Amazon bans low-quality USB Type-C cables

Mar 31, 2016

Amazon now prohibits the sale of USB Type-C cables that don’t comply with standard specifications

The future of USB connectivity no doubt lies in the new USB Type-C standard that’s rapidly finding its way to the latest consumer electronics. The benefits are aplenty – it’s fully reversible, offers a fast data transfer rate, can act as a video output and offers higher power throughput so it can be used to charge devices.

Unsurprisingly, consumers are flocking to stores to purchase compatible cables for their new devices but as Amazon reminds us, not all cables are built equally.

Google’s Benson Leung is a perfect (yet unfortunate) example of this. Leung has reviewed dozens of USB Type-C cables purchased at Amazon over the past several months. One particular cable was so bad, it fried his testing equipment including his personalChromebook Pixel 2.

Now, Amazon has added shoddy USB Type-C cables to its list of prohibited electronics. Specifically, Amazon says sellers are not allowed to sell USB Type-C cable or adapter products that are not compliant with standard specifications issued by the USB Implementers Forum Inc.

Such products join a list that includes laser pointers, products that have had their serial number removed or altered, devices designed to get cable or satellite television illegally, cell phones with bad ESN numbers and streaming media players that don’t support Prime Video or Prime Music.

Leung acknowledged the change on Google+, saying it was really great news but consumers should continue to be vigilant and call out any bad products they find on Amazon and other stores.

Source: TECHSPOT