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Counterfeit Petzl Products

Original Post
bwalt822 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 0
Fake Petzl Stuff?

Does anyone else know anything about this and if its true?
JonnyC · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 65

Good thing BD stuff is already made in China so we don't have to worry about the Chinese knock-offs.

DannyUncanny · · Vancouver · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 100
JonnyC wrote:Good thing BD stuff is already made in China so we don't have to worry about the Chinese knock-offs.
That is exactly why you have to worry about Chinese knockoffs. The manufacturing capability and designs are all set up there. One factory manager could shoot off a run after hours or sell the designs to some nonname brand.
mattm · · TX · Joined Jun 2006 · Points: 1,885
DannyUncanny wrote: That is exactly why you have to worry about Chinese knockoffs. The manufacturing capability and designs are all set up there. One factory manager could shoot off a run after hours or sell the designs to some nonname brand.
False. It's a BD factory. They don't outsource this to a 3rd party. It's THEIR building.

So if worker were to do such a thing it would be a BD worker at the BD plant - something I don't see occurring.

This is NOT the same as a clothing company who makes stuff for Marmot, Patagonia ETC.

The Petzl thing is a bit worrisome - So buy from legit dealers.

BD China Tour
Marc Squiddo · · Mountain View, CA · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 15

wow- big concerns indeed

bwalt822 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 0

I still haven't actually seen anything from Petzl so don't get too excited yet.

Ian Stewart · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2010 · Points: 155

I can't say I'm surprised...if anything I'm surprised it hasn't been more of an issue. If you can buy a knock off iPod, which still requires a decent amount of engineering to make, why wouldn't they want to steal a carabiner design and sell 40g of aluminum for $15us? I bet they could sell them for $0.40 and still make a profit.

Aaron Hope · · San Luis Obispo · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 341
Ian Stewart wrote:I can't say I'm surprised...if anything I'm surprised it hasn't been more of an issue. If you can buy a knock off iPod, which still requires a decent amount of engineering to make, why wouldn't they want to steal a carabiner design and sell 40g of aluminum for $15us? I bet they could sell them for $0.40 and still make a profit.
Maybe, but this doesn't make sense. Why would a counterfeiting operation do this...I mean the retail climbing market is miniature compared to the Ipod market, especially for something like the Petzel P50 Rescue Pulley, for example (which was listed as one of the counterfeit products). Is it really profitable to devote such a huge amount of time, effort, manufacturing equipment, etc to produce something that can only be differentiated by "an in-depth analysis" for such a small market?

I smell conspiracy theory! I'm only half kidding...
PTZ · · Chicago/Colorado · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 490

Nothing is sacred anymore.
Thanks for the info.
Very scary. We trust our lives to those little metal trinkets.

Woodchuck ATC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 3,280

One reason I still keep and trust my old Chouinard ovals and other hardware purchased throughout the 90's. With little wear and stored indoors, I think most of my Petzl and BD gear on hand will last me for another decade without an 'upgrade'. Yeah, I'm of another generation that doesn't see the purpose of 'improving' or upgrading to the newest iPod, iPhone or even carabiner that comes out just for the sake of being up with the latest tech or design. If it works, don't fix it I still say. (goes for my 40mpg car too which the dealer insists must go through a needless but expensive 35,000 mile 'check up'.)

DStaley · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2007 · Points: 0
bwalt822 wrote:I still haven't actually seen anything from Petzl so don't get too excited yet.
Confirmed:

petzl.com/us/outdoor/news-2…
coldfinger · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 55

Don't everybody freak out, at least not if one has walked around Thamel......

bwalt822 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 0
TDog wrote: You don't read so well. At the top is says "Attention: Petzl warns for fake Chinese reproductions " You were the one to start the thread. Are you calling yourself out for "The ski is falling", "Crying wolf", "Fire (in the theater)". Yes, china is destroying the world.
Before you make yourself look too much like a jackass you should consider the possibility that I made that post before Petzl put it on their website. At the time of my OP the only source of this information was one blog of some unknown person halfway around the world.
coldfinger · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 55
TDog wrote: You don't read so well. At the top is says "Attention: Petzl warns for fake Chinese reproductions " You were the one to start the thread. Are you calling yourself out for "The ski is falling", "Crying wolf", "Fire (in the theater)". Yes, china is destroying the world.
Well you might write better than you hold your liquor. ;)

Personally I'm more afraid of snowboards.....
Scott McMahon · · Boulder, CO · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 1,425

Any one catch this in the first notice?

"We remind you that selling PPE (personal protective Equipment) may hold the seller liable".

Sooo you think about all the selling and reselling we do of PPE...any thoughts on this? Lawyers?

Brendan Blanchard · · Boulder, CO · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 590

Is it just me, or am I the only one not worried about these being in LEGIT vendors? I would assume that any vendor with a repuation (REI, IME, EMS, CampMor, GearX, or anything on Dirtbag deals) would get their gear from the company that made it, therefore this is only a problem for those purchasing gear in the back holes of the internet, or those finding new gear at surprisingly low prices on eBay, Craigslist, and other classifieds.

Is this devious, immoral and downright cheap and disturbing? YES. But I don't think it affects people who buy their gear from a reputable retailer, or even direct from the manufacturer themselves.

bearbreeder · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 3,065
Brendan Blanchard wrote:. But I don't think it affects people who buy their gear from a reputable retailer, or even direct from the manufacturer themselves.
Brendan ... how about your climbing partners ... do you always know where their gear comes from?

i dont ... if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck ... i assume it must be a duck ... and taste just as good ...
Woodchuck ATC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 3,280

Does anyone ever worry about purchasing a 'blem' from the genuine company? Cosmetic flaws don't affect the use, just the appearances of being 'new', so the price is cut drastically. Is it possible that some of the knock offs might be closer to a genuine 'blem' product in quality?

Dustin B · · Steamboat · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 1,275

Harsh realities of the seemingly insatiable american demand for cheaper and cheaper shit. The stealing of technology and reverse engineering has been happening a lot in other industries for a long time. The funny thing is, china don't give a fuck. They see it as a legitimate business practice. And yes, I do worry aboud BD outsourcing production to china. Time to start buying DMM cams...

Kevin Craig · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2002 · Points: 325
Shumin Wu wrote: I bet you sound just like this in real life:
So your point, Shumin, is that the government, people and companies in China have the highest regard for intellectual property protection, product safety, worker and environmental protection, and fair wages? Evidence would suggest otherwise on all counts.
Bob Dergay · · Colorado · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 101

I don't know... In the petzl notice it shows that while the counterfeits weren't as strong as the originals- they're still pretty strong.
Anybody know how much less the knock-offs cost?

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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