Fake "Genuine" batteries for Nikon...

[tasadam]

Have you all seen this?
http://www.maxwell.com.au/products/niko ... eries.html
They're out there. I got a "genuine" Nikon battery. Looks the part. Until you compare the back and notice small things like the word Japan missing or no serial number (or whatever that number is) stamped on in ink.

This isn't me, but it's the same seller.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 7504470355
I've sent the buyer an email asking to check the Maxwell site and see whether it's a real one.

Adam.

[Glen]

Adam, thaks for pointing that out. Now I think I should abuse Maxwell for selling me a counterfeit battery as the one which came with my Maxwell stock camera is..... made in China! Will send them an email and let all know the response.


Or maybe Maxwell is creating a mountain out of a molehill?

[birddog114]

That's garbage!, the photos of the Nikon battery box (EN-EL3) is more than 3 years old and the design of Nikon accessories container (box) now has been changed with the new design and colour but they did not update their site.

I still have three empty boxes of the Nikon EN-EL3 battery for my D100 and originally they were from Maxwell without the product letters on top of the barcode and made in China.

What's Maxwell

[SteveGriffin]

Just checked my batteries and they are both Made in China.

[gstark]

Birddog,

Sounds a bit like the old counterfiet BMW scam.

[birddog114]

Birddog,

Sounds a bit like the old counterfiet BMW scam.

Gary,
Yes, it's

[sheepie]

If that page is true, then there are a lot of mainstream nikon dealers out there selling counterfeit batteries - I just checked the spare battery I got when I purchased my D70 from a rather large Camera House (shudder) store - and yip, according to the pictures shown (of the bar code on the packaging) it's counterfeit.

Yeah, right

What's Maxwells up to? Are they asking their distributers for a law suit? Because that's what they're opening themselves up to! Imagine supplying an item to a shop and then openly claiming it's not the genuine article!

I have three batteries (yes, count them!) - and they are ALL made in China. Two were bought with the camera, one from Birdie. I think perhaps the example given was to point out the rather obvious spelling mistake rather than the China bit.

[birddog114]

Why don't we all go after Maxwell on this one? and see what can they say?

[tasadam]

A further thought - Maybe it’s a tactic by Maxwell to get people to buy “genuine” batteries from them at very expensive prices…
My genuine battery (I got with the camera) was from China as well. I agree I suspect the point was the spelling mistake.
By the way until recently I have had 2 batteries - a real one, made in Chine, I got from Birddog with the camera, and a copy, from eBay, not a fake but a copy. It has been working well. Using the camera the same, the genuine battery lasted about 40 more photos than the copy.
Now I have one, origins unknown but calling itself a genuine, I will be interested to see how it lasts...
I will also be interested to see what Maxwell have to say to the email I sent them. If anyone wants a copy of that email PM or email me.
Adam.

[the foto fanatic]

I bought my D70 from a reputable Brisbane camera store that deals with Maxwell.
The battery that came with the camera is made in China. The spare battery I bought later from the same store also says made in China.
Methinks Maxwell have their head up their @r$e.
Further thought: maybe I should go back with my receipts and demand that replacement genuine batteries should be supplied by Maxwell.

[SteveGriffin]

I emailed maxwell about my 'Made in China' battery. Following is their response.

Hi,
This is one way including the Japanese character that has an incorrect creation.
Nikon also produce in China. So the battery may be China or Japan in the Nikon boxes.
If it was as mentioned purchased with the camera in the box, it is a Nikon battery, so you can be satisfied.

The fake are supplied over Ebay and some stores that are doing Grey Market supplying in Australia.
The numbers that have been picked up in Australia have been very few unlike Asia where there were hundreds.

Enjoy your camera
Ray Tavener
National Support Manager
Maxwell Optical Industries
Unit F1 Lidcombe Business Park
3-29 Birnie Ave
Lidcombe NSW 2141
1300 366899
http://www.maxwell.com.au

[Onyx]

/me gives middle finger salute to Maxwell employees monitoring this thread.

[tasadam]

At least you got a response from them, I even sent photos and am still waiting...
I will post the photos and comments I emailed them here once I find my FTP software and install it - had to format a few days ago... YUK

[tasadam]

This is the battery I bought on eBay
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 7504470409

These are the comments I sent to Maxwell

Hello

I took a look at your web site

http://www.maxwell.com.au/products/niko ... eries.html

Please find attached a photo of 2 EN-EL3 batteries.
Firstly, forgive the poor photo I can do better but don’t have the time to go downstairs and stand over them etc…
The one on the left is genuine. The one on the right I bought from eBay. It was advertised as genuine.
Differences – Original has a number stamped in ink just to the right of centre, in the indent. One on the right doesn’t.
Missing the word Japan along the line to the left of where it says Made in China.
A small nipple of plastic, probably from the mould, can be found on the original in the indent just to the left of centre, directly under the J in Japan.
Apart from this, I can’t pick it. The sus one arrived in what looked to me to be a genuine Nikon box.
What do you think?
Do you want a better photo, if it is a fake, so you can add it to your above link?
Regards

Still can't find my FTP software. The descriptions above sum up what it looks like.
Waiting to see what Maxwell say.
Adam.

[tasadam]

Well It has been more than a week and still no response from Maxwell.

So I sent them another email.

Maybe they don't like me...

Maybe I will tell people to buy Canon

(If you are a moderator and I can be banned from the forum for using that C word please delete this...)

[Onyx]

It would be much funnier if there was a word filter on Canon to automatically replace it with something else - like the Pink Floyd/Mr Squiggle saga.

[birddog114]

Well It has been more than a week and still no response from Maxwell.

So I sent them another email.

Maybe they don't like me...

Maybe I will tell people to buy Canon

(If you are a moderator and I can be banned from the forum for using that C word please delete this...)

They maybe don't want to talk to you cos they don't know what to say!
Hopeless people, they're. I've always found the same thing.
Perhaps they're recruiting new product, service or public relation manager

[tasadam]

Got a response from Maxwell...

Hi,
This has been passed to Support from the info service.
Purchasing over the net from genuine camera stores do not usually have issues. However from E-Bay there have been issues , mainly from what appears to be Australian sites but stock come in from overseas, Hong Kong in particular.
From the image the one on the right does look suspect.
I think to confirm you would need to bring the battery in so a tech can investigate the unit.
You did not indicate on the e-mail your location. Maxwell at Lidcombe in Sydney have a few techs who can look at this and confirm.

The image of the one on the right is soft, so hard to check, but also the other side is a good indicator.
However these people will se the information published by Canon, Nikon etc and make the changes.
As China has no real copyright laws this type of thing goes on without Government intervention.

Please send some more images of the 'fake' and the other side.

Will send them more photos of the questionable battery at a more convenient time, and post response once received.

Adam.

[Hendrix]

tasadam, any more news?

Have you noticed any difference in using this ebay battery, or not much it all?

Was thinking of getting a few myself.

[tasadam]

Oops, forgot about this. Must get on with it. Next week, I reckon.