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I had a fake blender from Amazon and they first were helpful then suddenly wanted me to return it to the reseller allowing them to sell it to someone else. I on

I had a fake blender from Amazon and they first were helpful then suddenly wanted me to return it to the reseller allowing them to sell it to someone else. I only discovered it after a BBC report of fake ones catching fire. No way would I let that end up in someone else’s house. Got my refund in the end, but Amazon were clueless really.

maxxxxx 9y ago
You are starting to freak me out. I have bought a few brand name items from Amazon over last years where the quality was surprisingly bad. Now I wonder if they were fake. This just shouldn't happen. It's one thing to find out that something is fake but often you don't know what to expect and end up thinking that the product is just bad. I guess I will reduce my Amazon shopping when more. I already dropped prime but I will probably start avoid Amazon as much as I can from now on. eBay feels almost more honest now.
- swozey 9y ago
  Are you buying GOOD brand names? BIFL stuff? I could name a ton of brand name items I've bought off Amazon that were just bad that I replaced multiple times. A big problem with that is not seeing it in person to see what comes with it, etc. Example, I've owned just about every brand of electric shaver and hated something about nearly all of them. I finally dropped the $70 on a Wahl that has a third of the features but it's a beast. Couldn't even tell you how many kitchen appliances I have bought and thought were awful. Or bathroom mats, towels, patio mats, etc. Personally I think a lot of consumer products just suck and Amazon is pretty much the equivalent of Walmart now when it comes to filtering through cheap crap. Products are half-assed most of the time and companies spend more money on marketing than making a good product (or the best they can for the price). Or they focus on one really big feature and skimp out on the rest. I'm trying to buy a lot LESS but very high quality stuff nowadays. I've had to stop using Amazon as my "buy-all" place. Almost felt like I was being gaslit by 5 star reviewers of shitty towels/etc when I finally discovered Frontage products and went "wow, lux Hotel quality towels DO exist." I don't want to use Amazon for cheap Walmart quality junk, I want it for its fast shipping and options. edit: Frontgate not Frontage.. they make killer towels, I'm a changed man
  - deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]
  - martin-adams 9y ago
    Sadly it's not just about the brand name. This blender was a near perefect replica of the official NutriBullet product. It took me buying it from a retail store to compare them side by side when I noticed the imperfections. But I couldn't tell without having one to compare with. Worst part is I paid MORE on the fake, so it's not even about price. I used to have this problem buying brand razor blades from eBay a few years back. They were counterfeit because they actually hurt to shave with, yet the supermarket version (same brand), were perfect. Long story short, when it comes spare power adapters (e.g. Macbook), I only buy from Apple direct. I do fear getting a knockoff which is unsafe.
    - jtbayly 9y ago
      I had that same problem with buying razor blades online. It was impossible to tell them apart until you put them to your skin. Then it was obvious.
    - balls187 9y ago
      Are you sure it was a fake Nutribullet? They are sold on TV via infomercial, made by Magic Bullet. They're pretty much junk manufactured by lowest bidder factories with quality problems. If you paid slightly above retail, it seems even less likely it was fake, and probably just shoddy QC.
      - martin-adams 9y ago
        I was hoping to find out 100% and Amazon originally said NutriBullet would get in touch, but nothing happened. When I got back to them they had no idea what to do or what I was previously told. So disappointed in them. As for the higher price, when I brought it was out of stock everywhere which limited my options to an Amazon seller. It was the run up to Christmas and after buying, other places got stock. I did as much research as I could to spot it, even buying a new on from a trusted retailer. But when the consequence could be fire[1] it wasn’t worth the risk and I couldn’t face passing that risk to someone else by returning it. I wanted a proper investigation. That didn’t happen. [1] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/business-35075642/fake-nutribullet-explodes-in-safety-test-after-four-seconds http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/business-35075642/fake-nutribul...
- eastendguy 9y ago
  Some brands like Birkenstock shoes stopped selling on Amazon for this reason: https://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/20/birkenstock-quits-amazon-in-us-after-counterfeit-surge.html https://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/20/birkenstock-quits-amazon-in-...
  - chopin 9y ago
    But how will this affect selling of counterfeits? The article points only out that Birkenstock will tell its customers it doesn't sell on Amazon, but unaware customers can still be fooled, imho.
twothamendment 9y ago
My wife was shopping for a fan and noticed that Amazon and Costco both had the same one. Costco was about $1.50 more. We buy a ton of stuff from Amazon, but given the chance to get it from someone who is less likely to have a fake and will take it back without an argument - Costco won this time.
- swozey 9y ago
  Yeah, I'm the WORST at returning things, especially if it involves shipping. Thankfully I've been lucky with TVs, etc. Or have low standards.
dahdum 9y ago
I just received a fake usb c hub from Amazon, sold by them, but clearly commingled with counterfeits. Seems like these problems are just getting worse over time.

