You guys just tell it as it is - A reader writes
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Counterfeit electronics trade is killing the industry
COUNTERFEIT ELECTRONICS GOODS are entering mainstream supply chains and winding up in consumer brand products, according to an investigation by Engineering & Technology magazine.
The magazine, which is published by the Institution of Engineering and Technology, dug deep into the supply chains, speaking with manufacturers, distributors and testers, and found that fake goods have infected production like viruses. Amazingly, E&T found that at least five percent of the global supply chain includes shonky counterfeit elements that could "cause critical failure or can put an individual's data at risk".
Not only are they spreading like viruses, but many of the dodgy parts even include viruses themselves. In fact trading standards experts spoken with by E&T warned that viruses or malware have been found in all kinds of gadgets, from simple gizmos like digital photo frames to USB keys.
This element could prove to be the most costly, as users face the risk of losing their data on such a device just because the manufacturer has somehow managed to include some rogue kit in it.
Try explaining that in your local branch of PC World. The magazine also said that brand names themselves have suffered, but weeping for them isn't going to bring back anybody's wedding photos.
Most of the bent goods are coming from the grey market - parts not approved by the original manufacturer - or through the green market, which offers refurbished or second-hand goods.
The goods are often traded as new at Internet brokerages, according to the magazine. µ
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I contacted Sennheiser after attempting to buy some of their CX500s on Amazon (my CX300s died after 3 years and a washing machine).
Two amazon suppliers sent me fakes - one was handled and posted by Amazon. Yes, fakes in Amazon warehouses and sent out in Amazon's mail. I got refunds but Amazon said the outcome of investigation would be confidential.
Sennheiser said I should ask the CAB or trading standards but I found their websites a nightmare and gave up once I got a genuine pair. I'm surprised Sennheiser weren't more interested since it makes their products look like crap.
Don't even go near ebay for stuff like that.
In the end I bought some genuine ones at a more appropriate price on MyMemory.
Manufacturers should be *happy* that these counterfeit products are often shoddy and break peoples' stuff. If it were any different, only *then* would their business be threatened.
This is what the corporations and greedy businessmen deserve . Because they decided to move all manufacturing jobs to China (country of the counterfeit kings ) for more profits from cheap labor,...Soon they will be competing against their own products ! And watch them lose it all !
Karma baby Karma .
Any decently made product costs money to design, research and prototype.
Then you've got to get it CE tested. That's at least £10,000.
The cost to a counterfeiter? Zero.
They just stick a fake label on it.
Which is why you get £12 laptop chargers from the Internet and ones costing £45 from a shop.
We've have customers coming in virtually every day with the remains of these £12 chargers that have melted or gone bang that they've bought off the Internet from what they thought was a good UK laptop charger supplier.
They end up walking out with a decent one costing them £45 that will not try to kill them or burn down their house.
I PROUDLY PREFER $25 BAGELSPORT TO $10,000 ROLEX DAYTONA. SORRY, I DO.
(WELL TECHNICALLY THAT'S NOT A COUNTERFEIT JUST A CLEVER KNOCKOFF - BUT THEY USED TO BE COUNTERFEIT - NOW THEY ARE LEGIT AND MORE CHINGLISH THAN EVER!)
another bunch of whingers, well they cannot blame piracy for this one.
maybe, just maybe they should stop charging extortionate prices? how about 1 price the world over instead of regional ripoffs?
in spite of the hardship i bet the execs wont be downgrading their rolls-royces for toyotas - they'd rather make staff redundant.