The pattern is almost always the same
A critical bearing fails, the authorised channel quotes a lead time the site cannot accept, and a search turns up immediate availability at an attractive price from a supplier nobody has used before. The decision feels pragmatic in the moment.
Why it matters more here than elsewhere
A counterfeit bearing does not fail immediately. It fails after installation, inside an assembly, taking the shaft, seals and often the driven equipment with it. The replacement cost is rarely the real cost.
Practical safeguards
Buy through authorised distribution or the manufacturer direct. Keep documentation traceable to that channel. Treat unusually short lead times on scarce references as a question rather than a result, and hold critical bearings in stock so urgency never forces the decision.
