Has anyone bought low price tefillin on the web and had them checked?

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I ask because I would like to get some idea of how likely it would be to buy non-kosher tefillin on the web. Prices range widely. Various websites offer a bottom-of-the-line pair of tefillin for $150, $400, or $550, depending on the site. The high-end tefillin can run to well over $1,000. The lower prices are from websites that sell a wide variety of merchandise. Has anyone bought inexpensive tefillin on the web and had them checked? If so, what did you find?

halacha internet

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

Yehuda W

2,306622

• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Don't do that please. You will end up at best with kosher tfilin pshutim which will lose their kosher status in a few years and, at worst, (esp. at 150$) with photocopies of parchment inside! (yes this happens). I have seen tefilin pshutim after a few years and the boxes are cracked, the parchments inside of poor quality. You are much better off buying the lowest-priced gasot you can find (e.g., Hasofer has them at 550$). You should only buy from a reputable sofer or store - anything else is wasting money down the drain in my view
  – mbloch
  4 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  see also judaism.stackexchange.com/a/66264/11501 and judaism.stackexchange.com/a/67917/11501
  – mbloch
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  mobile.kikar.co.il/abroad/article/290188 this guy bought a cheap mezuza
  – Double AA♦
  4 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Hi Yehuda, if you have a specific individual in mind who needs help buying tefillin; and that person is willing to have a Rabbi verify their identity, I may be able to help with partial funding if that will help them put on tefillin faster. I agree with mbloch's comment above. You can reach me at davidariel25@gmail.com Any inquiry will be held as confidential.
  – David Kenner
  4 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Do not buy except from a reliable source as the parshios have to be written in order and as there is no easy way to check when a correction was done you are at the mercy of the sofer's honesty
  – Orangesandlemons
  22 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

up vote
1
down vote

favorite

I ask because I would like to get some idea of how likely it would be to buy non-kosher tefillin on the web. Prices range widely. Various websites offer a bottom-of-the-line pair of tefillin for $150, $400, or $550, depending on the site. The high-end tefillin can run to well over $1,000. The lower prices are from websites that sell a wide variety of merchandise. Has anyone bought inexpensive tefillin on the web and had them checked? If so, what did you find?

halacha internet

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

Yehuda W

2,306622

• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Don't do that please. You will end up at best with kosher tfilin pshutim which will lose their kosher status in a few years and, at worst, (esp. at 150$) with photocopies of parchment inside! (yes this happens). I have seen tefilin pshutim after a few years and the boxes are cracked, the parchments inside of poor quality. You are much better off buying the lowest-priced gasot you can find (e.g., Hasofer has them at 550$). You should only buy from a reputable sofer or store - anything else is wasting money down the drain in my view
  – mbloch
  4 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  see also judaism.stackexchange.com/a/66264/11501 and judaism.stackexchange.com/a/67917/11501
  – mbloch
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  mobile.kikar.co.il/abroad/article/290188 this guy bought a cheap mezuza
  – Double AA♦
  4 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Hi Yehuda, if you have a specific individual in mind who needs help buying tefillin; and that person is willing to have a Rabbi verify their identity, I may be able to help with partial funding if that will help them put on tefillin faster. I agree with mbloch's comment above. You can reach me at davidariel25@gmail.com Any inquiry will be held as confidential.
  – David Kenner
  4 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Do not buy except from a reliable source as the parshios have to be written in order and as there is no easy way to check when a correction was done you are at the mercy of the sofer's honesty
  – Orangesandlemons
  22 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

up vote
1
down vote

favorite

up vote
1
down vote

favorite

I ask because I would like to get some idea of how likely it would be to buy non-kosher tefillin on the web. Prices range widely. Various websites offer a bottom-of-the-line pair of tefillin for $150, $400, or $550, depending on the site. The high-end tefillin can run to well over $1,000. The lower prices are from websites that sell a wide variety of merchandise. Has anyone bought inexpensive tefillin on the web and had them checked? If so, what did you find?

