Never really expected this...
http://bikethomson.com/2012/03/08/counterfeit-thomson/
We discovered a counterfeit Thomson Stem on eBay recently. The seller took the auction down when we pointed the issue out. However, be warned when you buy from eBay or Amazon or anything similar, it is not necessarily a bike shop you are dealing with. The goods may or may not be new, and they may or may not be genuine.
If the seller has no contact information you are left with little in the way of remedy.
The really sad thing about this is that the counterfeit item was as much after shipping as buying a genuine item from a local bike shop.
Thomson Bike Parts
From Dave (the Stig): A couple of clues. We don't make a stem that looks like this. The bolts are not genuine. The job number is wrong (only we would know that), the instructions have a lot of mis-spellings. The bag is the wrong weight material, the string is wrong as well. Honestly, the machining and laser marking are not bad. We don't know what alloy it is and the anodized finish is not good.
Most LBS's would not have a counterfeit item. Items like this are made in China and only shipped into countries with lax customs. This stem was purchased by the eBay store owner in Taiwan and brought back in luggage. That you can still get away with.
American LBS's have good inventory. The issue with eBay or Amazon is anonymity. if you don't know who you are dealing with and you can't contact them, you have little leverage.
We swapped the guy who bought this for the real thing. We did not have to do that. Would Gucci, Coach, Ralph Lauren or for that matter other bike brands swap and make you whole? I would not bet large amounts of money on that. Just be smart.
http://bikethomson.com/2012/03/08/counterfeit-thomson/
We discovered a counterfeit Thomson Stem on eBay recently. The seller took the auction down when we pointed the issue out. However, be warned when you buy from eBay or Amazon or anything similar, it is not necessarily a bike shop you are dealing with. The goods may or may not be new, and they may or may not be genuine.
If the seller has no contact information you are left with little in the way of remedy.
The really sad thing about this is that the counterfeit item was as much after shipping as buying a genuine item from a local bike shop.
Thomson Bike Parts
From Dave (the Stig): A couple of clues. We don't make a stem that looks like this. The bolts are not genuine. The job number is wrong (only we would know that), the instructions have a lot of mis-spellings. The bag is the wrong weight material, the string is wrong as well. Honestly, the machining and laser marking are not bad. We don't know what alloy it is and the anodized finish is not good.
Most LBS's would not have a counterfeit item. Items like this are made in China and only shipped into countries with lax customs. This stem was purchased by the eBay store owner in Taiwan and brought back in luggage. That you can still get away with.
American LBS's have good inventory. The issue with eBay or Amazon is anonymity. if you don't know who you are dealing with and you can't contact them, you have little leverage.
We swapped the guy who bought this for the real thing. We did not have to do that. Would Gucci, Coach, Ralph Lauren or for that matter other bike brands swap and make you whole? I would not bet large amounts of money on that. Just be smart.
But one product at a time....give me the DM stem already! Apparently there is very little demand for it.
