Polaris OBark

It is in the Japanese version of the App store, but here in the US I cannot download anything. It seems silly to not release it to everyone. Maybe the problem is at Apple's end?

Polaris OBark

My last three experiences ordering small parts from Amazon:

1. and 2. Sent empty packages.

3. Sent two right-foot Time cleats.

So it is a choice between local Unobtanium and the Amazon crap-shoot.

Lombard

I would Google the product you are looking for and surely if it's on Amazon, some online bike store or eBay store also has it. Also, Jeff Bezos is wealthy enough, thank you.

Polaris OBark

I use it as a last resort.

Delmarva

Excellent advice. Buy the seller before buying the part.

mschwett 

my new last resorts are shops in the UK, which seem to be out of different things at different times than the US shops, and japanese eBay sellers. depending on the vagaries of currency fluctuations it doesn’t seem to be much more expensive for the former.

i no longer buy anything - at all - from amazon except kindle books.

Polaris OBark

Can you get anything Shimano?

mschwett 

anything i’ve looked for. 11t and 12t dura ace cogs for 12 speed (for some reason, they aren’t allowed to sell them in the US - LBS could only get full cassettes), k03/4ti brake pads (hard to find here), and 12 speed XTR chains, most recently. all difficult to find locally.

Polaris OBark

That is interesting. I thought the UK and other international vendors weren't allowed to sell Shimano to people with US addresses.

In the case of Chain Reaction, I can tell the website I am in the UK, and put a part in the shopping cart. Then when I switch to US, it deletes the item in the cart and blocks my access to the page.

This is a Shimano policy that was imposed on them. Years ago I happily purchased Shimano stuff from them.

I'm assuming that I am missing something, and that this isn't just posturing.

mschwett 

maybe they’re just breaking the rules!!!

the most recent two i’ve received were from lord gun and SJS cycles.

Polaris OBark

That's really good to know. Thanks!

SoSmellyAir

Half a year ago I bought Shimano 105-R7000 STI levers, dual-pivot caliper brakes, front and rear derailleurs, and a Dura-Ace bottom bracket from Merlin. (I could have bought compatible cassette and chain too but already had them.) Everything other than the BB came in OEM brown boxes though, so maybe they are intended for local bike builders.

Polaris OBark

I think Merlin bought Chain Reaction, so that is even more unexpected. I guess i need to shop around more.

mschwett 

i got some chains from merlin last november. they seem totally fine but they did not come in retail packaging.

SoSmellyAir

Really? Chain Reaction already owns Wiggle, so that is some massive consolidation.

Polaris OBark

Maybe that was it. Sorry.

sergsinger

If the chain was bought at AliExpress so it can be not original. Lots of counterfeit products can be slightly detected by low quality print on the box and imprinted text on the side chain plates for example.

SpedFast

I always rotate 2 chains per bike. I noticed the last time I swapped chains for waxing, the one I removed was well beyond replacement wear and the one I was putting on was still like new going by the gauge. I'm going to assume one is legit Shimano and the other is counterfeit, since they both have almost the same mileage on them. Now if I can just figure out which is which...

Saudadeii

If you look at Shimano’s site,

https://bike.shimano.com/en-US/infor...unterfeit.html

You’ll see:

• ＊Objective countries for the application and labelling: Japan and China
• ＊Objective models: pedals and cleats (to be expanded)

So it requires the new QR codes on packaging. I’m assuming it’s not available yet to other countries.

Le Mechanic

I made a follow up video actually installing one of these counterfeit chains on my personal bike and riding around on it for a few weeks. Honestly, it wasn't as bad as I thought, but it wasn't good either. It was degrading pretty quickly, so I took it off after about 3 weeks because I didn't want to prematurely destroy my cassette and chainrings.

Calsun

I avoid buying couterfeit products by not buying from Amazon or ebay vendors. For bike gear there are many excellent online e-stores run by people in the USA like performancebike.com and incycle.com. No need to take a risk with Amazon or ebay where counterfeit goods are quite common.

icemilkcoffee 

Has anyone actually bought a counterfeit chain from Amazon, from an order that was Fulfilled By Amazon and eligible for Prime shipping? I would find that hard to believe.
In general I've bought stuff indiscriminately from Amazon, Ebay and Aliexpress without ever thinking twice, and I have never encountered anything that is discernably fake. If they are fake, then they are so well made that I couldn't tell the difference.

BCDrums

imc,

As far as I know I have had the same good luck with Amazon, with this one exception, a filter for a vacuum cleaner:


A fake Panasonic filter for a vacuum cleaner

How could I tell?

datlas 

I have ACTUALLY bought chains from two different seemingly legit USA sellers that were counterfeit.

By the time I figured this out several months had passed so I did not lodge a complaint. But I would be VERY cautious about this.

BCDrums

Can you tell us from whom you got the counterfeits? Not to slag them, but it would be helpful. If either are major retailers, it would mean that even recognized, respected retailers are not immune from counterfeits.