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Should I avoid buying from China completely?

  • 09-03-2012 9:51am
    #1
    runswithascript
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,811 ✭✭✭


    I have heard it said before not to buy on eBay from China for risk of receiving a knock-off, and I am wondering do most people adhere to this?

    I am looking for a bargain on a controller or joypad for my gaming console which retail at €60 or so.

    I have seen some second hand controllers in the EU and US go for as little as €15-20, and I see lots of knock-offs which are easily identifiable because they do not have the official logo and/or look different, but I encountered a new one from Hong Kong going for €16.

    I am of course suspicious, but it does have the official logo and box, and the seller does have a lot of feedback, 99%+ of which is positive.

    What do you think?


Comments

  • #2
    Blikes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 437 ✭✭Blikes


    Link?


  • #3
    runswithascript
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,811 ✭✭✭runswithascript


    http://www.ebay.ie/itm/BLUETOOTH-SIXAXIS-WIRELESS-JOYPAD-CONTROLLER-PLAYSTATION-3-PS3-BLACK-/290679065439?pt=Video_Games_Accessories&hash=item43add28b5f


  • #4
    BengaLover
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,090 ✭✭✭BengaLover


    If they are priced so low then they ARE knockoffs, no doubt about it.
    You could have customs trouble too.
    However, I buy from some chinese sites for small electronic items, camera accessories, as lots of them offer free worldwide shipping, and have never had a problem. If you are going down the road of buying fake sony or xbox stuff then you could be in for trouble.


  • #5
    Blikes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 437 ✭✭Blikes


    Thats a tough one, it genuinely looks like a real DS3 but you just never know.

    Send off an email and ask i suppose is your best bet, or buy genuine.


  • #6
    runswithascript
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,811 ✭✭✭runswithascript


    BengaLover wrote: »
    If you are going down the road of buying fake sony or xbox stuff then you could be in for trouble.

    Do you mean in a way other than being stuck with an inferior product? I am not intentionally going down that road, and in fact I am trying to avoid it.

    What's the policy with customs and imports from outside of the EU, should I avoid ever buying anything from the US on eBay or elsewhere?

    I received a small electronic device from the US recently and there were no extra charges.


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  • #7
    jor el
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,713 ✭✭✭✭jor el


    Note the bold print on the ad:
    We will take off the retail packing box and repack in a bubble envelope to save postage to sell for less

    You'd have no way to know if it ever came in an actual box. Even then, proper retail packaging and official logos don't mean much to Chinese knock-off merchants, as copyright law has practically no effect there.

    This one is most certainly a counterfeit, how good a counterfeit is anyone's guess. It will be a cheaply made, poor quality copy of the original, all the Chinese knock-offs are. You take a risk in buying it.

    If customs stop it to inspect, and suspect that it is a counterfeit, then they can seize and destroy it.


  • #8
    runswithascript
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,811 ✭✭✭runswithascript


    Just noticed:
    (Compatible joypad made by third party, not original)

    Apologies, I had stayed up late to try win an auction so I was not at 100% inspecting it!


  • #9
    NJS007
    Closed Accounts Posts: 99 ✭✭NJS007


    Chances are if it is for sale for only €16 it is probably a scam..... We were done before from buying a ps3 controller on ebay, but it was a counterfeit... Tory can get great deals on play.com for great value with free shipping worldwide...


  • #10
    n.d.os
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 943 ✭✭✭n.d.os


    I buy a lot from China. I buy in bulk daily infact. My experience with china is that an item will usually have beautiful pictures and look great but when it arrives as much as it still looks like the photo it will feel and look cheap in your hands. I have learnt a lot from buying from China over the years. Only buy things with very clear descriptions and pictures. Dont buy something with generic pictures scattered all over ebay/and or google as this generally means they are a drop shipper and have the item sent to you from their wholesaler. Like i said insure all the relevant information is in the ad. Dont buy something from crap pictures and poor descriptions because it is virtually impossible to get a refund from china that is any way worthwhile to the pocket with return shipping costs. Also electronics from China are always fake. They will blow up. Take my word for it. Unless you have done relevant research do not buy electronics from china. Maybe check to see if they have sold this product before from their feedback and see what the buyer said.


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