Fidanza Latest Supplier Warning Consumers of Chinese Counterfeit Parts
They say impersonation is the greatest form of flattery, but that flattery has some serious financial consequences in the world of aftermarket parts.
Ohio-based Fidanza Performance, a supplier of aftermarket clutches, flywheels, and other parts, is the latest victim of Chinese knockoff artists selling “Fidanza-like” products on eBay and through unauthorized retailers.
Needless to say, Fidanza president Jeff Jenkins isn’t thrilled by the mimicry.
In a newsletter to customers, Fidanza Performance stated it “recently discovered several unauthorized parties offering Fidanza products. Fidanza is working with attorneys in the United States and abroad to address these unauthorized sales so that our customers can continue to rely on the quality and craftsmanship that you expect from a Fidanza product.”
According to Mr. Jenkins, the company is aware of “two Chinese companies in particular … selling lightweight aluminum flywheels” for numerous vehicles using the Fidanza name.
However, this is not an issue that solely affects Fidanza and its customers, but the aftermarket as a whole.
“We want to alert the consumer about what they buy and where they buy it from. Other manufacturers are victims of this as well, but the true victim is the consumer,” said Jenkins.
“This is an issue that’s important to us. You work hard to establish a name and reputation in the industry. [The counterfeiters have] done this for years. It’s something all manufacturers have to deal with. It’s when they start using your name that it becomes personal.”
Jenkins said that Fidanza does have official retailers, which you can find on its website.
If you’ve purchased a Fidanza product and would like to verify its authenticity, you can contact the supplier directly by email.
More by Mark Stevenson
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This article is very near and dear to me, my brother, and I think every single mechanic and DIYer in the country that has to go to great lengths to find decent quality aftermarket (and even OEM) parts these days. It makes me really sad when a brand like Timken that had built a reputation for high quality, made in USA wheel bearings shuts down US factories. And the folks that have always paid a little extra for Timken product open up the box and see "Made in China" stamped on the part. These things just don't last. Especially sad for me because my fiance's grandfather and uncles all worked for Timken at one point in Canton Ohio (one still does). This is repeated again and again with different brands that have in the past been held up as the industry standard for quality, and for making their stuff here in the US. The latest victim is actually Japanese Gates, makers of belts, tensioners and belt pullies. My brother has always bought Gates kits because the extra you paid for them got you all made in Japan components. Last time he did a Subie t-belt job, he noticed that even though the kit was listed as being all-Japanese, all of pullies were made in China (belt and tensioner still Japanese). He made an angry call to both Rockauto and Gates US reps to sort things out, they gave some sort of BS walkaround answer "well the kits are packaged in Japan" or some other nonsense. He's switched to Aisin t-belt kits now, although who knows when they too might fall victim to outsourcing. It is not an overstatement in the least that just this daily interaction with junk Chinese parts is enough to motivate the folks in my brother's circle of mechanics in NY/PA to vote Trump. Whether or not anything can/will actually change is an entirely different manner, but his slagging of outsourcing to China resonates with this group of folks that see the consequences every day.
I picked up a set of Brembo pads on "wholesaler closeout" for $13 from RockAuto recently. I hope they're real! They look alright.