fake Eddie Merckx frames?

On my Merckx AX ('96 vintage) the decals are not clear-coated and are therefore
fragile. I could imagine having to replace 'em someday... but 100 sets???

Mike Yankee

(Address is munged to thwart spammers.
To reply, delete everything after "com".)

In article <[email hidden]>,

Mike Beauchamp said:

Heyo,
I was in a local sign company yesterday (to order lexan) and I noticed one
of the jobs they were doing was printing off decals for a customer. The
decal sheets included 2 "Eddie Merckx" logos I think were white text with
black outline. A few other logos (made in belgium) and an outline of Italy.
Then there was "TITANIUM AX" in a fairly ugly gold fading gradient.

The customer wanted 100 of these sheets made.

I figured maybe these would be replacement stickers, but after realizing how
greasy people are on ebay.. I can totally picture someone sticking these on
some generic frames and putting them on ebay.

Hmmm...

Whoa! That's pretty creepy!

Is there any chance these were for a legit purpose? I mean, are you
close to the warehouse of Merckx's US distributor?

I just don't see an aftermarket resale outlet for a hundred Merckx Ti
decal sets...

--
Ryan Cousineau, [email hidden] http://www.wiredcola.com
President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club

In article <[email hidden]>,

Mike Beauchamp said:

Heyo,
I was in a local sign company yesterday (to order lexan) and I noticed one
of the jobs they were doing was printing off decals for a customer. The
decal sheets included 2 "Eddie Merckx" logos I think were white text with
black outline. A few other logos (made in belgium) and an outline of Italy.
Then there was "TITANIUM AX" in a fairly ugly gold fading gradient.

The customer wanted 100 of these sheets made.

I figured maybe these would be replacement stickers, but after realizing how
greasy people are on ebay.. I can totally picture someone sticking these on
some generic frames and putting them on ebay.

Hmmm...

Whoa! That's pretty creepy!

Is there any chance these were for a legit purpose? I mean, are you
close to the warehouse of Merckx's US distributor?

I just don't see an aftermarket resale outlet for a hundred Merckx Ti
decal sets...

--
Ryan Cousineau, [email hidden] http://www.wiredcola.com
President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club

Hey Ryan, I'm in Canada actually.

There's always the chance that they are for legit purposes, but I don't see
it. As you said, I can't picture 100 people needing replacement decals.
Also, it seems like the decals weren't of great quality.

On the EM logo or whatever, it is black with a gold trim right? On these
decals it just looked gold-ish, it didn't have the actual gold effect.
(like, if you were to use your printer to print off something gold). It
seems like it would be something "good enough" for only a desperate person
looking for a good deal (hence the ebay assumption).

Mike

"Ryan Cousineau" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Mike Beauchamp said:

Heyo,
I was in a local sign company yesterday (to order lexan) and I noticed

one

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of the jobs they were doing was printing off decals for a customer. The
decal sheets included 2 "Eddie Merckx" logos I think were white text

with

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

black outline. A few other logos (made in belgium) and an outline of

Italy.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Then there was "TITANIUM AX" in a fairly ugly gold fading gradient.

The customer wanted 100 of these sheets made.

I figured maybe these would be replacement stickers, but after realizing

how

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

greasy people are on ebay.. I can totally picture someone sticking these

on

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

some generic frames and putting them on ebay.

Hmmm...

Whoa! That's pretty creepy!

Is there any chance these were for a legit purpose? I mean, are you
close to the warehouse of Merckx's US distributor?

I just don't see an aftermarket resale outlet for a hundred Merckx Ti
decal sets...

--
Ryan Cousineau, [email hidden] http://www.wiredcola.com
President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club

"Ryan Cousineau" wrote: (clip) I just don't see an aftermarket resale
outlet for a hundred Merckx Ti decal sets...
^^^^^^^^^^^^
The guy probably ordered 100 because getting a smaller number wouldn't have
been any cheaper.

I dont' think that's the case, teh order was going ot be 50, then he raised
it to 100.

"Leo Lichtman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Ryan Cousineau" wrote: (clip) I just don't see an aftermarket resale
outlet for a hundred Merckx Ti decal sets...
^^^^^^^^^^^^
The guy probably ordered 100 because getting a smaller number wouldn't

have

Quoted message said:

been any cheaper.

"Mike Beauchamp" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Heyo,
I was in a local sign company yesterday (to order lexan) and I noticed one
of the jobs they were doing was printing off decals for a customer. The
decal sheets included 2 "Eddie Merckx" logos I think were white text with
black outline. A few other logos (made in belgium) and an outline of Italy.
Then there was "TITANIUM AX" in a fairly ugly gold fading gradient.

The customer wanted 100 of these sheets made.

I figured maybe these would be replacement stickers, but after realizing how
greasy people are on ebay.. I can totally picture someone sticking these on
some generic frames and putting them on ebay.

