Does this AW appear to be counterfeit

[Kemosabe]

the fake battery epidemic is a real concern. i purchased "fake" MNKE batteries from Ultra that they claim up and down to be authentic.

i did indeed use them down to 0.4Ω without issue (before i realized that they were "fake"). i use " " marks because i still to this day do not know if they are fake but i do plan on retiring them once my Sonys arrive in a couple weeks. id rather be safe than sorry.
i do still use them here and there with higher ohm coils, but again, rather safe then sorry so i purchased new batts.

heres the thread i made about it:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/apv-discussion/504556-mnke-batteries.html

 

[zoiDman]

I remember when the Mini Lavatube / AW 18350 Debacle hit that there was a List of Retailers who were Selling "Real" AW Batteries. And that if a Retailers was Not on that List, then they were supposed to be Selling "Fake" Batteries, either Knowingly or Unknowingly.

But that was a Long Time Ago.

Unfortunately, Batteries are Very Easy to Fake. It doesn't take much Expertise. And just about Anyone with a Scanner, a Silk Screener and some Red Shirk Tubes can do it.

 

[rastapete69]

That's interesting. The Vendor who I got the fake AWs from sells Lavatubes as well.
The debacle was before my time but now I'm curious


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Mr.Mann]

Update!!! I contacted Vaporizeforless concerning the issue with my fake AW Batteries. The owner (I believe) said they'd been reassured the batteries were genuine by their supplier. They were unable to confirm 100% who had the real ones, so they stopped selling AW brand products.

What's even more shocking is she automatically refunded my total purchase cost immediately.
Not asking for the product to be returned, or taking the shipping cost off.

She told me to have a great weekend, and said they'd not had any complaints reguarding the small lot of AW's they'd received and sold.

I believe her, and with basically perfect feedback and a truck load of transactions she's a class act in my book.

I'd buy from her again. I think sometimes vendors unknowingly buy fakes, believing their genuine.

Worked out as good as I could have expected.

Yeah, ebay is a deeply buyer-centric site. As much as it sucks for us sellers (I use it for selling clothes/art supplies/non-vape supplies), if a customer has ANY issue, you just refund it and move on (or do whatever possible to make the customer have a positive experience). I haven't had to do it, but I know too many sellers that go to the ends of earth and back just to avoid ONE negative! Unfortunately, many buyers know how tough it is for sellers and take advantage of this, but that is another story.

In this incident, I think the seller did the right thing (obviously), but I do wonder about all the other purchasers who may have not been aware of whether or not they did buy fakes. It may behoove that seller to issue a report to all past purchasers of that product to stop usage, even if all has been well, and offer a voucher (if not a refund) just to cover its ... (and well, the customers face).

While I am all for saving a buck, some things are not worth the savings (not speaking peripherally about OP, just the act).

 

[Drozd]

Over on CPF ...AW maintains their own sales thread and attempts to list all known sellers of counterfeits as well...

I just tend to get mine from lighthound because I know they are authentic...current 2014 stock...usually in stock...and ship quickly...

 

[zoiDman]

Over on CPF ...AW maintains their own sales thread and attempts to list all known sellers of counterfeits as well...

...

Do you know if they have a List of Authorized Sellers by any chance?

 

[Drozd]

Do you know if they have a List of Authorized Sellers by any chance?

Not that I saw...just listing fakes on the descriptions on each of their IMRs... including 2 specific vape sites (ultravaping and hcigar)...

EDIT: I take that back...there is a thread there maintained by AW himself...where he was asked about authorized US sellers...his response was the list is long and changing constantly and just to write and ask him if you aren't sure...but he did give a short list of longtime sellers of genuine AW batteries..

Those were:
Lighthound
RTD Vapor
Super T
Oveready
Wonderlite
VaperKings
Vape Revolution
ProVape
Volcano
Vaper Venue
Vape City
Vape Citi
Unique Cigs
Tasty Vapor
Northridevapes
Patinum Vapes
House of Vapor
AltSmoke
Vaporholic
Avid Vaper
Dragonflyecigs

Hopefully it'll let me post a link to that thread: http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/sh...50-IMR18490-IMR18650-IMR26500-*Part-2*/page47

EDIT OF EDIT: If you post good clear pictures of your AW batteries there he will attempt to authenticate them himself...

 

[zoiDman]

Not that I saw...just listing fakes on the descriptions on each of their IMRs... including 2 specific vape sites (ultravaping and hcigar)...

