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Partsconnexion.com is shipping counterfeit Oyaide Plugs!

76.102.187.103
Posted on December 10, 2008 at 22:18:43
Joseph Cohen
Manufacturer

Posts: 54
Location: Northern California
Joined: March 10, 2006
 Dear Friends,

It saddens me to report that Partsconnexion.com is advertising counterfeit Oyaide plugs on their website. These parts are listed at regular Oyaide prices. We also know for a fact that they have begun to ship these bogus products.

It is my responsibility as the distributor of Oyaide products to keep the public informed when these types of transgressions occur. Up until now, sellers of counterfeit products have been small retailers. Oyaide keeps a list of "unprincipled dealers" on their website. Now it seems that Partsconnexion.com will be added to that list. http://www.oyaide.com/e_audio/support/support_index.htm

You will also find photos of these bogus products well chronicled there.

How can you identify a counterfeit Oyaide plug?

1. They come in cardboard boxes, not metal cannisters as do genuine Oyaide plugs
2. They have metal inserts to attach the body to the shell. Oyaide plugs do not.
3. They do not have the Oyaide security hologram
4. They have the wrong typeface
5. They are made from entirely inferior materials in China - not Japan
6. Since they are counterfeits, they have not been tested or rated by any agency and present a genuine liability to the seller and a risk to the end user.

We take assaults on the integrity of our products very seriously, and we feel the very best way to protect them is to keep the audio community well informed.

Many thanks,

Joseph Cohen
The Lotus Group

 

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How good are the fakes?…, posted on December 10, 2008 at 22:48:55
Wellfed
Audiophile

Posts: 11226
Joined: January 11, 2008
 Just kidding. Is Parts Connexion actually aware that they're involved with counterfeit merchandise and willing to do so anyway?

 

RE: Partsconnexion.com is shipping counterfeit Oyaide Plugs!, posted on December 11, 2008 at 04:42:26
Not Yet There
Audiophile

Posts: 538
Joined: April 8, 2006
 Before you "slam" a reputable dealer, I would be very interested in PX response once you informed them of their transgression. What was their response???

 

RE: Partsconnexion.com is shipping counterfeit Oyaide Plugs!, posted on December 11, 2008 at 08:27:42
Not Yet There
Audiophile

Posts: 538
Joined: April 8, 2006
 I have done allot of personal business with Partsconnexion.com and have always found them to be professional, knowledgeable, and extremely helpful. When I read the above post, I sent the President of Partsconnexion.com an email alerting them of the above noted allegation. I am not affiliated with Partsconnexion.com, only a hobbyist who has been helped out in the past by pcX

With permission of Partsconnexion.com, here is their response.

pcX has recently been made aware that some of it's OYAIDE stock (purchased form a Japanese 3rd party), may contains some counterfeit material:

- pcX was unaware that OYAIDE had a counterfeit problem.....or, that our Oyaide stock was counterfeit
- pcX has removed this OYAIDE product from it's shelves (it's no longer for sale).
- pcX has removed this OYAIDE product from both it's newsletter and website, effective immediately
- pcX will be contacting any and all customers who bought any of this stock, to offer full refunds or exchanges immediately.

We apologize for this unfortunate situation...in the end, it will be pcX (not it's customers) who will suffer from being defrauded.

Any questions, please feel free to contact Chris Johnson at info@partsconnexion.com

 

RE: Partsconnexion.com is shipping counterfeit Oyaide Plugs!, posted on December 11, 2008 at 10:12:58
Joseph Cohen
Manufacturer

Posts: 54
Location: Northern California
Joined: March 10, 2006
 pcX admits that they purchased "Oyaide" goods from a third party in Japan. This is clearly outside proper channels. Not only did pcX know that The Lotus Group is the authorized distributor for North America, but they had signed our e-commerce agreement, and have been telling us since 2006 that they were about to place their first order. We only saw the photos of counterfeit product on their website for the first time this week. When we had confirmation that they were shipping bogus product we had no recourse but to alert the public that they were being defrauded and endangered.

pcX's response to our post makes it sound as though they are the innocent victim. They have been dealing with us for over two years. They even responded to us this week over our complaint that their sale violated our e-commerce agreement as though they were being a good customer, but even their response did not rise to the level of our agreement. They did not warn us that they were purchasing elsewhere, nor did they bother to examine Oyaide’s website, which has a counterfeit warning when you first enter their English site. This counterfeit issue has been widely known for at least a couple of years. pcX did not even do their due diligence with regard to acquiring product through illegitimate channels.

