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Ask HN: Amazon listing sold by Apple; majority of reviews say it's fake

3 points by nodesocket 6y ago

I was looking for a new USB-C power cable for my MacBook Pro and came across this prominent listing on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Apple-USB-C-Charge-Cable-2m/dp/B01MQ5Z080 At first I thought, great deal. Then I started reading the reviews and looking at the user posted pictures. Most reviews all claim this is a not an official Apple cable, and the very top review scarily says: "THIS CAUGHT MY COMFORTER ON FIRE!" How can this listing be claimed sold officially by Apple[1]? Doesn't Amazon verify name brand sellers? [1] https://www.amazon.com/stores/Apple/page/77D9E1F7-0337-4282-9DB6-B6B8FB2DC98D

smt88 6y ago
Amazon often mixes inventory. As long as the SKU matches, a product from any supplier goes into the same "bin" and you buy whichever one is geographically closest to you. Some bad actors will sell counterfeit products through Amazon to "launder" it. Other times, people will buy a real product and "return" it (sending a fake one back), which results in Amazon stocking it. tl;dr Never shop on Amazon unless you have to. Best Buy, Target, NewEgg, MacMall, etc. tend to have similar prices and aren't as anti-consumer.
- nodesocket 6y ago
  That makes sense, but the seller is listed officially as Apple, shouldn't they 100% make sure the product is always legit? I wonder if something like Twitter Verified, but Amazon seller verified would help.
  - smt88 6y ago
    > shouldn't they 100% make sure the product is always legit? Yes, but they don't. > Amazon seller verified would help That's the thing. The seller is verified. There is an iPad that really came from Apple somewhere, but Amazon intentionally neither knows nor cares whether you receive the iPad shipped to them by Apple or shipped to them by a scammer. Here's an example of what I'm talking about, btw: https://sellercentral.amazon.com/forums/t/return-fraud-fba/428946 https://sellercentral.amazon.com/forums/t/return-fraud-fba/4...

3 points by nodesocket 6y ago

smt88 6y ago

Amazon often mixes inventory. As long as the SKU matches, a product from any supplier goes into the same "bin" and you buy whichever one is geographically closest to you. Some bad actors will sell counterfeit products through Amazon to "launder" it. Other times, people will buy a real product and "return" it (sending a fake one back), which results in Amazon stocking it. tl;dr Never shop on Amazon unless you have to. Best Buy, Target, NewEgg, MacMall, etc. tend to have similar prices and aren't as anti-consumer.

nodesocket 6y ago
That makes sense, but the seller is listed officially as Apple, shouldn't they 100% make sure the product is always legit? I wonder if something like Twitter Verified, but Amazon seller verified would help.
- smt88 6y ago
  > shouldn't they 100% make sure the product is always legit? Yes, but they don't. > Amazon seller verified would help That's the thing. The seller is verified. There is an iPad that really came from Apple somewhere, but Amazon intentionally neither knows nor cares whether you receive the iPad shipped to them by Apple or shipped to them by a scammer. Here's an example of what I'm talking about, btw: https://sellercentral.amazon.com/forums/t/return-fraud-fba/428946 https://sellercentral.amazon.com/forums/t/return-fraud-fba/4...