What you should know about product counterfeiting

When is a deal not a deal?

Just like everyone, I like paying less. In fact, I've talked about it quite a bit in our newsletters over the years - hunting bargains is a bit of a hobby of mine. Of course, my wife says I'm destined to "go broke, saving money," but I digress...

Product counterfeiting is a real thing. D'Addario was openly highlighting their issues with it back in 2010, with this blog post (which specifically talks about illegal copies of their guitar strings.) And, awhile back now, one of our competitors sent out a blast email saying that they had evidence that there are "fakes" of Thomastik and Pirastro double bass strings coming into the US Market from Asia. Other products can be counterfeited, too - there was a big kerfuffle a little over a decade ago with fake Oktava mics hitting the American market (and sold, unknowingly, through big music stores, too!)

Gollihur Music has close to a 20-year working relationship with both Pirastro and the one authorized Thomastik US Distributor, and I can tell you that I've confirmed that there are some stores and eBay sellers selling strings who are "getting around" the system. If you shop by price alone, you might not always be getting the "real deal." A couple of dollars one way or the other is probably legitimate price competition, and to be expected (and did you know we price match?) -- but the reality is that sales margins on strings (in particular) are simply not very high.

All that I'm suggesting is that you ask that the store you buy from is sourcing their strings (and other items) directly from the authorized source(s). You can rest assured, Gollihur Music always does - we have always provided *genuine* goods at a fair price. And as for strings, we always offer free shipping, to all 50 states (on sets AND single strings)! ...as well as offering "extras" like added tip sheets, instructions and bonus items.

-- Mark