[Resolved] Dr Boom Communications sold me a fake iPhone 6 case

meumax on 15/10/2014 - 16:32
Last edited 20/01/2015 - 11:04 by 1 other user

MOD: Heading changed from 'selling fake iPhone 6 cases' to 'sold me a fake iPhone 6 case'. OP has received a full refund from Dr Boom. The company has informed us that "The issue was addressed and responded to immediately" See follow up comments here & here

Just bought myself a Speck Candyshell case for my iPhone 6 for $30 from a retailer in Sydney who I will not name for now (in case it turns out I am wrong) and I am worried it may be a fake.

The first clue was the back of the box where I saw printed the words "Designed for Samsung Mobile means that an accessory has been designed to connect specifically to Samsung mobile phone and has been certified by the developer to meet Samsung performance standards".

It goes on: "Samsung is not responsible for the operation of this device or its compliance with safety and regulatory standards."

Why would a box for an iPhone product mention anything to do with Samsung?

Note the incorrect spellings. iPhone is all lowercase and there is no space between Samsung and Electronics.

My suspicions aroused, I then compared the picture of the case from the official Speck web site to the one I have bought and there are slight differences that I can see.

What should I do? Should I go back to the store and accuse them of selling me a fake? Should I contact Speck and ask them if there is a way to verify the case is original? Should I get AMEX to do a charge back?

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Dr Boom Communications

Comments

battler on 15/10/2014 - 16:44

+1

1) contact Speck to verify fakeness (without specifying retailer)
2) when they reply confirming, approach retailer with evidence, get money back (threaten with Fair Trading if need be)
3) (optional) after money back, contact Fair Trading and Speck and they can proceed as they wish.
scrimshaw on 15/10/2014 - 16:45

You can contact Speck and ask what to do if you bought a counterfeit. Fill out a form here.

http://www.speckproducts.com/counterfeit
venusia94 on 15/10/2014 - 19:18

$30 seems cheap considering most retailers don't have them yet (or have just got them in). IIRC the suggested retail price is around $40?
meumax on 16/10/2014 - 14:01

I went back to the store and got a cash refund.

The first woman I spoke to tried to fob me off saying they don't do refunds only exchanges. When I told her I thought it was fake she directed me to the boss to sort it out.

I explained to the boss why I thought it was fake (didn't match online pictures, dodgy text on the box). He straight away gave me $30 from the till. I told him I wasn't blaming him personally and it might be he himself was duped by his supplier. He said he would chase it up with his suppliers.

So now having gotten a refund, but not wanting anyone else to be in the same situation, should I name the store? I notice that the same shop is selling the suspect cases in both their Sydney store and Burwood Westfield stores.
meumax on 17/10/2014 - 11:23

+1

I've discovered there is a web site that you can use to verify real Speck products. It is http://www.realspeck.com

According to the video there, genuine cases will have an authenticity sticker and you can put in the product code on the web site to verify authenticity. The case I bought did not have any of that, so I feel justified in naming and shaming now.

The seller is Dr Boom Communications. In addition to the store I went to in the Pitt St Mall food court, they also have stores in Parammatta and Burwood Westfield.

So to all Ozbargainers, if you're looking for a Speck Candyshell case for your new iPhone 6, please stay clear of these guys.
AssociatedDr Boom @ Dr Boom Communications on 16/01/2015 - 14:37

-5

Dear meumax that's a very bold and defamatory statement you make hiding behind your anonymity.
Dr Boom Communications have been trading for twenty years and have never once been found guilty of knowingly selling anything other than genuine products and for you to so publicly suggest otherwise is simply ridiculous.

We have ten stores and source everything either direct from the manufacturer or through accredited agents. We also have over 45000 items of inventory sourced from around the world… And franchisees who rely on us to supply genuine items.

