?? Fake AC Delco spark plugs

I wonder if the plugs are made in China and your simply paying wholesale over as capitalist mark-up

 

Those plugs are around here are a 1.50 each

 

I'm thinking about all spark plugs are now made in China? Guys on Ebay are probably buying a couple hundred at a time, Alibaba maybe. 5$ for a spark plug is nuts.

 

There is a huge problem with counterfeit products on Amazon as well as Ebay. I know there are lots of counterfeit Motorcraft products so I'm sure there are AC Delco ones too. For this reason I tend to bite the bullet on cost and pick up stuff from my local chevy ford and mopar dealerships. At least what I am getting there is more likely to be real.
short video on youtube







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Some of these products I don't even see why it matters if the function is the same. They are all made in China anyways...I rather pay $40 for a counterfeit Coach purse than $299 for a "real" one. (I actually know why....)

 

But where do you draw the line ? If it's a window crank that snaps off in your hand...., yes, no big deal you got burned for a few bucks, but what if it is unintentionally a counterfeit master cylinder on your daughters first car ? One that was not made to any form of safety standards ? Brake pads that contain sawdust, coil packs that catch on fire ? According to Border Patrol Agents they are finding counterfeit heart medications. I still remember reading the MSD 6AL publication about counterfeits. Counterfeiters made an exact duplicate of the exterior box with crap on the inside that kept getting returned for warranty work. They will counterfeit anything that can make a profit and could not care less about you (or your family's ) safety or well being.

not safety related, but may be interesting nonetheless
https://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/24/how...-this-mans-business-on-brink-of-collapse.html


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Valid to have concerns, but I don't truly don't believe these foreign countries are producing parts with saw dust or fillers to sell and make money. I feel they are truly trying to replicate the products and sell them to you cheaper to make money (They want your business). Hell....look at what's made in Taiwan for our cars? Do you think there is only one company in Taiwan that can source and produce the exact same part? Who do you think is providing their materials and tooling? We are in a technological world and with globalization and economies are open and "intellectual property" is being stolen. These small businesses like people who designed an arm strap, a pop socket for your phone, etc...etc. They look to have these products made overseas for pennies and up charged to sell here to you. Have you ever seen the show "shark tank"? Heck look at National Parts Depots dash pad! Made overseas and surprised to see someone else has them and selling them! Where do you draw line? The line is drawn...the dilemma is what is the solution? How do deal with unfair economic practices from China and India? If you can figure out this mess out without starting a war, you have a good profession on your hands...

A solution was proposed....bring companies back to the USA (with incentives), reduce foreign economic dependency...accept the fact not everyone is going to make $20hr. We feel we are entitled....I recently spoke to my daughter about minimum pay....she feels like its a "right" and "you can't live without" a smart phone, cable TV, internet, eating out, or a new car...thus McDonald's employees should get paid enough to afford these things. This does nothing but drive prices up and companies are force to operate beyond US borders.

 

I'm sure there is the odd knock-off manufacturer trying to make a decent product, but the mindset of most is nearly summed up in the excerpt below. It always comes to mind when I think of counterfeit products. It is regarding the use of melamine in food products to mimic protein content, ultimately to drive up profit, with no regard for health. There's your sawdust.

Chinese food companies use the nitrogen-based compound in wheat flour and other products to make these products appear to have more protein. Normally, proteins are the only source of nitrogen in food, so by looking for that element in tests, one can figure out relative protein concentrations. "Whenever someone looks at nitrogen in food, almost always they are looking at the amount of protein in food," Lora Sporny, a professor of nutrition education at Columbia University in New York, told ScientificAmerican.com last year.

During a press conference held during last year's pet food scandal, FDA official Stephen Sundlof said it was possible that the tainted grub was deliberately spiked with melamine to make it appear to have higher protein levels. "The motivation would be economic in that you can take a product that is low in protein," he said, "and add a substance that from a chemistry standpoint makes the product appear to have a higher protein content than it does so it can be marketed at the price."

 

I have new GM AC R45TS plugs from when I owned my new 77,78,80 Z28’s. But not selling anything on eBay cause the Co I use to ship as USPS has their doors locked still and I need their computer to print off the USPS label/address.

Solution to the problem. Stop importing China junk into N.America.