Pfaff 335 clone sold as a genuine Pfaff

[vanessaFrance]

So...

My boyfriend and I went to confront the guy.. He argued for a few minutes, claiming I bought a secondhand machine (so what?), and that he's not responsible if it's a fake. He then tried to question whether it was actually a fake, at which I point I said an expert had seen the machine and confirmed it was a fake (the expert being you guys! ). I showed him the forged plate, mentioned the missing Pfaff engravings, and alluded to the fact we had made screenshots of his online store showing more fake machines. That and the threat of a heavy fine should we go to the police, did the job.

 

He offered a check, which I turned down. We demanded cash, which ended up with my boyfriend escorting the guy to an ATM. We took the cash, gave the machine back, and got away. 

Piece of cake !!! 

A BIG thank you to everyone, specially Mike. You have been very helpful. Expect to read a new thread from me soon, the topic being : so now that I got my money back, what machine do I buy ??? 

[kgg]

Glad you got your money back too put towards another machine. What a cautionary tale for everyone. I bet dollars to donuts it well be on his website soon enough for the next unsuspecting buyer.

kgg

[chrisash]

This was the first time i had hear of the fake machines, and i am sure many others as well did not know, Vanessa I think you have done leather workers a great favour in bringing this to our attention

Many thanks and good hunting for the elusive machine

[brmax]

I am glad for the positive outcome, and proud of your actions.  

It is sad to say but a fact, the amount of products being pushed out of factories for the initial good purpose. Has proven consistent with all this product manipulation.

The difference among some people and locations with regards to product quality and honor is seriously lacking, and has been unless a high degree of outside supervision is stringently consistent.  

 

Floyd

[mikesc]

Just got home and saw this "update"
.. A win for you and LW :) :) and C-C .

Great news..Don't forget to let them know " la bas" ( chez C-C ) sellier42 especially..they'll be pleased too..
Ah..I just saw that you did post on C-C just before 15.00 hours..and you say there you even got the guy to chip in €100.00 "gas money" for your troubles ..

If you want to pm me with the name of the dealer..I'd be interested..I can tell people I know in the PACA who to avoid if they are buying machines.

ps..If you lived nearer , but you are at the other end of the country, there is a local dealer selling a "lot" 21 industrials, all tri-phase, on BC Bretagne ,he wants €2000.00 for the lot, but I don't know if there are any triple entrainement leather machines in there, I haven't had time to contact him ( nor can I tell from the pics ) probably not , even less likely any are "à canon".. usually on "lots" they break out the "triples" and the especially the "canons" and sell them individually for more..
https://www.leboncoin.fr/commerces_marches/1653756691.htm/

I'd have no where to put them while I disposed of them :(

You'll have to keep you eye on the BC..some bargains do show up..I just missed earlier this year a Juki 441 "as new" under €2000.00, ( that was not a typo ) with a load of thread ( owner died , family were disposing of it all, a dealer got it) ..and a brace of Adler patchers , again "as new" recently bought current models, ( again owner died ) family wanted €200.00 for the pair, ( that was not a typo either ) with loads of spares and a box of thread on big cones..

I'd have had no space for any of them, but at those kind of prices, I'd have stored them with my neighbour ;), w sworn him to secrecy, and in a years time told my wife "you don't remember the ones I left chez Hérvé a few years ago" ..I only have 7, they might have slid in there un-noticed if they were in his garage, and not in our living room..

Re what kind of machine to get..

Read the sticky thread up at the top of the page by Wiz
https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/25239-the-type-of-sewing-machine-you-need-to-sew-leather/
and if you are wondering if anyone has ever discussed a particular machine here..search in your favourite search engine, like this next line
site:leatherworker.net machine
only where I wrote machine..you write the machine..for example Pfaff 335
so you'd search
site:leatherworker.net Pfaff 335
the results would have every thread here that ever mentioned a Paff 335 ( including this thread ) ..every discussion that mentioned them at all.
HTH :)


There are more leather workers where you are Avignon area, than here in Bretagne..more machines should show up there than here.

Edited August 2, 2019 by mikesc

[mikesc]

Chris, there are an awful lot of fakes of everything, not just in leatherwork..But in leatherwork, it is right the way along the chain, from fake thread and needles, through fake parts, fake machines , fake finished items, fake branded items, bags , clothes, boots etc.

The fact that some clones are so accurate ( at least the exteriors are) that means if you don't have the experience, you might be buying a fake..be it a spool of thread, a box of needles, a hook, some internal parts, feet, an entire machine, a motor, a stand..The list of fake "anything" is as long as the list of genuine "anything".. "caveat emptor" is over 2000 years old..there are, and have always been crooks everywhere that there is money to be made..

Edited August 2, 2019 by mikesc

[marronne]

So glad you got this sorted @vanessaFrance.  Thanks for sharing.  Particularly useful for me as like you and @mikesc, I'm in France too and it could be useful for future dealings - you never know.

[vanessaFrance]

One final word : if you're looking at buying a professional sewing machine in Marseille, beware ! Don't hesitate to send me a PM and I'll tell you if your seller is the one who cheated on me.

 

Cheers !