Joseph Cohen
The Lotus Group

 

RE: Partsconnexion.com is shipping counterfeit Oyaide Plugs!, posted on December 11, 2008 at 11:30:20
jmlpartners
 5. They are made from entirely inferior materials in China - not Japan

In other words: Genuine Oyaide products are made from entirely inferior materials in Japan - not China.

 

RE: Partsconnexion.com is shipping counterfeit Oyaide Plugs!, posted on December 11, 2008 at 12:19:54
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 Mr. Cohen:

The M-1 I bought from you guys came in a cardboard box. It had a hologram sticker that kept the box "sealed" as well. I was told Lotus puts the whole box in the cryo.

ET

 

RE: Partsconnexion.com is shipping counterfeit Oyaide Plugs!, posted on December 11, 2008 at 12:23:34
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 That's lame on their part. Caveot Emptor!

ET

 

ET...., posted on December 11, 2008 at 12:25:24
alan m. kafton
Manufacturer

Posts: 5285
Joined: April 7, 2000
 The M1/F1's are packaged in a nice box with cutouts for the connectors....other legitimate Oyaide plugs are packaged in a metal tube and cover. What Joe is referring to is the cardboard box used as a container for the knock-off's. If they were legit, you'd receive 037's, 046's, 079's, and 004's in the silver-colored metal tube.

 

Caveat emptor, and all that...., posted on December 11, 2008 at 12:28:33
alan m. kafton
Manufacturer

Posts: 5285
Joined: April 7, 2000
 ....but Joe is attempting to inform consumers about purchasing an illegitimate product, so they won't be suffering from "caveat emptor".

 

RE: ET...., posted on December 11, 2008 at 12:28:37
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 I knew it was legit, I was just clarifying that the M-1's are boxed. Thanks for your reply. I love the metal toobz!

ET

 

"through illegitimate channels": unfortunately that makes you sound as if..., posted on December 11, 2008 at 12:30:34
dave c
Audiophile

Posts: 32042
Location: Zigzag Street, Red Hill
Joined: April 17, 2000
 ... you are merely protecting a monopoly position for the USA (as I understand your posts).
As opposed to your first post, your problem now seems to be more that PX are buying from someone else.
And presumably cheaper.
I have only your posts here as sources for information, and I am certainly not calling you a liar, but the emphasis in your successive posts has changed and I have to say it sounds dubious to me.
I would add I have no connection to any of the companies involved, but I have spent parts of my life writing copy and I kn ow how to read emphasis.
Of course that does tend to make me just the tiniest bit cynical about... oooo just about everything emerging from corporations.

 

RE: ET...., posted on December 11, 2008 at 12:32:37
alan m. kafton
Manufacturer

Posts: 5285
Joined: April 7, 2000
 I love the metal toobz!

Me too. Having dozens of them, I wish I could make them into a sculpture of some sort. I won't throw them away, as it would only contribute to more unnecessary landfill waste.

With ecological concerns growing all the time, it would be nice if Oyaide would consider providing a nice recycled cardboard container. Maybe I'll suggest that idea at CES.

 

Dave...., posted on December 11, 2008 at 12:35:23
alan m. kafton
Manufacturer

Posts: 5285
Joined: April 7, 2000
 ....if Parts Connection was honoring their e-commerce agreement with Lotus Group USA, they wouldn't be buying these fakes in the first place. All their orders would be placed through Lotus Group USA....simple and easy.

Why? Because Lotus Group USA is the AUTHORIZED North American Importer.

