Buyer beware: 'Tis the season for faux iPods
But if a deal seems too good to be true, it likely is. Apple's various iPods have sold millions of units worldwide, and the unscrupulous are trying to cash in on that trend by selling knock-offs.
Clever copies of Apple's iPod shuffle and nano models have popped up for sale on the Internet, often priced substantially cheaper than the real deal. New York resident Jake Crandall bought his phony iPod nano off eBay in early November for US$99.99, $50 cheaper than a store-bought version.
"The first thing I noticed was the packaging," Crandall said. "It was in a crinkled sleeve, just not as clean and neat as something Apple would put out."
It's easier for sellers to peddle a fake over the Internet, since customers don't get a chance to examine the product before they buy, but it's far from the only place fakes are sold.
Last November in Georgia, the Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs ran a sting operation that uncovered non-Apple mp3 players being sold at kiosks called iPod World in several Atlanta-area malls. Even though none of the electronics were authentic Apple products, the investigators found the appearance, design, packaging, function and pricing were virtually identical to those of the genuine Apple items. One salesman was said to have demonstrated the features of a fake by using a genuine iPod.
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