Counterfeit is counterfeit! PERIOD!

Recently, I received a comment from someone (which I did not publish), stating that I was confused about what constitutes a counterfeit jersey on eBay. However, since that particular individual is clearly the one that is confused, please allow me to clarify.

     If someone handed you a twenty-dollar bill, and you could clearly see that the bill was not correct, i.e. the picture was wrong, the design was wrong, etc., you would not say that it was simply a “poorly made” or “poorly customized” twenty dollar bill! No, you would call it what it is, a COUNTERFEIT! Even if it were printed on the correct kind of paper, you would call it what it is, a COUNTERFEIT! The same goes for hockey jerseys!

     Anyone who has read my blog for any length of time knows that I hate the counterfeit market that eBay facilitates. At least 70% of the jerseys (All sports) on eBay are Asian-sweatshop counterfeits. So, in the past, when I have posted pictures of FAKE, or COUNTERFEIT jerseys, along with pictures of the CORRECT jersey next to them, it is to point out that there are people who are not experienced enough to tell the difference.

     Just because a legit blank CCM jersey was used as the platform for a customization, it can still be BOGUS! If some clown slaps the wrong patches on it, the wrong color or style of font on it etc., it becomes a BOGUS jersey. If you are some kind of overly-sensitive, PC, liberal nut-job who does not like the word “counterfeit” because it might hurt someone’s feelings, then find another word you are comfortable with… Either way, the jersey has become a counterfeit! PERIOD! Just look at some of the examples I have posted in previous entries! In addition, almost all of those sellers made outright statements in their eBay listings that their jerseys were legit, when in fact they were anything but! That just proves my point!

     Bogus, counterfeit, fake, call them what you want, but they are NOT simply “poorly customized jerseys!” That is like calling a burglar an uninvited houseguest, or a drug-dealer an unlicensed pharmacist… Call things what they are!

More Counterfeit / Fake Hockey Jerseys on eBay !!!

More Counterfeit / Fake Hockey Jerseys on eBay

     To steal a line from Ross Perot; “Let me tell you people something!” My frustration is never-ending when it comes to the how stupid and gullible hockey jersey buyers are on FeeBay! WAKE UP PEOPLE! Before you waste your money, only to find out later that you had been hosed, take a few minutes to do some research! It blows my mind when I see some of the B.S. that passes for legit on FeeBay! Below you will find some more fine examples of poorly thought-out fakes that I have assembled for your viewing pleasure and the list of things wrong with them. Enjoy!

     First, we have a VERY poorly thought-out FAKE 1995-96 Los Angeles Kings Burger King Jersey. How pathetic is this hoax…??? WOW!!! This hoax has the wrong font, wrong color combinations, plastic pressed on garbage numbers, the list goes on… Are you ready for the shocker…??? This FAKE sold for $305 on FeeBay!!! The scammer made out, and the fool that bought it got his just deserves for being gullible! Again, DO YOUR RESEARCH PEOPLE!!! Next to the FAKE, I have placed a picture of the correct BK jersey font.

     Next, we have another fine example from the same frauds that brought you the FAKE authentic 1992 Hawks Cup jerseys I featured in one of my entries late last fall (2010). This time, they are trying to pass off this pathetic excuse for a Rangers 1994 Cup Jersey. First, the Rangers did NOT wear a tie-collar jersey in 1994. Secondly, the Stanley Cup Patch is on the WRONG shoulder! What idiots! BTW, this jersey is still being sold by the scammers on FeeBay right now! I have placed a picture of an ACTUAL 94 Cup Jersey (from my Web site) next to it so you can see the contrast.
   

     Lastly, we have a LAME Hurricanes jersey, also on FeeBay that is being passed off as a 1999-00 Ron Francis jersey. First, Francis did NOT wear #10 in 99-00. Gary Roberts was already wearing #10, so Francis wrong #21 instead. Secondly, the Canes wore a single color (red) lettering name-bar, NOT two colors. Thirdly, there is supposed to be an NHL 2000 Patch under the Raleigh Arena Patch. Lastly, there is supposed to be a #3 Steve Chaisson Memorial Patch on the left shoulder, between the hurricane warning flag and the numbers on the sleeve. DO YOUR HOMEWORK PEOPLE!!!

Exposing all of these frauds gives me a headache… That is all for now…

Bandwagon Jumpers!

