Sidamo--I am REALLY glad I found this thread, and your post. DB is really the most awesome clearinghouse of practical information, and with just a little work, we can locate those with relevant experience... I had similar concerns about my most recent shipment of this med from this OP (received about 3 wks ago). It seemed properly packaged and not visibly damaged, but I have found it to be EXTREMELY weak.

I have ordered this product from MexRx several times over the last several months, and can vouch absolutely for its efficacy on those earlier occasions. Administration (and I will not discuss alternative routes of administration, as that is a sure way to get banned or at least rebuked) of as little as 1/2 tab (5 mg) supported several hours of focused, purposeful activity. With the current batch, however, I can work through a blister pack in a day (10 x 10mg) and wind up feeling (as you have noted) little effect beyond what I would get from a few shots of Starbucks espresso.

As I said (and as you noted), the product appears fine: Novartis blister packs of 10 x 10 mg tabs ("CIBA" on unscored side, "A | B" on the other), same as before with one possible exception: My current batch has an expiry of Mar 06. I seem to remember my earlier purchases having further-out expiration dates (2007-2008). Now, Mar 2006 should be fine under anything like normal conditions. However, we don't know the conditions under which this product has been stored, but it is easy to imagine that it has been subject to harsh environmental conditions. My guess is that the substandard performance of our product is most likely the result of environmental degredation (probably due to heat); secondarily, it may just be a bad batch from the supplier.

I think that it is really unlikely that the product is intentionally counterfeit or substandard--it would be just too much trouble and bad for business for too little return. In fact, as of today, I have a new order in and will report if the product is any better.

In any case, I thought you would want to know that it's not your imagination that the current product is seriously deficient. But, I would add that, based on a little experience, this is not typical for this OP. Hope we both do better next time...

(Edited to add following...)
Note that I haven't even addressed the possibility of compalining to the OP and getting some form of adjustment (e.g., replacement product). I love MexRx, with their quirky ways, and am a loyal customer: they offer the right combo of product, price and reliability for me. HOWEVER, their complete lack of customer service has been extensively reported on these boards. I choose to be realistic and accept that aspect of their way of doing business. I know that I would just get frustrated and go off on a rant if I expected more...