When you look on ebay and other auctions websites nowaday,you will find many consumer electronics like name brand cell phones, batteries, Rolex watches,Top brand cameras, GPS and electronics accessories at prices that are way below MSRP price in the U.S. My advice is whenever electronics items are listed for rock-bottom prices,first investigate where the item(s)or seller is located. If the items are located outside U.S., you might be looking at duplicate or countfeit items that are plain(no name) and usually shipped in a grey boxes. There is no way a genuine Rolex watch can cost $5 USD or Nikon, Sony or Canon digital cameras can be priced at $165 USD.
I am not saying ebay and other auctions are bad sites. What I am saying is that some oversea sellers are using these great platforms to scam internet buyers. Despite they accept payments thru paypal, the items are fake. You can find those same items at cheap prices on various U.S. sites. Some oversea businessmen are honest in telling buyers that items are "grey-box". Many don't.
To be safe, check ebay or Amazon for Cheap Laptops, Free MP3 Downloads and Apparel for less
A friend bought what supposed to be a top of the line Sony Laptop for vedio editing for very low price online from an Asian dealer, the machine came plain(No Sony Trademark anywhere)in grey-box without oprerating system. It did not meet U.S. minium requirement;thus, he could not install any software or driver. "Very cheap" is not always the best route.
Feel free to share your scam story with us.
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Good Post. for electronics and gadgets, if you are looking to buy branded one. i still recommend to buy at your local nearest distributor.Ebay itself they are alot of fake one not unless they can provide the certificate of authenticity or serial number wherein u can check right away with the manufacturer. dont be attracted with low price offer and come to think how come other seller sell pretty low while in your nearby area price are high and if cheaper,cheaper by few bucks only.
ReplyDeleteI agree. The key point you made is requesting both certificate of authenticity or serial number.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how these grey box sellers are increasingly on ebay nowaday.
Thanks. I will always ask all sellers for certificate of authenticity or serial numbers for any major purchase online.