Warning – Fake Sony Memory Sticks on Ebay Etc.
(The top memory stick is a counterfeit, while the bottom is the real Sony product. Notice the square of a different texture inside the front side of the product on the genuine Sony memory stick! Photo is courtesy of an Ebay guide by username dbgb2k.)
There is a number of fake counterfeit memory sticks being sold on Ebay at the moment and probably elsewhere across the Internet. They are mainly “Sony” 8GB memory stick duo products that aren’t made by Sony at all, but other Sony memory sticks may also be fake too.
I brought a “8GB Memory Stick Pro Duo” sold and pictured as brand “Sony” from a seller called umustb_satisfied with an Ebay shop called U.B.S_worldwide. The links are working at the time of writing on the 6th February 2009, I sincerely hope that this sellers business days on Ebay are over soon as the memory stick I received was certainly a fake counterfeit. It has been reported to the relevant authorities including Ebay and Paypal, he will also be reported to The Police and/or Trading Standards in due course. He is currently selling numerous of these illegal fakes at the time of writing and should be stopped.
I initially noticed that the memory stick I brought wasn’t recognised as a genuine “Sony” by my new Sony camcorder as it kept repeatedly warning, “this memory stick may not be able to record or play images correctly”. When looking up this error on-line I found that this is very common with counterfeit so called “Sony” memory sticks which are apparently sold all over the Internet including Ebay. I also studied the product and found in many ways that it was most certainly an illegal counterfeit item – NOT A SONY PRODUCT as clearly sold and marked on it! I also found that the product code wasn’t known to the Sony website. It is interesting that if you knew how to spot a fake, you could actually see the picture used by the seller on Ebay is a fake itself as there was no inside square on the front side of the product (please see the picture at the top of this post). After a few days the memory stick stopped working altogether with “data error”, it’s no wonder as these fake memory sticks are manufactured to a very low standard and are made very cheaply in China, NOT Japan as marked and where Sony is based. Be warned as unless you know how to spot a fake, you could fall for the same scam as often even the packaging is very cleverly copied.
FOR HELP SPOTTING A FAKE MEMORY STICK – PLEASE CLICK HERE!
I will NOT return the memory stick as the seller isn’t entitled to it back as Trading Standards will most certainly seize it because it’s ILLEGAL! I am however legally entitled to a full refund never-the-less without returning the product. One shouldn’t return an illegal counterfeit product to the seller as he will then get the chance to resell it to another unsuspecting customer and it’s illegally taking money from Sony and giving Sony a bad reputation by marking low quality products with their brand name. It’s criminal activity that helps towards destroying legitimate and reputable businesses throughout the World.
In my opinion the seller knows what he’s doing as I’ve checked the sellers feedback and have read a number of people leaving feedback saying that the item is fake, yet the seller has continued to sell these illegal products and break the law. In my opinion the seller is obtaining money by deception as he is deliberately selling these knocked off counterfeit products telling unsuspecting customers that they are Sony products. This is wrong and very dishonest, for this I hope authorities will put the seller out of business and that he will be brought to justice for what he is doing, although unfortunately there’s so many of these illegal products throughout the Internet, I’m sceptical that anything will actually be done in reality. I will continue to complain however until something is done and I get a full refund too, please watch for updates…
I will now name and shame the person behind U.B.S_worldwide who at the time of writing is repeatedly selling these fake “Sony” memory sticks:
Invoice Address:
S.Leong
H1102 Cam. Hall
62 Cavendish Street
Manchester, Greater Manchester
M15 6UU
United Kingdom
(Note that it appears to be student accommodation)
Disclaimer:
I am not an expert in Consumer Law, for further advice please speak to your local Trading Standards or a solicitor. The address given is publicly printed on invoices when purchasing products from U.B.S_worldwide which is an Ebay shop. I always endeavour to publish information as accurate as possible as I see it and in my opinion, although PJCNET cannot be held responsible for any mistakes made and the information is not guaranteed as 100% correct. PJCNET will not be held responsible for any loss of sales to U.B.S_worldwide because of this information, PJCNET is a clearly blogging site and I’m entitled to review and write my own opinions on products and services.
Please click to share this article!
Comments:
Comment from admin
Time February 13, 2009 at 2:34 am 
Ebay and Paypal are STILL ignoring my complaint, made another complaint advising them that they are committing an offence allowing criminal activity on their website, but sitll not reply. Writing to Sony next and if they don’t reply soon, contacting police and/or trading standards.
