The last thing I need is a guitar ordered from a chinese counterfeiter and no recourse if it is a particle board fake. I'm always leery about ordering any guitar mail order. I like to play it and inspect first and then decide. I'd rather deal with someone who is an authorized Epi or Gibson dealer and not have to worry about it. After all, an authorized dealer isn't likely to jeopardize their relationship with the manufacturer over a cheap, high profit knockoff guitar.