A new Google Chrome extension called Knockoff.shopping has been released to help users distinguish between legitimate brands and potential "knockoffs" while browsing Amazon. The extension declares the brand name directly on the product listing, eliminating the need to click into each item for verification. Brands identified as untrusted or known for producing counterfeit goods are visually de-emphasized, typically appearing greyed out.
Creator Josh Pigford shared the extension on X, noting that it aims to filter out "knockoff crap brands." The extension utilizes a curated list of over 5,000 brands that is updated daily. New or questionable brands are flagged, while established brands are whitelisted. This list is publicly accessible and is intended to be refined over time through community reporting, allowing users to correct misidentified brands.
Several brands are specifically mentioned as examples of those the extension might flag, including WNPETHOME, EHEYCIGA, YXYL, LU&MN, JOYIN, TOMY, GODONLIF, YOOJEE, LINGTENG, LANEIGE, VISCOO, BIODANCE, COOFANDY, BALENNZ, TOSY, and LUENX. The naming conventions of many of these brands, such as all capital letters or nonsensical sequences, often serve as an initial indicator of their dubious nature.
Knockoff.shopping offers customization options, allowing users to set restriction levels, choose whether to hide or dim flagged brands, and even conceal sponsored advertisements at the top of search results. Users can also create personal custom lists to ensure specific brands they trust are not filtered out, acknowledging that not all potentially dubious brands are necessarily detrimental, especially if listings have established positive reviews.
This tool aims to provide shoppers with more information at the point of sale, potentially improving the online shopping experience by reducing inadvertent purchases of counterfeit or low-quality products. The extension's effectiveness was noted during initial testing.