Walmart^® Caught Selling Counterfeits

Fakes again found on the retailers website.

February 1, 2017, Los Angeles, CA – Global name recognition and consumer perceived credibility is a significant advantage in marketing (and profiting) from consumer goods. Consumers place their confidence in, and rely on Walmart's credibility to purchase authentic goods. But, sometimes that confidence is misplaced.

Walmart was caught again selling counterfeit items on its website. The Counterfeit Report^®, a popular consumer advocate and authorized agent for trademark holders and manufacturers, found counterfeit 64GB microSDHC^® computer flash memory cards listed on Walmart’s website. A consumer Counterfeit Product Alert^® is published to warn consumers about the common fake item.

The microSDHC^® trademark is owned by SD-3C, LLC, who confirmed the products are fake; “Products bearing the microSDHC® trademark with capacities above 32GB (e.g. 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB etc.) are all fake products.” The microSDHC® format is defined in version 2.0 of the SD specification, supporting cards with capacities up to 32GB. In other words, the item is a fake – there is no such authentic microSDHC product, or product in the Sony product line.

Despite two calls to Walmart and over 140 minutes on the phone and online chat services with Walmart Customer Service, two supervisors, and an escalations support specialist, no one contacted at Walmart could identify a counterfeit support policy. However, The Counterfeit Report was assured that a manager would return the call within the hour, and the listing would be removed. Days later, the listings remained and no call from Walmart management -- hardly an acceptable customer service experience or customer protection effort.

This counterfeit 64GB microSDHC memory card is listed on Walmart's website in lots of 5 items.

Would you know that this Sony 64GB microSDHC listed on Walmart's website is a fake?

Consumers cannot determine the actual memory capacity of a counterfeit memory card by simply viewing the capacity displayed on their computer, phone or camera. The counterfeiters are too smart for that, and simply overwrite the real memory capacity with a false capacity to match any capacity they print on the counterfeit packaging and card.

The removable microSD memory storage card is an amazing, convenient and trouble-free storage device. When it works, it is unnoticed. When you get a fake, it will be the very core of your frustration, despair and pain – your data will likely disappear and your equipment may be damaged.

e-Commerce websites have become ideal and successful platforms for counterfeiters and dishonest sellers to distribute $1.7 trillion in counterfeit products in the U.S. Recently, Walmart^® was found to be selling counterfeit Duracell^® batteries and microSDHC^® cards on its website, and has again succumbed to the deceptive products. The sales may benefit retailer’s short term profits, but downstream consequences and loss of consumer confidence can be severe.