Is it a fake Prince Racquet?

[Sirlukaszp]

I bought Prince Ats 98 from a renowned online retailler tennispro.eu.

Racquet arrived today..

What i noticed:

- no barcode on the carton tag
- spelling mistakes on the frame „asystem”
- wrong color of butcap - black (i saw prince only with green)
- strange coding on the frame

What do you think? Would such a retailer sell chineese fakes? Never had issues with them before..

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[PBODY99]

The last picture has a code with xxx ,
I suspect this is a pre release version of the frame.
Why would a "bootlegger" not just put number where numbers are expected. Before Prince USA moved from NJ, the local NJTL would get late pre production frames without barcodes and other mistakes.
I hope you didn't pay full price for it.

 

[Sirlukaszp]

I didnt but still 160 euro… and why a big retailer would sell pre-releases… does it mean it might be original but not to final specs as it might be pre release?

 

[Steve Huff]

Probably not a fake, but a discontinued model where a big retailer (Big 5, Dick's, Sports Authority, etc) bought the license to sell it. They are free to change it any way they want after they bought the license, and often they do. They just try to make it "look" like the model they copy as that's what sells the best.

 

[Sirlukaszp]

i bought it in Europe from one of the biggest retailers (probably similar size like TW in Europe), so that would be extremely surprising if they would do smth like you write...

Overally ATS models are 2022 with specific shape and dimensions so very doubtful somebody would go thru a painting process...

 

[ariwibowo]

What is the weight? the butt cap is totally different, should be green. ATS should not spells out "asystem". Is there a hologram sticker? Possibly a fake.

 

[tele]

i would be surprised if someone took the time to fake an ats 98 instead of, say, a pure aero or rf97. however, the butt cap, error, and codes are something i would want an answer about. when did you buy it? The 98 does not appear to be available on the site you mentioned.

 

[tele]

Probably not a fake, but a discontinued model where a big retailer (Big 5, Dick's, Sports Authority, etc) bought the license to sell it. They are free to change it any way they want after they bought the license, and often they do. They just try to make it "look" like the model they copy as that's what sells the best.

i may be misunderstanding you, but the op seems to have bought something advertised as being an ats 98. if it had been a repainted discontinued racquet, would that not be false advertising?

 

[johnmccabe]

If you don't like it, ask for free return and buy it from a different retail. Thanks for sharing

 

[Flying_Axe]

Business-wise, copying a prince racquet makes no sence. I don't know the details, but on the China's online market, brand new ATS 98 is only worth less than 120 US dollar recently.

 

[Seth]

The last picture has a code with xxx ,
I suspect this is a pre release version of the frame.
Why would a "bootlegger" not just put number where numbers are expected. Before Prince USA moved from NJ, the local NJTL would get late pre production frames without barcodes and other mistakes.
I hope you didn't pay full price for it.

This would be my guess as well.

 

[myke232]

Call the retailer and ask them what the deal is. Then I would request a return.

 

[Boxbeams4ever]

I bought Prince Ats 98 from a renowned online retailler tennispro.eu.

Racquet arrived today..

What i noticed:

- no barcode on the carton tag
- spelling mistakes on the frame „asystem”
- wrong color of butcap - black (i saw prince only with green)
- strange coding on the frame

What do you think? Would such a retailer sell chineese fakes? Never had issues with them before..

IMG-2681 hosted at ImgBB

Image IMG-2681 hosted in ImgBB

ibb.co

IMG-2684 hosted at ImgBB

Image IMG-2684 hosted in ImgBB

ibb.co

IMG-2685 hosted at ImgBB

Image IMG-2685 hosted in ImgBB

ibb.co

IMG-2688 hosted at ImgBB

Image IMG-2688 hosted in ImgBB

ibb.co

IMG-2689 hosted at ImgBB

Image IMG-2689 hosted in ImgBB

ibb.co

I didnt but still 160 euro… and why a big retailer would sell pre-releases… does it mean it might be original but not to final specs as it might be pre release?

What are you gonna do with this? I'd seriously consider buying this off you if you don't want it lol. I don't even like the ATS Tour 98 all that much. Am I the only one?

It's like a random limited edition why does everyone want to send it back? At least get the specs first

 

[KungfuTennis]

As someone in the tennis industry in China, there are no fakes of this racket. It would not be worth the time to fake it hahahahaha. Tons of fake prostaffs and pure drives in China though, one of our coaches got a fake Blade V8 on a big store on Taobao, I looked at it and told him to return it immediately

 

[Boxbeams4ever]

As someone in the tennis industry in China, there are no fakes of this racket. It would not be worth the time to fake it hahahahaha. Tons of fake prostaffs and pure drives in China though, one of our coaches got a fake Blade V8 on a big store on Taobao, I looked at it and told him to return it immediately

Lol sadly too true

Interesting, I'm a little surprised there are a few fakes still floating around. I haven't seen one of the newer models anyway selling online or in person in some time. It used to be you could tell if the paint or something else about it looked off, is that still mostly the case?

Sometimes the paint finish will change slightly from different batches of the same racquet from seemingly all the major brands, but it will still look the same quality and play right. How would you tell between them now? Because even the genuine ones can often have something not right about the cosmetic, logo not aligned or level, seen some weird stuff from Babolat and Wilson sometimes.

 

[KungfuTennis]

Lol sadly too true

Interesting, I'm a little surprised there are a few fakes still floating around. I haven't seen one of the newer models anyway selling online or in person in some time. It used to be you could tell if the paint or something else about it looked off, is that still mostly the case?

Sometimes the paint finish will change slightly from different batches of the same racquet from seemingly all the major brands, but it will still look the same quality and play right. How would you tell between them now? Because even the genuine ones can often have something not right about the cosmetic, logo not aligned or level, seen some weird stuff from Babolat and Wilson sometimes.

They're pretty good at paint now, its easier to tell from a combination of paint and mold. Fake Pure Drives, Prostaffs, Blades, Pure Aeros still float on the market, other rackets not so much.

 

[ariwibowo]

The last picture has a code with xxx ,
I suspect this is a pre release version of the frame.
Why would a "bootlegger" not just put number where numbers are expected. Before Prince USA moved from NJ, the local NJTL would get late pre production frames without barcodes and other mistakes.
I hope you didn't pay full price for it.

Or it might be a demo version which was not meant for sale.

 

[Boxbeams4ever]

Ha must admit I'm probably not looking close enough most of the time anyway, still strangely glad the Blade series is in there even though I don't like the Blade 98

I would've guessed myself it was originally meant as a test version close to final production stage for feedback from various players at invite-only sessions.

It's easier for Yonex models since they laser engrave DEMO into the racquet where the serial normally goes

 

[tele]

I recently bought an ats 98 brand new from Tennis Warehouse Europe, which I am assuming is real. It also has a black butt cap, which I thought was a nice change. However, I just noticed today it also has a "7txxx <x>" layup code instead of the normal code.Moreover, like the OP's racquet, it has "anti−torque Asystem" written on one side. @TW Staff , has something changed with the 98s? If not, what do these layup codes with the Xs instead of numbers mean?

 

[moon shot]

In a printing process <x> or <fname> would be a variable that is filled by a data set. Seems like someone didn’t do their press check properly.

 

[TW Staff]

@tele,

Can you email us at discussadmin@tennis-warehouse.com with pictures?

Thanks,
Brittany, TW

 

[tele]

@tele,

Can you email us at discussadmin@tennis-warehouse.com with pictures?

Thanks,
Brittany, TW

Brittany,

Thank you. Mail sent.