Quality Warning for Erem E7SA Tweezers from Amazon

[Arts]

Why would I take a photo of a soldering tip?

This is an electronics forum, so.. we tend to be interested in electronics and related equipment.
As I said, I've never seen counterfeit metcal tips and it would be interesting to see a photo of one if it existed. Though in this case its PS900 so it does not have the integrated heater, so slightly simpler design, it would make sense as a first attempt to counterfeit.

I see this amazon review saying they got the wrong size tip: https://www.amazon.com/Metcal-SFV-CH25AR-Soldering-Application-Temperature/dp/B0062571WM/
Then there is this unit that is slightly cheaper: https://www.amazon.com/Metcal-SFV-CH10AR-Soldering-Application-Temperature/dp/B007UOJMHQ/

In 25+ years of using Metcal equipment , I have never received a defective or less than perfect product, which is what led me to believe that this might be a counterfeit. That, and being sold by amazon.

A photo would have revealed nothing, as it was (visually, at least) identical to any other tip of that model/type, other than the soldering surface being a little poorly prepped, and it's inability to achieve operating temperature. Metallurgical analysis certainly would have told the story, but for the sake of a less than twenty buck tip....

I have noted that this part, SFV-CNL04, is no longer available as "Shipped by Amazon" / "Sold by Amazon"; now only available from third party suppliers. Wonder why??

That same week I had ordered five other PS-900 tips from Mouser, all of which were perfect. Lesson learned