Counterfeit Otterbox Case

[MosheP]

My brother bought a few Otterbox cases for the iPhone and SG3 at a flea market. We were told that they are counterfeit by the folks in the Verizon store.  I was suspicious of them because they seemed to be poor quality. He will go back on Sunday to the flea market and try to get his money back. What can I threaten the seller with? Is calling the police to report selling counterfeit goods a legitimate threat? Will they come, can they do anything?

Ideas?

[noturbizniss]

My brother bought a few Otterbox cases for the iPhone and SG3 at a flea market. We were told that they are counterfeit by the folks in the Verizon store.  I was suspicious of them because they seemed to be poor quality. He will go back on Sunday to the flea market and try to get his money back. What can I threaten the seller with? Is calling the police to report selling counterfeit goods a legitimate threat? Will they come, can they do anything?

Ideas?

Do you have a receipt showing that you bought it? If not then they can just deny you bought it from them, so police are out. Also, the police won't care unless it's a massive operation. Good luck...

[MosheP]

Do you have a receipt showing that you bought it? If not then they can just deny you bought it from them, so police are out. Also, the police won't care unless it's a massive operation. Good luck...

I hope the threat of calling the cops will be sufficient. If they come, there will be plenty of counterfeit merchandise on the table for them to investigate, so no need for a receipt.

Worst case I will stand there for an hour telling everyone that the merchandise is fake until he gives me my money back.

[Menucha]

you want to hurt them and spend your hours for $10? everyone works hard to make a buck. you didnt pay full price. you were looking for a metzia, so it is expected it would not be an original. for original you go to the store and pay $50+tax.

when going to a flea market, one expect a bargain at the price of lower quality.

why hurting someone? is $10 that upsetting?

[Saver2000]

you want to hurt them and spend your hours for $10? everyone works hard to make a buck. you didnt pay full price. you were looking for a metzia, so it is expected it would not be an original. for original you go to the store and pay $50+tax.

when going to a flea market, one expect a bargain at the price of lower quality.

why hurting someone? is $10 that upsetting?

He was obviously told (or at least under the impression) that they were real.

[MosheP]

you want to hurt them and spend your hours for $10? everyone works hard to make a buck. you didnt pay full price. you were looking for a metzia, so it is expected it would not be an original. for original you go to the store and pay $50+tax.

when going to a flea market, one expect a bargain at the price of lower quality.

why hurting someone? is $10 that upsetting?

It will hopefully take less then 20 minutes, once they see I'm not going anywhere they should back down. It is not about hurting them, he was passing them along as real merchandise. I expressly asked if they are the real deal, and he says absolutely. 

I paid $18 and it is available on Amazon for $27.29.

When I go to the flea market I am expecting a bargain, not counterfeit or damaged merchandise. If something is being sold as new and it turns it it was used you have every right to return it, and to caution other people away from buying from that seller. The same goes for counterfeit merchandise. The seller s doing something illegal.

[Name Changed]

To each their own.

I know your frustration. It just wouldn't be worth my time fighting.

[MosheP]

To each their own.

I know your frustration. It just wouldn't be worth my time fighting.

We bought several cases about $50 worth

[Avid Reader]

Please report back on your results. I'm curious as to what leverage someone has when buying at a flea market. Up to this point my impression was that there is no security at all.

[Menucha]

It will hopefully take less then 20 minutes, once they see I'm not going anywhere they should back down. It is not about hurting them, he was passing them along as real merchandise. I expressly asked if they are the real deal, and he says absolutely. 

I paid $18 and it is available on Amazon for $27.29.

When I go to the flea market I am expecting a bargain, not counterfeit or damaged merchandise. If something is being sold as new and it turns it it was used you have every right to return it, and to caution other people away from buying from that seller. The same goes for counterfeit merchandise. The seller s doing something illegal.

In my experience, thats what flea market is about. "almost like original" for those who look for metzias. thats the risk you take.

if too good to be true...

If it looked ok when you bot it, it may still be worth the lower price.
should be a learning experience.

no short cuts for brand name.

[ShmuliT]

If you do have an issue with them, why not give otterbox a call. IME they were quite good about replacing one I had an issue with.

[noturbizniss]

If you do have an issue with them, why not give otterbox a call. IME they were quite good about replacing one I had an issue with.

Cuz he doesn't have an otterbox, it's a knock off.

[ShmuliT]

Cuz he doesn't have an otterbox, it's a knock off.

Well he's "not sure" if its fake. And they don't ask u to send it to them!

[whacked1]

Well he's "not sure" if its fake. And they don't ask u to send it to them!

+1 some rep in a Verizon store said its a fake, doesn't mean it's fake! Maybe he never saw that style!

[hocker]

Cuz he doesn't have an otterbox, it's a knock off.

Many companies will replace it as they want to take their knock-offs off the market.

I once purchased on the black market Marlboros which turned out to be fake, and Marlboro sent me authentic replacements

[MosheP]

My brother bought a few Otterbox cases for the iPhone and SG3 at a flea market. We were told that they are counterfeit by the folks in the Verizon store.  I was suspicious of them because they seemed to be poor quality. He will go back on Sunday to the flea market and try to get his money back. What can I threaten the seller with? Is calling the police to report selling counterfeit goods a legitimate threat? Will they come, can they do anything?

Ideas?

Update

Went back to the flea market and right away  the guy offered me my money back less $1 per case. I took it happily.....