Chinese knock off camera equipment being sold on ebay?

I was reading a blog post last night I found on Google about how to be careful when purchasing from ebay that there are some very good knock off's of filters, lenses, cameras and just about every piece of photography equipment you can think of. The writer said he would be making another post with a list of signs to watch out for when purchasing. That just because something says "Lee" (example he used) on it, inspect it very carefully, it might be a knock off.

He shared all this, but then didn't make a follow up post with the signs he spoke about. Now I always use common sense when buying from ebay members. But if there are some golden rules to spot a fraud, then I would want to know!

Anyone buy something only to find out it was a knockoff? Care to share any tips on this subject?

Number 1 rule is that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Number 2 is know your seller and check "ratings" - not always perfect but some help.

Ask the seller if it is genuine and record the response. If you do get burned, report it to the authorities and "rate" the seller on eBay.

Baydream wrote: Number 1 rule is that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Number 2 is know your seller and check "ratings" - not always perfect but some help.

Ask the seller if it is genuine and record the response. If you do get burned, report it to the authorities and "rate" the seller on eBay.

I forget the news station, but there was a news story done on this a few months ago. They proved that seller ratings and the to good to be true were "yesterdays" signs of a scam. That new crooks were getting smarter, having their products just a tad lower (so not to set off any alarms) on price and also that even some of the larger retailers had Chinese knock off inventory that made it into their selling inventory!

Kitzmiller wrote:

Baydream wrote: Number 1 rule is that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Number 2 is know your seller and check "ratings" - not always perfect but some help.

Ask the seller if it is genuine and record the response. If you do get burned, report it to the authorities and "rate" the seller on eBay.

I forget the news station, but there was a news story done on this a few months ago. They proved that seller ratings and the to good to be true were "yesterdays" signs of a scam. That new crooks were getting smarter, having their products just a tad lower (so not to set off any alarms) on price and also that even some of the larger retailers had Chinese knock off inventory that made it into their selling inventory!

I good thing about the larger retailer is that if it a good, reputable company you can go back to them.

Baydream wrote:

Kitzmiller wrote:

Baydream wrote: Number 1 rule is that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Number 2 is know your seller and check "ratings" - not always perfect but some help.

Ask the seller if it is genuine and record the response. If you do get burned, report it to the authorities and "rate" the seller on eBay.

I forget the news station, but there was a news story done on this a few months ago. They proved that seller ratings and the to good to be true were "yesterdays" signs of a scam. That new crooks were getting smarter, having their products just a tad lower (so not to set off any alarms) on price and also that even some of the larger retailers had Chinese knock off inventory that made it into their selling inventory!

I good thing about the larger retailer is that if it a good, reputable company you can go back to them.

I think the message they were trying to pass along is don't take for granted that just because you ordered from a big company that you are 100% safe from knock off's, always inspect your goodies.

Yeap, that is why always, always buy from larger companies

One of the biggest scams on eBay was with Sandisk CF cards....People were selling knockoffs that looked almost identical to the real McCoy...Don't know if they are still out there selling the fake cards...

If they aren't someone else is.

Baydream wrote: If they aren't someone else is.

that is the sad truth, there is a new sucker born every minute and the shady people know this.

Baydream wrote: Number 1 rule is that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Number 2 is know your seller and check "ratings" - not always perfect but some help.

Ask the seller if it is genuine and record the response. If you do get burned, report it to the authorities and "rate" the seller on eBay.

Baydream nails it as usual.

Scotty wrote:

Baydream wrote: Number 1 rule is that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Number 2 is know your seller and check "ratings" - not always perfect but some help.

Ask the seller if it is genuine and record the response. If you do get burned, report it to the authorities and "rate" the seller on eBay.

Baydream nails it as usual.

+2

Yeah Bay nailed it again.
I personally quit going to Fleabay long ago when they kept changing policies and havent done either purchasing or selling.

Isn't there a big thing going on with fake batteries?

Joe Photo Daddy wrote: Isn't there a big thing going on with fake batteries?

Yes and fake CF/SD cards as well. Actually there are quite a few knock offs of everything across the boad there.

Joves wrote:

Joe Photo Daddy wrote: Isn't there a big thing going on with fake batteries?

Yes and fake CF/SD cards as well. Actually there are quite a few knock offs of everything across the boad there.

Nothing is off the menu for the the knock off crooks