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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 12, 2022 11:33:15 GMT
I suppose I should be flattered, but I'm not. These guitars being sold on a website called YOYCART are NOT MM Guitars! They are also not made by the Royall Guitars company because I contacted them as soon as I was made aware of these bootleg MM guitars. www.yoycart.com/Product/35672345489/#Somebody in Shanghai has got hold of some MM coverplates, they are copying my guitars and are using my name. Not only that, but their wholesale price of $980 USD (approx £725 GBP) is more expensive than the real thing! Surely they've got it all wrong. When you buy a fake Gucci handbag from a street seller you don't pay more than Gucci prices for the bag! Hmmm...... I don't think they are any competition, but I do think it is right that I post on here about it.  DON'T BUY FAKES!Shine On Michael |
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Post by pete1951 on Feb 12, 2022 14:31:43 GMT
These are good quality photos, ( can’t be sure of the guitars) why is there a reflection of a headless manikin on the cover plate in pics 1 and 2?
Puzzled of Cambridge
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 12, 2022 15:05:46 GMT
These are good quality photos, ( can’t be sure of the guitars) why is there a reflection of a headless manikin on the cover plate in pics 1 and 2? Puzzled of Cambridge The guitars are made of thin plywood, not the correct thickness and probably don't have neck-sticks. I know this because looking at all the components, wood type, bindings etc, they are basically reshaped parlour size Minolians, or whatever they are called now. The neck looks like it was made by the same manufacturer as mine, but it may just be a very good copy. The headstock stamp is a perfect copy. I assume the headless manikin is in fact a headless photographer, or a headed photographer posing as a headless one. It's all a bit strange and more to the point, they are using my name! Now I know how William Hoover feels when people sell Dyson or Metrovac Hoovers!!!! Shine On Michael |
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Post by neilm on Feb 12, 2022 15:51:37 GMT
Its hard to understand the ` we will do this and no one will ever notice ` attitude they have.
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Post by bonzo on Feb 12, 2022 17:14:23 GMT
I can't imagine Michael's planning on suing them in a Chinese court any time soon!
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Post by Stevie on Feb 12, 2022 18:04:35 GMT
Sorry about this, and I steadfastly hope that the MM manufactory is not shipping out excess production capacity to make ends meet, but 't'was ever thus (or so it seems.)
"The very thing that,
makes them rich will,
make you poor ...
That's right"
でつ e&oe ...
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 12, 2022 18:06:47 GMT
I can't imagine Michael's planning on suing them in a Chinese court any time soon! Correct, and that's why they do it. I know of major guitar brands that have had this problem and not been able to do anything. The reason I put it on here is because most people around the world buying an MM Guitar find their way to this forum. So putting it here is as powerful and maybe more so than taking any other action. I nearly ordered one this morning. I came very close, but decided not to waste £720 plus shipping and import taxes. I can't believe they are asking so much more for the fake than I charge for the real thing! Here you go.... just to redress the balance, this is the real thing. Shine On Michael |
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Post by delb0y on Feb 12, 2022 19:13:02 GMT
This modern world... This shrunken world. Stuff like this is so out of order. It would be so easy to be taken in - glad I found my way to this forum before taking the plunge.
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Post by Stevie on Feb 12, 2022 19:23:37 GMT
I imagine that you have an online web form ordering service MM? I haven't looked, but perhaps you should have a warning there, because when you are between shipments, folks might think that they're able to source elsewhere, or (eg) USA customers might think it's less expensive in terms of import duties to "buy direct". There is some sense in that anyway because it seems quite wrong for The Exchequer to benefit from a transaction when Blighty is only really a kind of transit lounge?
でつ e&oe ...
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Post by thebluesbear( al) on Feb 12, 2022 20:43:27 GMT
Hi Michael
here a few thoughts on this , just an opinion
1, Whoever has done this hasn't, thought it through very well for sure! as you say , you dont buy a fake Gucci for more than the real thing ...
2, Your customer service /integrity in business has been fantastic , im sure many people would agree .
3, Your quality of Guitars are great , im sure many agree as i have read countless comments agreeing
These points alone mean that these clowns have shot themselves in the foot for sure , some negative publicity from satisfied customers may help ....just my thoughts ...
Take care
Al
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Post by slide496 on Feb 13, 2022 11:34:04 GMT
I don't understand the point in providing advertising for them or links to a fake product. Seems it just increases awareness internationally. I hope you've prepared a generic disclaimer for those who purchase and look to you for service.
I could be wrong but I'm thinking that some buyers might not be aware of you, might see this model and think that the outfit selling them is a reputable dealer authorized to sell.
Going to the link they are still in presale, so I am hoping the whole thing with fizzle out.
Sorry for your trouble!
H
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Post by bonzo on Feb 13, 2022 11:51:47 GMT
Don't forget that MM guitars come with a booklet signed by Michael. I've bought used MM 's that come with the paperwork so maybe something could be made of this.
Best wishes to you all, John
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 13, 2022 11:57:23 GMT
Hi Harriet,
Thank you for your concern.
My reason for posting it on here is to expose the guitars as fakes and the sellers as shysters.
I don't believe anyone would pay £140 GBP / $190 USD more than my price for something that is a fake. I also believe and know from experience that 99.9% of people anywhere in the world that want an MM Guitar find their way to this forum in their research. Even if they don't join, they mention in their emails to me that they have read all the stuff about MM Guitars on my forum.
I am hoping that my manufacturer in Shanghai will be able to track down and stop the people or person from doing this.
I don't believe they have ever sold one to a customer in the West because it would have turned up somewhere on the Internet and I would have been notified by someone about it. Whether or not they have sold a few in China I will never know, but I doubt it.
Any kind of legal action is pointless, so a bit of "I know what you're doing and so do all MM Forum members!" can, in my opinion, do no harm.
Thanks again for your concern and for your comments.
Shine On
Michael
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 13, 2022 12:01:20 GMT
....In addition to my previous post...
A few years ago a similar thing on a much larger scale happened to the CF Martin & Co. company and they were unable to do anything about it.
I certainly don't intend to lose any sleep over this, unless they start selling on my patch, which I doubt will happen.
Shine On
Michael
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Post by bonzo on Feb 13, 2022 12:18:10 GMT
If they turn up on your patch you can send us boys round Michael! 😄🎸👍
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