Comment from admin
Time February 13, 2009 at 3:10 am
Amazingly Paypal have replied telling me to return the counterfeit item to the seller in 10 days. Ebay and Paypal have merged so they are helping a criminal commit crime by not taking measures to stop him. This is a criminal offence and I am now contacting Sony for advise next.
Comment from admin
Time February 13, 2009 at 3:30 am
I have filled a complaint against Paypal as follows:
Dispute No: XXXXXXXXXXX (blanked out for security)
Even though the seller is criminally selling illegal counterfeit items, Paypal have said that I should send the illegal fake item back to the seller. I must warn Paypal that knowingly assisting a criminal in criminal activity is a criminal offence. Sending this item back will allow the seller to scam someone else so is assisting criminal activity. I am disgusted that Paypal are asking me to do this. Paypal and Ebay work together too and Ebay so far haven’t done anything to prevent this criminal activity continuing either.
As I said in my dispute, the seller knows that he is selling counterfeit items as people have complained using Ebay feedback and he responded.
I am now reporting this to Sony and the Police if Paypal don’t help prevent this criminal activity, instead of encouraging it to continue.
Comment from admin
Time February 13, 2009 at 9:17 pm
The address Paypal have asked me to send the item back to is different and is Apartment 91, 5 Brewer Street Manchester and this is suspicious too. I have now contacted Manchester Trading Standards and if they don’t help, then the police. It’s not right being told to send illegal counterfeit items back to the seller as it’s helping him commit a crime again.
Comment from admin
Time February 18, 2009 at 4:37 am
Ebay have finally responded, apologising for not responding earlier and are investigating before taking appropriate action. They are still telling me to deal with Paypal regarding getting a refund who are still telling me to return the counterfeit item to the seller – which is helping criminal activity. Still waiting a response to my complaint about Paypal telling me to send the item to the seller and also awaiting further action from Ebay.
Comment from admin
Time February 22, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Paypal are still asking me to break the law and assist a criminal by sending the contraband / counterfeit memory stick back to the seller so he can sell it again, ripping someone else off. They have told me that if I don’t send it back soon, they will close the case. I am complaining in every way possible to Paypal.
Manchester Trading Standards have so far been hopeless, I wrote to them about the problem in detail, but they replied saying the Email had been blocked as spam – which is absurd. I have sent the email again, but no reply. This is NOT spam, it’s a personal letter. I am now forced to complain to them as it’s not possible to even send them details.
Comment from admin
Time February 22, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Called Paypal. They have a terrible automated phone system where a robot operator listens to your voice and tries to deal with your problem. After 5 minutes I managed to find a way to speak to a real operator, just not answering didn’t work either.
The operator explained that my complaint was dealt with entirely by an automated system which amazed me. The seller had requested the item be returned, not Paypal, no-one at Paypal had even looked at the complaint even at this late stage. This is terrible as Paypal’s automated system was telling me to commit a criminal offence and send a counterfeit item back to the seller – helping criminal activity. Everything is automated at Paypal right up until final escalation stages and if I hadn’t phoned I wouldn’t even had known this or knew I could even escalate.
They have now sent me an email telling me I have 10 days to contact a professional person or dealer who will verify that the item is fake and to fax Paypal to continue the claim. More work, I’m surprised Paypal won’t just let me send the item back to them.
I now have the choice of either contacting Trading Standards, The Police or finding a dealer who is willing to help even though it’s nothing to do with them. Not good and a lot of hassle.
I will continue to update.
Comment from admin
Time March 2, 2009 at 7:40 am
Will be contacting Trading Standards this week, got so much to do, it’s impossible for me to get everything done within Paypal’s time limit, they should allow customers to send product like this back to them for analysis or at least allow people a lot longer to get items checked.
Please write a comment:
Everyone is encouraged to comment on PJCNET!
You need to login to post comments!
Comment from admin
Time February 11, 2009 at 5:30 am
Amazingly Ebay and Paypal still haven’t haven’t replied and they haven’t stopped this seller continuing with his illegal activities. I have even tried to contact the Police who said I have to contact Trading Standards, I contacted trading Standards who said I have to contact Ebay first. This person is working illegally, ripping people off with counterfeit products, yet no-one seems to want to do anything – it’s no wonder that there is so many counterfeit products around and so many scams. I’m now going to write a follow up complaint to Ebay and I will contact Sony.