41–50 of 133 posts
AMA, I led the eng team that built Project Zero (named in the article) and also designed or helped design most of Amazon's automated detection systems for Brands. Disclaimer: I haven't worked at Amazon for 3 years - my info is likely stale.
Louis Rossmann just released a video on this about Toshiba hard disks [1]. I canceled my Prime account in 2018, after my last online order for memory. Now, I only purchase in-person from large vendors with direct-from-manufacturer custody [this costs more, obviously]. [1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeUNC7z5MM0
What freaks me out is that clearly many large manufacturers design boxes so that it is easy to resell returned products as new. Lots of mobile phones are packaged with weak seals that do not damage the cardboard once taken out. Google does this and it looks intentional to me. Apple, which I don't like for other reasons, seems to be an exception. I am very uncomfortable buying electronics and hygiene products from man…
Absolutely terrifying.
Louis Rossmann just released a video on this about Toshiba hard disks [1]. I canceled my Prime account in 2018, after my last online order for memory. Now, I only purchase in-person from large vendors with direct-from-manufacturer custody [this costs more, obviously]. [1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeUNC7z5MM0
I wouldn't even know where to buy RAM (good RAM, at online prices) in person...
Amazon still has a huge problem with its third party vendors. We got screwed with several ‘new’ Lenovo laptops that went belly up in six months. And I don’t believe Amazon has fully sorted out their SKU problem where third party vendors launder used products with new. If you see something cheap on Amazon, there’s almost always a reason.
None of the examples given in this article are counterfeit. A counterfeit HP ink cartridge says it's HP, but it's not. None of these products claim to be HP. One bears no brand mark at all. One is "Ankink" brand. Same for Epson: we have "MYTONER" and "LEMERO". Amazon is a flea market trafficking in huge quantities of suspect goods. When I go on there I know to be on guard. But the article is wrong when it says that g…
I'd like avoiding the flea market, but all the reputable vendors either only sell via flee market or have egregious policies like "fax in your request in triplicate, wait three weeks, we'll ship something, you can't return it". The problem here is a near-monopoly enabling a flea market that skirts just this site of legality. Sure, it's a lookalike, not a counterfeit, but with misleading copy to make sure people fall…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I bought 4 new N300 disks "Sold by Amazon" in a single order one was obviously a return by someone else, it was in completely different unofficial packaging and was DOA getting the bot like staff to accept that it wasn't me that had broken it was such fun I ended up deleting my 20 year amazon account and haven't bought anything since
It's almost like you have to become an unboxing content creator for every single order you ever make regardless of where it was purchased. I purchased something from Home Depot that was clearly a return based on the type of tape used to reseal the box and even more obvious once opened to discover the missing contents. Luckily for me, there's a human available on their phone line, and they very quickly helped me to a…
Had this exact thing happen... with a septic pump [gross!].
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About one year ago, after terrible customer service from a major UPS vendor, I decided that I was now only ever purchasing backup batteries from CostCo: their "lifetime satisfaction warranty" means I don't have to deal with OEM return processes (IMHO) designed to prevent claims submissions (e.g. return shipping fees; questions designed to invalidate your warranty).
AMA, I led the eng team that built Project Zero (named in the article) and also designed or helped design most of Amazon's automated detection systems for Brands. Disclaimer: I haven't worked at Amazon for 3 years - my info is likely stale.
If I'm ordering a particular product from Amazon, is there a way to know if commingling is done? Does Amazon commingle everything fulfilled by Amazon by default, or just high-volume items?
FWIW, while "counterfeit", technically Amazon doesn't consider commingling to be Brand related abuse which is what I worked on. Abuse of commingling would be handled by other systems related to Seller fraud.
Louis Rossmann just released a video on this about Toshiba hard disks [1]. I canceled my Prime account in 2018, after my last online order for memory. Now, I only purchase in-person from large vendors with direct-from-manufacturer custody [this costs more, obviously]. [1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeUNC7z5MM0
I wouldn't even know where to buy RAM (good RAM, at online prices) in person...
Louis Rossmann just released a video on this about Toshiba hard disks [1]. I canceled my Prime account in 2018, after my last online order for memory. Now, I only purchase in-person from large vendors with direct-from-manufacturer custody [this costs more, obviously]. [1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeUNC7z5MM0
> Now, I only purchase in-person from large vendors with direct-from-manufacturer custody [this costs more, obviously]. Could you say which you've had luck with?
For hard drives, I usually wait for OfficeMax sales/coupons, and then stock up.
Sometimes I have to drive to Atlanta (about three hours, round trip) but there are some incredible electronic parts stores in huge cities.
Regardless of what/where I purchase, I always open items inside the store (before leaving, near the customer service desk) because I have literally had "new" items contain hazmat returns (e.g. a "new" septic pump, a la feces).
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I wouldn't even know where to buy RAM (good RAM, at online prices) in person...
Lots of places do price-matching. I can go to Best Buy and get Amazon pricing (for items sold directly by Amazon) without the Amazon BS.