Conference unifix::sailing

24.0. "Counterfeit Hardware" by MOTHER::BERENS () Thu May 10 1984 18:14

I recently ordered four Merriman padeyes from a discount mail order 
retailer. One of the padeyes arrived sealed in a plastic bag with the  
Merriman name and logo on the bag. The other three were not bagged. All  
four padeyes were quite crudely made and of far lower quality than I  
would expect from Merriman. Looking closely, I found that the logo  
stamped on the padeyes is similar to the Merriman trident logo, but  
definitely not the same. 
 
I called Merriman and talked to the sales manager. He asked me to send  
him the four padeyes and said he would send me four definitely made by  
Merriman ones. He suspects that the padeyes I received are in fact made  
in Taiwan copies. He did not suggest that I was knowingly sent the  
possible counterfeits, but he is certainly concerned. 
 
There have been reports in Practical Sailor and elsewhere of Taiwan  
copies of Aqua Signal lights, Guest battery switches, Perko something or 
other, etc. Looks like buyer beware more than ever. 
 
Alan 
 

I received four made_by_Merriman padeyes today. They are stamped with
the Merriman trident logo and are very nicely made. The ones I received 
from the mail order house were indeed counterfeit. But guess what? The 
genuine Merriman padeyes are also made in Taiwan! Oh well ......

Alan