Is Your Ab Coaster a Counterfeit?
The award winning Ab Coaster abdominal exercise machine has recently become a victim of fraud. This Consumer Alert will provide you with the information you need to avoid becoming a victim.
The Commercial Health Club version of the Ab Coaster was introduced in 2007 and can now be found in over 3000 Health Clubs in 13 countries. The Home version was introduced about one year later, and is now advertised on national TV stations.
With the increasing popularity of this revolutionary new abdominal machine, you need to be careful that you do not buy a counterfeit.
Fake replicas can be hard to identify because counterfeiters copy the basic look and design of the Ab Coaster, but the difference is obvious: counterfeit goods use cheap quality bearings and steel, and suffer from faulty welding and poor workmanship. That’s why they cost so much less than the real thing.
Where to buy authentic Ab Coaster products...
There are only three online sites that are approved to sell Ab Coasters:
www.AbCoaster.com
www.AbCoasterClub.com
www.Walmart.com
If you buy an Ab Coaster at any of those 3 websites, then you are assured of receiving authentic Ab Coaster product.
Amazon, eBay and Craig's List are NOT AUTHORIZED!
The Ab Coaster Company receives a lot of complaints and questions about “Ab Coasters” that are sold on Amazon, eBay and Craigs List. However, none of these companies are authorized to sell the Ab Coaster product. Any product you see on these sites is a counterfeit.
In order to try to deal with the confusion, The Ab Coaster Company has set up its own store on Ebay.com.
The Counterfeiters Internet SCAM
Counterfeiters use the internet to sell the fake products through legitimate websites such as Amazon.com, Ebay, and Craig’s List.
The following email is from an actual customer who purchased a counterfeit Ab Coaster on Amazon.com:
_________________________________________________________
From: Jeff W <______@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:39:23 -0700 (PDT)
To: info@abcoasterclub.com
Subject: I think I was ripped off
I thought I was buying a new ab coaster pro on Amazon.com ... I never even knew about knock-offs until I went to your site to try and troubleshoot the non-working electronic repetition counter, and why there are no pegs for added resistance., .. and then I read your blog! Now I feel stupid for falling victum! I was just trying to get a good deal in these hard economic times.
How can you help me? I certainly do not have the $$ to go out and buy another "Pro" model. Below is what I just sent to Amazon, for which they have not yet responded:
AB COASTER PRO - Houston, we have a problem... Item Listed was the Ab coaster Pro model... what I received was the standard model. The electronics do not work which count the number of repetitions... and there are no pegs on the side for adding resistance, its also a different color than the "Pro version". I believe I was sold a knock off copy of the ab coaster. This is not what was listed and not what I expected to receive. The seller does not reply to my email. I went to the AB Coaster site to troubleshoot the electronics and thats how I found out about knock-offs being sold on amazon. I did not know this was possible... but that would explain the plain brown box it arrived in with no "ab coaster" advertising on the side. I believe I have been ripped off. Please advise on what we can do?
I have not yet heard back from Amazon.com, and I am worried that I will never get a refund. Please let me know if you can help.
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Unfortunately, companies such as Amazon.com, Ebay and Craigslist will NOT do anything to help you because they do not sell the product directly to you – you are purchasing product from sellers who USE their websites to advertise. If you buy product from a counterfeiter, you will have no recourse (ie, no returns, no service, no warranty).
Victim Rewards
If you think you have purchased a counterfeit Ab Coaster, then contact The Ab Coaster Company by sending an email here:
If you file a valid claim, The Ab Coaster Company will give you a $100.00 victim reward good towards any Authentic Ab Coaster product.
Thank you for taking the time to read this important information. Please help us win this fight by sharing this message with your friends and family members on your email list.
Thanks Again
Rob Nelson
Co-Inventor of the Ab Coaster®