Counterfeit Archery Products: Are You Buying Them?

Tim Ainsworth for sure

 

Yeah I like saving money, anyone have a link for Sitka knock-off? Lol. Just kidding, well kind of.

 

This is an example of a counterfeit bike from China.



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I do my best to buy made in USA products. I will NEVER buy a counterfeit - knock off. I don't buy from thieves. I don't even but "real" made in China archery products.

 

Counterfeit thieves? Are you kidding? They are businessmen trying to earn a buck just like NAP or Matthews. Just because they're outside this country makes them a thief? Is the American born purchaser a traitor? Pretty sure 99% of Walmart shoppers are blue blood Americans buying products mostly made outside the USA.

There are many companies selling 3 blade fixed broadheads pretty similar to the first one every designed. Are they thieves?

How about browning selling inertia shotguns now that benelli's patent expired. Is good ol John Browning a thief?

Neither the American or Chinese company is my friend. They are all competing for my dollar in the global market. That's the reality of the situation. I'm not going to hand the American more money for the same product just because i feel bad. (Which I don't. He chose his business and he has to compete)


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I guess I am of a different generation I want to go look at what I am buying before I buy it. I don't buy a heck of a lot other than arrows, broad heads, and lit nocks for equipment each year but still I want to see it. My family has a manufacturing facility with patients involved and a cheap knock off that have spent zero $ on R & D does not give a crap about anything else other than getting $ of people that do not give a crap. Others mentioned the $ raised for conservation that is important in maintaining the land we have now. It is like hunting without a license in a way buying counterfeit crap.

 

You're confusing products that are legally sourced overseas with counterfeit products. Which is something I see a lot of.

When a US-based company designs a product there is a substantial amount time, energy and money spent to create that product. In many cases the product has patents which protect it from being knocked off by other companies. They also have copyrights on things like logos, taglines, etc. All of that is good for business as it prevents other people from stealing your intellectual property and profiting off it. So for example NAP has a patent on the design of their spring clips which hold the blades of the Spitfire closed without the use of an o-ring. Nobody else in the US can legally make a product that uses that technology unless they have some sort of licensing agreement with NAP. I think we'll all agree patents and copyrights are good things. Likewise, these US-based companies employ people who in turn pay taxes, own homes, buy products from other businesses, etc. That's what keeps our economy going.

Counterfeit products steal from US-based businesses, violate their intellectual property and are sold through various marketplaces illegally. Keep that in mind - selling and buying counterfeit good is ILLEGAL in the United States. Whether it's a counterfeit broadhead, purse or a pair of shoes it is illegal.

People who make and sell counterfeit products are not businessmen any more than drug dealers are businessmen. "Just trying to earn a buck" is not a valid argument here. When you purchase a counterfeit product you are sending money directly to China for some person to illegally profit off the hard work of someone else while stealing that money from the company who poured their time, effort, energy and money into inventing it and bringing it to market. In short - it's wrong.

No, this is an apples to oranges comparison. Some things can't be patented - for example the general idea of a fixed blade broadhead. It's too broad of a topic. Just like you can't patent the idea of a car or a pair of pants. However you can certainly patent various technologies within those products. For example Slick Trick has a patent on their blade locking/retention system. If another US-based company began using that technology, or a similar technology that infringed on that patent, they could take legal action against them. However if someone in China creates a counterfeit version of this product and starts selling it on eBay or Amazon there is little to no course of action for the US-based company to protect their business.

Again with the poor comparison. Once a patent runs out any company can legally make those products. The same with XOP making cast aluminum platforms that were once protected by Lone Wolf's patent. In that case, business is business and this is not illegal.

This isn't about feeling good or feeling bad. It's about recognizing the illegal manufacture and sale of counterfeit items and recognizing that through the illegal purchase of these goods it harms the American economy and the archery/hunting industry which created them. It's a pretty simple concept really.

 

Besides broadheads, what products should we be on the watch for that may be counterfeit?


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NFL franchises that have never won a Super Bowl.

 

Wow...just wow. There's a big difference between a "businessman" from any country and a patent/IP thief. Not to mention counterfeiters. Sorry Mikido; you're dead wrong on this. I hope you don't accidentally feed your kid some counterfeit formula from China that makes their kidneys fail...

https://mashable.com/2016/04/11/fake-infant-formula-china/#y0IvIerLDsqw

 

https://www.grandviewoutdoors.com/b...iness/counterfeiters-target-archery-industry/

Pretty much all of it. Be especially leery about products that you know are made in China- it's easier for IP to be ripped off if the factory is already there.

I'm not a hypocrite- I buy online a lot but I know the risks and try to only buy from verified vendors even when buying thru Amazon; and I almost never buy "factory new" goods on eBay. I have bought arrows new on eBay but only after checking w/ the manufacturer (Victory) to ensure the vendor was authorized (they were- Victory has awesome customer service, BTW.)

 

Nope, not buying the knockoffs. I try to only buy 100% made in America archery products, not because of any loyalty to the "archery industry", but because of loyalty to USA.

 

Great response, thank you.


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Honestly any product or deal that looks too good to be true should be suspect. Specifically when purchasing through unverified online channels like eBay or 3rd party Amazon sellers. Broadheads are the most prolific because they're an easy target. Easy to manufacture and they are consumables so we're always buying more of them. I've seen counterfeit rests out there (QAD ripoffs) and quivers as well. I imagine we'll continue to see more as time goes on.

 

I bought a compact pocket knife off the e-bay it came in the box new. I had the screws loosen up so I sent it in to Gerber because of the warranty I get an e-mail telling me that the knife is not a gerber. It was bought from a US vendor on e-bay I messaged the seller but could not alter my feedback.

 

I've seen lighted nocks that claim they are nocturnals but are actually a different counterfeit product. I purchased them not knowing they were different and they were junk! I got them from Amazon. Next time I will pay closer attention.

 

Moral of the story... Don't buy anything off of Amazon or eBay. Stick to manufacturers websites and brick & mortar stores.

 

What about trail cameras? Last I knew the only cameras solely made in US was reconyx. Yes the companies are based in America but the parts and everything are made in china.

 

I have been looking for some knock off bowhunting.com shirts. Any leads out there?

 

Check any Goodwill by my house. I'm sure you'll find dozens of them.