Counterfeit Bicycle Components

How to Identify and Avoid Unsafe Imitations

Unfortunately, counterfeit bicycle components have become increasingly common. From automotive parts to safety-critical outdoor gear, poorly made copies are being sold online as “genuine” products at prices that should raise concern.

We are aware that unauthorized, low-quality copies of White Industries components are being produced and sold through third-party marketplaces. These parts do not meet our design, material, or manufacturing standards. We have examined counterfeit examples firsthand and can say plainly: they are sub-standard, inconsistently made, and in some cases unsafe. Using poorly manufactured drivetrain or hub components puts riders at unnecessary risk, and we take that seriously.

We are actively working to identify and shut down counterfeit sellers, but they often reappear under new listings or accounts. The best way to ensure you are purchasing genuine White Industries components is to buy directly from us or through an authorized local bike shop. If a deal seems too good to be true, it usually is.

If you believe you’ve purchased a counterfeit product, we recommend filing a claim with the seller and removing the part from use. While we stand fully behind our genuine products with service and support, we cannot warranty or guarantee components purchased from unauthorized sources.

When it comes to the parts you rely on every day, quality and trust matter.

So how can you figure out if something is fake? Let’s run through a few scenarios….

  • Where are you purchasing?
    • AliExpress: always going to be fake parts
    • Anyone on Facebook or Craigslist selling brand new parts at way less than retail: Not going to have a warranty, and could be fake.
    • Amazon and eBay: We have one Authorized deal on Amazon (Emerald City Bicycle), and none on eBay. Anyone selling there other than Emerald City is not an Authorized dealer. Parts purchased there could be fake, and do not have a warranty, even if they are legit parts.
  • The price.
    • If it’s below what we have on our website by a significant amount, it’s either fake or being sold by an unauthorized dealer. So you’re either getting dangerously inferior parts, and/or no warranty.
  • The look.
    • Unfortunately these knock-offs look really, really close to our legit parts. But there are obvious differences which may not come across on a website, so don’t trust what you’re seeing. Even though they look close, functionally they don’t work and are downright dangerous!

If you are unsure, feel free to give us a call (707) 769-5600 or email (info@whiteind.com) to make sure that you are purchasing a genuine White Industries product.

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