Lowepros from China on eBay?

I am in the market for the Lowerpro Flipside Sport 15L or 20L backpacks and I've seen these advertised on eBay for considerably less than any regular e-tailer. However, all of these are coming from China. Am I safe in assuming that these are knockoffs? I don't see why a backpack from an American company would be 20-25% cheaper from some vendor in China.

Thanks!

Scrumhalf wrote in post #17312236
I am in the market for the Lowerpro Flipside Sport 15L or 20L backpacks and I've seen these advertised on eBay for considerably less than any regular e-tailer. However, all of these are coming from China. Am I safe in assuming that these are knockoffs? I don't see why a backpack from an American company would be 20-25% cheaper from some vendor in China.

Thanks!

A friend of mine bought one off eBay, looked genuine in the photo, alas what arrived was clearly a cheap knockoff... user had been around a while & continues to trade, they stated that the bags were seconds from Lowepro - I saw the bag, no way was it a second... pal never even got a refund...

Buyer beware for sure!!

There was a pretty long thread a while back where a lot of people bought a different flipside model from China, would be interesting if any of these guys could comment on how they're holding up. They are definitely not authentic if you're concerned about that.

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1317789

Seems like they won't just fall apart the minute you pick one up, but YMMV in terms of longevity.

I'd be careful and make sure you can get your money back at least from paypal, but I just checked my LowePro flipside and it is made in China, so who knows. Personally I'd not want a 'seconds' or reject for that little savings, would have to be at least 50% off.

phantelope wrote in post #17312545
I'd be careful and make sure you can get your money back at least from paypal, but I just checked my LowePro flipside and it is made in China, so who knows. Personally I'd not want a 'seconds' or reject for that little savings, would have to be at least 50% off.

I think most of the bags are made in China these days nowhere in the West can we manufacture as cost effectively. Of course being Made in China doesn't mean they can't make a good product - just need to get the QC right...lol

Even the F-Stop bags are made out there...

Biggest problem however is counterfeit goods being sold as the real deal!

pwk wrote in post #17312501
There was a pretty long thread a while back where a lot of people bought a different flipside model from China, would be interesting if any of these guys could comment on how they're holding up. They are definitely not authentic if you're concerned about that.

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1317789

Seems like they won't just fall apart the minute you pick one up, but YMMV in terms of longevity.

I have one and honestly i cant see any difference between it and the real thing. Honestly if it hadnt been for someone in that thread who did a side by side with a genuine model I wouldnt have suspected it wasa knockoff. I have a lowepro computrekker and I didnt find the one I got from china to be any less sturdy.

Thanks for the inputs. Pretty much what I suspected. I won't buy a knockoff as a matter of principle.

I bought one cheap Lowepro bag from Ebay that is shipped from China, but when i've got the bag i swear i can't tell if it is a knockoff, so i really don't know how i can find out if it is not genuine or knockoff if i don't have same model from an authorized dealer/retailer, the fabric and design looks perfect and no sign of wear or any issue.

Tareq wrote in post #17313996
I bought one cheap Lowepro bag from Ebay that is shipped from China, but when i've got the bag i swear i can't tell if it is a knockoff, so i really don't know how i can find out if it is not genuine or knockoff if i don't have same model from an authorized dealer/retailer, the fabric and design looks perfect and no sign of wear or any issue.

I was in the same boat, without others in the same thread I wouldn't have considered mine to be a knockoff. I had already ordered before I read that it might be counterfeit. I might not have ordered had I known, but I'm glad I did.

I bought a Lowepro SlingShot 200AW out of China off eBay about six or seven years ago. It's had heaps of use and it's the bag I take when travelling light. Fits nicely into the overhead compartments in a plane. I don't know if it's a knock off or not, looks genuine to me to Lowepro bags I've seen at retailers.

It started to look a bit grubby so I gave it a good wash with detergent and water. Looks like new again.

I bought a lowepro backpack from ebay, shipped from China. It does not look fake and has been going strong for the past year. The bag has been replaced with a newer version and that's probably why the bag is cheaper than then original MSRP.

I just bought a designer label swimsuit for my grand-daughter from one of the high end shops in Australia. Made in China! About 2 years ago I bought a Crumpler "7 Million" bag on Ebay, from an Australian seller, you guessed it. Made in China. I compared my Crumpler with that of a friend, also a 7 Million model, which he bought also on Ebay from a dealer in Shenjen, China, and apart from the colour, I cannot tell the difference, right down to the stitching and material. I paid twice as much for mine as he did his, so I am beginning to wonder who got ripped off here?

ColinM wrote in post #17322003
I just bought a designer label swimsuit for my grand-daughter from one of the high end shops in Australia. Made in China! About 2 years ago I bought a Crumpler "7 Million" bag on Ebay, from an Australian seller, you guessed it. Made in China. I compared my Crumpler with that of a friend, also a 7 Million model, which he bought also on Ebay from a dealer in Shenjen, China, and apart from the colour, I cannot tell the difference, right down to the stitching and material. I paid twice as much for mine as he did his, so I am beginning to wonder who got ripped off here?

I bought a Crumpler Pretty Boy 7500 from a little camera shop here in Vientiane. It's made in Vietnam and has been a great little bag if I'm carrying minimal gear. Enough room for a body/grip and a couple of lenses. I get around on a motor scooter, so it's perfect. It cost me around 27 bucks.

Tried the Ebay route on a Crumpler 7 Million Dollar Home, thinking I got a great deal but it ended up being a replica. Won't ever do that again. Once I purchased a legitimate version and compared, it was readily apparent how lacking the replica was on build quality. I'm sure some replica bags are decent quality, but I wouldn't take the risk...

Got two Lowepros from china-bay and both say made in China and both have survived quite a few big trips carrying big loads.
Ordered another about a year ago and never received it-ebay refunded me.
Just ordered yet another 2 weeks ago, it arrived yesteray. Sure looks 'real', examined the seams and all look good. The Lowepro tag
looks quite real as well.