Counterfeit parts alert on Ebay

[Lostgallifreyan]

In all probability that simply means the seller in Hong Kong lied when
setting up the account.

Could be, but I go with Spehro's description of this in this case, that
context he describes is convincing. (Chinese family connections between
China and localised emigrants in Toronto).

Attempts to communicate with ebay tend to be frustrated by their use
of bots to answer emails. I doubt very many are ever read by a human.

The second usually is. I assume you have to knock at least twice to get
a real answer. The main problem is the different person each time, but once
interest is sparked at their end they usually deal with it directly even if
just to convince the sender that they don't need to keep sending. If they
automate that too, their user base will start to decline dramatically, as
that would then be a very obviously and deliberate failing in customer
relations, the likes of which consumer programs like to embarrass firms
with, so someone in eBay is always listening, but I think they don't like
to encourage us.

 

[Lostgallifreyan]

Unfortunately, Motorola no longer have any interest in discretes so
simply may not be interested. It's probably more damaging to ON but
they don't have the rights to the name I presume so there's no offence
they can complain about.

Graham

I hope ON got a record of past sales that can establish whether fakes are
being made in bulk. If not, they might claim against Motorola for not
giving what they need to protect their investment.

There will always be leaks, but if counterfeiting ever becomes widespread,
it would be because major firms foolishly decided to pretend their past no
longer matters. That's an excellent way to make it come back to haunt them.

Keeping records is annoying, but digital storage makes the task almost
mindless, so if it's done, it will be harder for new 'records' of old parts
to be faked in order to warrant the (false) existence of new supplies.

Less arbitrary proliferation of part types might also help. Choosing an
op-amp has become more bewildering than choosing stuff in supermarkets.
Less obsolescence of sidelined parts will help reduce counterfeiting.

 

[Chris Jones]

Unfortunately, Motorola no longer have any interest in discretes so simply
may not be interested. It's probably more damaging to ON but they don't
have the rights to the name I presume so there's no offence they can
complain about.

Graham

If their IP lawyers are as irritable as most, then I doubt it matters that
Motorola isn't selling transistors any more, many companies still like to
defend their trademarks. I'm sure if I started selling Nike branded
teapots, I'd still be in trouble.

Chris

 

[GPE]

Hey guys,

Watch out for seller "goodbuy711" on ebay. He has tons of transistors
listed at inflated prices. And - if you look carefully, you will see that
many, many of them are actually counterfeits.

One example of a counterfeit -- item 220103822371
Doesn't take rocket science to determine that this cannot possibly be a
real Motorola part.

Seems that tons of counterfeit parts are being provided by our 'friends'
in China. And, surprise, goodbuy711 has his parts being shipped from Hong
Kong.

-- Ed

Oops! He counterfeited the wrong company!
Ahhh, poetic justice!

-- Ed