Buyer Beware: fake Canon BP511A Batteries?

[monte]

Hi All

would like to share my experience regarding the above. The story goes like this.... I responded to a For Sale posting of "BP 511A" batteries in this Forum.

The posting was careful not to state "original Canon" (infact there was no reference to Canon) but it did state that it was in "original unopened packaging". The price advertised was around half the price of an original Canon BP 511A (the originals are selling for around $120). Since the advertised price was much higher than third party BP 511A batteries (which are selling for around $25), I was curious and thought that this could be a good deal if it was infact an original Canon battery.

So I called the seller and to my "delight", he said is an Original Canon battery - he claimed that he did a MO for this battery and sourced it from HK. I struck a deal and met him to collect the battery.

met him and collected the "original Canon" battery - at first inspection, the packaging looked worned and not new - it was in those plastic blister packaging but had a "canon" hologram. So i didn' think too much about the condition of the packaging...... when I got back I opened the package (which incidentally wasn't sealed) - there was even a "Canon" instruction leaflet in the package. However, upon closer inspection, I noticed the following give away signs:

1. The proctective cap which covered the base of the battery, where the contacts are, did not have the "cut-off battery outline" used to show whether the battery was fully charged or not. the fit was also very tight (compared to the original).
2. The plastic moulding at the base had subtle differences from the original.
3. The color of the main plastic housing was of a different shade to the original.
4. One of the labels at the bottom of the battery had an obvious spelling typo (!!) which was absent in the original (btw, it did have the blue "Canon" label)
5. The contacts were scratched badly - obvious sign that these were not "new"

btw, the above comparisons were made with 2 original Canon BP 511 A which i have.

I called the seller - his initial response was that I should try using them first and that they shouldn't give any problem..... my point to him was that he represented to me that these were original canon batteries and the packaging was obviously made to pass off as original Canon (with hologram and all!!).

Anyway, to cut a long story short, he agreed to refund me after I returned the battery but only after i threatened to report the matter to the police.... to me it was clear that these batteries were packaged to be sold as "original Canon" batteries - Canon hologram, Canon label, Canon instruction leaflet, Canon inscriptions on the housing yet, on closer inspection, the above differences can be noted.

Just wanted to share this so that other members are not misled to purchasing imitation products.

[monte]

Hi All

would like to share my experience regarding the above. The story goes like this.... I responded to a For Sale posting of "BP 511A" batteries in this Forum.

The posting was careful not to state "original Canon" (infact there was no reference to Canon) but it did state that it was in "original unopened packaging". The price advertised was around half the price of an original Canon BP 511A (the originals are selling for around $120). Since the advertised price was much higher than third party BP 511A batteries (which are selling for around $25), I was curious and thought that this could be a good deal if it was infact an original Canon battery.

So I called the seller and to my "delight", he said is an Original Canon battery - he claimed that he did a MO for this battery and sourced it from HK. I struck a deal and met him to collect the battery.

met him and collected the "original Canon" battery - at first inspection, the packaging looked worned and not new - it was in those plastic blister packaging but had a "canon" hologram. So i didn' think too much about the condition of the packaging...... when I got back I opened the package (which incidentally wasn't sealed) - there was even a "Canon" instruction leaflet in the package. However, upon closer inspection, I noticed the following give away signs:

1. The proctective cap which covered the base of the battery, where the contacts are, did not have the "cut-off battery outline" used to show whether the battery was fully charged or not. the fit was also very tight (compared to the original).
2. The plastic moulding at the base had subtle differences from the original.
3. The color of the main plastic housing was of a different shade to the original.
4. One of the labels at the bottom of the battery had an obvious spelling typo (!!) which was absent in the original (btw, it did have the blue "Canon" label)
5. The contacts were scratched badly - obvious sign that these were not "new"

btw, the above comparisons were made with 2 original Canon BP 511 A which i have.

I called the seller - his initial response was that I should try using them first and that they shouldn't give any problem..... my point to him was that he represented to me that these were original canon batteries and the packaging was obviously made to pass off as original Canon (with hologram and all!!).

Anyway, to cut a long story short, he agreed to refund me after I returned the battery but only after i threatened to report the matter to the police.... to me it was clear that these batteries were packaged to be sold as "original Canon" batteries - Canon hologram, Canon label, Canon instruction leaflet, Canon inscriptions on the housing yet, on closer inspection, the above differences can be noted.

Just wanted to share this so that other members are not misled to purchasing imitation products.

[calebk]

FYI third party (Eastgear) BP-511As are definitely not selling for $25 so I don't know where you got your reference from.

Nevertheless, thanks for the heads up.

[htthach]

i doubt this kind of fake battery also
i bought from one of the popular shop
supposed to be original canon battery
well, i noticed things you said after bring home, but comforting my self that it's a real one lah, (also slight different label, battery cap...)
and also the battery life is much shorter than the battery that go with the camera.
but i found it hard to prove so i did not exchange. In fact i did exchange for another one because the first one died on first day of use.
But for the second one the faulty was not that obvious so i was too lazy to go and change.

[monte]

Originally Posted by calebk FYI third party (Eastgear) BP-511As are definitely not selling for $25 so I don't know where you got your reference from. Nevertheless, thanks for the heads up.

Yes, i beleive Eastgear's BP 511a selling for around $30? but there are other third party brands that TCW and CP seles for around $20-25.

Anyway, that's not the point of my thread .... I have nothing to gain from this nor is this a personal vendetta against the seller (note that I deliberately did not mention his name) just feel strongly against cheats!!

[ianpaice]

Eastgear battery BP-511a did sold for $25 but not from Eastgear directly but at one of the dealers. I know because I bought before.

BP-511 from Cathay Photo even cheaper. $20 a piece the last time my buddy bought.

Originally Posted by calebk FYI third party (Eastgear) BP-511As are definitely not selling for $25 so I don't know where you got your reference from. Nevertheless, thanks for the heads up.

[heckcare.der]

yeah. there is this batt thing going around. be careful. anything can pm me.