halacha internet

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

Yehuda W

2,306622

I ask because I would like to get some idea of how likely it would be to buy non-kosher tefillin on the web. Prices range widely. Various websites offer a bottom-of-the-line pair of tefillin for $150, $400, or $550, depending on the site. The high-end tefillin can run to well over $1,000. The lower prices are from websites that sell a wide variety of merchandise. Has anyone bought inexpensive tefillin on the web and had them checked? If so, what did you find?

halacha internet

halacha internet

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

Yehuda W

2,306622

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

Yehuda W

2,306622

share|improve this question

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

Yehuda W

2,306622

asked 4 hours ago

Yehuda W

2,306622

asked 4 hours ago

Yehuda W

2,306622

2,306622

• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Don't do that please. You will end up at best with kosher tfilin pshutim which will lose their kosher status in a few years and, at worst, (esp. at 150$) with photocopies of parchment inside! (yes this happens). I have seen tefilin pshutim after a few years and the boxes are cracked, the parchments inside of poor quality. You are much better off buying the lowest-priced gasot you can find (e.g., Hasofer has them at 550$). You should only buy from a reputable sofer or store - anything else is wasting money down the drain in my view
  – mbloch
  4 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  see also judaism.stackexchange.com/a/66264/11501 and judaism.stackexchange.com/a/67917/11501
  – mbloch
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  mobile.kikar.co.il/abroad/article/290188 this guy bought a cheap mezuza
  – Double AA♦
  4 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Hi Yehuda, if you have a specific individual in mind who needs help buying tefillin; and that person is willing to have a Rabbi verify their identity, I may be able to help with partial funding if that will help them put on tefillin faster. I agree with mbloch's comment above. You can reach me at davidariel25@gmail.com Any inquiry will be held as confidential.
  – David Kenner
  4 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Do not buy except from a reliable source as the parshios have to be written in order and as there is no easy way to check when a correction was done you are at the mercy of the sofer's honesty
  – Orangesandlemons
  22 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Don't do that please. You will end up at best with kosher tfilin pshutim which will lose their kosher status in a few years and, at worst, (esp. at 150$) with photocopies of parchment inside! (yes this happens). I have seen tefilin pshutim after a few years and the boxes are cracked, the parchments inside of poor quality. You are much better off buying the lowest-priced gasot you can find (e.g., Hasofer has them at 550$). You should only buy from a reputable sofer or store - anything else is wasting money down the drain in my view
  – mbloch
  4 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  see also judaism.stackexchange.com/a/66264/11501 and judaism.stackexchange.com/a/67917/11501
  – mbloch
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  mobile.kikar.co.il/abroad/article/290188 this guy bought a cheap mezuza
  – Double AA♦
  4 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Hi Yehuda, if you have a specific individual in mind who needs help buying tefillin; and that person is willing to have a Rabbi verify their identity, I may be able to help with partial funding if that will help them put on tefillin faster. I agree with mbloch's comment above. You can reach me at davidariel25@gmail.com Any inquiry will be held as confidential.
  – David Kenner
  4 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Do not buy except from a reliable source as the parshios have to be written in order and as there is no easy way to check when a correction was done you are at the mercy of the sofer's honesty
  – Orangesandlemons
  22 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

4

4

Don't do that please. You will end up at best with kosher tfilin pshutim which will lose their kosher status in a few years and, at worst, (esp. at 150$) with photocopies of parchment inside! (yes this happens). I have seen tefilin pshutim after a few years and the boxes are cracked, the parchments inside of poor quality. You are much better off buying the lowest-priced gasot you can find (e.g., Hasofer has them at 550$). You should only buy from a reputable sofer or store - anything else is wasting money down the drain in my view
– mbloch
4 hours ago

