Brand new Titleist AP2 irons - mismatching serial numbers?

nearwater · July 28, 2011

is this normal?

Hello all,
A buddy of mine bought a set of factory spec(non-custom) Titleist AP2 irons from a local golf shop(a Titleist authorized retailer, btw) and noticed a couple of irons were slightly different from the rest.
The irons are 3 through PW, and the box said so also.
5 iron through PW have matching serial number which is the same written on the box label, however, 4 iron doesn't. It also has a slightly different grip which doesn't say "Titleist".
3 iron seem to have the same grip as the 5-PW, but it's still wrapped in plastic. Also, it doesn't have a serial number on the hosel.
Is this something that we can expect from a "full set" of irons, or do we have the right to go back and demand a set with matching serial numbers?

Sorry for the dumb question, but $1k is not a cheap price for a set of sticks and he wanted to make sure he's getting the real deal.
He was also concerned about not being able to get the commanding used price or even not being able to sell at all, if he decides to sell it after a while.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,

Dan

UrBaNMeNaCe · July 28, 2011

That's why you should always buy online instead supporting local golf shops :secret:

Elite_Digger · July 28, 2011

My first choice would be to contact Titleist directly, describe the problem to them and get their opinion.

Downthemiddle54 · July 28, 2011

First of all, the only iron that should have a serial number on it would be the 6 iron. Rest of the irons should not have a serial number on them at all. Sounds like the store your friend bought them from may have included some "demo" irons in the set. If they were all brand new irons, all the grips should have been wrapped in plastic, all of them should be the same grip (saying Titleist on all of them) and the box sealed. For a $1000.00, I would take them back and demand a new set in a sealed box and inspect it before leaving the store.

oldhamer25 · July 28, 2011

[quote name='Downthemiddle54' timestamp='1311862855' post='3431088']
First of all, the only iron that should have a serial number on it would be the 6 iron. Rest of the irons should not have a serial number on them at all. Sounds like the store your friend bought them from may have included some "demo" irons in the set. If they were all brand new irons, all the grips should have been wrapped in plastic, all of them should be the same grip (saying Titleist on all of them) and the box sealed. For a $1000.00, I would take them back and demand a new set in a sealed box and inspect it before leaving the store.
[/quote]

I agree with this. What type of shaft is in the irons?

wlittle1274 · July 28, 2011

I would be willing to bet that the 4-iron that doesn't have a Titleist grip was a demo club (hopefully that was never used).. The demo clubs have DEMO on the grip so I'm sure all they did was strip the grip and put a tour velvet on it.. Order a seperate 3-iron for the 5-PW set they already have and guess what, you have a full set.. Who knows why their mismatched.. Maybe someone wanted a 3 and 4 iron AP2 to go with their 5-PW 710CBs so they just sold them the 3 and 4 they already had and pieced together the 3 and 4 for your set to make a full 3-PW set again.. But I completely agree.. For 1k I would want a set still taped up in the box from the factory and I think you should go back and make that happen..

AirMail · July 28, 2011

[quote name='Downthemiddle54' timestamp='1311862855' post='3431088']
First of all, the only iron that should have a serial number on it would be the 6 iron. Rest of the irons should not have a serial number on them at all. Sounds like the store your friend bought them from may have included some "demo" irons in the set. If they were all brand new irons, all the grips should have been wrapped in plastic, all of them should be the same grip (saying Titleist on all of them) and the box sealed. For a $1000.00, I would take them back and demand a new set in a sealed box and inspect it before leaving the store.
[/quote]

+1

gti303 · July 28, 2011

like the others have said...looks like maybe they sold you a set of 3-p but the 4 was actually mixed up somehow. The only iron that should have a serial is the 6 iron. All the other ones do not, unless they don't belong to a specific set.

ie. I bought a 5-p set...then later added a 3 and 4...so the 6 iron on the 5-p is 1 serial...the my 3 and 4 both have a serial on the hosel.
I guess its not a huge deal, but i'd return it since its quite the premium you are paying...

ryancjordan · July 28, 2011

Just to clarify, if you get a custom set they put the serial # on all of them though right?

oldhamer25 · July 28, 2011

A custom order will have serial numbers on all the irons. My question before about what shaft came with the club is because if they have something different than the DG, then they will have serial numbers on all the clubs. My set is standard l/l/l, but my shafts are PX and so they have serial numbers on all the irons.

Shwagin1066 · July 28, 2011

Have to disagree on the sealed box. I used to work at a golf store and we checked every set of irons that came in. You would be surprised how many sets are slightly different (shaft flex, shaft material, etc.) than what the sticker on the outside of the box says. From alllll companies.

nearwater · July 28, 2011

Thanks for all the kind replies, folks.
I found out that only custom ordered sets have serial numbers on all the irons.
Funny thing is, it's not a custom spec at all. Standard lie, length, DG S300 shafts, stock grips.
We were okay with it being "custom", but the set missing a matching 3, 4 iron didn't make him feel too comfortable.

We went there this afternoon and had it replaced with a brand new set (although it was missing a box) still wrapped in plastics.
That set only had the serial# on the 6 iron, so we know for sure it's a factory spec set.

Again, I really appreciate your help.

Dan