Maxsaver (Hvstar) selling genuine B+W?

I received a B+W filter from Maxsaver (Hvstar) based in Hong Kong. The front side marking seem to have a smear around the characters. I have a genuine a B+W filter which has sharp chararacters. This is an XS-PRO filter and when I asked Maxsaver about this, they claim that the filter has a brass ring and is a genuine B+W. Does anyone have any inputs on this, whether the smeared frontside marking is normal for B+W? Thanks!

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I just looked at several of mine that bought from B&H about 2 years ago and none of them look like either of yours. Mine look more like your white lettered one, except the letters are yellowish brass colored.

I dont even know what an XS-Pro B&W filter is though, all mine are F-Pro MRC.

The XS-PRO is similar to the slimline series except that it has some thread to hold the lens cap or for stacking other filters

mrmarks wrote in post #9501471
The XS-PRO is similar to the slimline series except that it has some thread to hold the lens cap or for stacking other filters

Ah! Sounds like a good new model!

I have bought a Hoyo CPL and a B + W 10 stop ND filter from them. I have no reason to think they are fakes.

As to your discovery.... I don't know. I do trust them.

did you send them a picture of your filter? i am sure they will allow for an exchange.

I sent them the photo but no response yet.

Seems like other have made the same observation about the smeared characters on B+W filters from maxsaver http://www.fredmiranda​.com/forum/topic/84814​5

You should search maxsavers here. There are many threads re the pros and cons.

Just got a reply from them. Strange return address. The maxsavers website lists an address based in Hong Kong.

Hi,

Thanks for your photo. But we are very strange that our filters seems NOT like your photo.

As we claimed that all our filters are 100% Genuine & Original. If you do NOT believe want to verify the filter, please verify from schneider germany: http://www.schneiderkr​euznach.com/, We think you should NOT to check other B+W filters. You should verify from B+W Gemany factory.

If you don't feel comfortable, please return it to us. Please follow our instruction to return it by Regular Air Mail which shipping cost is cheaper:

1) Our return address is:

Yu Dong Ya
Guangzhou Shi, Yue Xiu Qu, Xian Lie Nan Lu,
Hua Tai Bin Guan, Ying Bin Lou, 638 Fang
Guangzhou, 510060
China

2) Please remark: ”Return item, NO value” on return parcel and mark the order number as well as the reasons for return in a small card;

3) Please return it in as-sold condition, in original packaging;

4) We will exchange another one or offer refund if there is no man-made damage once receiving your returned parcel.
.
For any question, please feel free to contact. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Best regards,

Tina
tinaliu@hvstar.com
http://maxsaver.net

I have never had a problem with HVstar.
It seems like they are more than willing to either refund or replace it so if you feel uneasy about it then I would exchange it.
If the Hoya filters I have been getting from there are fake, they are the best fakes I have ever seen

mrmarks wrote in post #9502140
Just got a reply from them. Strange return address. The maxsavers website lists an address based in Hong Kong.

Hi,

Thanks for your photo. But we are very strange that our filters seems NOT like your photo.

As we claimed that all our filters are 100% Genuine & Original. If you do NOT believe want to verify the filter, please verify from schneider germany: http://www.schneiderkr​euznach.com/, We think you should NOT to check other B+W filters. You should verify from B+W Gemany factory.

If you don't feel comfortable, please return it to us. Please follow our instruction to return it by Regular Air Mail which shipping cost is cheaper:

1) Our return address is:

Yu Dong Ya
Guangzhou Shi, Yue Xiu Qu, Xian Lie Nan Lu,
Hua Tai Bin Guan, Ying Bin Lou, 638 Fang
Guangzhou, 510060
China

2) Please remark: ”Return item, NO value” on return parcel and mark the order number as well as the reasons for return in a small card;

3) Please return it in as-sold condition, in original packaging;

4) We will exchange another one or offer refund if there is no man-made damage once receiving your returned parcel.
.
For any question, please feel free to contact. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Best regards,

Tina
inaliu@hvstar.com
http://maxsaver.net

that address is very similar to the one provided by B+W
http://schneiderkreuzn​ach.com/distribfilter.​htm#chin

GUANGZHOU COLORFUL CO.LTD.
Rm. 401, Ying Bin Lou
23 Xian Lie Nan Road
CN - Guangzhou

Yu Dong Ya
Guangzhou Shi, Yue Xiu Qu, Xian Lie Nan Lu,
Hua Tai Bin Guan, Ying Bin Lou, 638 Fang
Guangzhou, 510060
China

perhaps they are the same company, just different markets?

Yu Dong Ya
Guangzhou Shi, Yue Xiu Qu, Xian Lie Nan Lu,
Hua Tai Bin Guan, Ying Bin Lou, 638 Fang
Guangzhou, 510060
China

Look at the address format, kinda fishy. I highly suspect it might even get lost in the mail if I were to send to this address. On purpose?

mrmarks wrote in post #9502274
Yu Dong Ya
Guangzhou Shi, Yue Xiu Qu, Xian Lie Nan Lu,
Hua Tai Bin Guan, Ying Bin Lou, 638 Fang
Guangzhou, 510060
China

Look at the address format, kinda fishy. I highly suspect it might even get lost in the mail if I were to send to this address. On purpose?

i'll bet you $20 it doesn't get lost. next time buy your filters from BH. they'll be glad to sell you peace of mind for a healthy middleman's premium .

ed rader

I think you are being a bit paranoid about this. I returned a defective filter to Maxsaver for exchange a few years ago. I don't specifically remember the return address, but it got there. They then sent me a new replacement. It is not uncommon for companies to have a different address for returns. In fact if the return address is the same as the B+W listed address for an authorized distributor it further confirms their authenticity.

hey everyone. i too had questioned the authenticity of HVstar B+W filters, so i actually took mine and went to a B+W office that was 30 minutes away from me (in van nuys, ca). a manager over there took a look and confirmed that they were indeed genuine B+W filters. some of mine has the phenomena that the OP has, which is where the lettering is a tiny bit hazy. but nothing as bad as the OP's filter. i asked about that and the person claims this is within manufacturing tolerances. he did mention though that if this condition was very severe, that the filter may be in USED condition, but still a genuine B+W filter.