 

and there is/are my problem(s), posted on December 11, 2008 at 12:43:10
dave c
Audiophile

Posts: 32042
Location: Zigzag Street, Red Hill
Joined: April 17, 2000
 It reads as if PX have never bought anything from Lotus.
I am not sure what an e-commerce agreement is but I presume it places a trade restriction on someone.
If these products are genuinely (!!!) fakes then I would have thought that the Japanese seller would be liable for prosecution.
Maybe PX as well.
Perhaps someone could post pictures of both products and packaging so that we could compare them.
I assume the "fakes" must be labelled as Oyaide because otherwise the difference in packaging (and as has been pointed out, the plating) would make them a different product.
If (as has also been posted here) the "fakes" are indeed better, then it would suggest a reason for bringing the subject up.
Again I am not making accusations just saying that this is how it reads.

 

RE: and there is/are my problem(s), posted on December 11, 2008 at 13:36:22
alan m. kafton
Manufacturer

Posts: 5285
Joined: April 7, 2000
 I think it best for Joe Cohen to address the bulk of your questions and comments. Personally, I've received repeated e-mail solicitations over the last couple of years from one particular overseas company offering Oyaide fakes....I can't be the only dealer/manufacturer receiving these (if you get my drift).

As far as the one guy who prefers the fake, further discussion will only open a Pandora's box of negativity....he's an ex-Oyaide and Acrolink dealer and pursuant to his previous posts on the Asylum (you are welcome to do a search), seems to have a disdain for Japanese products and perhaps all things Japanese.

 

RE: Don't Dr. Friends me...., posted on December 11, 2008 at 16:35:52
Matts_
Audiophile

Posts: 2206
Joined: February 4, 2005
 I don't like it when people like you use the forum this way & I think your assertions are way over the top. If you have a problem with parts connexion, go solve it on your own, not here. Plus, mfr's who use metal tubes or whatever are trying to dress something up beyond it's means, which means you're probably way overpriced for what the plugs are.

Go away, and I will be sure to never use Oyaide plugs!

 

I am grateful for the warning. He did a good service, posted on December 11, 2008 at 16:45:51
ArdRi
and it appears to me he alone has a legitimate ,lawful cause to have taken this step. I would be disappointed if it were removed.



 

RE: Don't Dr. Friends me...., posted on December 11, 2008 at 16:59:16
alan m. kafton
Manufacturer

Posts: 5285
Joined: April 7, 2000
 Perhaps you think that the "free market" should be like the Wild West, lawless, arbitrary, and unforgiving. This is a customer service, safety, and reliability issue, Matts. There are many who appreciate a high level of quality control and a product without questionable origin, and with recourse to a highly-reputable importer/distributor. Then there are those who think it's far more important that they save themselves a few dollars, despite a questionable provenance.

It is only via attitudes like yours that we continue to suffer melamine in milk and lead in children's toys. Who the hell cares! It's cheap! Then again, maybe you could care less about safety issues and legitimate business practices.

 

RE: Partsconnexion.com is shipping counterfeit Oyaide Plugs!, posted on December 11, 2008 at 17:02:23
becketma@yahoo.com
Audiophile

Posts: 1352
Location: Sunny Tucson AZ
Joined: May 21, 2007
 Its unfortunate they got taken by fakes.
If you don't like them buying real products from some other source, simply stop selling to them.

If the manufacturer cuts you out of the pipe line, take it up with the manufacturer, not the retailer.

Bob


"He (R.M. Nixon) was a foul caricature of himself, a man with no soul, no inner convictions, with the integrity of a hyena, and the style of a poison toad." H. S. Thompson

 

point taken, posted on December 11, 2008 at 17:13:50
dave c
Audiophile

Posts: 32042
Location: Zigzag Street, Red Hill
Joined: April 17, 2000
 I wasn't aware of the background, which, of course, does not invalidate things but casts another shadow on matters.
I agree that perhaps Joe Cohen could post pictures and more details.
Of course I can understand that the last thing he really wants to do is to advertise these products but he has started this by opening the thread.

 

Becket....you missed the point., posted on December 11, 2008 at 17:19:19
alan m. kafton
Manufacturer

Posts: 5285
Joined: April 7, 2000
 Parts Connection was not buying "real" Oyaide products, they were buying fakes. If they were purchasing legitimate Oyaide products, they would have placed their orders and received product through Joe Cohen and the Lotus Group, who is the authorized importer for North America. Further, Oyaide did not "cut him (sic) out of the pipe line"....Oyaide had nothing to do with the products Parts Connection was buying out of mainland China, or wherever those fake parts originated.