Don't do that please. You will end up at best with kosher tfilin pshutim which will lose their kosher status in a few years and, at worst, (esp. at 150$) with photocopies of parchment inside! (yes this happens). I have seen tefilin pshutim after a few years and the boxes are cracked, the parchments inside of poor quality. You are much better off buying the lowest-priced gasot you can find (e.g., Hasofer has them at 550$). You should only buy from a reputable sofer or store - anything else is wasting money down the drain in my view
– mbloch
4 hours ago

1

1

see also judaism.stackexchange.com/a/66264/11501 and judaism.stackexchange.com/a/67917/11501
– mbloch
4 hours ago

see also judaism.stackexchange.com/a/66264/11501 and judaism.stackexchange.com/a/67917/11501
– mbloch
4 hours ago

1

1

mobile.kikar.co.il/abroad/article/290188 this guy bought a cheap mezuza
– Double AA♦
4 hours ago

mobile.kikar.co.il/abroad/article/290188 this guy bought a cheap mezuza
– Double AA♦
4 hours ago

Hi Yehuda, if you have a specific individual in mind who needs help buying tefillin; and that person is willing to have a Rabbi verify their identity, I may be able to help with partial funding if that will help them put on tefillin faster. I agree with mbloch's comment above. You can reach me at davidariel25@gmail.com Any inquiry will be held as confidential.
– David Kenner
4 hours ago

Hi Yehuda, if you have a specific individual in mind who needs help buying tefillin; and that person is willing to have a Rabbi verify their identity, I may be able to help with partial funding if that will help them put on tefillin faster. I agree with mbloch's comment above. You can reach me at davidariel25@gmail.com Any inquiry will be held as confidential.
– David Kenner
4 hours ago

Do not buy except from a reliable source as the parshios have to be written in order and as there is no easy way to check when a correction was done you are at the mercy of the sofer's honesty
– Orangesandlemons
22 mins ago

Do not buy except from a reliable source as the parshios have to be written in order and as there is no easy way to check when a correction was done you are at the mercy of the sofer's honesty
– Orangesandlemons
22 mins ago

 | 
show 1 more comment

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

up vote
2
down vote

I once had a pair of tefillin peshutim. I'm not going to mention the name of the company from which they were bought, because I don't want to spread slander about them. But let's just say, when you buy cheap, you get cheap. There's no such thing as good quality products for cheap prices.

One of the biggest issues with these cheap pairs of tefillin is their longevity. I'm not a sofer stam, so I'm unable to comment on the kashrus of the parshiyos, the battim, and the retzuos, but I can say that tefillin peshutim don't last long, no matter how good you are at taking care of them. The pair I had lasted about a year (and I was extremely careful with them). After that, the dye on the retzuos was peeling off, the battim were cracking, and the paint was chipping off them too. I finally had to give up on them completely when one of the sinews holding the shel rosh together just snapped.

These cheap pairs of tefillin are primarily being sold for those people who just want a pair to wear on their bar mitzvah, and then throw them in a closet and forget them forever. They're disposable tefillin, "Cracker-Jack box" tefillin. They're very low quality, kashrus issues aside.

That being said, I managed to scan one of the parshiyos from the shel rosh:

You make your own judgment. Like I said, I couldn't tell you if they're kosher or not. But what I can tell you is something doesn't feel right about them. The parchment is too smooth. It doesn't feel real. And I'm being incredibly honest. They just don't feel right.

I'd save and spend money on a nice pair of tefillin, from a reliable sofer. It's a good idea to spend good money on a mitzvah. Think about it this way:

The price for the new iPhone Xs, with only 64GB, is $1,000. People actually spend this kind of money on something as meaningless as a phone. Why should tefillin, which connect you with Hakadosh Baruch Hu instead of other people, cost any less? And why should you spend any less?

Consider this.

share|improve this answer

edited 3 hours ago

answered 3 hours ago

ezra

9,71621149

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Good point about the phone teffillin also last a lot longer than the average mobile
  – Orangesandlemons
  21 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

up vote
2
down vote

I once had a pair of tefillin peshutim. I'm not going to mention the name of the company from which they were bought, because I don't want to spread slander about them. But let's just say, when you buy cheap, you get cheap. There's no such thing as good quality products for cheap prices.

