Author Topic: Fake Alembic on ebay (Read 431 times)

hasse · « **on:** August 11, 2004, 02:54:38 PM »

her is what I wrote to the seller of this item:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3741798022&rd=1

This is not a question. And your bass is not an Alembic. And You know it!

let us see how he respond to that.

Not that I think he could fool any member of this club.

Well enough of my time wasted on that swindler.

best regards
Hasse

bsee · « **Reply #1 on:** August 11, 2004, 03:35:20 PM »

You would think scammers would limit themselves to 24 hour auctions so they can get it done before anyone notices. Maybe the guy just doesn't know. Sure, the auction still needs to be pulled, as does the headstock sticker on this bass, but don't be so hard on the guy from the start! That is, unless he has a history I am not aware of.

-Bob

pace · « **Reply #2 on:** August 11, 2004, 03:49:21 PM »

These all seem to originate from the Texas area, no?!?!? Hmmm.....

kmh364 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 12, 2004, 06:06:23 AM »

I'm surprised Mica hasn't homed in on this one. Alembic is very protective of their name and reputation (and rightly so). Sic 'em , Mica! LOL!

mica · « **Reply #4 on:** August 12, 2004, 08:11:29 AM »

Actually, I contacted the seller about this yesterday. I prefer to work directly with the seller if they will cooperate, as most of them are victims. When all else fails, I go through ebay's Verified Rights Owners program and get their assistance. I've only had to resort to that twice.

kmh364 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 12, 2004, 10:47:16 AM »

I'm glad to see you're on top of your game. The fakes not only sully your reputation, they de-value the owners real Alembics. Thanks for you diligence.

flaxattack · « **Reply #6 on:** August 12, 2004, 10:50:07 AM »

simple- contact ebay and advise them it iis a bogus bid

bsee · « **Reply #7 on:** August 12, 2004, 10:59:30 AM »

Guys, Mica is on top of it. She/they are always on top of it. You may not see a lot of public hoopla when they look into something like this, and that's for good reason. If you were the sleazy individual creating these counterfeits, would you be responsive to people yelling about you being a crook, or would you drop out of sight?

I'm sure that Mica's top priorities include not only stopping this particular sale, but also trying to track down the creator of these instruments. I'm not sure the 'help' we're providing by berating sellers, having eBay shut them down, and publicizing these issues is really help. For my part, I think it would be more effective to send a private message to Val nd Mica when I see one of these. Of course, I could be wrong. Again.

-Bob

flaxattack · « **Reply #8 on:** August 12, 2004, 11:19:44 AM »

just spoke to susan and emailed ebay-

zappahead · « **Reply #9 on:** August 12, 2004, 11:24:37 AM »

I dont see that bass anymore so something tells me it got taken care of one way or the other.

The thing about these fakes is that they are such obvious fakes. Nothing about them even remotely looks like an Alembic. I think Ive seen probably 5 or 10 or so of these and none of them have fetched any kind of serious money or even any bids that make me think anyone is really fooled by any of it. That being said it would still tick me off if someone were doing that (as Im sure it does have this effect on the people at Alembic like it does the owners of Alembics).

bsee · « **Reply #10 on:** August 12, 2004, 11:29:00 AM »

Worse than the fakes is this listing, take a look before he edits it (if he does):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=3741871011&rd=1

effclef · « **Reply #11 on:** August 12, 2004, 11:39:53 AM »

Bsee - WOW, incredible!

I still think Alembic should stick a photo of some fakes on their site so people can refer to them.

I don't know who gets fooled. Some of them show up as listings from pawn shops, so it makes you wonder if the person got $1000 from the pawn shop owner for the fake.

EffClef

bsee · « **Reply #12 on:** August 12, 2004, 12:23:00 PM »

Okay, the listing I was referring to has now been edited and just represents an exotic guitar for sale. back to our regularly scheduled program...

PS - I am too superstitious to discuss this any further, so if you didn't see it, don't ask.

zappahead · « **Reply #13 on:** August 12, 2004, 03:52:24 PM »

I saw what you saw too bsee, Im sure he was just misinformed and probably made an honest (albeit pretty terrible) mistake.

mica · « **Reply #14 on:** August 12, 2004, 05:02:56 PM »

Yeah, I'd love to shut the maker of these obvious fakes down. It's unclear if he's still making them or if these were made in a group years before. I've got leads.

I can't say that these fakes devalue real Alembics any more than a fake Rolex devalues a Rolex. A fake is a fake. Of course, it's hard to even call these fakes - they are more like frauds.

I didn't see what you saw in the exotic guitar listing before - but I know that guitar and it is a one-of-a-kind. We've never used that template again as far as I know - note the angled cut near the bottom end (shows up best in the back shot). It looks original, but I wonder where the other backplate is.