Amazon and counterfeit goods (mostly chinese made) problem

[Svnla]

A lot of ATOTers use Amazon, myself including.

Do you have any experience with counterfeit goods?

But for a brand built on trust, there are an awful lot of loopholes, and sellers are wondering if their gripes will ever become so problematic that Amazon can no longer sweep them under the rug.

"Amazon is setting up an environment where people feel like they have to shortcut and cheat," said Whaley. "The whole system is being manipulated, and people don't know it."

Story - http://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/08/amazons-chinese-counterfeit-problem-is-getting-worse.html

.

 

[TwiceOver]

Not counterfeit, but I with they would put "Shipping From: CHINA" on the product page.

 

[Ns1]

I don't buy from 3rd party sellers, so I don't run into any problems.

 

[madoka]

I don't buy from 3rd party sellers, so I don't run into any problems.

I read that article earlier.

Prior to that, I thought I was fine as well. But then this is foreboding:

And recently, Amazon even registered with the Federal Maritime Commission to provide ocean freight, simplifying the process for Chinese companies to ship goods directly to Amazon fulfillment centers, cutting out costs and inefficiencies.

That's why you can get a box full of Chinese kitchen goods from a variety of sellers delivered in two days from a warehouse in Kentucky.

Critics say Amazon hasn't put the necessary checks in place to manage the influx of counterfeits.

To unsuspecting consumers, fake products can appear legitimate because of the Fulfillment by Amazon program, which lets manufacturers send their goods to Amazon's fulfillment centers and hand over a bigger commission, gaining the stamp of approval that comes with an FBA tag.

 

[Ns1]

fulfilled by amazon is still a 3rd party seller, so my statement stands.

 

[Jeff7]

Nice, we get to bask in some of the glorious Chinese haven of minimal regulation.


:hmm:

 

[ViRGE]

It used to be that I'd buy FBA items without a second thought. But in the last year that has changed; the shucksters are now having Amazon fulfill their orders. I haven't been burnt on counterfeit goods, but I have purchased a hard drive from an FBA seller only to get the OEM version (I had purchased the exact same drive from Amazon proper 2 months earlier as a retail drive).

Meanwhile I didn't know about this one bit, which is especially concerning:

Furthermore, Amazon's commingled inventory option bundles together products from different sellers, meaning that a counterfeit jacket could be sent to an Amazon facility by one merchant and actually sold by another.

When I buy something from Amazon, with very rare exception I want to buy the real thing, sourced directly via legitimate and authorized distribution chains. If Amazon can't do that, then they're no good to me.

Does Amazon want to be eBay? Because this is how you get eBay.

 

[Ns1]

Furthermore, Amazon's commingled inventory option bundles together products from different sellers, meaning that a counterfeit jacket could be sent to an Amazon facility by one merchant and actually sold by another.

 

[Jeff7]

Furthermore, Amazon's commingled inventory option bundles together products from different sellers, meaning that a counterfeit jacket could be sent to an Amazon facility by one merchant and actually sold by another.

So...the jackets are being laundered?




:sneaky:

It used to be that I'd buy FBA items without a second thought. But in the last year that has changed; the shucksters are now having Amazon fulfill their orders. I haven't been burnt on counterfeit goods, but I have purchased a hard drive from an FBA seller only to get the OEM version (I had purchased the exact same drive from Amazon proper 2 months earlier as a retail drive).

Meanwhile I didn't know about this one bit, which is especially concerning:

Furthermore, Amazon's commingled inventory option bundles together products from different sellers, meaning that a counterfeit jacket could be sent to an Amazon facility by one merchant and actually sold by another.

When I buy something from Amazon, with very rare exception I want to buy the real thing, sourced directly via legitimate and authorized distribution chains. If Amazon can't do that, then they're no good to me.

Does Amazon want to be eBay? Because this is how you get eBay.

It seems like they all want to be each other.
eBay's got loads of Buy It Now items.
Newegg has a "marketplace" now too, and offers a lot of things there that have nothing to do with computers or electronics.

 

[Ns1]

So...the jackets are being laundered?




:sneaky:

Looks like the counterfeiters have turned the tide. I wonder if AMZ will be able to bounce back from this.

 

[ViRGE]

Looks like the counterfeiters have turned the tide. I wonder if AMZ will be able to bounce back from this.

Depends. From what I understand there's a very lucrative business dealing in Tide, especially as a black market currency. So why change?