One of the biggest issues with these cheap pairs of tefillin is their longevity. I'm not a sofer stam, so I'm unable to comment on the kashrus of the parshiyos, the battim, and the retzuos, but I can say that tefillin peshutim don't last long, no matter how good you are at taking care of them. The pair I had lasted about a year (and I was extremely careful with them). After that, the dye on the retzuos was peeling off, the battim were cracking, and the paint was chipping off them too. I finally had to give up on them completely when one of the sinews holding the shel rosh together just snapped.

These cheap pairs of tefillin are primarily being sold for those people who just want a pair to wear on their bar mitzvah, and then throw them in a closet and forget them forever. They're disposable tefillin, "Cracker-Jack box" tefillin. They're very low quality, kashrus issues aside.

That being said, I managed to scan one of the parshiyos from the shel rosh:

You make your own judgment. Like I said, I couldn't tell you if they're kosher or not. But what I can tell you is something doesn't feel right about them. The parchment is too smooth. It doesn't feel real. And I'm being incredibly honest. They just don't feel right.

I'd save and spend money on a nice pair of tefillin, from a reliable sofer. It's a good idea to spend good money on a mitzvah. Think about it this way:

The price for the new iPhone Xs, with only 64GB, is $1,000. People actually spend this kind of money on something as meaningless as a phone. Why should tefillin, which connect you with Hakadosh Baruch Hu instead of other people, cost any less? And why should you spend any less?

Consider this.

share|improve this answer

edited 3 hours ago

answered 3 hours ago

ezra

9,71621149

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Good point about the phone teffillin also last a lot longer than the average mobile
  – Orangesandlemons
  21 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
2
down vote

I once had a pair of tefillin peshutim. I'm not going to mention the name of the company from which they were bought, because I don't want to spread slander about them. But let's just say, when you buy cheap, you get cheap. There's no such thing as good quality products for cheap prices.

One of the biggest issues with these cheap pairs of tefillin is their longevity. I'm not a sofer stam, so I'm unable to comment on the kashrus of the parshiyos, the battim, and the retzuos, but I can say that tefillin peshutim don't last long, no matter how good you are at taking care of them. The pair I had lasted about a year (and I was extremely careful with them). After that, the dye on the retzuos was peeling off, the battim were cracking, and the paint was chipping off them too. I finally had to give up on them completely when one of the sinews holding the shel rosh together just snapped.

These cheap pairs of tefillin are primarily being sold for those people who just want a pair to wear on their bar mitzvah, and then throw them in a closet and forget them forever. They're disposable tefillin, "Cracker-Jack box" tefillin. They're very low quality, kashrus issues aside.

That being said, I managed to scan one of the parshiyos from the shel rosh:

You make your own judgment. Like I said, I couldn't tell you if they're kosher or not. But what I can tell you is something doesn't feel right about them. The parchment is too smooth. It doesn't feel real. And I'm being incredibly honest. They just don't feel right.

I'd save and spend money on a nice pair of tefillin, from a reliable sofer. It's a good idea to spend good money on a mitzvah. Think about it this way:

The price for the new iPhone Xs, with only 64GB, is $1,000. People actually spend this kind of money on something as meaningless as a phone. Why should tefillin, which connect you with Hakadosh Baruch Hu instead of other people, cost any less? And why should you spend any less?

Consider this.

share|improve this answer

edited 3 hours ago

answered 3 hours ago

ezra

9,71621149

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Good point about the phone teffillin also last a lot longer than the average mobile
  – Orangesandlemons
  21 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
2
down vote

up vote
2
down vote

I once had a pair of tefillin peshutim. I'm not going to mention the name of the company from which they were bought, because I don't want to spread slander about them. But let's just say, when you buy cheap, you get cheap. There's no such thing as good quality products for cheap prices.

