US Customs seizing record numbers of fake AirPods
Around 360,000 counterfeit wireless headphones, including AirPods Pro have been seized by US officials since October 2020.
AirPods Pro
The recent seizure of fake AirPods in Cincinnati has proven to be only one of very many examples of counterfeits being intercepted. New figures from US Customs and Border Protection say that around 360,000 fake wireless headphones worth $62.2 million have been seized in the past nine months.
According to The Information, the figures are not broken down to reveal how many are specifically Apple products. However, it claims that the AirPods Pro are generally popular with counterfeiters because of their higher price than regular AirPods.
"Counterfeit products deliver an inferior experience, and they can often be dangerous," an Apple spokesperson told The Information. "Apple has teams around the world working with law enforcement, customs, merchants, social media companies and e-commerce sites to remove counterfeits."
"It's important for customers to have the confidence they are buying a genuine product, and not being tricked into thinking they're buying something that they're not," continued the spokesperson.
The figure of 360,000 counterfeits comes from the US Custom's fiscal year to date, which began in October 2020. For the whole of 2020, the agency seized 295,000 fakes, worth $61.7 million.
In comparison, for the whole of 2019, US Customs seized wireless headphones valuing up to $3.3 million.
Previously, the US Chamber of Commerce estimated in 2016 that the value of seized counterfeit goods represented only 2.5% of all those in existence. Apple maintains a dedicated anti-counterfeit team of its own.
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AirPods Pro
The recent seizure of fake AirPods in Cincinnati has proven to be only one of very many examples of counterfeits being intercepted. New figures from US Customs and Border Protection say that around 360,000 fake wireless headphones worth $62.2 million have been seized in the past nine months.
According to The Information, the figures are not broken down to reveal how many are specifically Apple products. However, it claims that the AirPods Pro are generally popular with counterfeiters because of their higher price than regular AirPods.
"Counterfeit products deliver an inferior experience, and they can often be dangerous," an Apple spokesperson told The Information. "Apple has teams around the world working with law enforcement, customs, merchants, social media companies and e-commerce sites to remove counterfeits."
"It's important for customers to have the confidence they are buying a genuine product, and not being tricked into thinking they're buying something that they're not," continued the spokesperson.
The figure of 360,000 counterfeits comes from the US Custom's fiscal year to date, which began in October 2020. For the whole of 2020, the agency seized 295,000 fakes, worth $61.7 million.
In comparison, for the whole of 2019, US Customs seized wireless headphones valuing up to $3.3 million.
Previously, the US Chamber of Commerce estimated in 2016 that the value of seized counterfeit goods represented only 2.5% of all those in existence. Apple maintains a dedicated anti-counterfeit team of its own.
Keep up with everything Apple in the weekly AppleInsider Podcast -- and get a fast news update from AppleInsider Daily. Just say, "Hey, Siri," to your HomePod mini and ask for these podcasts, and our latest HomeKit Insider episode too.If you want an ad-free main AppleInsider Podcast experience, you can support the AppleInsider podcast by subscribing for $5 per month through Apple's Podcasts app, or via Patreon if you prefer any other podcast player.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
Conspiracy between Apple and US Customs Service? Wow! A bold claim with no apparent facts to back it up.
Same with all other Apple products.
Also, I wouldn’t call Onkyo a small company. They’ve been huge pre-iPhone era. I think Apple has every right to destroy products that copy their earbud designs. Luckily, Onkyo chooses to stay original.
As far as Onkyo, I do acknowledge having heard of them in the past. You are right that Apple should be able to go after AirPods copycats especially since Samsung, Sony, JBL, Anker etc. have had a lot of success with wireless earbuds that don't resemble AirPods at all. Of the major "branded" wireless earbuds, only OnePlus made AirPods knockoffs (and theirs were the only ones from a major manufacturer that were seized by US Customs).
With regards to all the complainers. There ARE a lot of cheap knockoff Airpods that are being sold as if they were real Apple Airpods. Logos and everything. I've seem them in person in Japan at little shops and online as well, and I suspect other no name knockoffs of Samsung and other major brand wireless ear buds. I suspect that is what the article is referring to mostly.
Apple (and any other companies) can't and don't claim that true wireless ear buds are there's exclusively. But they will have copyright and patent on certain elements and branding. If there are knockoffs trying to copy this, that is what is not legal. Duh!
Articles like this emphasize sensationalism with reality being flexible. All high quality brand merchandise will have fakes put on the market. Rolex to Apple. We know where many of these fakes originate come from (a fair amount of trolls come from their too) and that's a secret to no-one of average thought capability. When millions of an item are sold and customs confiscate a couple of boxes of fakes, that's not even newsworthy. It's called business as usual. The sun rises in the east type news.
Simple rules, don't buy from low reputation outlets. If the lowest price seen on an item is 190$ but there is a fly by night online retailer selling them for 100$, Think! T
Also, these will not work as AirPods do and you'll learn that quick. They can't because of proprietary hardware and software that it runs. You'll also find out real quick how you may not get refunded. Play it smart, but from a reputable retailer. Bam, you don't have to worry about fakes.