Having worked in a print and sign shop...

They once printed a whole bunch of "old" DuBois Brewing Company labels
for some person. They eventually showed up on Ebay on new beer bottles.

Mike Beauchamp said:

I dont' think that's the case, teh order was going ot be 50, then he raised
it to 100.

I could think of one legitimate usage: He's a retailer (perhap's online),
who sells replacement decals. But 100 would be a lot even for someone who
ran that sort of business.

--
Dane Jackson - z u v e m b i @ u n i x b i g o t s . o r g
"Protecting the children is a good way to get a lot of adults
who cant stand up for themselves" -J. Stecher

So, i guess the question is..
What SHOULD I do? Or what CAN I even do?

Even if I wait for them to appear on ebay, all I can do is give a "heads up"
in here. I've contacted ebay about stolen [censored] on there (my friends stuff!)
and they never took it down.

Mike

"Dane Jackson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mike Beauchamp said:

I dont' think that's the case, teh order was going ot be 50, then he

raised

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

it to 100.

I could think of one legitimate usage: He's a retailer (perhap's online),
who sells replacement decals. But 100 would be a lot even for someone who
ran that sort of business.

--
Dane Jackson - z u v e m b i @ u n i x b i g o t s . o r g
"Protecting the children is a good way to get a lot of adults
who cant stand up for themselves" -J. Stecher

Mike Beauchamp said:

So, i guess the question is..
What SHOULD I do? Or what CAN I even do?

Even if I wait for them to appear on ebay, all I can do is give a "heads up"
in here. I've contacted ebay about stolen [censored] on there (my friends stuff!)
and they never took it down.

Denounce him to the authorities in a letter, and keep the letter on
file.

I wonder if a quick letter to the Eddy Merckx bike works might not be
in order, as well.....

-Luigi

Quoted message said:

Mike

"Dane Jackson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mike Beauchamp said:

I dont' think that's the case, teh order was going ot be 50, then he

raised

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

it to 100.

I could think of one legitimate usage: He's a retailer (perhap's online),
who sells replacement decals. But 100 would be a lot even for someone who
ran that sort of business.

--
Dane Jackson - z u v e m b i @ u n i x b i g o t s . o r g
"Protecting the children is a good way to get a lot of adults
who cant stand up for themselves" -J. Stecher

Thank you Luigi.. I can't seem to find any contact information for the Eddie
Merckx bike works or anything.

I'll go to the sign company tomorrow and get more details as well.

Mike

"Luigi de Guzman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mike Beauchamp said:

So, i guess the question is..
What SHOULD I do? Or what CAN I even do?

Even if I wait for them to appear on ebay, all I can do is give a "heads

up"

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in here. I've contacted ebay about stolen [censored] on there (my friends

stuff!)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and they never took it down.

Denounce him to the authorities in a letter, and keep the letter on
file.

I wonder if a quick letter to the Eddy Merckx bike works might not be
in order, as well.....

-Luigi

Quoted message said:

Mike

"Dane Jackson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mike Beauchamp <[email hidden]> wrote:
> I dont' think that's the case, teh order was going ot be 50, then he

raised

Quoted message said:

> it to 100.

I could think of one legitimate usage: He's a retailer (perhap's

online),

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

who sells replacement decals. But 100 would be a lot even for someone

who

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

ran that sort of business.

--
Dane Jackson - z u v e m b i @ u n i x b i g o t s . o r g
"Protecting the children is a good way to get a lot of adults
who cant stand up for themselves" -J. Stecher

People are so greasy sometimes..

"R.White" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Mike Beauchamp" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Heyo,
I was in a local sign company yesterday (to order lexan) and I noticed

one

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of the jobs they were doing was printing off decals for a customer. The
decal sheets included 2 "Eddie Merckx" logos I think were white text

with

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

black outline. A few other logos (made in belgium) and an outline of

Italy.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Then there was "TITANIUM AX" in a fairly ugly gold fading gradient.

The customer wanted 100 of these sheets made.

I figured maybe these would be replacement stickers, but after realizing

how

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

greasy people are on ebay.. I can totally picture someone sticking these

on

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

some generic frames and putting them on ebay.

Having worked in a print and sign shop...

They once printed a whole bunch of "old" DuBois Brewing Company labels
for some person. They eventually showed up on Ebay on new beer bottles.

Mike Beauchamp said:

Thank you Luigi.. I can't seem to find any contact information for the Eddie
Merckx bike works or anything.

There's contact info on their website:

http://www.eddymerckx.be/

- khill

Thank you.. I couldn't find their website.

Mike

"khill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mike Beauchamp said:

Thank you Luigi.. I can't seem to find any contact information for the

Eddie

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Merckx bike works or anything.

There's contact info on their website:

http://www.eddymerckx.be/

- khill