Checking if item is counterfeit?

[Binky]

I've just bought some brake pads and Shimano cleats from Wolf Cycles. Now, I have no suspicion they are anything other than genuine but I was wondering how we check what items actually are genuine Shimano. There is a Shimano authentication app but this isn't available here in UK, even if I try a VPN.

So, even if you buy from a reputable store how can you be sure if items are genuine. I'm particularly interested in the cleats as I foolishly some years ago bought from Amazon and they broke on a climb and I got thrown off bike, albeit at low speed.

 

[Sharky]

Wolf cycles appear to be a real physical bike shop and reviews seem good. So I'd be confident that you've got genuine parts.

 

[fritz katzenjammer]

Unless you can buy directly off a manufacturers website or outlet I don’t think there’s any way to be sure.

Even then… I used to work in engineering in the automotive industry and there was funny business with components and materials pretty regularly and that was within manufacturing base for parts that went into new vehicles.

The fun and games with parts and materials substitutions during Covid are legend.

 

[Binky]

Wolf cycles appear to be a real physical bike shop and reviews seem good. So I'd be confident that you've got genuine parts.

Yes as I say I have no reason to suspect otherwise but I wondering just in general how are people checking if items bought are genuine?
Regarding the cleats I've got apparently there is supposed to be a 2D sticker which is used with authentication app. No sticke ron box I have so it got me wondering but again said app not available so maybe they don't bother?

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

I balance risk against market size of the markey ie bigger potential sales, higher risk of "knock-off". eg for cycling products I'd expect BB7 disk brake pads to be a higher knock-off risk than Hayes Pro-Expert disk brake pads.

For non-cycling product some can be very difficult. I purchased an Apple USB power supply from Amazon and had a nagging doubt so next time I happened to be in city, took it in to Apple Store and they struggled. All visual inspection showed no issue and finally their specialist got a new one out and tapped them on the table and identified mine as a knock-off as the sound was different enough.

I did buy some 3M industrial safety face masks from Amazon and was very suspicious as they should have been boxed (a box of 10) but came individually. So called Amazon with my suspicion and took only seconds for them to refund the order and tell me to bin them. I did try a couple in a less critial environment and they were definately not 3M quality (got through all 10 within a couple of hours as the elastic headbands broke too quickly for 3M quality).

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

Yes as I say I have no reason to suspect otherwise but I wondering just in general how are people checking if items bought are genuine?
Regarding the cleats I've got apparently there is supposed to be a 2D sticker which is used with authentication app. No sticke ron box I have so it got me wondering but again said app not available so maybe they don't bother?

As you say, app aside if a company has one, there is no real way. I guess it is just a combination of visual inspection and gut instinct. I know the gap in quality between genuine and fake has closed somewhat over the years, but I suspect with many items, there will be noticeable differences upon inspection. My specs are quite an expensive pair, out of interest I bought a copy pair off Aliexpress. In photos they looked pretty close to the real thing, in reality that were complete tat and so obviously inferior there was now way anyone would think they were genuine.

 

[Binky]

As you say, app aside if a company has one, there is no real way. I guess it is just a combination of visual inspection and gut instinct. I know the gap in quality between genuine and fake has closed somewhat over the years, but I suspect with many items, there will be noticeable differences upon inspection. My specs are quite an expensive pair, out of interest I bought a copy pair off Aliexpress. In photos they looked pretty close to the real thing, in reality that were complete tat and so obviously inferior there was now way anyone would think they were genuine.

Well thing is the old cleats on both my pairs of road shoes are genuine but also very worn so a comparison tricky. The new cleats look genuine so to make a meaningful comparison I'd need a set of fakes to put side by side.

Anyway. Thanks for input everyone, it's just something that got me wondering. Certain things if fake maybe won't last as long etc but don't matter as much but given my experience with a fake set of cleats I'm keen to avoid again.

 

[Webbo2]

Well thing is the old cleats on both my pairs of road shoes are genuine but also very worn so a comparison tricky. The new cleats look genuine so to make a meaningful comparison I'd need a set of fakes to put side by side.

Anyway. Thanks for input everyone, it's just something that got me wondering. Certain things if fake maybe won't last as long etc but don't matter as much but given my experience with a fake set of cleats I'm keen to avoid again.

Look on YouTube lots of videos explaining what to look out for. I bought a couple of supposedly Shimano chains off EBay. I watch a video which described the printing on the box plus a couple of other things but the one that clinched it for me was the bar code. On the ones I got it was printed on the box, the genuine ones have sticker. Which makes sense because each batch of chains will require a different. bar code. If you have it printed on the box you could end with loads of boxes you can’t use.

 

[Binky]

View attachment 799285

 

[Binky]

For anyone interested I found this online, seems a good guide. From picture the ones I bought are genuine.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Which makes sense because each batch of chains will require a different. bar code.

I cant see why the boxes would need a different bar code if it’s the same make / model chain but different batch. The bar code is the EAN, the retail unit under which it is sold, and that would not change even if the traded unit under which it is ordered (by the merchant) does.

 

[DCLane]

I'd be surprised if they were fake - it's a known shop.

However, to contradict myself, I've bought a couple of KMC chains from a known discount cycle retailer and I'm wondering if they were fake. Both snapped after very few miles.