> As the article stated, Amazon has become well known as being customer-centric almost to a fault. I am confident when ordering anything from Amazon because I know that returns are quick and painless.

i'm the opposite at this point. the surge in counterfeit, or low quality chinese shit comingled with previously good listings on amazon, has pushed me to let my prime lapse after six years, and i simply don't trust amazon for things other than books at this point. maybe that's just me and the things i shop for (mostly <$50 purchases), but returning things through the mail is a fucking pain and a huge friction.

I don't think I've ever seen a counterfeit on Amazon. If you find them easily can you show me an example listing? I don't know if I'm gullible, or I don't browse the kind of products where they're found, or what.

There's a big problem with it. Even Apple "has found nearly 90 percent of [their chargers and cables] to be counterfeit" on Amazon.[1]

You could also read the reviews on listing for products such as the popular Yeti cooler mugs, and you'll find many people complaining about getting fakes (wrong color lid, etc.)

[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-20/apple-man...

*edited for minor typo

EDIT: Ok, examples of listings

Here's one: http://a.co/iHNIttV

Some links in here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13924546

Pic used to sell fake Snuggie here: http://www.slate.com/articles/business/the_bills/2016/12/how...

Screenshot of knockoff diaper listing: http://jenniferlabit.com/2016/07/21/counterfeit-baby-product...

Knockoff phone case: https://learntogrowwealthonline.com/does-amazon-sell-fake-pr...

Examples of stolen art listings: https://www.fusionidol.com/pages/artists-unite-against-amazo... and http://theartofvikki.com/stolen/stolen.php

Fake chargers: https://www.dailydot.com/news/amazon-marketplace-conterfeit-...

Knockoff pillow case: https://www.geekwire.com/2015/amazon-to-face-trial-over-knoc...

This one is just amusing: https://the-digital-reader.com/2016/07/20/amazons-counterfei...

Mini PCs with pirated Windows license: https://www.howtogeek.com/267701/i-got-scammed-by-a-counterf...

Fake Apple chargers: http://www.iphoneincanada.ca/news/counterfeit-apple-adapters...

Fake Birkenstocks: http://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/08/amazons-chinese-counterfeit-p...

Those are reports of the problem - I get that it's true - but do any of those links actually point to product listings which are clearly fake? I don't think I've ever been sent a fake product, or seen any suspect listings. Maybe I'm gullible and have been buying fake all this time?

Check out my edit

I don't buy anything on Amazon that has less than 4 stars and hundreds of reviews. Even 4 stars is a bit low for me.

I don't think I've ever bought a counterfeit product on Amazon.

I looked through all your links, and most of the counterfeit items had less than 100 reviews and almost all couldn't even get a 3 star rating. It's pretty easy to tell that those items are counterfeit actually.

>i simply don't trust amazon for things other than books at this point.

And you cant even trust books https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13924546

> returning things through the mail is a fucking pain and a huge friction.

If your stuff is relatively small item things, you can use their locker system to return items. It's somewhat better than going thru the postal system or UPS or such, but you'd still have to physically go to one.

Have you tried to return something at a Walmart? It's actually one of the easiest thing I've done in a store. No questions asked. Show your receipt and you got a refund. They'll coupon and price match too without batting an eye.