8/28/2006 11:23 PM
From: YK Chow <memory-r-us>
To: Jeff Bonner <voxluna>

Hello Jeff
 
This model is a well-known counterfeit Sony.
 
Please find attached a copy of the progam and please do not distribute the program.
 
Please remove the '_' character from the end by renaming the filename and please send a copy of the output to us after you have run it against your unit.
 
Thanks.

 
On 8/29/06, Jeff Bonner <voxluna> wrote:

    I did some further tests on the drive.  I found that, while it does
    seem to have 256MB of capacity, and writes to and then reads from the
    drive, it is unbelievably slow.  I originally ascribed this to the
    fact that I had used a multitude of MP3s, instead of one single file.
    But a single 250MB executable took 7 minutes to write, and 5 to read.
    That's just plain wrong.

    I've attached photos... feel free to use them in whatever manner you
    like.  I'm going to file a Not As Described with PayPal right after
    sending this, and I also have to deal with eBay.  I gave a positive
    feedback, because I was in a hurry and only cursorily inspected the
    drive to make sure it just worked -- without taking into account its
    performance.  I'm going to try to get the feedback removed, but
    regardless I will add a follow-up that warns other buyers.  The worst
    thing is, I checked through all that feedback before I bought it (as I
    always do) and not a one of them had a warning to this effect.

    This guy is continuing to sell the drives at a Buy It Now price of
    $14.95... I thought I had lucked out bidding at $6, but now I see the
    error of my ways.  I would also note that the item is not exactly as
    shown in the auction... in particular the neckstrap logo is much
    different, and the wording on the drive is in different places.

    If you send me the verification program, I'll let you know the results
    of that too.  Thanks.

    Here is his personal information:

    Auction # 300019239879
    User ID:    colordrives
    Name:   Myung S Kim
    Company:    Colordrives
    City:   Chino Hills
    State:   CA
    Country:   United States
    Phone:   (213) 820-6481
    Registered Since:   Friday, Aug 16, 2002 10:02:12 PST


    On 8/28/06, YK Chow <memory-r-us> wrote:

    > Correct, there is no such Sony Vaio USB Flash Drives offered by Sony.
    >
    > Please do send the pictures of the item to us.
    >
    > We are gathering all sorts of fake flash memory pictures to warn other
    > eBayers about large scale of couterfeiting activities on eBay. If you like
    > to share your item pictures to help others like we are helping you now,
    > please take some CLEAR digital camera via macro shots against white paper
    > background (you need to set your digital camera to macro mode before taking
    > close distance shots) of the unit (front, back, side edge, bottom edge) and
    > its front and back packaging and email to us. Sometimes flatbed scanned
    > pictures are better than digital camera shots.
    >
    > > I read with interest your 'Fake USB Drives' review.  I just purchased a
    > > Sony Vaio drive from a seller in California... I assumed they were
    > > overstock/liquidation due to the funny logo on the neckstrap.  Never
    > > considered it might be counterfeit, but the price is close to what a 256MB
    > > drive goes for retail.  Anyway, the drive does work and it does appear to be
    > > a full 256MB (what I bid on); it looks like the silver with black cap photo
    > > you show.  When you say all Vaio drives are counterfeit, do you mean it's
    > > some kind of unauthorized sale because it didn't come with a notebook?  Or
    > > that it is a knockoff not even made by Sony?  Thanks in advance.

-- 
YK