How to spot eBay fake?

[wildroamer]

Hey guys,

Looking at an eBay ad, wondering how to tell if it's a fake. I'd rather not post the ad itself and have some lurker snipe it if it's real.

If there is a good detective out there, please shoot me a pm!

 

[DSS]

Is it a stihl?

 

[wildroamer]

Yep

 

[DSS]

Mismatched/wrong fasteners, fakes never say Stihl on the clutch cover, just the color of the plastics is usually a dead giveaway. Little things.

 

[wildroamer]

Thanks Chris.

 

[GCJenks204]

Always do a reverse image search. Use either Google Image or tineye.com. upload the images from the add and see where else they show up.

If the same image shows up in a bunch of places...

 

[wildroamer]

Tried that. No other images match. Zero feedback...

 

[GCJenks204]

Interesting. I'm not in buy mode, could you PM me the listing and I'll take a look.

 

[wildroamer]

Grrr, Nevermind. It sold.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/122335141740

 

[Stackowood]

Smells funny. A new landscape company buys 3 new MS661 and then sells them below cost.

 

[GCJenks204]

Pretty savy seller for no feedback. Watermarked the photos and everything. I can understand your caution.

 

[wildroamer]

Yup. Has another there that's been bid up to $885. Why sell for $770 when you can get $885 plus?

 

[Backtroller]

I wouldn't buy from any seller with zero feedback. I made the mistake of buying a discountinued lego set for my son from a buyer with zero feedback a few months ago. Never got it. PayPal protected me but it was a hassle with eBay. I wanted to leave feedback to protect other buyers but his account was closed roughly a month later. I was told it was a "seller" out of Russia with a fake US address. My little guy was bummed.

 

[DSS]

Looks like a legit saw. I don't think I've seen a fake 661 yet. The sale itself may be a scam tho. Smells like tuna

 

[Definitive Dave]

item legit
seller ??????

 

[Guido Salvage]

A 661 with a 20" bar lists for $1239.95, why would anyone take that sort of hit? And why would a start up landscaping company buy 3 brand new saws, especially 661's? That is tree company area, most guys doing landscaping buy a small $150 saw, they don't spend $4K on them.

 

[TJ the Chainsaw Mechanic]

I smell a rat.

 

[stihl saws]

That was obviously a rip off. If it's too good to be true, it is.