's some kind of scam. If it wasn't, I would be loading up on guitars today.

http://www.cheapelectricguitarsoutlet.com/index.php/

I would lean towards counterfeit guitars, or an outright scam of never receiving anything at all for your money. The spelling/grammatical errors and quirks indicate a foreign entity, and when a retail website offers only email as a contact method, and no business address or phone number of any kind... run!!!!

Chinese counterfeits, without a doubt. Selling at these prices until December, when they disappear....

Website was just created in September, and surprise, they are from Panama.

Tom

Domain Name: CHEAPELECTRICGUITARSOUTLET.COM
Creation Date: 2013-09-04 02:45:00Z
Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2014-09-04 02:45:00Z
Registrar: ENOM, INC.
Reseller: NAMECHEAP.COM
Registrant Name: WHOISGUARD PROTECTED
Registrant Organization: WHOISGUARD, INC.
Registrant Street: P.O. BOX 0823-03411
Registrant City: PANAMA
Registrant State/Province: PANAMA
Registrant Postal Code: NA
Registrant Country: PA
Admin Name: WHOISGUARD PROTECTED
Admin Organization: WHOISGUARD, INC.
Admin Street: P.O. BOX 0823-03411
Admin City: PANAMA
Admin State/Province: PANAMA
Admin Postal Code: NA
Admin Country: PA
Admin Phone: +507.8365503
Admin Phone Ext:
Admin Fax: +51.17057182

"...run!" is very good advice! And take your wallet with you!

walrus

silverfox103 said:

Website was just created in September, and surprise, they are from Panama.

Tom

Domain Name: CHEAPELECTRICGUITARSOUTLET.COM
Creation Date: 2013-09-04 02:45:00Z
Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2014-09-04 02:45:00Z
Registrar: ENOM, INC.
Reseller: NAMECHEAP.COM
Registrant Name: WHOISGUARD PROTECTED
Registrant Organization: WHOISGUARD, INC.
Registrant Street: P.O. BOX 0823-03411
Registrant City: PANAMA
Registrant State/Province: PANAMA
Registrant Postal Code: NA
Registrant Country: PA
Admin Name: WHOISGUARD PROTECTED
Admin Organization: WHOISGUARD, INC.
Admin Street: P.O. BOX 0823-03411
Admin City: PANAMA
Admin State/Province: PANAMA
Admin Postal Code: NA
Admin Country: PA
Admin Phone: +507.8365503
Admin Phone Ext:
Admin Fax: +51.17057182

Click to expand...

Curiouser and curiouser. The Panama address is a PO Box. The fax prefix is 51. Hong Kong international prefix is 50 then a series of different carriers ending in 59. If I had to guess I would say it's a Hong Kong firm with an off shore corporation in Panama. I see lots of electronics like pedals coming out of HK. The whole thing stinks like a skunk.

I've seen this kind of thing for other products. An Asian factory sets up a web site and sells directly to consumers. The ones I have seen were legitimate in that they would take your money and send you something but were dicey in that the product descriptions implied something that they were not. Foe example I am sure the guitars have nothing to do with the company that might be called Gibson USA. Wasn't it Martin who lost a trademark dispute and as a result there is a Chinese company that is making Martin guitars that are in no way counterfeit or illegal, but a reflection that Martian only owns the name for products made in the US.

Anyway I would expect a counterfeit in the sense that the product is a copy of an original made without the participation of the owner of the original.

fronobulax said:

...a reflection that Martian only owns the name for products made in the US...

Click to expand...

After all, what's in a name? {smile}

McAfee gave me a "WHOA!" warning when I clicked the link..... I didn't override.

The old saying, "When it seems too good to be true, it usually is!", comes to mind.

Yes Martin was slow on the draw in registering the brand in China, so someone from there registered the name. However, it is illegal for those guitars as branded to come into the US where Martin holds the copyright, though undoubtedly some examples will probably turn up. Now as for the guitars from Mars..........................

Harmony H-173 bought in 1960 (retired), Alvarez AC60S 2008, Eastman AC320ce 2009 "Hybrid", Guild D25M 1974 (all mahogany, archback), Martin Grand J35E 2009, Martin D12-20 1970, Martin OM-21 2009, Martin 00-15M Custom (full body gloss, wide neck) 2011, Martin 00-15M Custom (12 fret, wide neck, solid peghead) 2012, Voyage-air VAOM-06 2010
"One chord is plenty, two and you're pushing it, three is jazz"
Lou Reed