[Lititz]

Today's Wall Street Journal has this interesting story on how Amazon combines inventory from multiple sellers, leading to problems with people receiving counterfeit goods. (That is, you order an item from one seller, but instead get the "same" item from a different, less legitimate seller's Amazon inventory.) The article suggests that such commingling even affects the inventory provided to Amazon by the manufacturers (i.e., the "sold by Amazon" products).

Do You Know What's Going in Your Amazon Shopping Cart? - WSJ.com

I assume PF members would like to know about this risk.

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Last edited by Tom S.; 05-12-2014 at 07:07 AM.

[Tom S.]

Good find and article.

[NicoleC]

I understand logistically why Amazon's warehouse works this way (although perhaps it shouldn't), but it does suggest that but would be wise to be prudent about which products you buy from Amazon.

It also explains some of the oddball reviews that pop up on good quality products stating that their items fell apart or were of poor quality.

[condor27596]

I actually get most of what I buy from Amazon and/or Ebay and/or Craigslist.
It's a bit disturbing.

[vonBaloney]

I think I will get my Sandisk SD cards from B&H from now on -- there are a million counterfeits of those out there...

[Tom S.]

I actually get most of what I buy from Amazon and/or Ebay and/or Craigslist.
It's a bit disturbing.

Agreed! I buy a ton of stuff from Amazon.

[reeftool]

A very disturbing article. I live in the boonies and have relied on mail order long before the internet. In recent years, I have purchased a lot of products from Amazon.

[wildman]

It seems clear to me: It's product misrepresentation and therefore fraudulent and illegal (or at least should be) plain and simple.

[MD Optofonik]

Accessory to fraud?

[kdf9511]

I have gotten counterfit goods from an Amazon seller in the past. The worst was a fake Otterbox Defender for an iPhone 3. However when I notified Amazon they refunded my money, and when I sent an email to Otterbox informing them that Amazon was shipping fakes they sent me a brand new real one for free.

[calculator01]

That's some good information right there. I hope my socks are legitimate, but will be worried about my memory cards.

[Colbyt]

For me the Amazon glow was already getting a little dim and this article pretty much put the light out.

I consider the commingling to be absolutely reprehensible.

[qblade]

Wow - thanks for posting the link to the WSJ article - I think I'm going to be very careful about what I order from them. I'll stick with B&H or Adorama for camera equipment and related items.

[Parallax]

I'll stick with B&H or Adorama for camera equipment and related items.

Yep. That's about as close to risk free as you can get.

[Mikesul]

Not quite on point but maybe related is my recent experience with ordering a Sony A6000 from Amazon Warehouse Deals. The camera was listed as like new. It arrived nicely packed in a shiny new Sony A6000 box. Everything inside was fresh and clean. As I started to put the battery in something looked odd. I now actually looked at the camera and realized it was a new appearing NEX 6 (the predecessor to the A6000)! All of the A6000 accessory were there, just the wrong camera. Amazon customer service was sterling - they expedited the refund and I ordered a new A6000. I have purchased a number of warehouse deals items with good results over the years.