urbanknight

My favorite gloves are starting to get worn down and weren’t available anymore until I found what looked like them on FB marketplace. The packaging was suspicious (I don’t think anybody makes a “therma fleece” summer glove) but I figured maybe they just got the wrong packaging, and perhaps the seller got a discount on the manufacturer’s mistake.

They look a lot like my old gloves, and they seem well constructed (only time will tell), but I have now noticed that the same glove with the same packaging is all over ebay with no mention of the brand name. I’ve heard that contracted factories sometimes continue to make a product after their agreement with the brand is up (with or without permission), but figured they would at least remove the logo. Plus, there are much pricier and more desired brands out there to fake. Anybody know the story with this?

Top pic is from a current ad. Bottom two are side-by-side comparisons with the original glove on top and the new one below.

rsbob 

Probably knock-offs. Ali-Express sells tons of those exact gloves

easyupbug 

I did vendor evaluations in the PRC and can tell you while the PI QA/QC people are on site they will crank out good quality and cheaply. However, after they leave at the end of the run, maybe 10s of thousands of gloves, the vendor will be cranking them out trying to keep the PI appearance to sell at a higher price. If you get an end run with PI quality material, thread, leather, etc. you can get a great glove cheap or substitute thread, leather, dies, etc. and you get poor quality. The problem is the PRC culture is very different than ours where if the seller pulls one over on the buyer good for him rather than shame on him for cheating the buyer.

urbanknight

Yeah, I also see the same gloves is also available with different company logos.

I think that makes sense. You're saying these are made in the same factory but possibly with substituted (subpar) materials? I am aware that business culture in China is wildly different than it is in the US, but I certainly don't understand all the details.

70sSanO

I have those gloves in blue. I’m guessing they are knockoffs because I couldn’t find a Therma Fleece model on Pi site. They have held up well so far. Better than some other gloves.

Sizing is a little funky since they were unisex. I bought Large and were a bit small, bought a second pair and they were a bit large. But for $15 they work.

I used to buy Performance house brand when they went on sale.

John

urbanknight

Even less than that now, and it's good to hear that they will last. Funny how similar they look to the authentic ones I bought about a decade ago (and can't find for sale anywhere anymore).