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Fake cables on the auction site heads up

Yamahaha

Yamahaha

Well-Known Member
Lots of fake stuff is being sold on the big auction site. I took it upon myself to check out one seller from China who I noticed using several IDs selling many different brands.

All the manufacturers got back to be. I sent them all the link to "their" product being sold. 100% confirmation rate of FAKE.

Brands such as Furutech, WBT, Siltech, WEL, Wild, Van Den Hul, Krell

The auction people have sold a few thousand pieces at least. I bet much of that hits the resale market. Who knows what amps have blown when the mystery cables/connectors show their true "metal" so to speak. I bet these even find their way into dealers shops as trade ins.
 
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This sort of thing has cropped up in the past quite a few times. I'm not intending for this to sound political, but China has different laws from USA. They can and do copy other products without repercussion because it's legal there. Their patent system is far different from out own. I always treat any eBay transaction as buyer beware. My best word of advice, buy your gear from authorized distributors, since they generally get their product direct from the manufacturer. If buying used, you're on your own.

MannyE said:
Oh boy...

:lurk:
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Don't feed it ;).
 
I have heard that many boutique brands really are using cheap Chinese labor. Even the ones who claim they do not. But I cannot confirm that.

I know this isn't breaking news I just though it was interesting.

As for dealers ... let me say that I do know for a fact that dealers sell fake all the time. Knowingly? probably not. But I know of MANY transactions where product has ended up with the distributors and then to retail outlets. All cases appear the shipment itself was loaded without the buyer stateside knowing. Happens with electronics alot. I saw pictures of Mark Levinson amps being made alongside a Chinese brand in China. Source credible.

I have manufacturing background and have been all over. I know this isn't breaking news. I am not saying it is not that the cable may not be just a good. I do however think that buyers should know what they are getting and be able to make the choice for themselves to part with $ and exactly what for. Even if its for a hype product.

As for troll comments. Guys ... they are several of you who cant let anybody question any of your pet $ hobbies without being called a troll. That is so 9 year old boy behavior. If you don't like the discussion don't read it.
 
Yamahaha said:
Lots of fake stuff is being sold on the big auction site. I took it upon myself to check out one seller from China who I noticed using several IDs selling many different brands.

All the manufacturers got back to be. I sent them all the link to "their" product being sold. 100% confirmation rate of FAKE.

Brands such as Furutech, WBT, Siltech, WEL, Wild, Van Den Hul, Krell

The auction people have sold a few thousand pieces at least. I bet much of that hits the resale market. Who knows what amps have blown when the mystery cables/connectors show their true "metal" so to speak. I bet these even find their way into dealers shops as trade ins.
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They might not be fake, but still unauthorized by those vendors. In other words they might be from the same places that a vendor has them made but not sold through the usual distribution chain. It's very common as mentioned and often known as "grey market".
 
Montycat said:
They might not be fake, but still unauthorized by those vendors. In other words they might be from the same places that a vendor has them made but not sold through the usual distribution chain. It's very common as mentioned and often known as "grey market".
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That would be my guess. The factory does a production run then, while the tooling is still set up, rolls out a bunch extra, to the exact same spec - which go out the back door. As you say, very common.
 
Montycat said:
They might not be fake, but still unauthorized by those vendors. In other words they might be from the same places that a vendor has them made but not sold through the usual distribution chain. It's very common as mentioned and often known as "grey market".
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All manufacturers I asked said they were fake, point blank. Some offered reasons such as WBT who went into detail and those details checked out. For instance the pictures on the auctions showed 4 plugs all with the same serial number. Only one of the brands said they had any Chinese presence at all.
 
Yamahaha said:
All manufacturers I asked said they were fake, point blank. Some offered reasons such as WBT who went into detail and those details checked out. For instance the pictures on the auctions showed 4 plugs all with the same serial number. Only one of the brands said they had any Chinese presence at all.
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I'm not arguing their logic but saying "fake" is an easy way out. Many things are faked, just ask North Face, often known as "The North Fake". Grey market is also a big issue for many companies but they rarely talk about it possibly for fear of being undersold if they let people know: "yes they are the same for a fraction of the price". How loyal are the customers who are told that?

I've travelled a few times to China and SE Asia and the obvious knock-offs are everywhere, but there are the less obvious ones too. In other words some are VERY good, and might be as I described and as roberttx said too. I work in the outdoor equipment industry (like North Face) and often it is nearly impossible to tell the difference.

I won't get into the "dupe" side of the coin. :D
 
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It seems that many people will spend hundreds on a fake audiophile cable normally costing thousands and be happy about it.

Very interesting market indeed.
 
My cords of choice - 8' for $12.95, and their vintage. :smoke:

il_570xN.473581691_qyq2.jpg


(pic stolen from Etsy)
 
Guys, guys enough with the cable trolling. Boutique cable purchase are as valid a part of the audio hobby as any other. The OP very kindly offered a very much needed warning to anyone looking to buy on ebay that these are being faked. He did not, however, ask for, or deserve, troll comments about cables. So take them elsewhere. Next guy to do some more trolling here will get a break from AK.
 
^ What he said, and I did the service of deleting the troll posts. Consider your missing post your warning.
 
Used to be a time, around 10 or 12 years ago, when the NY camera stores offered both official goods and "grey market" goods. Pretty much the same items, only the grey market ones cost less and getting warranty service was iffy if at all.
Not sure if things are still that way.
 
Perhaps goes w/o saying, but the problem is that you don't know whether you're getting the same thing out the back door OR a cheap knockoff with half the copper inside (for example) that just LOOKS like the same thing. Geez. I'm not a big cable buyer but I intend some day to get something nicer, and the used market is the kind of thing I'd do. Even AK's Bartertown is not immune, if someone honestly thinks what they have is the geniune article.
 
I still find it humorous that people won't just come out and say eBay. No rule against typing those four letters, guys. eBay eBay eBay eBay
 
I don't understand why the manufacturers in question don't simply file for IP infringement.... the sellers cannot use their brands w/o authorization. Filing a Vero claim is simple and would get rid of most of these, as would reporting them as counterfeit, also very simple.

John
 
Do you think US IP laws are of much concern or practically enforceable to the (likely) small sellers in other countries?
 
eBay.com is not a Chinese venue... they follow US laws and will pull listings that infringe other people's IP, and they will pull counterfeit stuff too.

We're not talking about street vendors in Guanzhou.


John
 
Montycat said:
They might not be fake, but still unauthorized by those vendors. In other words they might be from the same places that a vendor has them made but not sold through the usual distribution chain. It's very common as mentioned and often known as "grey market".
Click to expand...

roberttx said:
That would be my guess. The factory does a production run then, while the tooling is still set up, rolls out a bunch extra, to the exact same spec - which go out the back door. As you say, very common.
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Gray market goods are generally legit manufacturer's goods, not some production workers running off a few extra from the tooling, but that for whatever reason end up sold in a market region they weren't intended to be sold in.
 
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