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Feds seize ‘counterfeit Apple AirPods’ that are actually OnePlus Buds

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Re: Feds seize ‘counterfeit Apple AirPods’ that are actually OnePlus Buds

#141
post #46

Sidebar: Why has the AirPod design become so ubiquitous? I always thought they were the ugliest earbuds since earbuds became small. Is there some technical reason they have this design? Or do people actually like it? Or is it simply the Apple effect?

I guess having the “stick” on it has to do with antenna quality. https://www.bluflux.com/bluetooth-antenna-design-guide-step-... : “So 31mm is the desired length of a Bluetooth antenna without “dielectric loading” (see next section)” https://www.instructables.com/id/Increase-and-extend-the-ran... : “As Bluetooth devices work at frequencies of around 2450MHz, the formula will give you an antenna length of +/- 12cm. Th…

Funny story about antenna lengt , I got a new job and was excited that I could at last upgrade my airpods to airpods pro. After a very frustrating couple days, I learned that my head is too big/dense/whatever for the airpods pro to reliably sync across my head. They would only work if used one at a time, or if I really cranked them at an angle such that the tails were far off my head which was unwearable.

I have long earlobes, I think the extra little bit of length of the non-pros gets it past my lobes and allows a connection that the pro's can't make.

Re: Feds seize ‘counterfeit Apple AirPods’ that are actually OnePlus Buds

#142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1. Apple removed the headphone jack. 2. Apple stopped giving out dongles in the box. 3. Apple limited others' ability to compete by including proprietary chips in iphone and airpods. 4. Apple marketed airpods as a status symbol. 5. People bought into the hype. Objectively, airpods are the worst wireless earbuds in the market on every single metric, but still command a premium price.

I think they're the best on the market but I'm not dumb enough to through "objectively" in my comment as an intensifier... Oh, and I bought them to go with my android phone because they are that good...

My comment was well thought out. If you cannot find a better (in every way) earbud at the price that airpods sell for, I think you are misinformed.

Re: Feds seize ‘counterfeit Apple AirPods’ that are actually OnePlus Buds

#143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1. Apple removed the headphone jack. 2. Apple stopped giving out dongles in the box. 3. Apple limited others' ability to compete by including proprietary chips in iphone and airpods. 4. Apple marketed airpods as a status symbol. 5. People bought into the hype. Objectively, airpods are the worst wireless earbuds in the market on every single metric, but still command a premium price.

They have good quality audio and low latency with Apple stuff.

The audio quality is not good compared to other similarly priced buds. And the latency with Apple is exactly what I mentioned, it is an anti-competitive move by Apple.

Re: Feds seize ‘counterfeit Apple AirPods’ that are actually OnePlus Buds

#144
post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you try sourcing adaptors without fake markings?

I thought it was pretty clear that the fake markings surprised me and that the adapters were not the main item sourced.

It was, but the follow-up action designed to minimize risk of loss when caught by customs rather than avoiding import of fraudulent goods blurred image of your intentions.

If you can get the shipments split, I'm sure you could also get them to not send the power adapters at all. If, however, you needed power adapters, you need to import proper ones - not just for legal reasons, but for the safety of the end-users.

Re: Feds seize ‘counterfeit Apple AirPods’ that are actually OnePlus Buds

#145

So this is just theft by the government in open daylight, right?

I for one, cannot get over this: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=tsa+lot+of&_trksid=p233... Pretty much theft and resale.

As someone who (used to) travel a lot, the TSA have signs plastered throughout the entire security line to remind you to look through your belongings and make sure you don't have any banned items (they included what they were and had pictures of them too). If you went through airport security with a banned item (such as a knife), what they did was offer you three choices:

- They let you go back outside of security and come back without it (the idea being is you go back to your car and put it back)

- They had a small mailing station where you could mail it back to yourself (you had to pay for mailing, IIRC it was like $5-10)

- You let them confiscate it

It's not like what they consider banned items on airplanes are a secret. They even have a Twitter https://twitter.com/tsa/status/862098615472455680 and facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AskTSA where you can ask if an item is ok to go through security!

I am genuinely curious as to what they should do better.

Re: Feds seize ‘counterfeit Apple AirPods’ that are actually OnePlus Buds

#146
post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1. Apple removed the headphone jack. 2. Apple stopped giving out dongles in the box. 3. Apple limited others' ability to compete by including proprietary chips in iphone and airpods. 4. Apple marketed airpods as a status symbol. 5. People bought into the hype. Objectively, airpods are the worst wireless earbuds in the market on every single metric, but still command a premium price.

Objectively, airpods are the worst wireless earbuds in the market on every single metric, but still command a premium price. May be a good time too look up that the word "objectively" means.

I am not a native speaker, but I do feel my comment was accurate. For the price of an airpod, you can get other brand earbuds that are better in every metric relevant to an earphone.

Re: Feds seize ‘counterfeit Apple AirPods’ that are actually OnePlus Buds

#147

It's patently ridiculous that CBP seized competing products as "counterfeit AirPods", but at least no children were hurt and/or caged in this operation. I'm ready to give this win to CBP. Keep stifling the free market rather than caging children.

What a bizarre non-sequitur.

Re: Feds seize ‘counterfeit Apple AirPods’ that are actually OnePlus Buds

#148
post #130

The CBP is very hard to deal with. I once bought about 100 electronic items that come with AC adapters to power them. Unknown to me, the AC adapters had fake UL marks on them. So, the CBP seized the shipment. I asked if they could just seize the adapters, and explained that I hadn't even asked for UL listed adapters. No dice. The adapters represented less than 10% of the value of the shipment. Argh. And, of course, t…

Did you try sourcing adaptors without fake markings?

Yeah, that's what the custom text box on the order page is for. I always specify "please no fake markings, no anthrax spores, no xenomorph eggs and no methamphetamine" just to be in the clear.

Re: Feds seize ‘counterfeit Apple AirPods’ that are actually OnePlus Buds

#149

So this is just theft by the government in open daylight, right?

I for one, cannot get over this: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=tsa+lot+of&_trksid=p233... Pretty much theft and resale.

That's TSA, not border guards.

As far as I know counterfeit goods seized by the border guards are destroyed.

Re: Feds seize ‘counterfeit Apple AirPods’ that are actually OnePlus Buds

#150
post #140

I am no CBP fan either, but has anyone considered the case that these are counterfeit AirPods in counterfeit OnePlus earbud boxes? If you look at the opened box picture in the CBP memo, you will notice the earbuds do NOT match the picture on the OnePlus box and look much much more similar to actual AirPods.

Nope, these are definitely OnePlus Buds.

CBP image: https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/u50683/Ear%20Buds%20...

AirPods: https://www.apple.com/v/airpods/k/images/overview/airpods__d...

OnePlus Buds: https://image01.oneplus.net/ebp/202006/30/1-m00-15-97-rb8bwl...

OnePlus Buds are shaped like rods attached to muffins, while AirPods are shaped like quarter notes (on a musical staff).

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