430EX II - Real or fake?

Sorry if this is in the wrong section, Please move if necessary

I recently sold this flash on a well known auction site, To be told by the buyer it was non-authentic and that they would be wanting a refund

I purchase it from Amazon - Sold by Best Buy Direct UK, as a genuine item. I personally can't see anything non-authentic about it, So I'm hoping someone here could take a look?

I had a look at my 430EX II and the two differences I can see are;
1. mine is missing the stickers in your first picture, and

2. my serial number is a 6 digit sequence, with no letters.

It did come with the printed booklet and a plastic flash stand and pouch. Mine was purchased retail in Hong Kong from an authorized Canon dealer.

Hope this helps.

I have 2 430 EXII and one has an all number serial no. and the other one has alphanumeric (Axxxxx).

The first photo stickers are missing from both.

Both purchased from B&H in NYC a month or two apart.

fakes have different buttons, bad silk screening and bad imprints of the c-tick and supplier code number. yours looks legit to me and i would have no problem buying it. sounds like your buyer was misinformed.

i would just list it again on ebay or craigslist.

Hmm, I'm not too sure then. I'm guessing the serial number for mine is the 6 digit number that is on the unit itself (not on the sticker)

AhmedAgbabiaka wrote in post #16991443
fakes have different buttons, bad silk screening and bad imprints of the c-tick and supplier code number. yours looks legit to me and i would have no problem buying it. sounds like your buyer was misinformed.

i would just list it again on ebay or craigslist.

Thanks

The only thing that made him think it was non-authentic was the fact that it didn't have the original manual. In my defence I hadn't mentioned inthe auction that a manual was included anyway, I had only found it a few days later

Looks legit to me as well.

Serial numbers from country to country will in all likelihood be different.

Compare your flash only to others sold in the UK.

What makes the buyer think it's a fake? If he's such an expert then surely there must be something that he can point out to enlighten the non-experts amongst us. IMO if he wants a refund he owes you at least an explanation.

groundloop wrote in post #16991460
What makes the buyer think it's a fake? If he's such an expert then surely there must be something that he can point out to enlighten the non-experts amongst us. IMO if he wants a refund he owes you at least an explanation.

Just the fact it had a printed manual..

groundloop wrote in post #16991460
What makes the buyer think it's a fake? If he's such an expert then surely there must be something that he can point out to enlighten the non-experts amongst us. IMO if he wants a refund he owes you at least an explanation.

The buyer wants to keep the money and the item. It's a pretty common scam, and eBay/Paypal will almost invariably side with the buyer.

This one is my favorite:
http://www.cbsnews.com …seller-left-empty-handed/

nathancarter wrote in post #16991475
The buyer wants to keep the money and the item. It's a pretty common scam, and eBay/Paypal will almost invariably side with the buyer.

This one is my favorite:
http://www.cbsnews.com …seller-left-empty-handed/

That's just sickening. I think it that case I'd be bringing an attorney into the fray.


I read some pretty good advice on here somewhere (can't remember who it was) - simply state that returns are accepted, no questions asked, so long as the buyer pays return postage and that a refund will be issued within x days after the item arrives back in your hands. I've never accepted returns (and never had an issue with any buyer), but I think that by doing it this way it will avoid future hassles.

dp19 wrote in post #16991464
Just the fact it had a printed manual..

That's

As if a counterfeiter would go to the trouble to print a manual.

nathancarter wrote in post #16991475
The buyer wants to keep the money and the item. It's a pretty common scam, and eBay/Paypal will almost invariably side with the buyer.

This one is my favorite:
http://www.cbsnews.com …seller-left-empty-handed/

Luckily I have got it back in one piece, I was expecting a different item back or for paypal to tell them to get rid etc!

dp19 wrote in post #16991514
Luckily I have got it back in one piece, I was expecting a different item back or for paypal to tell them to get rid etc!

Well then just list it again, put that buyer on your no-bid list, and move on.

groundloop wrote in post #16991599
Well then just list it again, put that buyer on your no-bid list, and move on.

I have now

Thanks all for the help