Amazon... A warning.
07-01-20, 11:47 AM
#51
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07-01-20, 11:52 AM
#52
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To each his own. On the other hand I've made relatively few purchases on ebay and almost every one had a problem, either late delivery (well after the "promised" date) or obviously a substandard "clone" of what was described that needed to be modified to function. So, while I still use them as a last option, I realize the risks.
Amazon, on the other hand always seems to deliver before their estimated date, even when that's only 3 days out!
07-01-20, 12:08 PM
#53
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Unless the people selling fake cleats online have their own factory, they're buying (or stealing) them from somewhere, repackaging them to make them look like authentic Shimano product, storing boxes of them in a warehouse, listing them online and shipping them out.
Doing all this to fake an item that sells for $15-$20 online seems crazy to me. I get that it's probably a volume game for them, but there are so many other bike related products that have similar carrying costs and sell for a lot more. Why not fake those instead?
07-01-20, 12:40 PM
#54
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I agree with the Amazon part, learned my lesson, but always got my money back, and in most cases was just able to throw the part away. However, on most of my CV builds, the majority of components were found on eBay, no issue with NOS vintage bike components at least. As long as you know what your looking at, not that much risk.
Tim
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07-01-20, 12:53 PM
#55
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I've actually gotten counterfeit KMC missing links from the LBS before. Got it home, didn't work. Sure enough, looked up the true retail packaging and something was off. Wouldn't pull tight, they were super super loose and horrible. Like, loosey goosey.
Wound up getting REAL ones off of Amazon that were correct and worked. Go figure.
Wound up getting REAL ones off of Amazon that were correct and worked. Go figure.
07-01-20, 01:17 PM
#56
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I ordered some bike gloves from a random seller. They were only $8 so expectations were not high. The gloves ended up not being very good. The quality of the glove itself was decent but they were too stretchy and forgiving in the palm and my hand to glove contact was loose even though they were tight if that makes sense. My hand moved inside the glove. The glove to bar tape interface was fine. Either way I left feedback as such. Seller contacted me and returned my money and I kept the gloves. I use them for weight lifting now and are are fine for that. Not sure the point of the story but end result was I and the seller seemed to be happy in the end. I've ordered other $8-10 bike gloves and still using them to this day.
Last edited by u235; 07-01-20 at 01:24 PM.
07-01-20, 09:24 PM
#57
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I don't doubt this is true, but, like CAT7DR, I've bought several items from Amazon after not being able to find them elsewhere, for cheap, with free shipping and no drama. Don't get me wrong, I'm not fond of lining the pockets of He Who Does Not Need More Money, but sometimes that two-day free shipping is hard to turn down.
I agree. We are getting spoiled with Amazon Prime. In response to the threads subject of Amazon purchases, I have ordered quite a few bike parts with no issues. One must use the message from Johnny Cash "I keep my eyes wide open all the time"
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07-02-20, 07:08 PM
#59
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I've actually gotten counterfeit KMC missing links from the LBS before. Got it home, didn't work. Sure enough, looked up the true retail packaging and something was off. Wouldn't pull tight, they were super super loose and horrible. Like, loosey goosey.
Wound up getting REAL ones off of Amazon that were correct and worked. Go figure.
Wound up getting REAL ones off of Amazon that were correct and worked. Go figure.
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07-03-20, 10:06 PM
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YES!!! I have found that also. Additionally, the reviews are often NOT of the identical item being sold, but are same brand, but different model. For bike parts I have found Universal Cycle and Jenson almost always to be cheaper, and almost always better packed.
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07-03-20, 10:42 PM
#62
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To me when multiple reviews are of another item that is not being sold is a huge red flag.
It doesn't seem like faulty product is all that is a miss on Amazon, someone... be it sellers or Amazon is shifting stuff around and playing the review game Scam!
07-06-20, 11:36 AM
#63
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I generally only purchase bike and computer parts from Amazon if it is either sold by or fulfilled by Amazon. There are also some storefronts that are trustworthy (e.g. Competitive Cyclist, Silca, backcountry, etc.). Never had a problem. And yes, they sometimes don't have the best price. Don;t throw out the baby with the bathwater
07-06-20, 12:00 PM
#64
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My beef with Amazon (and to a lesser extent, eBay) is their search function. You can't search for "Genuine Shimano -(for, compatible,fits, matches)". Some times I find a listing I want, record the exact text, and then search Amazon with that text - with no matches! Then somehow I find it again. So I think Amazon actually blocks some products from being displayed. Some high volume sellers must get (or buy) the process to where Amazon blocks certain competitors of the seller.
It's completely dishonest. And I think so much Chinese crap is being sold on Amazon that Amazon's ethics (such as they were) have been severely diminished.
It's completely dishonest. And I think so much Chinese crap is being sold on Amazon that Amazon's ethics (such as they were) have been severely diminished.
07-06-20, 12:06 PM
#65
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Just an FYI for those that weren't already aware, Amazon is an awful place to purchase bike parts and accessories.
Here's the thing, counterfeits run rampant on their Marketplace, and they do practically nothing to stop this fraudulent behavior.
The worst part? You're not even getting them for a super-low price like all that highly questionable stuff on Ebay.
In fact, I don't think I've ever seen a brand name bicycle part on Amazon that I couldn't purchase at a legitimate store such as JensonUSA for less, and be guaranteed that they're the real Mccoy.
This is not only seen with bicycle parts, but many other items as well. And once again, Amazon does very about to stop this activity.
