How to guarantee a genuine USB pen drive?

JustAnotherSaver

Was looking to buy a USB flash drive. Nothing fancy, just a 32GB one.

Was on Amazon & checking out reviews on a Sandisk one & there were a few guys complaining of counterfeit goods.

Was looking at this one as it didn't cost the earth.

Obviously don't want to pay £100 for something I can get for £10 but at the same time I don't want to buy something that isn't right either.

Encryption isn't a worry for this one either (in case anyone brings up security as a factor).

flaneurs_lobster

I guess it comes down to how critical the data being stored/retrieved is. I'll happily use 3 for £5 sticks from the local pound shop to move music files or ebooks between devices. Copies of important legal documents or data that's intended for longer term storage then I'm sourcing pen drives/SD cards from High Street big names or direct from SanDisk (or whoever). 
    

MattMattMattUK

If purchasing on Amazon I would say make sure you are purchasing from Amazon themselves, rather than third party sellers. 

gefnew

I have used these for many years very good retailer.
https://www.mymemory.com/

Ergates

Buy from a reputable site/seller.

Alternatively - buy from a physical shop, they sell USB drives in supermarkets these days.

[Deleted User]

Go and grab the same one from Curry's for £1 more or Argos for £2 more then you have a better chance of avoiding a fake.

Jenni_D

JustAnotherSaver said:

Was looking at this one as it didn't cost the earth.

I would feel perfectly comfortable buying that device from that specific seller, as it looks like the official SanDisk retailer. (Shows as £5.99 for me with free delivery [Prime], free returns and a 30 day return/refund period).

grumpycrab

Was on Amazon & checking out reviews on a Sandisk one & there were a few guys complaining of counterfeit goods.

Quite a few years ago when large capacity USB sticks were pricey, you'd get a 32GB stick telling you in Windows that is was 32GB but was only 2GB (or less) and when copying a large file it would get to 2GB and then start overwriting itself. Quite clever.  You'd test if a USB stick was the advertised capacity by running  h2testw which was last undated in 2018
H2testw - Download (lo4d.com)

As the price is now as low as it will ever get, guess you don't see these fake sticks anymore, provided you buy from an official supplier like the SanDisk retailer of the original post.

gefnew

These for not to bad a price.
https://www.mymemory.co.uk/sandisk-32gb-cruzer-blade-usb-2-0-flash-drive-3-pack.html

JustAnotherSaver

Here's a question -

speed.

So they all claim to have a speed (I'm talking about any drive here, not just 32GB ones) but when you jump on the reviews, say on Amazon for example, they're just full of people with screenshots claiming/showing that the drive doesn't give what it claims it will - that they're much much slower.

What gives?

gefnew

 They are test bed rated speed, A bit like cars and mpg good in certain conditions.
Also depends on file types and size to. So broadband say`s up to x Mbs so they have a disclaimer.
Look here. 
USB 3.2 Speed Comparison & Real-world Performance (everythingusb.com)