Be Careful with This Third Party "Amazon AU" Store

Ltokkkk on 13/09/2022 - 21:50
Last edited 14/09/2022 - 10:49 by 1 other user

I was trying to buy a filter replacement for my fridge. After a bit of browsing, I ended up buying from Amazon AU, and this is the link. I thought the items are from official Amazon store, since it's showing
"Ships from Amazon AU / Sold by Amazon AU". As I want to get a genuine product, so I chose to buy from their official store.

I receive the item today and am having issues installing it. When I contact Amazon support team, they told me this is a marketplace order and I need to wait for the seller to respond. I'm very confused, so I go back to the item page. It turns out that it is a third party store which has the name "Amazon AU" (for comparison, this is something from real Amazon AU) If you click its name, it will redirect you to the store front. Now I understand why the item is a bit different from my original filter since it's not genuine. It also makes sense why I cannot install it.

I don't know how Amazon allows this to happen, using Amazon AU as a third-party seller name to scam the customer. Not sure if I can get my money back, but want to share this so people can avoid this store.

UPDATE (14/09): The seller agrees to refund me. But nothing happens on Amazon side, the store is still there. Also, I notice in the product title, they're using a from some other alphabet, it's not really samsung.

General Discussion

Related Stores

Amazon AU
Amazon AU
Marketplace

Comments

  • CodeXD on 13/09/2022 - 21:52
    +38

    Ty for your sacrifice.

    I am flabbergasted that Amazon allows such obvious name spoofing wtf

    • HairyChickens on 13/09/2022 - 23:45
      +3

      Damn wtf indeed.

      Try contacting customer support again because you literally have been deliberately misled and let them know of the issue.
      Take screenshots of the store and item page before it gets taken down for whatever reason.

    • Chandler on 14/09/2022 - 08:08

      Yeah I noticed the store name being a link which I thought was odd, clicked through and they only have 3 items for sale? Obvious spoof…

    • iDroid on 14/09/2022 - 09:32
      +1

      If you look at the characters in the name, they've used some special characters that "look" like amazon but is not:

      In HTML: Amazоn AU
      As a Java string: Amaz\u043en AU

      Filthy scum.

      • BewareOfThe Dog on 14/09/2022 - 11:37
        +1

        This looks fairly legit to me, until you notice the o in Amazon is slightly bigger. Certainly would've tricked me, especially after a few Evening beverages. ;)

  • PissLUR on 13/09/2022 - 21:54
    +1

    Just launched? When did you make the purchase?

    • tokkkk on 13/09/2022 - 21:58

      I placed the order on 3rd Sep, took 10 days to arrive.
      This also reminds me the parcel's sender name is not Amazon, but some random name which makes sense.

  • paranoidguy on 13/09/2022 - 21:55

    Try claiming via A-to-Z. I have been in such situation and Amazon helped me fully.

  • AustriaBargain on 13/09/2022 - 21:57
    +6

    I'm sure they are breaking some rules by naming themselves that. Amazon might not give a damn about much else, but they do protect their brand. Surprising that you can even put the word "Amazon" into a store name in the first place without it triggering a filter, and also surprised that Amazon AU wasn't already taken by someone else. It says "just launched" "no feedback yet" on the store page.

    • coffeeinmyveins on 14/09/2022 - 08:16
      +1

      As someone else picked up on in this thread, they've used a different 'o' in the name so their automatic rules didn't pick it up. A bit pathetic really.

  • mskeggs on 13/09/2022 - 22:02
    +11

    Pretty good indication of how much effort Amazon makes to ensure marketplace is above board!

  • ozwog05 on 13/09/2022 - 22:04
    +2

    You'd think Amazon would have some kind of algorithm in place to prevent third-party sellers from using the word 'Amazon' in their store name. Rookie mistake.

  • RichardL on 13/09/2022 - 22:05
    +20

    Interesting that Amazon allows Non-Latin alphabets for store names.

    They are using 'о' (Cyrillic), instead of the standard 'o' (Latin)

    • cookie2 on 13/09/2022 - 22:13
      +6

      Good spot. That's probably how they went unnoticed in showing Amazon au. Otherwise an algorithm probably would've picked up the Amazon reference.

      • coffeeinmyveins on 14/09/2022 - 08:11

        To be fair though, given Amazons size and scale it's absolutely unacceptable that even this went unnoticed.

    • HairyChickens on 13/09/2022 - 23:49
      +2

      That's what I thought as well. Scary to think that scammers are also using these same alphabets for phishing emails.

      I guess the only way to know whether to know it's genuinely Amazon AU is whether you can click through to the store page

  • ajr5k on 13/09/2022 - 23:06

    Oh wow that is sneaky

  • Almost Banned on 13/09/2022 - 23:21

    The ACL imposes obligations on suppliers of goods - which is not necessarily the same as sellers.
    I think you have a potential claim against Amazon - but either way you should contact them, they are usually pretty good to deal with.

  • bargain crazy on 14/09/2022 - 00:53

    Would become a news, if someone with big following on twitter or any other social media post about this incompetency of Amazon AI and letting their name being like this.

  • coffeeinmyveins on 14/09/2022 - 08:15
    +1

    Report the store. That's crazy sneaky.

  • cktftw on 14/09/2022 - 09:04
    -1

    How is this even possible

    • silverrat23 on 14/09/2022 - 11:08

      By using the Cyrillic alphabet or similar. Certain letters across multiple languages have different coding while still looking the same.

      This is why many social media websites have a 'verified' tick to negate the above.

  • Cheaplikethebird on 14/09/2022 - 10:38

    Ask for a refund, when they deny ask to have your request escalated, receive refund.

  • anthman on 14/09/2022 - 12:40

    Thank you for the heads-up, very tricky!

  • CharityCase on 14/09/2022 - 13:18

    Wow just wow, absolutely nasty

  • roddyk on 14/09/2022 - 17:20

    Ok, as an Amazon seller of 4 years - that is one of the most deceptive, misleading store names ever.

    Whatever your state, take Amazon to your local consumer affairs.

    Amazon has a duty of care not
    to allow imposters. Yet, here is a name clearly trying to pose as Amazon AU, and what has Amazon done about it?

    Well, it is their responsibility to do something about it.

    You purchased rightfully thinking you were buying from Amazon. Unless Amazon takes action, Amazon is then endorsing such misleading practices.

    Take Amazon to your local consumer affairs. Trust me, it will be escalated to local Australian management - and Amazon will fold and do whatever it takes to make you happy.

    Regards,

    Rod

  • the Unforgiven on 14/09/2022 - 22:56

    Try buying your filter from here, I had no problems at all
    https://www.ebay.com.au/str/aquapureplus

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