We are also offered sample products daily and occasionally sellers of illegitimate items leave samples in our stores which may inadvertently end up on our shelves. We were made aware of this situation and were in fact contacted by the local Speck distributor with who we have had a lengthy association and are in fact one of their largest customers… We have monthly purchase records for tens of thousands of dollars of Speck cases from them and they investigated this claim and found we had no case to answer…

The only truth in your post is that you brought a problem to our attention and it was addressed immediately with a full refund… Subsequently we conducted a full audit of all stores and found 6 items that had not been purchased by us…

So either retract your unfounded generalised allegation or contact me on 1800DRBOOM to discuss further or give me some contact details please.
- [Deactivated] on 17/01/2015 - 16:51
  
  +4
  
  It's hardly the OP's problem nor does he have to retract the post, if this line is true: "Subsequently we conducted a full audit of all stores and found 6 items that had not been purchased by us".
  
  You had counterfeit products in your stores, it doesn't matter if they are bought by you or someone else. They were being sold to customers, then that's a problem.
AssociatedDr Boom @ Dr Boom Communications on 19/01/2015 - 19:51

-3

Another anonymous know it all that lurks in the internet discrediting legitimate retailers, who employ staff, pay rent and taxes contribute to the local economy and you wonder why retailers are going on line at the expense of jobs and local infrastructure?? … At no time have we or did we knowingly offer any product to any customer that we did not buy as legitimate or have receipts from local distributors and suppliers for … We found six samples that were left in one store five of which were destroyed one of which I can only assume may have quite innocently or accidentally been picked up by a customer from the counter on which they were left or may have been hung up in error … There is a huge difference between a mistake that was immediately rectified and made good and this persons highly damaging and defamatory statement which by the way has not been proven by anyone with any legitimacy or credibility and was dismissed by the local distributor upon investigation. The facts seems to count for nothing in your kangaroo courthouse called the internet!
So if you are both adamant and want to publicly make these statements why not have the courage of your convictions and make them under your own name with your own personal details… its so easy to be smug and self righteous behind the cloak of anonymity… if as you say the comment is appropriate and you have decided this to be the case based on ??? Years of legal training??? A full knowledge of the facts??? Your years of experience in copy right and IP law??? then give your contact details and we can have that discussion appropriately. You are welcome to contact us on 1 800 DR BOOM and ask for the operations manager.. it's a free call!
Let me also ask you ….If you buy a meal from a national fast food chain and get food poisoning are you going to post "Hungry Ronalds selling poisoned food to consumers" A national hardware chain sold tens of millions of dollars worth of faulty electrical cable that could ignite, burn buildings and result in fatalities I haven't seen too many posts screaming "electrical cable sold by xxxxxx could kill"….and that has been acknowledged as fact by the retailer and their owners.
Every business just like every person makes mistakes they should be judged on how they respond and in consideration of the facts and circumstances before being publicly stoned which is what posts like this do…
- TechAddict on 20/01/2015 - 23:50
  
  +2
  
  You accuse the OP if hiding their details. What's your details or is your personal name legally known as Dr Boom?
- StarkIndustries on 22/01/2015 - 20:41
  
  +4
  
  I'll be sure to tell all my mates about what a dodgy company you guys are. How unprofessional.
  - altomic on 23/01/2015 - 23:37
    
    +6
    
    I don't even think he is a real Doctor.
Japius on 20/01/2015 - 12:55

+4

@DrBoom seems to be very defensive 3 months after the Op had the issues settled with the store seeming to agree that it did occur and then issuing a refund.

Speaking personally, having read everything posted the only part of this thread that makes me not want to deal with Dr Boom is the responses by Dr Boom themselves
- Crownie on 20/01/2015 - 13:25
  
  I would be very defensive too if my business has been name and shamed on OzBargain for 3 months.
  Quarterly sales could be down as a result.
  Negative exposure can effect Dr. Boom to the point of store closure.
  Statements made by meumax can be considered libel and slander.
  If a loss of business to Dr. Boom ca be monetarily quantified, then a lawsuit could arise.
  What good comes out of that?
  - TechAddict on 20/01/2015 - 23:47
    
    +1
    
    That's only true if not proven but Dr Boom has admitted to selling unknown products by saying "Subsequently we conducted a full audit of all stores and found 6 items that had not been purchased by us".
    
