The counterfeit branch of almost any industry is nearly as big as the one it copies, and its volumes often exceed those of the original product. Think of fake Louis Vuitton products — there are probably more fakes made and sold each year than the real thing. The same goes for Beats headphones, designer shoes, sunglasses, and much more.
When it comes to the automotive industry, fake parts are even more dangerous, because the customer has no guarantee that the item they buy will be on par with the original.
It can’t be just as good as the real thing, and this can turn into a disaster even for minor components. When elements of the braking or steering systems are concerned, buying a fake product could lead to death, and others might lose their lives because of this.
Are you willing to risk your life and the lives of anyone around at a given time just for saving a few bucks? Fake rims, or replica rims, come with the same risk. With braking components, the counterfeit parts are bound to fail, and when this happens, things go wrong in more ways than one can imagine.
To fight against counterfeits, automotive suppliers have devised various safety elements. However, people still get tricked into buying fake parts and paying more for a knock-off while thinking they bought a legit component. Brembo has published a guide to spotting fake braking components, which we will detail below.Who is selling the part?
The first thing you need to do before buying a part is to identify the vendor. In the case of Brembo brake parts, the Italian company has a complete list of authorized distributors and see it the vendor is present there. Concerning large chains of automotive part sellers, this may not be necessary, but it is still a good idea to check.
Doing research before a purchase is essential to ensure you will get the best possible price, as well as the product that suits your needs. Furthermore, some vendors provide better customer care, so it is worth checking them before placing an order.
If you want to purchase parts online, check the seller’s credentials and make sure that the payment page is secure (i.e., it has a “https” ahead of the link to the web page). Furthermore, check their refund policy, shipping rates, and call their landline to see if someone answers the phone.
Conduct all business using e-mails or some form of communication that you can use at a later date to prove your have requested a particular product and had agreed upon its price.How much does it cost?
Counterfeit products sell because they have a lower price than the original. That is the only way that the company that makes them can earn huge profits. Unfortunately, the knock-offs never match the original product concerning quality and performance so that the buyer will end up with a dud.
This might not be a problem when buying a pair of flip-flops to wear in your house, but it can mean the difference between life and death on the road when it comes to braking components. Brembo advises customers to keep an eye out for amazing discounts.
The Italian company suggests inquiring the salesperson about why the product is being sold at such a low price when compared to other vendors. Pay attention to what the seller says — it is usually a lie.
Remember that promotional offers in this field will never bring massive discounts, especially when compared to other vendors.Is it available in the parts catalog?
Brembo makes a product catalog each year, to showcase its wide range of components. Almost every major manufacturer does this, so this applies to nearly all the prominent brands that sell car parts. Consult the catalog before any purchase to find the product that best suits your needs.
When looking for a braking component for your car that is supposedly made by Brembo, check the brand’s catalog to see if such a part exists. As the Italian company notes, not all vehicle brands are covered by its range, so it is normal not to find an upgrade for just about any vehicle on the market. Everything that Brembo produces is in the catalog, without exception, Brembo notes.
In the case of OE components, meaning parts with manufacturer specifications, your model of car, truck, or motorcycle should be covered by the catalog. If you find a part that is said to be made by Brembo, but not listed on the offer at all, it is fake. Check the catalog before your buy.Is the package complete?
Counterfeit parts often enter the market in incomplete packaging. In the case of fake Brembo parts, the Italian supplier notes that it has noticed that most counterfeit parts come in the form of calipers alone, instead of a complete kit.
At this point, Brembo observes that it does not sell and has never sold car calipers separate from any other package elements. If someone attempts to sell you a set of Brembo car calipers alone, you are dealing with a fake.
Brembo never sells these parts alone because they have been designed to work with other components, which must also be replaced when the calipers are installed.
Some counterfeiters sell old original Brembo parts that have been repainted or somehow refurbished. Do not buy them and go for new parts instead. Most importantly, you should never get second-hand brakes for your vehicle.
An original braking kit from Brembo should include comprising discs, calipers, adapter clamps, and pads. Do not fit a kit that has not been designed for your vehicle, even if it is an original Brembo package for another car, as it could not match technical specifications and cause a crash.Does it have the anti-counterfeiting card?
At this point, imagine you have the package supposedly containing Brembo parts inside. Check it with caution and search for the “Anti-Counterfeiting Card” Brembo places each of these cards within the instructions for the range of Brembo High-Performance Components, and the card is placed inside a sealed wallet.
Customers must scratch (a coin is recommended) the silver strip on the back of the card to reveal a six-digit code. Once found, the code must be verified on www.original.brembo.com to confirm its pedigree.
The confirmation can be done right at the point of sale. Each cipher is supposed to be unique, so counterfeiters have no shot of buying one product and using the same key over and over.
If the product lacks the card, you might have a counterfeit on your hands. The same goes if the code entered is not validated by the Brembo website. Since you have followed the steps described above, you should be able to get your money back.
Do not forget to ask the technician to bleed the brakes after they are changed, and always drive gently with fresh pads or discs installed. Drive safe and always report scammers to the authorities.
