Buying A Genuine Prodict In Thailand. Is It Possible?

[coalminer]

Last week, my Bluetooth modem refused every cooperation and so I was forced to go to look for a replacement.

So, I went to the local IT-Shop and started to compare the available Bluetooth modems (design, options, price, etc...) and finaly my decision was the MA-850 from Mobileaction.com.

Besides being a brandname, the device looked attractive with a retractable USB connector and according to the package it offered 500 pictures and ringtones, a Handset Management Software and free upgrade (see pictures).

Returning home I unpacked the device and inserted the CD to install the drivers.

But the CD contained only the drivers from IVT Bluesoleil.

No 500 ringtones and pictures.

No Handset Management Software.

No Free Upgrade.

No .....

I tried to install the drivers on the CD, but the installation hanged everytime at the same place.

Luckely for me, the package mentioned in several places the website and support email address from the manufacturer.

So I send an email to the support address on the package.

The response I've got was suprising (or maybe not):

*********************

Dear ...,

Thank you for using Mobile Action products.

We are sorry, MA-850 is not our product. And the content of the product CD are also ours. Please take clear picture with the product hardware and installation CD (both side) and tell us where did you buy it, then email to us. We will check if this is our product.

Please do visit our website for download service, and check our web site regularly for releasing support news.

http://www.mobileaction.com/

Sincerely yours

Bryan Huang

*************************

I took a scan of the package and send it with all the details as asked back to them and got a few hours later another email from mobileaction.com.

*************************

Dear ...,

Thank you for sending back the pictures. This is a pieate product. The only model of our Bleutooth dongle is MA-730. (please refer to our product page: http://global.mobileaction.com/product/pro...etooth_730.jsp)

Please contact the store where you have purchased it and request for refund or exchange for a real MA-850. Please make sure you have the official copy of our product from our dealers that customer could receive our best service.

Sincerely yours

Bryan Huang

************************

This product was sold everywhere in Thailand, but it was a "piate product".

I didn't want to cause a hurricane in a calm sea for 295 baht and let the whole thing for what it is worth.

Downloaded the appropriate drivers from drivers.com and managed to get the Bluetooth device up and running.

The lessen of this story?

Never believe anything the package says about a product in Thailand.

You can buy a Mercedes at first sight, but it problably will have a Toyota motor under the hood.

[wasabi]

Thailand ≠ Genuine

[LivinLOS]

Well its for Vista 2.0.. Must be legit then

[Shotime]

How much does one cost normally? If you paid a lot less than what it should have cost, it's probably a fake. In any case, if you only paid 300 Baht, it's an inexpensive lesson.

Edited July 27, 2008 by Shotime