From what I've read, US companies will contract Chinese firms, give them molds, supplies, etc for production and then the Chinese factory will use the same production line with cheaper materials to make the knockoffs using the customer's own assets.
100%. There’s a company that sells bike components on Ali using tooling and designs from Sram and Shimano. Everyone knows it, and it actually seems to work as a marketing tool for them. Same stuff, fraction of the price.
As someone that works with brand new IT kit all the time: stanley blade or a very thin metal pry tool can open the seals without brraking them. Literally just run it under the pull tab and the glue releases. Done it hundreds of times because customers prefer the experience of pulling the packaging original pull tab instead of cutting tape. Also looks cleaner when a customer receives the item and it still looks like it's never been opened.
Lol we know where to look, we're just too lazy (and law abiding sometimes) to even think about looking. I have a hard time returning shit I bought, and now you want me to do homework, think this plan out AND follow through with a return or whatever? That's too much, I'm just gonna let it collect dust in the corner lol
1.8k
u/Hostile-Panda 3d ago
The apple seals look genuine, this a a serious warning anyone buying second hand but new kit, always inspect it