Amazon without the knockoffs

What the extension does & how it works

• Browser extension filters “knockoff” / pseudo-brands from Amazon search results.
• Uses combination of blacklists, whitelists, and heuristics (e.g., keyboard‑mash brand names, missing brand names).
• Some users like the idea as a way to surface trusted brands and reduce search noise.

Licensing, reuse, and monetization concerns

• The extension reuses an existing MIT‑licensed brand list (AmazonBrandFilter) and credits it, but does not contribute back.
• Several commenters see this as “knockoff” behavior itself, especially given the more restrictive FSL license and implied monetization.
• Others say this is exactly what permissive licensing allows and is therefore fine.

Effectiveness and false positives

• Sellers report that legitimate, trademarked brands and high‑end niche brands are being hidden due to crude rules (e.g., missing brand name at start of title, short model codes mistaken for brands).
• Amazon itself sometimes suppresses visible brand names for A/B testing, making “no brand in title” a poor signal.
• Consensus: concept is interesting but current implementation produces many false positives.

Knockoffs vs brand-name products

• Some argue most consumers now rely on knockoffs because of broader cost-of-living increases; original brands are often unaffordable.
• Others note knockoffs can be worse quality or unsafe (especially electronics, batteries), but acknowledge some are identical or even better than branded items.
• Several say brand-name consumer goods have also degraded, so paying more no longer guarantees quality.

Amazon vs alternatives

• Many prefer to avoid Amazon marketplace junk by:
  • Buying from Costco or other curated retailers for staples.
  • Buying direct from manufacturers when possible.
• However, direct purchases often have: slower or unreliable shipping, bad returns, higher prices, and aggressive marketing/spam.
• Amazon still wins for many on logistics, returns, and consolidated checkout, despite counterfeits and junk.

Inflation and “just cook at home” tangent

• Long subthread triggered by a $17 Chipotle burrito vs prior $8 price.
• One side: cook at home and batch meals; per‑meal cost can be a fraction of restaurant prices.
• Other side: time, planning, food waste, and dislike of repetitive meals make that non‑trivial; burritos in particular are a poor example due to many ingredients and perishables.
• Underlying theme: tradeoff between money vs time and changing affordability of “authentic” brands and meals.

Trust, counterfeits, and marketplace problems

• Multiple reports of buying supposed big brands on Amazon and receiving counterfeits or used goods.
• Commingled inventory and lax control mean even genuine listings can ship fakes.
• Some argue that’s why they only trust certain channels (brand sites, specific retailers) for high‑risk items (e.g., tech, safety gear).

Broader concerns and wishes

• Desire for similar filters for books, especially to avoid bootleg or AI‑generated programming texts and low-quality print‑on‑demand.
• Discussion of Chinese contract manufacturers cloning hardware designs, harming startups.
• Environmental and ethical concerns about mass‑shipping cheap plastic gadgets vs local, seasonal consumption.
• Some want the inverse filter: “only knockoffs,” or better curation and transparency rather than outright hiding products.