There is a long history of fake and grey market products originating out of China. Some of the top luxury companies in the world have been victim to these practices (want to buy a Gucci handbag for $20?). 60 Minutes and 6moons have covered some of these stories. Now Oyaide, over the last couple of years, has become one of the latest victims in the audio world. There are a lot of high-end electronics and cabling floating around for sale all over the world....reliability is often questionable, and the buyer has zero recourse. It pays to make your purchases through an authorized dealer or distributor, don't you think?

 

RE: point taken, posted on December 11, 2008 at 17:24:12
alan m. kafton
Manufacturer

Posts: 5285
Joined: April 7, 2000
 In speaking with Joe about these matters, his intent was not to advertise but to inform. He cares very, very much about his customers, and those of his many dealers. Fake is fake, illegitimate is illegitimate. He's alerting anyone who might have gotten an inferior product, through no fault of their own.

It's a shame that Parts Connection got caught in this conundrum....I've never heard anything but praise over the many years they've been in business, and heretofore have enjoyed a sterling reputation.

 

RE: Partsconnexion.com is shipping counterfeit Oyaide Plugs!, posted on December 11, 2008 at 19:32:01
becketma@yahoo.com
Audiophile

Posts: 1352
Location: Sunny Tucson AZ
Joined: May 21, 2007
 Thanks goodness you've been able to save me from not getting the point about the fake parts PartsConnection got stuck with. I don't know why I though what they bought weren't real Oyaide parts.

What can I do to overcome not understanding this phrase "..counterfeit Oyaide plugs.."?

How can I recognize when a word, defining a noun, such as plug, is too dense for me to comprehend?

Maybe you need to define this phrase, "..bogus products.." for anyone else like me afflicted with the brain impartment of "Not Getting the Point", that cannot figure out the relationship of the adjective bogus, to this noun, product.

Bob, trying to understand my native language, American English
"He (R.M. Nixon) was a foul caricature of himself, a man with no soul, no inner convictions, with the integrity of a hyena, and the style of a poison toad." H. S. Thompson

 

RE: nice but wasteful packaging, posted on December 11, 2008 at 19:56:12
CBT
Audiophile

Posts: 379
Location: West Coast
Joined: September 9, 2005
 Manufacturers of novelty products are notorious for overly wasteful comes to packaging. Unfortunately Oyaide is no exception. I was given a box of nice Japanese semi-perishable dessert in package of 12 finger size pieces; each piece individually wrapped in 3 layers of very nice and very well decorated paper and plastic wrappers, then the pieces packaged in a beautiful wooden box and completed by another 2 nice layers of wrappers. I thought I was given a package of jewelery. The box was nice to keep though.


Theo

-- Is it the same old place or the old same place? --

 

RE: melamine in milk??? what's that got to do with the price of rice in China?, posted on December 11, 2008 at 20:34:40
Matts_
Audiophile

Posts: 2206
Joined: February 4, 2005
 and I thought the OP was a drama queen!

I'll stick with the Vampire CCC line for my plugs- absolute best there is, and no fancy schmancy boxes or dainty acoutrements.

No affiliation, of course.

 

Vampire makes great RCA and other connectors...., posted on December 11, 2008 at 21:30:45
alan m. kafton
Manufacturer

Posts: 5285
Joined: April 7, 2000
 ....for cabling, but I don't believe they make AC connectors nor AC receptacles, which is what the OP was referencing. But the Vampire cables DO look rather fancy schmancy to me.

Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course.
....Jerry Seinfeld

 

I just purchased and received some of these, posted on December 11, 2008 at 22:06:23
mitch2
Audiophile

Posts: 1521
Location: Great Lakes
Joined: August 28, 2001
 I recently purchased and received two pair of these 079's from Partsconnexion (cardboard box, no hologram), and made two PC's that I will now have to take apart so that I can get a refund. I have spent my money (and my time) on a product that I thought was made by a well-established, highly regarded manufacturer, and not some knock-off shop. At a minimum, I will be out the heatshrink, quicksilver gold, possibly techflex, and for sure my time - even if they do refund me for the plugs.