    It is the responsibility of the shop to be aware of their products especially once a product has been sold.
  - meumax on 22/01/2015 - 17:47
    
    +1
    
    I would never make such allegations unless I was certain they were fact. I think the photos I have provided now prove my point. I just don't want anyone else to be disappointed by buying a fake from these guys.
- [Deactivated] on 20/01/2015 - 18:01
  
  +1
  
  Couldn't agree more.
  While it's true that the problem has now been resolved, BUT it did happen (according to both the OP and Dr Boom's replies), and I think it is not right to tell the OP to "retract" the post.
  I'd agree with Dr.Boom if they asked the OP to "rephrase" or "review" the post that the mods have just done for the OP.
  
  Dr.Boom's replies sound like it's the OP's fault to find out about the counterfeit item.
  I know I won't likely buy anything from them, not because of the counterfeit cases (really can't care any less, as cases are made to be damaged), it would be because of the replies I see here.
meumax on 21/01/2015 - 08:50

+3
I don't for a second believe the explanation that there were 6 dodgy cases that somehow ended up in the store without their knowledge. I have seen the fake cases at two stores, the Pitt St mall one and the Burwood Westfield one. All cases were the same fake ones.

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Fake cases hanging on stand at Burwood Westfield. Note that the rubber corner rubber line at the top left, runs all the way and connects with the rubber surrounding the camera cutout.
http://i58.tinypic.com/2laudyb.jpg

Real Candyshell. Note that the rubber line at the top left does not meet with the rubber surrounding the camera cuttout. Also note the difference in packaging between the fake and real cases.
http://i59.tinypic.com/fpbfgw.jpg

Fake cases hanging on stand at Burwood Westfield. Note that they are selling colour combinations that don't even exist. Curious hmmm. You can see all the official colour combos here: http://www.speckproducts.com/candyshell-cases-for-iphone-6.h…
If you go to a Dr Boom store you will see plenty more colour combos that don't exist.
http://i58.tinypic.com/fd9k4y.jpg

Real Candyshell. Note the holographic sticker with authenticity code which can be verified at http://www.realspeck.com . The fake cases don't have this feature
http://i58.tinypic.com/t0s3zq.jpg
- A3Australia on 22/01/2015 - 13:31
  
  " I have seen the fake cases at two stores, the Pitt St mall one and the Burwood Westfield one"
  
  Hmmm… Interesting.
  
  So, how many cases did you observe at these two stores?
  
  When did you see them? Was it before, or after, the 5 supposedly suspect cases were supposedly removed from stores (according to the mysterious Dr Boom)?
  
  I think that the indignant Dr Boom has not been honest with us OzBargainers.
  - meumax on 22/01/2015 - 15:11
    
    +1
    
    A3, it was all the iPhone 6 candyshell cases. My pictures already show 4 just at the Burwood store alone. I can assure you that all the rest on the shelf were the same fake cases too.
    - A3Australia on 22/01/2015 - 15:21
      
      As I asked - "how many cases did you observe at these two stores?"
      
      it was all the iPhone 6 candyshell cases.
      
      4 just at the Burwood store alone. I can assure you that all the rest on the shelf were the same fake cases too.
      
      How many? 10, 50, 100?
      
      What about these cases for other brands of phone?
      
      I am just going to go check the Bondi Junction store.
    - meumax on 22/01/2015 - 15:48
      
      +1
      
      @A3Australia:
      This long shot shows 18 rows of fake iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus cases. I think each row is 5 deep, so that makes 18 X 5 = 90 cases.
      
      http://i.imgur.com/MHXklMP.jpg?1
      
      The iPhone 5 cases (4 rows bottom left) appear to be legit.
    - A3Australia on 22/01/2015 - 15:59
      
      @meumax:
      
      This long shot shows 18 rows of fake iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus cases. I think each row is 5 deep, so that makes 18 X 5 = 90 cases.
      
