Best Buy^® Caught Selling Counterfeit Computer Memory Cards

Fakes found on the retailers website and eBay Marketplace account.

October 3, 2016, Los Angeles, CA – Global name recognition and consumer perceived credibility is a significant advantage in marketing (and profiting) from consumer goods. Consumers place their confidence in, and rely on Best Buy’s credibility to purchase authentic goods. But, sometimes that confidence is misplaced.

Best Buy was caught selling counterfeit items on its website and as an eBay Marketplace seller. The Counterfeit Report^®, a popular consumer website and authorized agent for trademark holders and manufacturers, found counterfeit 64GB microSDHC computer flash memory cards listed on Best Buy’s website and Best Buy’s eBay Marketplace account. A consumer Counterfeit Product Alert^® is published to warn consumers about the common fake items.

The microSDHC^® trademark is owned by SD-3C, LLC, who confirmed the products are fake “Products bearing the microSDHC® trademark with capacities above 32GB (64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB etc.) are all fake products.”  The microSDHC®) format is defined in version 2.0 of the SD specification, supporting cards with capacities up to 32GB. In other words, the item is a fake – there is no such authentic product.  

Could you identify this 64GB microSDHC memory card listed on Best Buy as fake?

This Gorilla Flash 64GB microSDHC memory card is listed on Best Buy’s eBay Marketplace account (500 available).

Consumers cannot determine the actual memory capacity of a counterfeit memory card by simply viewing the capacity displayed on their computer, phone or camera. The counterfeiters are too smart for that, and simply overwrite the real memory capacity with a false capacity to match any capacity they print on the counterfeit packaging and card.

The removable microSD memory storage card is an amazing, convenient and trouble-free storage device. When it works, it is unnoticed. When you get a fake, it will be the very core of your frustration, despair and pain – your data will likely disappear and your equipment may be damaged.

e-Commerce websites including Amazon^®, eBay^® and Facebook^® have become ideal and successful platforms for counterfeiters and dishonest sellers to distribute $1.7 trillion in counterfeit products in the US and globally. Recently, Walmart^® was found to be selling counterfeit Duracell^® batteries on its website, and now Best Buy has succumbed to the deceptive products. The sales may benefit retailer’s short term profits, but downstream consequences and loss of consumer confidence can be severe.