[tommu]

Author feels that there is a link between Amazon and both storefronts. IE Laptop purchased from store A Returned. Same laptop sold as new from Store B. Author checked original storefront name with original customer after finding customer's PII. Author feels Amazon is creating fake store fronts for some reason. Author also investigative journalist in need of new scoop.

[AJ007]

So is it Amazon's responsibility to police other storefronts? They certainly have liability if they know storefronts are engaging in illegal activity. Is Amazon's legal strategy to ignore requests from help from customer (as author alleges.)

Amazon had "Apple" iPhone chargers that were counterfeit labeled as "Apple" for sale for years. Based on the reviews and prices (not 1 cent anymore) I assume this problem is fixed.

There is an exploitative/arbitrage gap with Amazon where you can list counterfeit items as the real thing. Some categories are plagued by this. The iPhone charger issue makes me think Amazon intentionally ignores some of this behavior given how damn obvious it was for so long.

In this stories' case the big question is what is going on with the storefront name change? Are there loopholes which allow sellers to indefinitely break the rules and continue to do business on Amazon?

By the way, I think this presents a very important technical problem -- how do you detect counterfeit goods? Read this story in for a more dangerous area of counterfeiting: http://spectrum.ieee.org/semiconductors/processors/the-hidde...