One of the biggest issues with these cheap pairs of tefillin is their longevity. I'm not a sofer stam, so I'm unable to comment on the kashrus of the parshiyos, the battim, and the retzuos, but I can say that tefillin peshutim don't last long, no matter how good you are at taking care of them. The pair I had lasted about a year (and I was extremely careful with them). After that, the dye on the retzuos was peeling off, the battim were cracking, and the paint was chipping off them too. I finally had to give up on them completely when one of the sinews holding the shel rosh together just snapped.

These cheap pairs of tefillin are primarily being sold for those people who just want a pair to wear on their bar mitzvah, and then throw them in a closet and forget them forever. They're disposable tefillin, "Cracker-Jack box" tefillin. They're very low quality, kashrus issues aside.

That being said, I managed to scan one of the parshiyos from the shel rosh:

You make your own judgment. Like I said, I couldn't tell you if they're kosher or not. But what I can tell you is something doesn't feel right about them. The parchment is too smooth. It doesn't feel real. And I'm being incredibly honest. They just don't feel right.

I'd save and spend money on a nice pair of tefillin, from a reliable sofer. It's a good idea to spend good money on a mitzvah. Think about it this way:

The price for the new iPhone Xs, with only 64GB, is $1,000. People actually spend this kind of money on something as meaningless as a phone. Why should tefillin, which connect you with Hakadosh Baruch Hu instead of other people, cost any less? And why should you spend any less?

Consider this.

share|improve this answer

edited 3 hours ago

answered 3 hours ago

ezra

9,71621149

I once had a pair of tefillin peshutim. I'm not going to mention the name of the company from which they were bought, because I don't want to spread slander about them. But let's just say, when you buy cheap, you get cheap. There's no such thing as good quality products for cheap prices.

One of the biggest issues with these cheap pairs of tefillin is their longevity. I'm not a sofer stam, so I'm unable to comment on the kashrus of the parshiyos, the battim, and the retzuos, but I can say that tefillin peshutim don't last long, no matter how good you are at taking care of them. The pair I had lasted about a year (and I was extremely careful with them). After that, the dye on the retzuos was peeling off, the battim were cracking, and the paint was chipping off them too. I finally had to give up on them completely when one of the sinews holding the shel rosh together just snapped.

These cheap pairs of tefillin are primarily being sold for those people who just want a pair to wear on their bar mitzvah, and then throw them in a closet and forget them forever. They're disposable tefillin, "Cracker-Jack box" tefillin. They're very low quality, kashrus issues aside.

That being said, I managed to scan one of the parshiyos from the shel rosh:

You make your own judgment. Like I said, I couldn't tell you if they're kosher or not. But what I can tell you is something doesn't feel right about them. The parchment is too smooth. It doesn't feel real. And I'm being incredibly honest. They just don't feel right.

I'd save and spend money on a nice pair of tefillin, from a reliable sofer. It's a good idea to spend good money on a mitzvah. Think about it this way:

The price for the new iPhone Xs, with only 64GB, is $1,000. People actually spend this kind of money on something as meaningless as a phone. Why should tefillin, which connect you with Hakadosh Baruch Hu instead of other people, cost any less? And why should you spend any less?

Consider this.

share|improve this answer

edited 3 hours ago

answered 3 hours ago

ezra

9,71621149

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

edited 3 hours ago

edited 3 hours ago

edited 3 hours ago

answered 3 hours ago

ezra

9,71621149

answered 3 hours ago

ezra

9,71621149

answered 3 hours ago

ezra

9,71621149

9,71621149

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Good point about the phone teffillin also last a lot longer than the average mobile
  – Orangesandlemons
  21 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Good point about the phone teffillin also last a lot longer than the average mobile
  – Orangesandlemons
  21 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

Good point about the phone teffillin also last a lot longer than the average mobile
– Orangesandlemons
21 mins ago

Good point about the phone teffillin also last a lot longer than the average mobile
– Orangesandlemons
21 mins ago

add a comment |