“Consumers should pay attention to where they are buying”- CBP officers seize fake Gibson guitars worth over $18 million

A slew of fake Gibson guitars were seized by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers. On Tuesday, November 26, CBP released a statement announcing that they, alongside other agencies, successfully intercepted over 3,000 counterfeit Gibson guitars shipped to the U.S. from Asia via ocean containers.

Had they been real, the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) valued the guitars at $18,742,820. The American guitar manufacturer confirmed that the guitars were fakes and noted that authentic Gibson guitars were only made in the U.S.A.

Cheryl M. Davies, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles, said in the agency's statement:

"As we approach the busy Holiday shopping season, consumers should pay attention to where they are buying these goods and how much they are paying, and if is too good to be true it probably is."

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"This is really emotional and personal for us"- Gibson Chief Marketing Officer, Beth Heidt

According to the aforementioned U.S. Customs and Border Protection statement, CBP officials and Import Specialists assigned to the LA/Long Beach Seaport intercepted the shipment of fraudulent Gibson guitars. The interception was also in conjuncture with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agents, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), and representatives from Gibson.

The MSRP of the intercepted products was obtained with the assistance of the Merchandising Center of Excellence (CPMM). Cheryl M. Davies said in the statement that the guitars may "look and feel legitimate" for unsuspecting customers who bought them via street markets, unauthorized retailers, third-party sources, and person-to-person transactions.

Gibson CEO Cesar Gueikian expressed the company's gratitude to all the agencies working to prevent counterfeiting. Gueikian said that the company's partnership with these agencies was designed to protect their fans and consumers from being misled into buying counterfeits. The company's Chief Marketing Officer, Beth Heidt, said in the statement:

"This is really emotional and personal for us not only because of the protection of our players, but because of our Gibson team at large, including the artisans at our craftories in Nashville, TN and Bozeman, MT, who are generations of American families that have dedicated their entire lives to handcrafting Gibson instruments."

Heidt noted the company's legacy of quality craftsmanship, legendary artist partnerships, and efforts in promoting new musicians to craft the sound of the future as the company approached its 130th anniversary.

According to the CBP, counterfeit goods prompted health and safety concerns due to reportedly being made from inferior materials under unsanitary conditions while labeled with false information. Furthermore, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lieutenant William Kitchin stated that these products harmed legitimate businesses, brand reputations, and customer trust.

HSI Los Angeles Deputy Special Agent in Charge John Pasciucco proclaimed in the statement that intellectual property theft was not a "victimless crime." Pasciucco said the victims were consumers, manufacturers, sellers, businesses, and trademark holders. Pasciucco also added that profit from such sales often funded illegal activities.

CBP Port Director of the LA/Long Beach seaport, Africa R. Bell, further added to the statement that sales from such products funded drug trafficking, smuggling, forced labor, and other activities by criminal organizations. Bell stated:

"Counterfeiters are only interested in making a profit – they do not care about you or your family’s well-being or the well-being of our economy."

Rolling Stone reported that despite the overwhelming majority of the guitars seized being Gibson, the CBP still had some counterfeit Fenders, Gretsches, and Paul Reed Smiths on display. Upon closer inspection, the publication noted that the fakes could be distinguished from the originals.

Some of the more distinguishable differences included off-center headstock logo placements, cheap printing, non-shiny fretboard inlays, and volume knobs or tuning pegs of different materials and colors. CBP representative Jaime Ruiz told the publication that the guitars would be kept as evidence as the investigation continued, after which they would be destroyed.