      So, photographic evidence that the person posting here as "Dr Boom", and alleging to be connected with the Dr Boom Communication company as their "operations manager", is a lying scoundrel.
A3Australia on 22/01/2015 - 13:38

Are these counterfeits as well?

http://www.drboom.com.au/shop-dr-boom/cases-covers/filter/ma…
- meumax on 22/01/2015 - 15:15
  
  From what I could see from casual observation of the packaging , their iPhone 5 stuff looks legit. But I did not scrutinise them as much as the iPhone 6 stuff as it wasn't what I wanted to buy. Make sure you check carefully if you want to buy anything from them.
[Deactivated] on 28/01/2015 - 17:25

+1

this thread is great. No one should ever buy from these stores again just by going off 'Dr Boom' comments in this thread alone.

what a pathetic way to handle a problem, even IF they didn't buy the fake goods, how did they scan in the cash register and have a price ?

it's all quite laughable. screw you Mr Boom :)
meumax on 02/02/2015 - 14:37

+3

I just went past the Pitt St Mall store at lunch today. It looks as though they have finally pulled the fake cases and are selling legit cases now.

Unfortunately I saw that they are still selling the fake cases at Burwood Westfield when I was there yesterday.
- [Deactivated] on 02/02/2015 - 14:49
  
  haha maybe they were 'accidentally' left in the store and staff then 'accidentally' entered the barcodes into their computer systems and gave them an accidental price to sell accidentally to customers
  
  Mr Boom is a liar in any case
  - A3Australia on 02/02/2015 - 22:23
    
    Mr Boom is a liar in any case
    
    Dr. Boom is a liar, and the Mods should modify this statement:-
    
    "The company has informed us that "The issue was addressed and responded to immediately""
meumax on 18/02/2015 - 14:59

+1

Latest update. They've stopped selling the fake cases at Burwood Westfield as well. I'm guessing they've slowly phased out the selling of the fake cases at all their stores.

This is good but let's be clear about this, my photos show that they have been selling fake cases since October 2014 until February 2015. This is unacceptable in my view. Hopefully after being busted this time they won't dare pull something like this again.
A3Australia on 23/03/2015 - 17:17

+2

Well, dumbo me purchased a supposedly genuine Apple Ligjtning cable from the Bondi Junction DrBoom Store for $25.

It resulted in an error message when used with an iPhone 6. Thinking that there could be a problem with the phone, I made an appointment and went to the Bondi Junction Apple Store today with cable, cable box, and iPhone.

Turned out that it was an obvious (to them) counterfeit. It would be very difficult to tell from the outer box - unless you had the genuine Apple package to compaire. The quality of the Colour printing on the front of the box was not as crisp and clear. The label on the base of the box was wrong (it included a quantity) and it was slightly greyer than on the genuine box. The small orange/red sticker used to open the package was 'wrong'.

The cable could also be identified as a fake by the Apple Genius. Of course it would not work with iPhone 6 and 6+ but did work with previous models.

Please don't believe that Dr Boom has cleaned up their dodgy practices. They obviously have not.
A3Australia on 24/03/2015 - 01:55

+2

Looks like DrBoom has once again revealed their true 'colours'.

Using the same IP address as your original account to open two 'Ghost' accounts! You must be as dumb as I was when I purchased your counterfeit Apple cable..

Then using those TWO ghost accounts to post glowing but fake/false reviews of DrBloom, and mentioning that their purchases had been checked and confirmed as NOT being counterfeits. Tsk tsk.

Apple Bondi Junction did not appear to be interested in counterfeits of their products being openly sold about 50 meters from their store. Perhaps NSW Fair Trading will show more interest?
- TechAddict on 07/05/2015 - 18:39
  
  +3
  
  BOOM! Busted!

[Resolved] Dr Boom Communications sold me a fake iPhone 6 case

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