Bandwagon-Jumpers

     This entry goes out to all of the TRUE old-school NHL fans out there. I want to address an issue that most of us are thinking, but never talk about… That subject is BANDWAGON-JUMPERS! We all hate them; come on, admit it! Don’t you just hate it when you go to a game in person, or even just to a sports bar to watch a game, and when you look around you see them everywhere…??? They stick out like a sore thumb too! Most, if not all of them will either be wearing a RBK piece of garbage, or some cheesy Asian Sweatshop rag they picked up on FEEBAY! You know the crowd I’m talking about, the tourists, and wannabe fans who want to look like real fans but don’t know how…

     Let’s get a few things straight… First, friends DON’T let friends wear Reebok hockey sweaters, THEY SUCK! Just look back through my blog entries and you will see evidence of just how poor quality they really are, and yes, I’m talking about the authentic jerseys too! When was the last time you saw a player put his head through the back of a jersey? That’s right THROUGH the back of the jersey, right between the numbers! If you want to see the video, just see my entry appropriately entitled “Reebok Hockey Jerseys SUCK!” There you can see the proof for your self! If the real Authentic On Ice Game Jerseys are that pathetic, what must the replica jerseys be like…??? I don’t even want to know…

     Secondly, the next time you see someone wearing what is CLEARLY a counterfeit jersey, let him or her know about it! Tell them straight up that their jersey is a cheesy counterfeit, and that they should be ashamed for buying and wearing it! You know the people I’m talking about… Picture the TOOL at a Penguins game who is wearing a Crosby jersey with letters and numbers made of two-layer / two-color tackle twill (or some other material) instead of the correct three-layer / three-color Glacier Twill! (See Counterfeit Crosby Jersey in pic #1 below). Those are the worst! Now, compare the Asian Sweatshop Counterfeit's lettering and numbers to that of the real / correct lettering and numbers (see pic #2 below). The next time you see that TOOL with the FAKE jersey, call him out in front of the crowd, laugh at his rag, and tell him to send it back to China and get his money back!

     Counterfeit jerseys destroy honest businesses like mine! One of the main reasons I left FEEBAY was because it has been overrun with Asian Sweatshop counterfeits, and FEEBAY simply turns a blind eye and a deaf ear to the problem and ignores it! Why…??? Because they are GREEDY! They don’t give a rat’s rear-end about anyone or anything except the all-mighty dollar! The only way for fans and business owners to fight back it to speak out! If you see a counterfeit jersey on FEEBAY, call the seller out! Then notify FEEBAY! If you see a bandwagon jumper at a game wearing a counterfeit rag, CALL HIM OUT! As a collector of 20 years, I’m sick of seeing low-quality garbage out there on the streets and at games! Thus the Jersey Jihad continues!

     In closing this rant, just let me remind you of one thing… It’s true; you get what you pay for! If you want a lame jersey that everyone else has (RBK), or one that everyone will laugh at (an Asian Sweatshop Counterfeit), then go ahead and buy one, FEEBAY is full of them… However, if you want to be the envy of your friends and all of the other fans, buy something that nobody else has! Buy something that you cannot find in any store! Separate yourself from all of the bandwagon-jumpers and wannabe fans! Buy an old school, HIGH-QUALITY CCM or KOHO jersey, or a Pro Player jersey! While the other fans are sporting their pathetic RBK garbage, you could be wearing a 1992 Stanley Cup Finals Chicago Blackhawks Ultrafil, or a 91-92 Sharks Arturs Irbe rookie jersey, or a 91-92 Hextall Flyers (2 Patch), or even an ULTRA-RARE 1987-88 NY Rangers jersey! The choice is yours… Look like the rest of the Sheeple at the game, or MAKE A STATEMENT and show the world that you are NOT a bandwagon jumper, but a LIFE-LONG OLD-SCHOOL FAN who knows his business! For those who are interested in finding the RARE and VINTAGE NHL jerseys (NOT cheesy Vintage Series Reproductions), visit my store at http://webstore.com/~goongear If you have a special request for a certain jersey / player, let me know. If anyone can find it, I can! There is also a link to my store at the top right corner of this blog.

     Lastly, I want to give a shout-out to all of my wonderful sponsor affiliates located at the very bottom of this blog! Please be sure to visit them for more great deals on fantastic NHL merchandise!

The Jersey Jihad Continues! / Devils CHOKE!

     Spring is almost here, and the NHL Playoffs are just around the corner! Soon every bandwagon-jumper on the planet will be rushing to gobble up every available old school authentic they can find (so they can hide the fact that they are bandwagon-jumpers). Others will simply be taken to the cleaners by investing in an Asian Sweatshop-Quality Reebok rag… (See my entry “Reebok Hockey Jerseys SUCK!”). Either way people, please pay attention to what you buy… That brings me to the first order of business in today’s rant… The Jersey Jihad continues!

