For those who have purchased the Starrett punches: is the Starrett name etched or stamped on the tool? From looking through photos, it appears that some of the reviews on Amazon that show broken or defective punches have an etched name. It might be the case that the etched name indicates a fake. It also might be the case that the etched name may be a result of Starrett changing production from USA to China.
The problem with buying this kind of thing from Amazon is that they co-mingle stock from all sellers that pay Amazon to fulfill orders. If seller "A" sends a shipment of 100 authentic punches to Amazon and seller "B" sends a shipment of 100 fake punches to Amazon, the authentic and fake punches both simply get thrown (co-mingled) in the same bin labelled "Starrett 18A Punches" in an Amazon warehouse. Your order is randomly pulled from that mixed bin of mixed authentic and fake punches when you place an order from any seller, at any price, when it is listed as "ships from Amazon". You might get an authentic punch, but you also might get a fake punch.
This can sometimes work in your favor. Sometimes Amazon creates a listing at a typical retail price for a specific item (e.g., a Starrett caliper) and Amazon obtains their own authentic stock directly from Starrett. But then some small-time sellers with access to fake Starrett calipers are added to the listing as additional sellers but for 75% less than Amazon's price. Regardless of whether the bogus sellers send in fake inventory to Amazon (which is then co-mingled with Amazon's authentic inventory) or if the bogus sellers fulfill orders themselves (ships directly from the bogus seller), the favorable result can be that Amazon dramaticaly drops their own price to compete with the bogus sellers. So, you can place an order fulfilled by Amazon for 75% off typical retail price and possibly receive an authentic Starrett caliper.
The problem with buying this kind of thing from Amazon is that they co-mingle stock from all sellers that pay Amazon to fulfill orders. If seller "A" sends a shipment of 100 authentic punches to Amazon and seller "B" sends a shipment of 100 fake punches to Amazon, the authentic and fake punches both simply get thrown (co-mingled) in the same bin labelled "Starrett 18A Punches" in an Amazon warehouse. Your order is randomly pulled from that mixed bin of mixed authentic and fake punches when you place an order from any seller, at any price, when it is listed as "ships from Amazon". You might get an authentic punch, but you also might get a fake punch.
This can sometimes work in your favor. Sometimes Amazon creates a listing at a typical retail price for a specific item (e.g., a Starrett caliper) and Amazon obtains their own authentic stock directly from Starrett. But then some small-time sellers with access to fake Starrett calipers are added to the listing as additional sellers but for 75% less than Amazon's price. Regardless of whether the bogus sellers send in fake inventory to Amazon (which is then co-mingled with Amazon's authentic inventory) or if the bogus sellers fulfill orders themselves (ships directly from the bogus seller), the favorable result can be that Amazon dramaticaly drops their own price to compete with the bogus sellers. So, you can place an order fulfilled by Amazon for 75% off typical retail price and possibly receive an authentic Starrett caliper.
I am expecting anything from a cancel/refund to a complete loss of $27. I will mark it up to the greed tax 
