SanDisk use fake CE marking?

asim18 · 29 Mar 2009 at 00:00

I've never noticed this before, but the other day I purchased an SDHC card from WHSmiths, and it has the fake CE mark on the package!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CE_mark

Is the card a fake?

V4NT0M · 29 Mar 2009 at 00:02

Show us.

Spyhop · 29 Mar 2009 at 00:02

Dunno, but buying flash memory is a bit of a minefield.

I get the impression that fakes are all over the place, not just on eBay.

asim18 · 29 Mar 2009 at 00:03

Ok, I'll take a piccy in a min.

Greenlizard0 · 29 Mar 2009 at 00:05

wush said:
Dunno, but buying flash memory is a bit of a minefield.

I get the impression that fakes are all over the place, not just on eBay.

This. I don't even think sometimes reputable stores know what they're really getting.

I remember sending one back to an eBay seller that totally underperformed (and sometimes not at all), and thinking whether it was actually not faulty, just not what it claimed it was. It's possible that he/she probably doesn't know that his/her entire batch could be rubbish.

This could be why :

Wiki linked above said:
Fake CE marks

Some products have a fake CE mark that stands for China Export. The two letters are close together, not spaced as in the original mark. Products carrying the China Export CE mark are not confirming conformance to European specifications. It is probable that the Chinese CE mark has been intentionally designed to be confused with the European CE mark.

I never knew that

V4NT0M · 29 Mar 2009 at 00:07

I would have thought WHSmiths would have a reputable source, unless it came back as some kind of refurb...

Spyhop · 29 Mar 2009 at 00:08

So what percentage of flash memory on eBay do you reckon is fake? It must be in the 90s

V4NT0M · 29 Mar 2009 at 00:11

wush said:
So what percentage of flash memory on eBay do you reckon is fake? It must be in the 90s

Easily, if not all lol

DominicStar · 29 Mar 2009 at 00:11

I'd be interested to see it. My mother has had two from the channel islands that dont work.

Richiev4 · 29 Mar 2009 at 00:12

Marked - Waiting for Pic

BlackDragon · 29 Mar 2009 at 00:14

I've never seen a CE mark that looks like the real one on the wiki page. I just checked a few things now (Sennheiser HD555 box, chargers, Belkin bluetooth dongle) and they all have the fake CE mark :-/

Greenlizard0 · 29 Mar 2009 at 00:20

My Microsoft Natural 4000 keyboard with an authenticity sticker on the back doesn't have the real symbol. :eek:

asim18 · 29 Mar 2009 at 00:24

Fake CE mark (on SanDisk packaging):

Real CE mark (on logitech usb reciever):

Front of sandisk package:

Richiev4 · 29 Mar 2009 at 00:27

The CE mark on the disk looks fake to me, I have just checked my iPod, Laser mouse and PS3 BT Remote - they all look OK, Like your second image.

reflux · 29 Mar 2009 at 00:30

Could be short for China Export, according to the Wikipedia article.

asim18 · 29 Mar 2009 at 00:33

reflux said:
Could be short for China Export, according to the Wikipedia article.

But why would sandisk want to use a fake CE mark? They've even put Made in China on the back of the package and the card itself.

aslco · 29 Mar 2009 at 00:33

whaaaattt they look the same!?

Steve2000 · 29 Mar 2009 at 00:33

Aren't 99% of electrical items Chinese Exports anyway?

V4NT0M · 29 Mar 2009 at 00:34

The problem I think is that it's not "Fake" just not meant for distribution in the EU... hmmm

J.B · 29 Mar 2009 at 00:35

Maybe Im being an idiot but Im finding it tricky to see the difference between real and fake.