maxxxxx 9y ago

You are starting to freak me out. I have bought a few brand name items from Amazon over last years where the quality was surprisingly bad. Now I wonder if they were fake. This just shouldn't happen. It's one thing to find out that something is fake but often you don't know what to expect and end up thinking that the product is just bad. I guess I will reduce my Amazon shopping when more. I already dropped prime but I will probably start avoid Amazon as much as I can from now on. eBay feels almost more honest now.

swozey 9y ago
Are you buying GOOD brand names? BIFL stuff? I could name a ton of brand name items I've bought off Amazon that were just bad that I replaced multiple times. A big problem with that is not seeing it in person to see what comes with it, etc. Example, I've owned just about every brand of electric shaver and hated something about nearly all of them. I finally dropped the $70 on a Wahl that has a third of the features but it's a beast. Couldn't even tell you how many kitchen appliances I have bought and thought were awful. Or bathroom mats, towels, patio mats, etc. Personally I think a lot of consumer products just suck and Amazon is pretty much the equivalent of Walmart now when it comes to filtering through cheap crap. Products are half-assed most of the time and companies spend more money on marketing than making a good product (or the best they can for the price). Or they focus on one really big feature and skimp out on the rest. I'm trying to buy a lot LESS but very high quality stuff nowadays. I've had to stop using Amazon as my "buy-all" place. Almost felt like I was being gaslit by 5 star reviewers of shitty towels/etc when I finally discovered Frontage products and went "wow, lux Hotel quality towels DO exist." I don't want to use Amazon for cheap Walmart quality junk, I want it for its fast shipping and options. edit: Frontgate not Frontage.. they make killer towels, I'm a changed man
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
- martin-adams 9y ago
  Sadly it's not just about the brand name. This blender was a near perefect replica of the official NutriBullet product. It took me buying it from a retail store to compare them side by side when I noticed the imperfections. But I couldn't tell without having one to compare with. Worst part is I paid MORE on the fake, so it's not even about price. I used to have this problem buying brand razor blades from eBay a few years back. They were counterfeit because they actually hurt to shave with, yet the supermarket version (same brand), were perfect. Long story short, when it comes spare power adapters (e.g. Macbook), I only buy from Apple direct. I do fear getting a knockoff which is unsafe.
  - jtbayly 9y ago
    I had that same problem with buying razor blades online. It was impossible to tell them apart until you put them to your skin. Then it was obvious.
  - balls187 9y ago
    Are you sure it was a fake Nutribullet? They are sold on TV via infomercial, made by Magic Bullet. They're pretty much junk manufactured by lowest bidder factories with quality problems. If you paid slightly above retail, it seems even less likely it was fake, and probably just shoddy QC.
    - martin-adams 9y ago
      I was hoping to find out 100% and Amazon originally said NutriBullet would get in touch, but nothing happened. When I got back to them they had no idea what to do or what I was previously told. So disappointed in them. As for the higher price, when I brought it was out of stock everywhere which limited my options to an Amazon seller. It was the run up to Christmas and after buying, other places got stock. I did as much research as I could to spot it, even buying a new on from a trusted retailer. But when the consequence could be fire[1] it wasn’t worth the risk and I couldn’t face passing that risk to someone else by returning it. I wanted a proper investigation. That didn’t happen. [1] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/business-35075642/fake-nutribullet-explodes-in-safety-test-after-four-seconds http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/business-35075642/fake-nutribul...
eastendguy 9y ago
Some brands like Birkenstock shoes stopped selling on Amazon for this reason: https://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/20/birkenstock-quits-amazon-in-us-after-counterfeit-surge.html https://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/20/birkenstock-quits-amazon-in-...
- chopin 9y ago
  But how will this affect selling of counterfeits? The article points only out that Birkenstock will tell its customers it doesn't sell on Amazon, but unaware customers can still be fooled, imho.

twothamendment 9y ago

My wife was shopping for a fan and noticed that Amazon and Costco both had the same one. Costco was about $1.50 more. We buy a ton of stuff from Amazon, but given the chance to get it from someone who is less likely to have a fake and will take it back without an argument - Costco won this time.

swozey 9y ago
Yeah, I'm the WORST at returning things, especially if it involves shipping. Thankfully I've been lucky with TVs, etc. Or have low standards.

dahdum 9y ago

I just received a fake usb c hub from Amazon, sold by them, but clearly commingled with counterfeits. Seems like these problems are just getting worse over time.