     The other day while cruising FEEBAY looking for Scammers and Frauds, I ran across this gem (LOL!!!), a counterfeit / FAKE, 1991-92 Detroit Red Wings, Bob Probert jersey. (See pics below). Now, before I even start laying into this HOAX, see if you can figure out for yourself what is wrong with it… (Insert Jeopardy music here)… Ok, time is up! For starters, take note of the back of the jersey. Notice that the name and numbers are of shall we say, an incorrect font… In addition, the name runs straight across instead of in an arch as it is supposed to be. Lastly, the front of the jersey is missing the Alt Captain’s “A.” This just goes to show you that this person is not very good at being a scammer or fraud, and would be better off sticking to his day job… OR, perhaps he had been taken for a ride by another FEEBAYer, and is simply trying to pass on the love and recoup some funds at the same time. Who knows…??? Either way, the moral of the story is, DON’T BE THAT GUY!!! 

     Now, while this next item is relatively unrelated to “jerseys” in particular, I just need to vent on my favorite team for a minute… The New Jersey Devils had an excellent opportunity to close the gap on Buffalo, and Toronto on Tue night, as the Sabres lost in regulation, and the Leafs picked up only one point. Instead, the Devils decided to CHOKE, and lose to the Senators! WAKE UP NEW JERSEY!!! YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS!!! I know, they have been on an unbelievable run lately, but come on, losing to the lowly Sens, the last place team in the league! Especially when you are trying to make a playoff push… I can see losing to a good team, there is no shame in getting beat by a top ranked team, but the LAST PLACE team…??? After all of the hard work the Devils have put in to creep as close to the playoffs as they are now, and to fall short in the end will be more than I can stand. Remember, the Devils were 27 points out of a playoff spot at the All-Star break. Now they are just 8 points out! No team has EVER come back from more than 12 points out to make the playoffs! The Devils have a chance to shatter that record! Come on Devils, you can do it! HERE WE GO DEVILS, HERE WE GO !!!

Hockey Jersey U – Lesson 4 – Scammers and Frauds on Ebay

Fake Jerseys

     After a restful vacation, I have returned! Ready to hit the blog once again. As one of my primary reasons for starting this blog was to combat counterfeiters, scammers, and frauds on Ebay, today’s lesson is very important! Some of the usual suspects are still scamming unsuspecting buyers. While I will not give you the names of the scammers right here on my blog, all you have to do is conduct a search on eBay and you will find the exact items I have posted pictures of in this update.

     If you have read any of my previous postings, you will recall that I specifically mentioned that the Blackhawks wore ultrafil jerseys through the 1993-94 NHL season. Thus, any special patches such as the NHL 75th Anniversary Patch (1991-92 season), Stanley Cup 100th Anniversary Patch (1992-93 season), or 1992 Stanley Cup Finals Patch (End of 1991-92 season) were only worn on Ultrafil jerseys, NOT AIR-KNIT! Are you following me so far…???  

     Below you will find pics that I have posted of Air-Knit Blackhawks jerseys that have had the previously mentioned patches added to them and are being sold as authentic! Let me make this crystal clear. If you see an authentic Hawks jersey with any of the patches I have listed, it had better be a CCM Ultrafil jersey. Otherwise, it is a worthless FAKE, PERIOD! While the actual jersey itself is in fact an Authentic On Ice Game Jersey, it is NOT any older than 1995, therefore the patches do not belong. In addition, the seller is falsely stating that these Hawks jerseys are from the early 1990’s. THEY ARE NOT! The seller’s claims are a bald-faced lie, PERIOD! Do not get burned! If you do business with scumbags like this Ebay scammer, you get what you deserve.

     Now, let us look at a FAKE 1994 Stanley Cup Rangers replica jersey (See pics below). This jersey is also posted on Ebay and is claimed by the seller to be a timeline correct 1994 jersey. IT IS NOT! IT IS A FAKE! Anyone who knows anything about Rangers jerseys knows that the Rangers did not wear lace-up jerseys during that timeframe. This seller has taken a late model Indonesian-made CCM replica jersey from 2003-04 season and placed a 1994 Stanley Cup Finals Patch on it, and is claiming it to be exactly like the ones the players wore on the ice! LOL!!! You would have to be stupid to fall for that one. However, the point here is that, the seller is a fraud and is knowingly misrepresenting a product! If you want to see what a real AUTHENTIC 1994 Rangers Messier Cup Jersey looks like, visit my jersey sales sites, I have one listed for sale right now. Again, do not get burned buying this fake garbage! If you are on Ebay and run across fake jerseys, send the scammer an e-mail letting them know that you know their jersey is a fake!

     As always, I hope this lesson has been valuable and will keep people from being ripped off by Ebay scumbags like the ones I have just exposed. If you are looking for quality NHL jerseys from a reputable seller, please be sure to visit my jersey sales sites for some great finds! I do not sell counterfeits! I have been in the NHL sweater business for 20 years, and take great pride in selling only top quality, hard to find jerseys. If you have a special request, please ask. I will be happy to see what I can do for you. My jersey sales sites are listed below.

