Cheap POC Helmets
08-21-20, 05:44 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Cheap POC Helmets
Has anyone given in to the low priced POC helmets that are flooding my FB pages from a Chinese company? The price for the POC Octal is $69. I own 3 POC’s but I’m a helmet junkie and that bright blue was is very tempting.
08-21-20, 06:03 PM
#2
Junior Member
I recently picked up an Omne Air Spin for $150 and it's honestly one of the best fitting helmets I've ever had. There are several lighter and more expensive ones sitting on my shelf at home but I always grab the POC for some reason.
My last crash saw my trusty Giro split in 3 pieces but, I walked away with nothing more than a serious case of road rash. Pretty sure I'd be drinking my remaining meals through a straw had I been wearing some cheap knock-off instead of a well designed piece of safety equipment.
Just my humble opinion....
08-21-20, 06:16 PM
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Yeah I have the Ventral Air Spin and two other high end POC’s. I love the product. I always have a hard time believing these Chinese offered helmets are knock offs. Their advertising is too wide spread it seems but who knows. More likely they bought out old new stock or something but who knows for sure.
08-21-20, 07:32 PM
#4
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Back in January, before the pandemic, a few reputable US discounters were offering a few models and sizes of POC helmets deeply discounted: odd colors that nobody wanted (although for POC odd colors are normal); a race specific version of the Octal or Ventral. They seemed legit. There were also a few Lazer and MET models deeply discounted -- like, $30-$50.
But after the pandemic disrupted the supply chain, POC prices returned to full MSRP.
POC itself often offers discounts on some models and sizes, so it's conceivable there are some legit, non-counterfeit POCs available elsewhere. But when in doubt, buy direct from POC's outlet store.
But after the pandemic disrupted the supply chain, POC prices returned to full MSRP.
POC itself often offers discounts on some models and sizes, so it's conceivable there are some legit, non-counterfeit POCs available elsewhere. But when in doubt, buy direct from POC's outlet store.
08-22-20, 04:24 AM
#5
Junior Member
Yeah I have the Ventral Air Spin and two other high end POC’s. I love the product. I always have a hard time believing these Chinese offered helmets are knock offs. Their advertising is too wide spread it seems but who knows. More likely they bought out old new stock or something but who knows for sure.
I work in robotics and have been to China several times working for various suppliers of capital equipment - they have the capabilities for sure.
08-22-20, 05:53 AM
#6
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POC helmets have pretty much always been manufactured in China, but not always by the same supplier. POC has changed where they source their helmets multiple times, sometimes for quality reasons, sometimes for price. Any company that produced POC helmets could have leftover stock once their contract ran out.
As well, distributors who lost POC as a supplier could also have leftover stock
As well, distributors who lost POC as a supplier could also have leftover stock
08-23-20, 06:22 AM
#7
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Do not buy a helmet that is crazy cheap. It could be counterfeit or not up to safety standards. While these helmets may be legit closeouts, if you don't know, it's not worth the savings. Your head is important, and as BHG said, you don't want to go cheap on a helmet to protect it.
If you can find that price from a reputable retailer, then go fo it. But there are too many illegitimate sellers on FB and eBay.
If you can find that price from a reputable retailer, then go fo it. But there are too many illegitimate sellers on FB and eBay.
