(WARNING)Auto Meter knockoff tachs

[74strokerbronco]

This is probably old news I had missed along the way and maybe a few years old even
but thought I would pass it along.
I recently purchased a NEW (nib) autometer 5" carbon fiber monster tach with shift lite
model 4899 . got it off eprey (first mistake)
got it all mounted and wired and what do you know wouldn't work off the tach wire from my Mallory hyfire 6al like a true autometer will
started to contact the seller and bam message from ebay that they had taken the auction off ebay for some reason they couldn't disclose and to contach the seller.
when I finally did contact the seller informing him the tach does not work and appears to be defective and also ? him about why ebay had removed the auction and any info about the auction his reply was simple.
(It's a replica from china send it back and i'll refund you 100% no questions asked !!)

wow looked good right down to the packaging, instructions etc even listing the actual phone and techline for the real autometer as well as there web site but all is just a cheap copy that will not work with ignition boxes and probably not even off a coil negative wire up.( didn't bother to test if it would work on a coil wire up, I mean it's not what I paid for so just return it, the seller seems to be communicating and working with me and ebay)

Well now I know and yes the tach is returning to the seller for a full refund.
Lost some pride but learned something and thought I would just pass along--- watch out for autometer knockoffs.

 

[399strokerEB]

There was an article in Hot Rod a month or two ago about this, MSD described the differences between the real and fake. This is why I stick to summit or local parts stores.

 

[broncodriver99]

Wow not surprising but wow. I guess there is nothing they won't try to copy and make a buck off of. I think it is BS to say it is a "replica" when it is really counterfeit.

 

[74strokerbronco]

There was an article in Hot Rod a month or two ago about this, MSD described the differences between the real and fake. This is why I stick to summit or local parts stores.

you mean this one http://www.hotrod.com/feature_stories/1311_counterfeit_automotive_products/

your about 2 wks late with the heads up lol guess I need to read more mags
seems playboy and penthouse just doesn't give a guy all the info we can use lol

ok according to the article the autometer tachs are true counterfeit products, exact replicas right down to logos packaging instructions ect not knockoffs .

 

[lowbush]

you mean this one http://www.hotrod.com/feature_stories/1311_counterfeit_automotive_products/

ok according to the article the autometer tachs are true counterfeit products, exact replicas right down to logos packaging instructions ect not knockoffs .

It's funny (sad) I won't get into a lot of politics but US and European corporations had this coming, they go to a nation without all the rules, regulations, and intellectual property protections that have been built in the US to get the absolute rock bottom labor rates and then this is the product of it, there is absolutely no protection from their intellectual capital being stolen.

That being said, I have seen where the factories are stamping one out for the company and one out for themselves, it rampant over there where black marketers are taking delivery of the actual product right off of the same assembly line, it is an identical product, though sometimes, but not always made with lower grade materials and sans the US company overhead. Being in business I feel for the destruction this can have on business but the cure is to not operate in a country that does not afford them legal protections. Black marketing is so cultural over these that no matter how hard American business men lean on the Chinese government it will not be rooted out.