Beware of fake plugs
 

A little back story first, so you can learn from my mistakes:

My two Nissans needed plugs replaced since they reached 100k miles. Went to my local O'Reilly's to price some OEM plugs (NGK double plat.). $10 a pop, ouch! I needed 12 of them (V8 and I4). I personally run NGK plugs on anything and everything I can, yes even on my square. Its a very high quality plug and its one that has never given me any issues.

After a few minutes of searching on Ebay and making an offer, I had 12 plugs being shipped to me for $83! What a deal I thought.
A few days later plugs arrived, I give them a once over. They looked good, or in other words nice and shiny.

A couple weeks later I finally get around to installing them...as I'm removing the old plugs and comparing them to the new plugs I noticed a couple subtle differences, but I really didn't give them much thought.

As I finally get around to installing the final plug I noticed that the build quality of this particular plug looks terrible...that should've been a red flag...but I was too proud of myself for having saved $50, so on it went.
I go to start up my vehicles and they crank a little longer than usual, uh oh! They both start to run rough, but smooth out after about 10 seconds...double uh oh!

I drive them around the block and everything seems to be running fine now. I convince myself I was just overreacting...

After a couple of days, I'm still thinking about that last sorry looking spark plug I installed...I start to wonder if there's even such a thing as counterfeit spark plugs...I decide to do a quick Google search...triple uh oh!! and an AAAAHHHHH SHHHHIIII......

I find that NGK plugs are one of the most commonly counterfeited spark plugs.
I run to O'reilly's and buy a set from them and pull the set of plugs I installed and do a comparison...this is what I found....
BTW NGK has an article on their website on how to spot counterfeit plugs.

Re: Beware of fake plugs
 

Here's the pics for comparison

Re: Beware of fake plugs
 

and more...

Re: Beware of fake plugs
 

This kinda shocked me but don't,In china anything made has a counterfeit plant making just that counterfeit goods from shoes to iphones.

Re: Beware of fake plugs
 

Have you tried to contact the seller or eBay?

Re: Beware of fake plugs
 

I've contacted the seller but haven't heard back yet. I'm guessing because its the weekend. If I haven't heard back by Monday then I'll notify Ebay.

Re: Beware of fake plugs
 

If they can make a nickel on it, they will counterfeit it.

Re: Beware of fake plugs
 

I hope the seller does the right thing and gives your money back,If not we call it paying for your education when you get burned.Only thing that does scare me now is they make fake px meds that look like the real deal,And they are slowly leaking in the uk market so the usa market won't be far behind.

Re: Beware of fake plugs
 

I heard back from the seller, and guess where he says he purchases his plugs...from the UK.
He said he'll refund but I'll have to pay return shipping. I'm trying to get him to cover it but if it's too much of a hassle I might just go ahead and pay for the shipping.

Re: Beware of fake plugs
 

So long as the seller was in the U.S., it's his responsibility to pay return shipping. You can open a case through eBay for SNAD - Significantly Not As Described, since they're counterfeit. He can "send" you a return shipping label through eBay as well. No need for you to be out one red cent...

Jerry