SRAM eTap AXS Rim Brake Shifters on Aliexpress - Real or Not?

[Eskae]

The last rim-brake compatible eTap / AXS wireless shifters that SRAM made were the Force D1 12-speed model.  These date to 2020 and are the only AXS-compatible rim brake shifters available from SRAM.  Given that they have not been manufactured for several years, they are in high demand on the used market.  Used examples typically sell for $500 and up.

Recently, new examples of these shifters have appeared on Aliexpress for $450 and on eBay (from a Chinese seller) for $500.  I want to jump on this "deal" but I'm concerned about whether they are authentic or not.  Given the cost and demand for this item, it seems within the realm of possibility that the Chinese sellers would bootleg them. 

Anyone here purchase SRAM Force D1 rim-brake shifters from Aliex? 

[pmark]

Assuming you are buying from someone that has good reviews, it should be OK.  It costs a lot of money to design and build an electronic group set and if some Chinese company has managed to build a working rim brake one, they will make more money just selling it under their own brand. 

It could be someone has just got hold of a load of old stock from somewhere (e.g. a company that went bankrupt).

[Gus]

I've bought SRAM force e1 groupset components (not rim brake) on AliExpress from anaracee cycling store. It's definitely genuine, connects to sram app, receives firmware updates, etc. It would be extremely difficult to fake this sort of thing. Does not come in consumer packaging however.

Be more careful about things like chains, cassettes, pedals, etc, and other obvious counterfeits such as s-works helmets, darimo components, s-works/colnago/factor frames, etc.

[Eskae]

that went fast!  the listing is gone off Aliexpress now.  Still on eBay.