10 sp chains fake/real issues

[brucelee]

There's definitely something weird about ten speed chains - I just bought three of them
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MG5Q1Z3
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354496396014
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/385603436295
None of them seem to have any lube on them (even the sram one), the one from amazon is dimensionally incorrect and the other one from ebay might be a fake :

I've also had weird experiences in the past with a new ultegra(6701 from chain reaction) chain trashing a relatively new tiagra grade shimano cassette in a single ride. I know there are fakes about but even the sram one PC1031 looks different from the PC1110 I'm looking at and the PC931's I've used in the past. The PC1110 has lube on it which makes the plastic box it's in look grubby, the PC1031 is squeaky clean. The plates are a different colour, the rivets also. Even the power link is a different colour (black rather than silver).
Is there some secret about 10sp stuff I'm not aware of. Kind of worried about hardened steel rollers eating the cassette....

[scottg]

Your guide to spotting fake chains.


https://matthewbrealey.medium.com/fake- ... 2ef76c8aa2

[mattheus]

I don't know the answer, but I note none of these were from what I'd call "reputable" bike suppliers.

[tim-b]

Look for peculiar language syntax and spelling..."Fits for 10-11 speed" would get me researching further
Mind you, you're reading about the bloke who thought he'd bought fake Italian Northwave boots when he read the word "Artic" on them. A bit of research revealed that "Artic" is the Italian word for the English "Arctic", so don't jump to conclusions