I only buy cheap household stuff and such (that I figure would be pointless to counterfeit), or items that are sold through the manufacturer rather than a third party now.
Be careful when shopping online.
Here's the thing, counterfeits run rampant on their Marketplace, and they do practically nothing to stop this fraudulent behavior.
The worst part? You're not even getting them for a super-low price like all that highly questionable stuff on Ebay.
In fact, I don't think I've ever seen a brand name bicycle part on Amazon that I couldn't purchase at a legitimate store such as JensonUSA for less, and be guaranteed that they're the real Mccoy.
This is not only seen with bicycle parts, but many other items as well. And once again, Amazon does very about to stop this activity.
I only buy cheap household stuff and such (that I figure would be pointless to counterfeit), or items that are sold through the manufacturer rather than a third party now.
Be careful when shopping online.
I have found genuine Shimano parts (old Deore) that were HALF LIST PRICE, new in package, and I couldn't get those older Deore parts from the local bike shops immediately, they would have had to order them, at much higher cost and longer time than amazon. And, my girlfriend has amazon prime so the shipping was free and fast.
I look at the reviews for the parts, that's usually a great indicator. But if anything turns out to be wrong, Amazon forces them to take it back and provide a full refund, and if not, Amazon provides the refund. The problem resolution process on Ebay is much more problematic, Ebay themselves do not assume any financial responsibility. Amazon does and acts responsibly to build market share. I DO NOT like that they have turned into the behemoth that they have, but there's a reason for that, they do a good job. My only problem with Amazon is yes, I have read that some counterfeiters were selling goods that had intellectual property protections, and I don't know how well they are policing that.
So far my experience with amazon is amazing. Recently, I got parts to repair the clothes dryer and refrigerator at a small fraction of local sources. I had to be careful, some parts claimed "genuine OEM parts" but reviews said "No, they're copies, don't spend the premium price" so I found other parts, reviews were good, the parts were cheap and worked great. And if not, I could have returned them for free, just print out a shipping label but pickup was not free, I had to drop the envelope at amazon's dropoff center downtown. Not a big deal.
I bought a big pop riveter for the dryer fix, jammed from the first rivet, could not fix, back it went, no hassle on the return.
07-06-20, 12:11 PM
#66
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According to the Googles, the Amazon Marketplace offers in excess of 350,000,000 items. Would be close to impossible for Amazon to police them all.
I recently bought a Ritchey handlebar off of Amazon on Prime, actually sold and fulfilled by Planet Cyclery. Oddly, the bar was $10 cheaper on Amazon than through Planet Cyclery directly.
I recently bought a Ritchey handlebar off of Amazon on Prime, actually sold and fulfilled by Planet Cyclery. Oddly, the bar was $10 cheaper on Amazon than through Planet Cyclery directly.
07-06-20, 12:18 PM
#67
Senior Member
07-06-20, 01:40 PM
#68
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Many people look at the reviews of the individual product, which is obviously important, but overlook the reviews of the seller.
I did my first hydraulic disc build last month, chewed up a shifter bleed screw in the learning process. Ordered one from a seller with ~75% positive feedback (without checking first) and still haven’t received my part. Ordered one a few days later from a shop with 98% feedback, arrived in 2 days.
Amazon is no different than anywhere else. Informed consumers make smart buying decisions.
I did my first hydraulic disc build last month, chewed up a shifter bleed screw in the learning process. Ordered one from a seller with ~75% positive feedback (without checking first) and still haven’t received my part. Ordered one a few days later from a shop with 98% feedback, arrived in 2 days.
Amazon is no different than anywhere else. Informed consumers make smart buying decisions.
07-06-20, 02:18 PM
#69
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If a seller on Amazon tried to influence your review, or pay you for writing one, you should report that seller to Amazon. They can have their account shut down for doing things like that.
07-06-20, 02:24 PM
#70
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https://thetechnoskeptic.com/yelp-ex...starring-role/
07-06-20, 02:45 PM
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This whole thread can summed up by the phrase Caveat Emptor.
07-06-20, 02:58 PM
#72
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Yelp=extortion. One of volumes of articles on how good reviews get filtered out for non-premium subscribers. There have been many credible reports of reviewers having their 5 star rating removed from a non-premium Yelp subscriber and the very same review left standing for the premium subscriber.
https://thetechnoskeptic.com/yelp-ex...starring-role/
https://thetechnoskeptic.com/yelp-ex...starring-role/
07-06-20, 04:24 PM
#73
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Sometimes it’s not even that. People need to pay close attention to the item’s description and not just the lowest price. As I noted above, I bought knockoff vacuum bags for my very expensive machine. When I received them and realized they were not genuine, I reviewed the listing and realized that I would have known that had I paid more attention to the description.
07-06-20, 04:49 PM
#74
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Amazon and Ebay are full of knockoffs everywhere, not just cycling. I always look for the sellers country of sale. China, India, Thailand, Hong Kong etc.... dont buy!
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07-06-20, 05:00 PM
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This is a good thread. I've bought auto and bike parts on eBay and Amazon without trouble, but there are YouTube videos of people unboxing obvious fakes. There are a lot of counterfeit high-end spark plugs on Amazon ... selling super super cheap. I agree with the people who emphasized how important it is to look into who you are buying from. If it is shipped by Amazon, it should be fine. And there are a lot of LBSs who have turned to eBay and Amazon to help keep their business afloat. My wife and I sell jewelry on eBay and etsy, and we are able to make a great income, and put our kids through college. Best bet is to read the feedback carefully.
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