An eBay fake? If so, can anything be done?

RastaManBob · 12 Apr 2009 at 22:52

Hi,

Just after some feedback if possible... My sister, with best intentions, has purchased a Nintendo DS Lite (Not DSi) from eBay for my mum for her birthday. Link here: LINK.

Looking at it I cannot decide if it is dodgy or not... It seems to show characteristics (Seller being in China, for example, as well as all consoles coming with the same games, without box and instructions) but the price doesn't seem low, as you'd expect with obvious fakes.

In hindsight, she wishes she hadn't bought it as it's clear for only slightly more she could have purchased one in the UK... But has already paid on PayPal.

Is there anyway to tell, in advanced, that this is a fake? And if so, is it possible to obtain a refund before the item even ships? Ideally without affecting eBay feedback.

Cheers

PS. I used this link to check for "fake" but I'd appreciate any others. This seems to suggest mixed messages... It appears the box is "fake" (Seems very similar to one of the photos showing the edge of the console and without the two DS square logos) but then the charger (Although not UK) has ratings printed on rather than on a sticker.

mame · 12 Apr 2009 at 23:05

I have seen them selling for £94 in supermarkets without even looking. I would guess that it will probably be genuine. I don't know what the cost of a DS is in china but I bet it's about £20-30. The 10 free games will either be a pirate card or the cheapest of the cheap crossword puzzle thing. Back in the day, pirated gameboy advance carts used to be all over ebay from china. You couldn't really tell apart from that they didn't quite fit flush inside the Gameboy SP.

Oh and that reminds me, when I bought Mario Kart for the Gameboy Advance, it took 3 months to deliver from china. I actually filed an item not received claim with ebay. When it finally arrived, the post date on it was actually 2-3 days after the purchase date so they had posted it on time.

Feek · 12 Apr 2009 at 23:06

There's no such thing as a 'fake' DS. It's either a DS or it's not. Some made for different countries are shipped in different boxes with slightly dodgy PSUs but the unit itself is effectively just a grey import.

RastaManBob · 12 Apr 2009 at 23:12

Not disagreeing with you but why would BBC (Well CBBC!) report on "fake" DS if they didn't exist? Do Nintendo actually ("Officially") make these other versions where, for example, stickers are put on the device (Specs not physically engraved on)?

I've found other sources giving the same information as you, but nothing seems to give a 100% definitive answer...

I guess at worst, we'll have to wait for it to arrive!

Thanks for the help.

Greenlizard0 · 12 Apr 2009 at 23:17

Don't forget that sometimes even reputable sellers might be selling fakes without knowing so. Sometimes I bet even shops.

I think that usb flash drives are terrible for this.

Strife212 · 12 Apr 2009 at 23:18

If its actually a DS in any shape or form (ie it plays DS games) then its not fake.

Feek · 12 Apr 2009 at 23:54

RastaManBob said:
Not disagreeing with you but why would BBC (Well CBBC!) report on "fake" DS if they didn't exist?

Because they're guilty of shoddy journalism. Poorly researched and written articles intended to scare.

Strife212 said:
If its actually a DS in any shape or form (ie it plays DS games) then its not fake.

Exactly. If it plays DS games then it's made by Nintendo, it's not 'fake'. Be prepared to have to buy a replacement PSU though (that's if it even ships with one).

Caged · 13 Apr 2009 at 03:31

Feek said:
Exactly. If it plays DS games then it's made by Nintendo, it's not 'fake'. Be prepared to have to buy a replacement PSU though (that's if it even ships with one).

I've heard of lighting desks coming out of China that run the same firmware and software as the real models, almost exact copies of the originals but with much cheaper components and fittings etc. Just because something runs the same software as a genuine item doesn't mean it can't be a fake.