INDUSTRY DATA TAPE WARNING
PMD MAGNETICS WARNS USERS OF DATA MEDIA TAPES TO BE AWARE OF USED TAPES SOLD AS NEW
PMD Magnetics is an Authorised UK source of genuine Maxell and Fujifilm data storage tapes. Matthew Gwynn, Director of Business Development, says:
"We have for some months been hearing rumours of large scale business being done in products imported from the USA into the EU. Trade sources have confirmed that certain imports have been made up of second hand tapes that had been demagnetised (erased) and re-packaged to look like new"
"We had never in our own trading encountered such products until we purchased a small quantity of DLT4 tapes from Westcoast Ltd of Theale, Berkshire."
"PMD Magnetics has a policy of checking all incoming products for quality and conformity when product arrives in our stores facility in Stratford-upon-Avon. Upon delivery of the above DLT4 tapes, it was noted that they were of a slightly different design from product we had previously purchased - and they were clearly from the USA"
"A sample of the consignment was returned to the brand manufacturers, Hitachi Maxell - who confirmed that the tapes were actually 9 years old, and had been recorded and erased. The packaging was not genuine - the barcode labels and security seals were counterfeit"
"The tapes were also tested by Hitachi Maxell and tests indicated that in a number of parameters the products were well below the standards of new recording media"
PMD Magnetics contacted Westcoast - a leading supplier of IT products to the computer reseller network - and asked the following questions:-
1.Why did you supply counterfeit products to our company?
Response from Westcoast: Westcoast did not knowingly supply counterfeit products. When Maxell were unable to meet all of our orders placed upon them, Westcoast second sourced from an authorised distribution partner of Maxell's, this batch has been traced to this delivery.
2. Why were these tapes of USA origin and not authorised for sale in Europe?
Response from Westcoast: We understood the product to be original UK product from Maxell UK, we have engaged with Maxell to help trace the source of these products and assist in identifying the source.
3. Why were these tapes second hand, or poor quality and nearly 10 years old when supplied to us?
Response from Westcoast: as above
4. Why were the tapes packaged in such a way that made them appear brand new - when indeed they were old and used?
Response from Westcoast: The products were forwarded on to yourselves in the same state that we received them. Clearly the originator of these products worked hard to disguise the fact that they had been tampered with.
Westcoast apologised for the inconvenience caused and offered to collect the tapes. They said they strongly disapprove of grey import and counterfeit products and are cooperating with Hitachi Maxell in order to trace the source of the tapes sold to PMD Magnetics.
PMD Magnetics - as a major supplier of blank recording media - feels it is important to raise the subject of used data tapes sold in counterfeit packaging because of the possible problems that users may encounter. There is a genuine trade in used and evaluated tapes, which are sold and marked as ‘not new'.
"We at PMD Magnetics are concerned that second hand, recycled or certified media products may not give the results, reliability and duration of tape life that new product could be expected to provide," States Gwynn. "Error rates are also likely to be much higher - IT buyers need to be aware of the risks associated with the use of such second hand media. Data is the life-blood of the modern business, and by using second hand data storage products you could be exposing yourself to potentially catastrophic data loss. The issue is of particular concern for customers who innocently believe they are buying new tapes, when in fact they are buying second hand goods"
February 2010
For further information contact Storage@pmdmagnetics.co.uk
