Counterfeit ATmega328s

ATmega Slugs

Sparkfun just got lumbered with counterfeit ATmega328s:

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Makes for interesting reading. Check out the comments also.

Cheers Don...

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Don McKenzie

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Don McKenzie
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just followed through a little more:

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name of the rip off company is: Shenzhen Henglian Electronics Co.

Cheers Don...

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Don McKenzie

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Don McKenzie

ATmega328s:

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"Sparkfun sells counterfeit ICs" isn't a headline I would like to see if I was running a company... :)

Surprisingly, some people actually seem to be buying them...

Reply to
Bob

Yes, of course: buy it for $0.50 and sell it for $5.00 on eBay :-) But the comments clarifies it: Sparkfun was very naive in thinking it could be used for soldering training and removed it very fast from their shop.

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Frank Buss, fb@frank-buss.de
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Reply to
Frank Buss

Yeah probably no good for solder training either, probably won't tin properly etc

Reply to
Ray

It is a big problem in the industry and the longer the lead times get, the more the counterfeiters benefit

Reply to
Bill Naylor

They got that just like good components then...

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Geo
Reply to
Geo

"Bill Naylor" wrote

It is a HUGE problem.

Hitachi (Renesas) suffer from it too.

It is usually visually obvious by looking at the package. The people doing this are pretty stupid.

Reply to
Peter

Sparkfun needs to raise hell over this. They need to contact Atmel, the office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and the trade attache of the Embassy of China. Point out how counterfeiting invites trade sanctions. Since the USTR is currently pushing the "Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement", ask what sanctions would be appropriate here. For example, seizing all shipments into the US from that vendor might be appropriate.

John Nagle

Reply to
John Nagle

I agree 100% John,

Quoting SF: "We were in a pinch and didn't vet the supplier like we should have. Live and learn."

Doesn't sound like SK may be going to pursue this, YET THEY MUST. We as customers, are paying for it after all.

A well known Atmel employee already reads and posts to comp.robotics.misc, so I would think that Atmel will be aware by now.

Cheers Don...

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Don McKenzie

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Don McKenzie

Interesting...

Thanks Don.

Reply to
Win7

ATmega328s:

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I think that if you can't find the culprit, it is meaningless to file complaints.

Probably a good idea to pay through an escrow. Check that the companyy has existed for a significant amount of time before you start to trade with them.

You probably want to have a photo of the package. Buying a component today, which is manufactured in 2007, has it's own problems.

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Best Regards
Ulf Samuelsson
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Reply to
Ulf Samuelsson

If you complain to the U.S. Trade Representative about counterfeiting, to the Embassy of China, and the China Semiconductor Industry Association, you might be able to find them. China does require all businesses to be registered with the Government, and there will be a paper trail somewhere.

In particular, the China Semiconductor Industry Association might well be interested. They're trying to make their industry more respectable. The last thing they want is companies boycotting China sources.

Also recognize that Chinese law tends to be rather tough. It's hard to get the attention of the authorities in China, but once you do, pain will be applied to somebody.

John Nagle

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John Nagle

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