 

[manly]

It used to be that I'd buy FBA items without a second thought. But in the last year that has changed; the shucksters are now having Amazon fulfill their orders. I haven't been burnt on counterfeit goods, but I have purchased a hard drive from an FBA seller only to get the OEM version (I had purchased the exact same drive from Amazon proper 2 months earlier as a retail drive).

Meanwhile I didn't know about this one bit, which is especially concerning:

Furthermore, Amazon's commingled inventory option bundles together products from different sellers, meaning that a counterfeit jacket could be sent to an Amazon facility by one merchant and actually sold by another.

Wow, is "commingling" inventory like that legal? It must be if their team of lawyers allowed it.

When I buy something from Amazon, with very rare exception I want to buy the real thing, sourced directly via legitimate and authorized distribution chains. If Amazon can't do that, then they're no good to me.

Does Amazon want to be eBay? Because this is how you get eBay.

Amazon would love to be eBay as Jeff7 stated; as well as the logistics firm for its 3rd party sellers.

 

[FeuerFrei]

There's these t-shirts I've bought on Amazon, sold solely by DesignbyHumans. It even has "designbyhumans" in the product description. In the last month or two a bunch of Chinese sellers have come online, selling cheap clones of various designs. So now there's 14+ sellers but only one is legit.

MY only recourse is to leave a review informing my fellow consumers that DesignbyHumans is a brand and the only authentic source.

 

[TheGardener]

Do you have any experience with counterfeit goods?

I can't afford to get stuck buying counterfeit goods. Everything I buy is cheap and labelled made in China.

 

[BoomerD]

Not counterfeit, but I with they would put "Shipping From: CHINA" on the product page.

I bought a pair of camera lens caps a while back. NOTHING on the selling page indicated their origin...after the purchase, I get notified that they're shipping from VIETNAM.

That's about the only place ahead of China on the list of countries whose sellers I don't want to do business with.

Of course, by the time I was notified of the origin, they had already been shipped...so too late to cancel the sale. I COULD return them...but it would cost more to ship them back than I paid. (it doesn't help that they're NOT quite what was advertised...but close enough that they still work...sort of)

 

[Zorba]

I got a counterfeit drier heater once, FBA. When I left the seller a negative review, Amazon deleted it because I had "reviewed the product, not the seller."

The lack of control on Amazon has always been a problem since they launched the marketplace, it just seems it is becoming more common.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I'm just careful about what I buy that is not sold by Amazon.

Even then, I trust Amazon customer service to fix any problems, they always have.

 

[natto fire]

Now the people who scoffed at ebay users and talked up Amazon as legit get a taste of their own medicine.

 

[KeithP]

I don't buy from 3rd party sellers, so I don't run into any problems.

fulfilled by amazon is still a 3rd party seller, so my statement stands.

Yes and yes.

People are stupid and want cheap crap is real problem these folks face. Welcome to Walmart world.

-KeithP

 

[linthat22]

The counterfeiters also put false NSF logos and numbers on certain products to make the fakes seem legit.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

B-B-B-But TPP is good for the country!

Yes and yes.

People are stupid and want cheap crap is real problem these folks face. Welcome to Walmart world.

-KeithP

Doesn't matter. If you search for an item and there are multiple sellers for said item... You are still looking at the same product. One should not a counterfeit while the one for 5 cents more is not. It's still a false advertisement as a real product.

 

[Red Squirrel]

A lot of the stuff on Amazon is Chinese fakes, the only real way I know of to tell is by price. If you have a general idea of what you expect that thing to cost, then you can go by that. Amazon is basically a fancier Ebay that is easier to navigate/use.

Free trade FTW! Wait till TPP passes, it's going to get worse because countries won't be allowed to put any kind of health and safety restrictions on imports. Hormone fed cow milk and questionable meats, yum!

 

[Ns1]

A lot of the stuff on Amazon is Chinese fakes, the only real way I know of to tell is by price. If you have a general idea of what you expect that thing to cost, then you can go by that. Amazon is basically a fancier Ebay that is easier to navigate/use.

Free trade FTW! Wait till TPP passes, it's going to get worse because countries won't be allowed to put any kind of health and safety restrictions on imports. Hormone fed cow milk and questionable meats, yum!

but isn't this the exact kind of IP-free utopia you've wanted?

 

[Anubis]

if you select "sold by amazon" you will never see this

even the "fulfilled by amazon" stuff is generally save 99% of the time

the 3rd party people is what you have to watch for

 

[smackababy]

If it isn't shipped and sold by Amazon, or a company that is the manufacturer, it is probably counterfeit. Fulfilled by Amazon simply means the seller sends it to an Amazon warehouse to ship to you easier.