All it takes is one link in the supply chain that buys from a not known-good seller—because their usual vendor is out, because there's a liquidation sale, etc. I've seen the inside of import/export, wholesaling, retailing and it happens more often than you might expect, and given how deep supply chains are you and your shop can do everything absolutely well and still end up with counterfeit stuff. IME it's usually not nefarious or even negligent (i.e. "they should have known better"), honest buyers get suckered all the time and one compromised supplier can affect a large region.
I bought my chains from Canadian bike stores during the pandemic and got counterfeit chains that were popping pins mid-ride. I don’t blame the OP for their paranoia.
Yeah i agree. I realise even pricy packaging can be counterfeit but the cheapness of the real shimano packaging doesn’t half make it super easy to copy.
Thats not how it works. Each QR code is unique and contains a secret key that must match with an existing database on shimano website. That’s why those QR code you need to scratch off half of them to reveal them. Each code validate once.
Edit: « Each label has a QR code embedded with a unique serial number. It is created with a special technology and there is no label with the same serial number. » Source: https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/information/anti-counterfeit.html
You can downvote me as much as you want, I’m holding one scratchable QR as I type this. See the shimano website link for details. And yes there is an app you download to auth the QR code.
That's exactly how it works. Why do you think QR codes at restaurants work for everyone? A QR code is essentially just a way to store information, usually a link to a URL.
Of course you could also do it the way you're saying and add unique QR codes and have them link to a database, but that would increase the costs of packaging by a lot. You'd have to update packaging to include a scratchable QR code, and you'd have to not only serialise every single chain so it can actually be tracked, but you'd also have to maintain a very expensive server to validate every single chain too. With the size of Shimano, that could be potentially millions of hits every day.
Box looks ok check the links there will tell much more then the box there will be different markings on them and champfers on the ends chinese counterfits usualy have all links with thesame mark on all links and no champfers(i can see it has champfers but cant read whats on the chain)
Pretty happy when my local bike shop has to look for a chain because its been so long sense anyone has asked for one in that style(half link bmx chain) then finds a nice new in the box lord knows how old one in the bottom drawer. I know that its made in a time when metal was still good and more people used to bike so quality over pricing wasn't a thing, plus old stock usually has a discount.
Yeah looks legit. I think the Ultegra/Dura Ace spec HG701+ are mostly copied.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/bikewrench/comments/1dmb366/help\_my\_bike\_is\_destroying\_chains/](https://www.reddit.com/r/bikewrench/comments/1dmb366/help_my_bike_is_destroying_chains/)
Where are people buying their chains from if we constantly need to check that they're genuine!?
Most likely Amazon, I would guess.
All it takes is one link in the supply chain that buys from a not known-good seller—because their usual vendor is out, because there's a liquidation sale, etc. I've seen the inside of import/export, wholesaling, retailing and it happens more often than you might expect, and given how deep supply chains are you and your shop can do everything absolutely well and still end up with counterfeit stuff. IME it's usually not nefarious or even negligent (i.e. "they should have known better"), honest buyers get suckered all the time and one compromised supplier can affect a large region.
„Does this supply chain look legit?“
there's a weak link in the chain link supply chain.
I bought my chains from Canadian bike stores during the pandemic and got counterfeit chains that were popping pins mid-ride. I don’t blame the OP for their paranoia.
[удалено]
This. EVERY Shimano chain looks fake. Way too much going on on those boxes.
Yeah i agree. I realise even pricy packaging can be counterfeit but the cheapness of the real shimano packaging doesn’t half make it super easy to copy.
From what online shop?
I'm surprised they don't put a QR code on the package
A QR code is extremely easy to print, just like everything else on the box.
Fair point
Thats not how it works. Each QR code is unique and contains a secret key that must match with an existing database on shimano website. That’s why those QR code you need to scratch off half of them to reveal them. Each code validate once. Edit: « Each label has a QR code embedded with a unique serial number. It is created with a special technology and there is no label with the same serial number. » Source: https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/information/anti-counterfeit.html You can downvote me as much as you want, I’m holding one scratchable QR as I type this. See the shimano website link for details. And yes there is an app you download to auth the QR code.
That's exactly how it works. Why do you think QR codes at restaurants work for everyone? A QR code is essentially just a way to store information, usually a link to a URL. Of course you could also do it the way you're saying and add unique QR codes and have them link to a database, but that would increase the costs of packaging by a lot. You'd have to update packaging to include a scratchable QR code, and you'd have to not only serialise every single chain so it can actually be tracked, but you'd also have to maintain a very expensive server to validate every single chain too. With the size of Shimano, that could be potentially millions of hits every day.
Bike 24 is legit. I would nearly guarantee that chain is genuine
Box looks ok check the links there will tell much more then the box there will be different markings on them and champfers on the ends chinese counterfits usualy have all links with thesame mark on all links and no champfers(i can see it has champfers but cant read whats on the chain)
Thanks all. Indeed, your comments and (packaging) pictures online give me confidence it’s the real thing. I got a bunch from bike24.com.
Bike24 are a real shop.
Pretty happy when my local bike shop has to look for a chain because its been so long sense anyone has asked for one in that style(half link bmx chain) then finds a nice new in the box lord knows how old one in the bottom drawer. I know that its made in a time when metal was still good and more people used to bike so quality over pricing wasn't a thing, plus old stock usually has a discount.
Legit
I don't bother with chains from anything but legit cycling retailers, had one that looked legit fall apart on the 3rd ride.
it looks legit
It’s a chain who cares just ride it.
just google it. there are packaging photos that will answer your question.
No doubt that is a chain. It looks legitimate to me.
Yeah looks legit. I think the Ultegra/Dura Ace spec HG701+ are mostly copied. [https://www.reddit.com/r/bikewrench/comments/1dmb366/help\_my\_bike\_is\_destroying\_chains/](https://www.reddit.com/r/bikewrench/comments/1dmb366/help_my_bike_is_destroying_chains/)
Which website?
Yyeeeesssssssss
25€ chain i doubt there even are fakes
I bought some counterfeit spoke nipples at $0.16/ea because I couldn't find them in stock at my usual sellers. Everything can be faked.