I have happily purchased from Partsconnexion for some years, and never expected I would have to "verify" the authenticity of products received from them. I was certainly disappointed to read about this, and while your discussion is pursuasive, I cannot believe Partsconnexion truly attempted to sell counterfit products to arguably one of the most anal groups on the planet - a bunch of DIY audiophiles! I will trust there is a better explanation.

 

one unfortunate point..., posted on December 11, 2008 at 22:40:17
dave c
Audiophile

Posts: 32042
Location: Zigzag Street, Red Hill
Joined: April 17, 2000
 ... it that the "real thing" is more often than not made in China as well.
I used to know of a factory that made Armani suits/jackets trousers.
After they filled the original/authentic orders, they continued to make them in different fabrics. Still very high quality. Exactly the same cut. These "fakes" hit the shops at between 25-50% of the price of the "real thing".
As no one ever stocked the entire range no one ever knew.
Many
brands" now just buy in and have their labels added.
This is actually a very grey area.

 

RE: one unfortunate point..., posted on December 11, 2008 at 23:31:48
alan m. kafton
Manufacturer

Posts: 5285
Joined: April 7, 2000
 Very true. Srajan mentions in his Guangzhou show report and.or Melody factory tour the same gray market and R & D (rip-off and duplicate) problems faced by a number of audio manufacturers. In most cases, small manufacturers are helpless....in other cases they aren't even aware of the problem until a customer contacts the distributor in a given country, asking for return authorization for a repair. Then the manufacturer finds out that the piece in question wasn't even produced by their factory. There are many stories like this all over the world. The crux of the matter is greed by unethical shadow manufacturers, and a willing public interested in getting a bargain. And the beat goes on.

 

That's partially a Japanese thing., posted on December 12, 2008 at 00:01:13
Christopher Witmer
Audiophile

Posts: 521
Location: Tokyo
Joined: July 8, 2004

That's partially a Japanese thing . . . Japanese have a real fetish for excessive packaging . . .

http://amazon.com/dp/0834801086

 

RE: Don't Dr. Friends me...., posted on December 12, 2008 at 07:32:21
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 I disagree Matts, if you look at the history of this you will see partsconex, a company that I like too, didn't play by the rules. They are a US company and should have bought from the US distributor-PERIOD! And you see now they admitted there plugs were fakes. What else do you want to prove their "poor judgment"? This forum is the perfect place to let A'philes know thew whole story.

ET

 

RE: Caveat emptor, and all that...., posted on December 12, 2008 at 07:40:44
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 Yes this has turned into the emptor-porium! I'm glad this info is here on AA. I bought my Oyaide from Lotus/Cryo parts and VH Audio. I'm safe!


ET
M1
WPC-Z
SWO-XXX
R-1 (2)
MT-UB (DIY Outlet strip)


I put the R-1's in the outlet strip. I think the WPC-Z is the most impressive product and was a bit disappointed with the M-1.

 

RE: How good are the fakes?…, posted on December 12, 2008 at 07:41:59
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 As Homer Simpson would say: "Why you little"

As Moe would say: "Oh a wise guy...."


ET


I laughed - thanks

 

a willing public interested in getting a bargain, posted on December 12, 2008 at 07:46:47
bartc
Audiophile

Posts: 4424
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: November 25, 2002
 Yes, we fall for it, but are NOT the crux of the problem. A willing public knowingly buying stolen goods would be; same thing knowing they're buying knockoffs are not complaining. Complaints come from those ripped off by the seller. Let's be very clear about the diff!

 

Oh, they didn't work well?, posted on December 12, 2008 at 07:50:52
rick_m
Audiophile

Posts: 6230
Location: Oregon
Joined: August 11, 2005
 Perhaps you should keep one intact to see if it's really sounds any differently than the one from the manufacturer with mystique.

Rick

 

RE: Don't Dr. Friends me...., posted on December 12, 2008 at 09:02:34
Sondek
Audiophile

Posts: 9621
Location: Fort Worth
Joined: May 17, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 Alan,

I think it all kind of works out in the end. They sell us poisoned pet food, toys with lead paint, fake Oyaide's, and we sell them fraudulent securities.

I am joking of course.

 

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