Ebay Counterfeit Parts
- Thread starter BoomerBob
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lockedlex
Member
This^
This is the reason why I've stopped buying ebay and to some degree even Amazon stuff, for things that are critical. For instance, something as simple as spark plugs can end up going south very quickly if they're knockoffs, so I buy those from a reputable/dealer, same for LBJs.
Light bulbs, mud flaps, etc.. sure.. why not save a few bucks. But nothing that if it breaks would make things very bad or leave me stranded.
This is the reason why I've stopped buying ebay and to some degree even Amazon stuff, for things that are critical. For instance, something as simple as spark plugs can end up going south very quickly if they're knockoffs, so I buy those from a reputable/dealer, same for LBJs.
Light bulbs, mud flaps, etc.. sure.. why not save a few bucks. But nothing that if it breaks would make things very bad or leave me stranded.
brillo_76
Elite Member
Every once in a while. We will have a user on the forum want to argue these parts are genuine. The sources are the key. I am sure there are legit ebay and Amazon sell ers out there with genuine parts. It's just 90 to 95% of these parts are junk non genuine.
Heck I even have some old genuine parts on Ebay that I can't sale because of all the fraud out there. People are afraid and I really cant blame them.
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Heck I even have some old genuine parts on Ebay that I can't sale because of all the fraud out there. People are afraid and I really cant blame them.
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MStudt
official vendor
Hate to say this, but most people don't care about stuff like this, and this video won't change that. We live in a world of convenience and thrifty people. So many younger people don't really understand what quality is anymore, and just want something for cheap or free. Or, they'll just pay someone to do the work, and hope everything turns out OK.
Mike
Mike
brillo_76
Elite Member
Valid point Mike. Lots of truth in your comment. I mostly switched to genuine parts or mfg genuine parts years ago. I was tired of changing the same part multiple times. I dont like to play the swap the bad new part out 5 times. My time is more valuable then that.
The user got a good deal until their injectors completely fail in 10k miles. Or their water pump starts leaking in 20k miles. The timing belt snaps. Look at all the money they saved. :/
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Thanks for posting up that link and reminding us what’s going on out there when it comes to counterfeit replacement parts BoomerBob.
It is tempting to buy from Amazon, eBay, etc vs the dealerships as the dollar savings can add up.
When it comes to auto parts I only go OEM from one of the online dealers as just not worth the risk.
I’ve found that some of the big online Toyota dealers are very competitive with there pricing.
I only buy from Conicelli Toyota in PA as there prices are good and shipping costs are very reasonable. They also respond quickly and address any issues that may come up.
Thanks again for bringing this issue up as many may not realize how real of an issue it is.
It is tempting to buy from Amazon, eBay, etc vs the dealerships as the dollar savings can add up.
When it comes to auto parts I only go OEM from one of the online dealers as just not worth the risk.
I’ve found that some of the big online Toyota dealers are very competitive with there pricing.
I only buy from Conicelli Toyota in PA as there prices are good and shipping costs are very reasonable. They also respond quickly and address any issues that may come up.
Thanks again for bringing this issue up as many may not realize how real of an issue it is.
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gamefreakgc
Elite Member
I shudder when people link Amazon/Ebay injectors for $70 for a full set. Toyota sells them for around $150 a pop and you seriously think you found all 6 for half the price of one from the dealer? Sure, they might "run" but what happens when they break or start spraying fuel all over the engine bay?
I agree on not compromising on essential parts. I have a fair amount of aftermarket parts on my 4Runner (and fluids) but when it comes to the parts that get me to where I want to go safely, it's not worth the risk to take a gamble on quality.
I agree on not compromising on essential parts. I have a fair amount of aftermarket parts on my 4Runner (and fluids) but when it comes to the parts that get me to where I want to go safely, it's not worth the risk to take a gamble on quality.
MStudt
official vendor
I'm in the same boat with ball joints, TRE's, and wheel bearings. People swear by Sankei 555 parts, and even claim they make the OEM parts. I find that hard believe when their parts fail in under 5k miles, and OEM will last to my normal 25k exchange.
Mike
Of course you can buy 6 brand new OEM injectors for $60! 6PCS OEM DENSO FUEL INJECTORS For TACOMA TUNDRA 4RUNNER 3.4L V6 23250-62040 | eBay
jross20
New member
How do these sellers not get in legal trouble? Or at least in trouble with eBay?
If one of them hypothetically sold a set of injectors they claimed they were OEM and said injectors *knock on wood* caused a fire that ruined the truck... Wouldn't that be lawsuit city?
Also, at the same time, there are a lot of items I've ordered from some of the out of state dealership part sites and some of it have actually been about half the cost of my dealerships.