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As always, please be sure to visit my jersey sales sites for some great rare and vintage authentic and replica finds!  

http://goon-gear.ecrater.com/

http://www.bonanza.com/booths/goon_gear

http://www.upillar.com/listings/150839-2001-nhl-stanley-cup-finals-hockey-jersey-colorado-avalanche-adam-foote-52 
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Hockey Jersey U - Lesson 3 - Timeline Accurate Sweaters

Timeline Accurate Sweaters

     As promised in the previous post, dated 10 Oct, today on “Hockey Jersey U” we will be discussing timeline correct (historically accurate) jerseys (sweaters). If you want to show-off a hockey sweater that people will envy and respect, you will want to make sure it is timeline correct. For collectors like me, few things make us laugh harder than seeing someone sporting a timeline incorrect jersey. We have all seen someone wearing one at one time or another, you know, that person with Reebok Blackhawks jersey that has #21 Makita on it… Or, an Authentic Air-Knit Devils jersey with a 1995 Stanley Cup Patch on it… Or, an Authentic Air-Knit Hawks jersey with an NHL 75th Anniversary patch on it… You get the idea.

     In short, whether you are buying a jersey that has already been customized, or you are going to have it done after the fact, there are a few rules you should follow (if you do not want to be laughed at). First, DO NOT put a player’s name and number on a jersey he did not wear. I.e. Makita #21 on a RBK jersey. Second, make sure the brand of jersey and the jersey material are correct. Third, do not slap patches on a jersey that they do not belong on. For example, do not put an NHL 2000 patch on a CCM, KOHO, or Starter Rangers jersey. The Rangers wore Pro Player brand during the 99-00 season (as did many other NHL teams). Lastly, for God's sake, PLEASE do not put your own name on the back on an NHL sweater!!! Only a complete TOOL does that!!!

     If you are going to customize a sweater, know what you are doing, otherwise you will end up looking like a complete idiot. With just a few minutes of time on Google, you can find out what seasons a particular player was with a team, the brand of jersey they wore, the material they were made out of, any special patches they wore, and whether the player was a Captain or Alt Captain. Spending a few minutes to research will save you a lifetime of being laughed at.

     When buying or customizing an authentic sweater, you had better be darn sure you are doing it 100% timeline correct, if not you are wasting your money, because in the end your jersey will be worth absolutely SQUAT. If you are lucky enough to acquire… lets say, an early 1990’s Blackhawks Ultrafil jersey, and you want to get it customized… First, look at my previous post so you can be sure of what you have, and then start doing your research. You would want to know that the Hawks only wore Ultrafil through the 1992-93 seasons. If the hem has the CCM logo, AND the black and orange NHL Shield, then you know that the jersey was made / worn after 1990. Now you have roughly a 3-year window to work within. Find out what players were on the team during that timeframe, what their number was, if a “C” or “A” was worn, etc… For early 1990’s Ultrafils (excluding a couple of teams and years), you will also need to make sure the name is stitched on to a matching Ultrafil Name-Bar. Regardless the year or model of an authentic, if it has a name-bar, the name-bar will always be made of the exact same material as the jersey. Air-Knit jerseys have Air-Knit Name-Bars. Ultrafil jerseys have Ultrafil Name-Bars, period.

     Now that you have the basic understanding of what will fly, and what will not, let us talk about what not to buy / do. There are a couple of frauds on Feebay for example, who will slap just about anything on any jersey, and insist in their auction ads that the jerseys are authentic. For example, there is one particular seller that goes by locker room… something or other, who likes to slap NHL 75th Anniversary patches (1991-92 season) and / or Stanley Cup 100th Anniversary patches (1992-93 season) on Air-Knit Chicago Blackhawks jerseys, and call them “Authentic.” While the jersey itself may be authentic, once a patch that does not belong on that particular jersey is added, it renders the jersey timeline incorrect, period! The Hawks, as discussed earlier, wore Ultrafil jerseys until the 1993-94 season. Get the picture…??? Do not get burned! No matter how cool and polished their auction ads look, it does not mean they are honest sellers, or even know what they are talking about in the first place for that matter.

     Bottom line… If you are customizing an “Authentic,” do it right. If you are customizing a “Replica,” you have a little less control over the accuracy, remember I said a LITTLE less. i.e., you cannot always find an Ultrafil replica all of the time (although they are out there). Otherwise, at least make sure the rest is correct. Make sure the jersey brand is correct, the patches are correct, etc… Do not spend money on a worthless jersey that everyone will laugh at! Class dismissed!       

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As always, please be sure to visit my jersey sales sites for some great rare and vintage authentic and replica finds!  

http://goon-gear.ecrater.com/

http://www.bonanza.com/booths/goon_gear

http://www.ioffer.com/selling/goongear

http://www.upillar.com/listings/150839-2001-nhl-stanley-cup-finals-hockey-jersey-colorado-avalanche-adam-foote-52 
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