Fake Audioquest sky cables

It has been my experience - bought an AQ Diamond RJ/E digital cable from Hi-Def
Lifestyle, since first time buying on-line and quality of cable and packaging weren't all
that convincing, for reassurance thought I'd just recheck to be sure.

Sent a couple of good close-up shots of cable and box (various angles) to AQ, their
marketing director got back to me via e-mail within 2days confirming that the cable is
indeed genuine. So perhaps this is another way to verify - less headache, no risk - IME.

I noticed length inconsistency of umbilical cords to DBS modules (from various pics on webs), workmanship too wasn't of best quality/standard, also the 'Made in China' instead of USA or Colorado? printed on box which left me quite a bit jittery initially hence my rechecking.

They had their explaination.. Well, to me, as long as it is genuine, and ultimately thought that its sound to commensurate with $$ paid.. I'm happy.

"01-28-14: Danielk141
Zd542,

Audioquest can simply set a policy where they agree to ship the evidence to the agency the buyer uses to lodge their complaint against the person who sold them the bogus cables.
That can be Audiogon, a local court, etc.
They can request the cables be destroyed after the legal proceedings are complete."

That's a reasonable request. In a case like that, I don't see why they wouldn't help out. The only thing I would add is that it probably wouldn't be necessary to send the actual phony cables out to anyone. A letter from AQ stating that the cables are fake and maybe a picture should be good enough for Audiogon, ebay etc. From AQ's standpoint, it would be very foolish to send the fake cables back out to anyone unless it was absolutely necessary to do so.

The only reason I'm kind of standing up for AQ here is that so many people had negative comments without anything to back them up. It seems like in some cases, people are trying to hold them accountable for something they have little to no control over. If you don't want to get stuck with fake cables, you can always buy them from an authorized dealer. There's no shortage of AQ dealers both online and b&m. Even Best Buy sells AQ.

But Danielk141's point is certainly a good one. If it can help out anyone that got stuck with fake AQ, by all means give them a call and see if they'll help you. If I had to guess why AQ seems a little off, or vague when people call, its probably because they don't want to give the impression that the will exchange fake cables for real ones. But that's just a guess on my part.

We cannot get our money back if Audioquest does not return the fake cables to us, and the fake cable sellers make money out of us and Audioquest, so we and Audioquest are the ones that get hurt. If Audioquest return the fake cables to us stating it is counterfeit, we can return the cables and get our money back with shipping costs, and the fake cable sellers not only not make money but lose some. And eBay or AudiogoN has legitimate reasons to ban these sellers.

About 7 years ago I ran across a couple pair of fake AQ Sky IC's.I was working at Sound Factor at the time. We called AQ and talked to Andrew who had me send them the cables.About 1 weeks later they sent them back and said they where fake. AQ places a serial# in the cable itself so they know if its theirs or fake. Also all higher end AQ cables are cold welded not soldered. AQ is a great company and they do stand behind there products, I have 4 pair of the original Sky cables and I have sent them back for upgrade. They simply have a stunning sound and presence to them.