Cycling UK Forum

Last time I bought a KMC X.93, 116-link chain, I’m sure I paid around about £15 for it. Now, I’m struggling to find a boxed chain for less than £28 (Amazon).
There is a company on eBay selling unboxed KMC chains for £20, but I am concerned about potentially ending up with a fake item that will wear out my very expensive rear cassette.
So, my question is relating to people’s experiences of buying these unboxed chains off eBay? Generally speaking, should I steer well clear and pay the extra £8 on Amazon, or am I worrying about nothing? Not sure if there is even the market for fake chains, but I assume there is.

TIA

RollWithIt wrote: ↑22 Feb 2022, 11:01pmNot sure if there is even the market for fake chains, but I assume there is.

Brucey wrote: ↑20 Oct 2020, 9:09pm enough fake KMC chains out there that they have this page on their website

https://www.kmcchain.eu/Fake_chains_The_price_of_succes

cheers

viewtopic.php?p=1541243#p1541243

Jonathan

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350740161749

£15.99 been buying chains from them for years.

yostumpy wrote: ↑22 Feb 2022, 11:33pm https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350740161749

£15.99 been buying chains from them for years.

Thanks for the info. I’ve taken a look at the chains and they don’t do the X10 that I need unfortunately.

Unboxed items may be genuine. For some time it has been possible to buy multiple metres of KMC chain on a reel for workshops to use only what they need. It might well be financially beneficial to separate out separate lengths to be sold individually.

In short, there's no way of knowing. You can research the seller, how established they are, ask them where they source them from etc, take a punt and compare with a known genuine chain. Or buy from a known seller of genuine chains.

RollWithIt wrote: ↑22 Feb 2022, 11:42pm

yostumpy wrote: ↑22 Feb 2022, 11:33pm https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350740161749

£15.99 been buying chains from them for years.

Thanks for the info. I’ve taken a look at the chains and they don’t do the X10 that I need unfortunately.

They do sell several varieties of X10 chains and do seem to be well established, yostumpy has been buying for years, they are relatively cheap, why don't you try them? It won't ruin your expensive cassette if you make use of a chain checker and discard once it's worn, you can make a judgement call according to the use you get out of it.

gregoryoftours wrote: ↑24 Feb 2022, 7:15pm

RollWithIt wrote: ↑22 Feb 2022, 11:42pm

yostumpy wrote: ↑22 Feb 2022, 11:33pm https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350740161749

£15.99 been buying chains from them for years.

Thanks for the info. I’ve taken a look at the chains and they don’t do the X10 that I need unfortunately.

They do sell several varieties of X10 chains and do seem to be well established, yostumpy has been buying for years, they are relatively cheap, why don't you try them? It won't ruin your expensive cassette if you make use of a chain checker and discard once it's worn, you can make a judgement call according to the use you get out of it.

Thanks for your input, but as I mentioned they don’t do that particular one that I need unfortunately. Since posting, I contacted the manufacturer and asked them about an Amazon listing and their response was to only buy locally, ‘period’! Make of that what you will.

RollWithIt wrote: ↑24 Feb 2022, 8:20pm

gregoryoftours wrote: ↑24 Feb 2022, 7:15pm

RollWithIt wrote: ↑22 Feb 2022, 11:42pm

Thanks for the info. I’ve taken a look at the chains and they don’t do the X10 that I need unfortunately.

They do sell several varieties of X10 chains and do seem to be well established, yostumpy has been buying for years, they are relatively cheap, why don't you try them? It won't ruin your expensive cassette if you make use of a chain checker and discard once it's worn, you can make a judgement call according to the use you get out of it.

Thanks for your input, but as I mentioned they don’t do that particular one that I need unfortunately. Since posting, I contacted the manufacturer and asked them about an Amazon listing and their response was to only buy locally, ‘period’! Make of that what you will.

The manufacturer is certainly going to insist that you should only consider buying from 100% sure sources, they have their reputation to cover.

If you have found the specific model of chain that you are after on eBay, you could try it and make your own mind up. If it lasts then you have a new source, if not then you won't have lost much. You can keep a close enough eye on chain wear that you don't have to risk wearing your cassette out.

Chains do come as bulk rolls, so it's certainly feasible that they are genuine sold unboxed. Another poster has had good experience buying from an ebay seller that sells both boxed and off the roll for many years. I've bought many kmc chains both from major suppliers and smaller eBay businesses and so far haven't had any which I suspect of being fake, although they certainly are around.

I wouldn't buy components purporting to be any of the main brands that look like they ship from China, although I have bought plenty of well manufactured bike parts/accessories/tools from China that do not claim to be something they're not.

If you want info about the specific eBay seller you could ask about them to see if any people have experience buying from them.

Doesn't mean it's fake just because of lack of retail packaging.

Valbrona wrote: ↑24 Feb 2022, 9:30pm Doesn't mean it's fake just because of lack of retail packaging.

Yes, we all agonize about that 2% probability that it might be genuine.

RollWithIt wrote: ↑22 Feb 2022, 11:01pm Last time I bought a KMC X.93, 116-link chain, I’m sure I paid around about £15 for it. Now, I’m struggling to find a boxed chain for less than £28 (Amazon).
There is a company on eBay selling unboxed KMC chains for £20, but I am concerned about potentially ending up with a fake item that will wear out my very expensive rear cassette.
So, my question is relating to people’s experiences of buying these unboxed chains off eBay? Generally speaking, should I steer well clear and pay the extra £8 on Amazon, or am I worrying about nothing? Not sure if there is even the market for fake chains, but I assume there is.

TIA

What makes you think the Amazon one is genuine? There are plenty of dodgy goods on Amazon marketplace.

2_i wrote: ↑25 Feb 2022, 2:13am

Valbrona wrote: ↑24 Feb 2022, 9:30pm Doesn't mean it's fake just because of lack of retail packaging.

Yes, we all agonize about that 2% probability that it might be genuine.

With bike parts it's much less clear cut than that, there are loads of genuine grey goods without retail packaging on the market, and as had been said chain comes cheaper on workshop rolls as well. It's quite feasible that a business will get better profit selling it straight of the roll.

Kmc x9, in the retail box for £13.89

https://www.ebay.fr/itm/KMC-X9-Chaine-9 ... 635-2958-0

They are also selling the excellent Sram 1031 Ten speed chain for £16.99