Fake tourniquets on Amazon

[JCS]

Beware. I should’ve known, but only buy from trusted suppliers.

I ordered a couple CAT tourniquets off Amazon awhile back.

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It even said North’s american Rescue in the description. Recently I ordered a couple med kits straight from North’s american Rescue and thought I would compare the TQs. Sure enough I had a fake. Here’s some comparison photos. As you can see the windlass holder is much thicker. The only other obvious difference is the branding, or lack thereof, which should’ve been a dead give away. Also the windlass rod is a little thicker.

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If you’ve bought any TQs and aren’t sure, take a second to look at them. I’m thankful I figured it out before I actually used it.

At least I have a practice TQ now.

[BehindBlueI's]

Amazon has a generous return policy.

[Hambo]

Amazon has a generous return policy.

Use it and let Amazon know they have yet another Chinese ripoff going.

[martin_j001]

I have one of the cheap knock-offs specifically for training, and will probably order more solely for that purpose (last one I snagged was $11 I think). Being able to handle one seems to have pushed a few "regular" folks I know and work with to order gear or a kit themselves.

[JohnO]

It appears from the photos what you have there is a Gen 6 knock-off. The windlass on a Gen 6 CAT-T is very similar. The Gen 7 CAT-T went to the beefier windlass.

https://www.army.mil/e2/c/images/2016/10/11/453459/size0.jpg

[DAVE_M]

Also beware of colors. There are some very good fakes that are out there.

I recently saw a Coyote Tan CAT with an aluminum windlass (which was a dead giveaway). NAR only makes the Gen 7 in Black, Blue, and Orange. Any other colors will be fake.

[Drang]

Amazon has a generous return policy.


Use it and let Amazon know they have yet another Chinese ripoff going.

Even if you keep it for training purposes only, by all means dime the fakes out.

[JCS]

It’s been over a year since I ordered so there isn’t an option to return it anymore.

I did notice another difference while practicing applying it. I can crank the windlass 3-4 turns and it still doesn’t cut off blood flow. It’s a fake and it doesn’t work. No surprise.

[SecondsCount]

Out of curiosity, where is the country of origin, of the fake and real versions?

[StraitR]

It’s been over a year since I ordered so there isn’t an option to return it anymore.

I did notice another difference while practicing applying it. I can crank the windlass 3-4 turns and it still doesn’t cut off blood flow. It’s a fake and it doesn’t work. No surprise.

If they are still being offered and misrepresented on Amazon, give them a call, and they will refund you for the counterfeit. It's also a surefire way of getting them flagged and taken down off Amazon.

[23JAZ]

Amazon has a generous return policy.
I just picked up this Gen 4 SOFTT-W from Amazon. It’s definitely legit. Love the aluminum windlass and just feels all around beefier than the CAT. IMO.
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[DAVE_M]

For those of you purchasing through Amazon... BE CAREFUL.

There are hundreds of different fakes out there, including fakes of the TacMed SOFTT-W.

Chinook Medical
Eleven10 Gear
DARK Angel Medical
TacMed Solutions (Direct)
North American Rescue (Direct)
Skinny Medic

And a few select others are the only reliable sources for ensuring you have real kit.

Since many don't know, I try my best to spread the word. If you have a HSA (Health Savings Account) or FSA (Flexible Spending Account), you can use those funds towards buying medical equipment. Ironically, it falls under the IRS exemption of "bandages." Chinook Medical will accept payment with your HSA/FSA card, but some will not. However, you ARE allowed to withdraw funds (tax free) from the account, and use those funds to purchase medical. Just ask for a HSA/FSA compliant itemized receipt upon ordering. I've done this at DARK Angel Medical, and they were happy to help. They explained their reasoning for not accepting the cards was related to a different type of processing fee rather than a tax issue.

[Drang]

Now I have several questions:
1) Is there an issue with other fake medical equipment on Amazon? Chest seals or clotting agents, for example?
2) Is there a way to spot these before ordering?
3) Will an HSA/FSA pay for training?

These are all just out of curiosity, but I figure others may benefit by the information.

[DAVE_M]

Now I have several questions:
1) Is there an issue with other fake medical equipment on Amazon? Chest seals or clotting agents, for example?
2) Is there a way to spot these before ordering?
3) Will an HSA/FSA pay for training?

These are all just out of curiosity, but I figure others may benefit by the information.

1) Yes, but generally they are not direct copies.
2) Yes.
3) No.

Skinny Medic has a few videos on fake tourniquets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHbRW42-PB0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aD-KI-4PqtQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ-CIk-eQYM

Easy ways to distinguish if CAT tourniquets are fake:
They have metal parts, including the windlass.
They are in colors other than black, blue, or orange.
They are packaged in bags, rather than sealed plastic, and missing the NAR included paperwork.
They are missing the NSN number, date, or have oddly colored time stamps.
Fake CAT's will usually have perforated holes on the red tip.

Easy ways to distinguish if SOFTT-W tourniquets are fake:
They have plastic parts, including the windlass.
They are in colors other than black, blue, orange, or red. (Red SOFTT-W's are available through the Red Cross)
They are packaged in zip lock bags without any TacMed paperwork.

Often times you will encounter fakes from eBay and Amazon. Life saving equipment is nothing to penny pinch on, so buy from trusted sources ONLY.

[Rex G]

Now I have several questions:
1) Is there an issue with other fake medical equipment on Amazon? Chest seals or clotting agents, for example?
2) Is there a way to spot these before ordering?
3) Will an HSA/FSA pay for training?

These are all just out of curiosity, but I figure others may benefit by the information.

Amazon’s distribution network is susceptible to counterfeits, period. Spyderco advised customers to avoid buying Spyderco knives through Amazon, a number of years ago. More recently, I have seen warnings on photography forums.

Yes, Amazon has a generous return policy, but the customer must be careful, or he/she will not know that a fake/counterfeit/knock-off was delivered.

Another problem is new-old-stock. I recently ordered a Metz SCA 3205 M5, from a supplier, CAMRIDGEWORLD, affiliated with Amazon. The package that was delivered was clearly labeled Metz 3205 M2, and, more importantly, the manufacturer’s package had been unsealed, and the item inside was a either a primitive knock-off, or a less-advanced version with a more-primitive function, which should have been sold for much less money, as immediately evidenced by the number of electrical contacts on the mating surface. (I did not pull the item from the packaging, for closer inspection; it is going back.)

The problem occurs with Amazon, itself, not just its affiliated sellers. I recently ordered a Novoflex LEM/LER lens adapter, sold and fulfilled by Amazon, itself. The narrative described the newer version, with 6-bit coding. The only clue that anything might be unusual was a price one-third less than the expected full retail. Well, sure enough, a new-old-stock item arrived, with no 6-bit coding. In this case, I was satisfied, because of the lower price, and because this item was to be mated to a lens that was not compatible with 6-bit coding, anyway.

Neither of these items are firearms-related, but it shows how far Amazon has fallen, with my two most-recent orders.