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So after buying a SRAM chain on Amazon this morning, I'm now sat here wondering if I've bought a fake? While it wasn't that cheap, it was cheaper than most on line shops sell them for. Are there anyways of telling quickly and easily if it's a bad-un?
I know the answer is probs; buy from a reputable source, but I wasn't thinking...
What chain was it? Raleigh is selling off 11 speed or less chains for really silly wholesale prices right now.
@benpinnick Have you got a link? Can't seem to find them.
If you have a wholesale account just go onto Accentry and search up SRAM chain.
There's loads of fake chains out there. The Shimano ones have been pretty easy to spot (packaging and the 3D stamping on the plates) not sure about Sram. I expect there will be a youTube guide
I only buy chains from bike stores - loads of fakes on Amazon and ebay. It's like trying to buy a genuine Apple or Samsung charger - you just can't get a genuine one from those two (reviews even say fake).
Same goes for Sram centerline rotors. Loads of fakes about.
Have you got a link?
worthy of applause
Just to round this out. I reckon its a fake. bought from here looking at it now it obvious really, shouldn't buy things before coffee in the morning.
Couple of pictures of the packaging, on the front you can see the lettering is out of register on the XO1, the chain itself is pretty dirty but the giveaway is the bar code on the back which is for a black chain.
stupid, hopefully no one will make the mistake I did.
What does it weigh?
Which barcode is for a black one - the white stickers or the one on the SRAM label?
It looks pretty genuine to me so it's a good fake! The link you posted does say black chain in the description but the pic is of a silver one.. Maybe it is genuine but has been repackaged for some reason...
The SRAM part code 00.2518.023.011 is for a silver chain...
It's got a rainbow connector in it as well. Looks second hand actually rather than fake. Send it back ? Amazon will accept a return. Maybe exchange for another and see if it's the same... The reviews aren't that bad but then they could be fake also.
Which barcode is for a black one – the white stickers or the one on the SRAM label?
The one on the SRAM packaging, I don't know what the two white ones are for. Yeah noticed the part number is for a silver chain, which makes the barcode a bit more suss.
Maybe it is genuine but has been repackaged for some reason
Yeah, maybe. Seems unlikely though? I'll keep it as a spare.
weight is 30g short and it's 11 links short, so maybe second hand or taken off a bike?
I’ve got a brand new X01 I’ve just dug out, same bar code as yours on the SRAM packaging..
Have you got a link?
He's got 126 of them
eight is 30g short and it’s 11 links short, so maybe second hand or taken off a bike?
Actually no he hasn't. 🙂
Not uncommon for people to get themselves free stuff by returning old stuff in the packaging they'd ordered new stuff in just using the 14 day distance selling regs. Online sellers don't have the time or resources to check returned goods. In a lot of instances, clothing in particular, returns just go straight to landfill as sellers don't want the reputational harm of unwittingly sending out someone's used pants in error.
I've had a problem in the past with an ebay (private) seller sending me a used cassette advertised as new/unuseed. He disputed the issue at first then I asked him if he'd had it returned by another buyer and he twigged that he'd been diddled.
I get mine from these guys
But isnt that the point of the black labelling around the container?
You will know if its been opened.
I get buying from third party sellers dispatched by Amazon ups the risk of fakes but that's why I've always picked Amazon as the seller and haven't had an issues. Did you buy from Amazon themselves?
I looked at Hopkinson, but I've never heard of them before, so didn't buy it from them. Doh!
@drnosh, the packaging on SRAM chains is easy to peel back and re-seal if you're careful. The chain may be a real one but right now, I can't be sure. I's in the wrong box, it's short a number of links, and dirty, best guess? It's been on a bike and whatever reason its been re-packaged an sold on, and doesn't (for me at least) pass the sniff test. I've changed my mind about keeping it as a spare and I'm returning it.
@nuke, see my link, It's not as clear as it should be who the seller is, they're selling a bunch of heavily discounted items though, so again, doesn't seem totally legit.
Win some loose some.
I only buy chains from bike stores – loads of fakes on Amazon and ebay.
Loads of fakes in stores as well. At least you have an (easy) comeback there though.
I have also just bought bought 2 XO1 chains and GX cassette from Hopkinson Cycles.
Arrived a couple of days later
Just taken delivery of a GX chain from Hopkinson and it turned up in a clear polythene bag. The description does say "Please note: this chain can come boxed or loose depending on the stock we get form our SRAM suppliers." but l either hadn't noticed or it hadn't rung any alarm bells.
Have used Hopkinson for a few bit and bobs now and they've had good prices and availability and the delivery has been quick.
How to spot a fake chain without packaging? 🤷🏻♂️
I get buying from third party sellers dispatched by Amazon ups the risk of fakes but that’s why I’ve always picked Amazon as the seller and haven’t had an issues. Did you buy from Amazon themselves?
The problem is that any seller who dispatches from Amazon can send Amazon their own (fake) stock and it all ends up mixed with genuine stuff and it doesn't actually matter whether you buy from Amazon or a third party, it just becomes pot-luck.
This post may open me up to ridicule but seeing as I just outed myself for not paying attention when I was buying stuff on line, I figure I'm well past that anyway.
When I opened this box the thing I noticed first? It didn't smell like it should. It didn't smell of fresh packing grease, it smelt different somehow. Most of you are probs thinking "Yeah, alright Nick, whatever" but I know what a fresh chain smells like, and I reckon that a good percentage of you lot would be able to as well, and this chain just didn't. So mostly that's the reason I'm not keeping it. It was after that I noticed the grime around the pins and counted the missing links.
Daft? Maybe, probably even, but there it is.
Fake chains? really.
https://matthewbrealey.medium.com/fake-counterfeit-bicycle-chains-shimano-etc-352ef76c8aa2
I've bought loads of OEM packaged chains over the years and I've clearly been lucky. And the packaging of most of that stuff looks 'off''
I've bought Shimano mechs (and replacement mech plates) from Aliexpress when the stuff just wasn't in stock in the UK and it's been fine.
Same goes for Sram centerline rotors. Loads of fakes about.
I've bought quite a few (cheap) SRAM rotors from eBay and they've all been fine. Certainly the older designs are around in vast quantities OEM (and the manufacturing cost must be super low. I can absolutely see Hope justifying £50+ for a UK made, CNC machined anodised floating rotor, but the same money for a SRAM centreline means theres a huge markup somewhere)
I've not had any issues with any of the ones I've bought.
I have also just bought bought 2 XO1 chains and GX cassette from Hopkinson Cycles<br /><br />
I bought two GX cassettes from Hopkinson and both were bent. They reckoned that wasn’t possible as they sell hundreds and no one had ever complained before, although they did offer to warranty them. In the end for convenience, I took them into my LBS who offered to send them away to SRAM and they were both replaced under warranty. They may well have had a faulty batch so it’s probably worth checking yours…
I gave it a good testing Wednesday night, seems ok, but I had seen a few articles about GX cassettes being poor quality.
Original plan was to avoid it and buy an XO1 cassette but they are very spendy
Yes they are very spendy, but they last a very long time.
I have never had any cassette above GX so I will take your word for it, and will start saving now
Yeah I ended up getting X01 instead as the GX were at SRAM for 3 weeks and I didn’t know if they would warranty them so I decided not to risk it. I’ve got two brand new GX cassettes for sale now. 🤷♂️🙄
oceanskipper I have sent you a message