[nosioptar]

Last time I ordered from amazon, I repeatedly declined prime. My bank called me the next day about a suspicious charge for a year of prime. I had to cancel my card and get a new one. The banker told me they'd had dozens of similar problems where amazon was charging people for stuff they never ordered.

When I got the package a few days later, the $150+ set of cello strings I ordered, sold and shipped by amazon, were counterfeits (and damaged due to improper packing, not that it mattered). I had to do a charge back to get my money back.

[Cthulhu_]

Amazon is the American version of Temu, Aliexpress, etc nowadays; I wouldn't use it for anything but their own products (Kindle). For specialist items like the cello strings you mentioned, music shops are thankfully still a thing, both online/webshops as irl ones. I'd go there instead. Same with books.

[okasaki]

It's much worse than aliexpress. Ali won't send you used items or returned bricks.

[razakel]

It's borderline impossible for the high street to compete on fungible goods like art supplies and books. The only real value in those shops is knowledgeable and passionate staff who share your interests.

[nosioptar]

Agreed, I normally wouldn't buy strings from anyone but a reputable violin shop. The strings I wanted were new and none of the small shops could get them at the time.

[Beijinger]

Out of curiosity, how did you realize that they were counterfeits and is there a big difference? FYI: I don't play cello.

[nosioptar]

The label looked like it was printed on a cheap ink jet printer. The colors on the label weren't the right shades either.

The strings were guitar strings rather than cello strings. They're too short for a cello. The winding metal is different too. A bow doesn't grip guitar strings as well.

Most counterfeiters send super cheap cello strings with a fake label. In those cases, the best way to tell is that the silk windings on the strings will be the wrong colors.

There's a huge difference in sound. Cheap/fake strings tend to sound metallic and harsh. They also tend to break quickly, while a proper set of strings can last over a year.

[Beijinger]

Please be understanding. Bezos needs the money!

[nosioptar]

If there was ever someone worthy of getting a bag of glittery dicks, it's Bezos.

[Cthulhu_]

The Amazon HQ address is public knowledge, but I doubt he opens his own mail:

Mr. Jeff Bezos, CEO

Amazon dot com, Inc.

410 Terry Avenue North

Seattle, Washington 98109-5210

[phone]

[lotsofpulp]

Bezos has not been the CEO for 3+ years, and he moved to Miami a while ago.

[asddubs]

amazon is so bad about counterfeits and people listing products from different brands as the same article