Ugh, I specifically go out of my way to get Japanese oem.
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RandyBobandy
New member
The sellers are Chinese, even though it states that the parts are coming from California if you look in the seller profile the location is listed as Hong Kong
brillo_76
Elite Member
Exactly. Ebay has no jurisdiction or can take legal action on foreign citizens. Being China is communist, there isn't any laws against countfit goods nor any way easy way to stop the junk goods. The same goes for Amazon. They kill the accounts they create new accounts and start all over again. Its actually a major problem and I forgot how many billions are lost every year to intellectual property theft every year.
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And they'll keep doing it because people are buying them - 31 sets sold on my link alone.
FWIW I needed new injectors for my '99 (one got flaky when it was warm), and I certainly weeded out the obvious scams on eBay (like the above) and ended up buying a set for $250-ish. I really thought they were going to be genuine. Got them in, and despite them being pictured in the auction with Toyota parts boxes (like the above), they were just in generic plastic baggies. I figured I'd give them a go, since at that point my truck was apart, and it's not a trivial task to get down to the injectors on a 5VZ. And... they sucked. A noticeably uneven idle (a good clue that the volumes are not well matched). And hard cranking, warm or cold, a clue that they're leaking down when shut off. I quizzed the seller and they said:
- they 'buy in bulk' - that's why there are no parts boxes (lol)
- I should put at least 100 miles on them to 'break them in' (super groaning WTF-lol)
I put 100 miles on them, they got worse, not better, so I demanded a return. And they agreed without an argument, sent them back and got a 100% full refund. And I went to a junkyard and got a set of actual OEM injectors from a wrecked 3rd gen. And they work perfectly.
Oh, and another eBay gem. I needed to do a TB/WP, so I looked on eBay for complete kits. And found one pretty damn cheap. 'Genuine OEM' it said. So like a gullible idiot I ordered it. And when it came in a big box, I opened it and found a bunch of smaller plain white 'generic' boxes that said, literally, 'OEM' on them. As in, the 'brand name' was OEM. And it was all obviously cheap knockoff crap. I got a full refund on that one as well (and bought an actual genuine kit from aircabinman). But I still find that amusing, 'OEM brand'!!!, literally. But not figuratively.
FWIW I needed new injectors for my '99 (one got flaky when it was warm), and I certainly weeded out the obvious scams on eBay (like the above) and ended up buying a set for $250-ish. I really thought they were going to be genuine. Got them in, and despite them being pictured in the auction with Toyota parts boxes (like the above), they were just in generic plastic baggies. I figured I'd give them a go, since at that point my truck was apart, and it's not a trivial task to get down to the injectors on a 5VZ. And... they sucked. A noticeably uneven idle (a good clue that the volumes are not well matched). And hard cranking, warm or cold, a clue that they're leaking down when shut off. I quizzed the seller and they said:
- they 'buy in bulk' - that's why there are no parts boxes (lol)
- I should put at least 100 miles on them to 'break them in' (super groaning WTF-lol)
I put 100 miles on them, they got worse, not better, so I demanded a return. And they agreed without an argument, sent them back and got a 100% full refund. And I went to a junkyard and got a set of actual OEM injectors from a wrecked 3rd gen. And they work perfectly.
Oh, and another eBay gem. I needed to do a TB/WP, so I looked on eBay for complete kits. And found one pretty damn cheap. 'Genuine OEM' it said. So like a gullible idiot I ordered it. And when it came in a big box, I opened it and found a bunch of smaller plain white 'generic' boxes that said, literally, 'OEM' on them. As in, the 'brand name' was OEM. And it was all obviously cheap knockoff crap. I got a full refund on that one as well (and bought an actual genuine kit from aircabinman). But I still find that amusing, 'OEM brand'!!!, literally. But not figuratively.
MStudt
official vendor
Exactly. Ebay has no jurisdiction or can take legal action on foreign citizens. Being China is communist, there isn't any laws against countfit goods nor any way easy way to stop the junk goods. The same goes for Amazon. They kill the accounts they create new accounts and start all over again. Its actually a major problem and I forgot how many billions are lost every year to intellectual property theft every year.
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It's a little more than that. It's much easier for these people to continue to sell because they know eBay isn'y going to take legal action against them. Also, eBay has been sued in the past for deleting accounts for the sale of so called "counterfeit" parts since they weren't able to provide sufficient evidence that said parts were counterfeit or a copyright infringement.
Mike
brillo_76
Elite Member
brillo_76
Elite Member
The sellers that are recommend on here should be legit as they they been verified. Mostly just have to watch the Chinese sellers.
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