Thanks for looking Drozd.

It does seem Hard to Know what is Real and what is Not Real when Buying Batteries. That's why I like to Buy Batteries from Retailers who are Registered Suppliers on the ECF.

Sure, I may pay a Buck or Two more than if I search for the Lowest Price. But I went from Spending about 7 Dollars a Day on Analogs. $7 a Day (Every Day) that got me Nothing but an Ashtray full of Butts and out of Breath when I ran up a Flight of Stairs.

A Few Extra Bucks today seem Inconsequential in the Big Picture.

 

[zoiDman]

...

EDIT: I take that back...there is a thread there maintained by AW himself...where he was asked about authorized US sellers...his response was the list is long and changing constantly and just to write and ask him if you aren't sure...but he did give a short list of longtime sellers of genuine AW batteries..

Those were:
Lighthound
RTD Vapor
Super T
Oveready
Wonderlite
VaperKings
Vape Revolution
ProVape
Volcano
Vaper Venue
Vape City
Vape Citi
Unique Cigs
Tasty Vapor
Northridevapes
Patinum Vapes
House of Vapor
AltSmoke
Vaporholic
Avid Vaper
Dragonflyecigs

Hopefully it'll let me post a link to that thread: IMR16340 / IMR14500 / IMR18350 / IMR18490 / IMR18650 / IMR26500 *Part 2* - Page 47

EDIT OF EDIT: If you post good clear pictures of your AW batteries there he will attempt to authenticate them himself...

Thank you for the Updated Info.

 

[Drozd]

Thank you for the Updated Info.

No problem...it's info that should help quite a few people out..

 

[Mr.Mann]

No problem...it's info that should help quite a few people out..

Yes, very much so! I had been searching for a similar list, which is how I found this thread (though it hadn't been posted yet). Thanks.

 

[Drozd]

Yes, very much so! I had been searching for a similar list, which is how I found this thread (though it hadn't been posted yet). Thanks.

I'm usually loathe to pot links in the newbie forum...expecially to links on another forum... but it's critical info...and I really like that AW himself will confirm authenticity of batteries there...

 

[Mr.Mann]

I'm usually loathe to pot links in the newbie forum...expecially to links on another forum... but it's critical info...and I really like that AW himself will confirm authenticity of batteries there...

Well, in spite of what you usually don't, I guess "nothing is written in stone"!

 

[Drozd]

Well, in spite of what you usually don't, I guess "nothing is written in stone"!

Lol....
Just saying that it's good for a moderator (any moderator)....to sort of green light a post with what I might class as a link in poor forum ettiquite (link to another forum)

 

[STEELRAIN]

The recycle logo on the OP's battery is also much different then mine. Mine just have the outline of the arrows, his are full black.

 

[COHgirl]

I believe the two batteries I purchased locally are fake. After reading everything I could, here's what stands out to me...

No little white dot on the AW sticker (old black design)
Vent holes on the button top are smaller than the ones one my new hologram batteries from Provape
ROHS instead of RoHS
They are longer than the Provape batteries
Solid black recycle icon


I want to take them back to my local store because I don't feel comfortable using them now. Does anyone else think they could be fake??

Thanks in advance!

 

[Cloud Junky]

I believe the two batteries I purchased locally are fake. After reading everything I could, here's what stands out to me...

No little white dot on the AW sticker (old black design)
Vent holes on the button top are smaller than the ones one my new hologram batteries from Provape
ROHS instead of RoHS
They are longer than the Provape batteries
Solid black recycle icon


I want to take them back to my local store because I don't feel comfortable using them now. Does anyone else think they could be fake??

Thanks in advance!

With just the ROHS instead of RoHS they are fakes for sure. Tobeco makes AW fake batteries.
Tobeco Aw Imr Battery With Ce Rohs Mark - Buy Aw Imr Battery,18350 Battery,Aw 18650 Battery Product on Alibaba.com

 

[COHgirl]

With just the ROHS instead of RoHS they are fakes for sure. Tobeco makes AW fake batteries.
Tobeco Aw Imr Battery With Ce Rohs Mark - Buy Aw Imr Battery,18350 Battery,Aw 18650 Battery Product on Alibaba.com

I think that is exactly what mine look like

 

[DasFriek]

I just returned 4 cells just like the ones in the 1st post to a web vendor.
They had no clue they were fakes but did except the return.
Sad part is 2 days ago a local shop had the same exact fakes in their showcase. I told them about it but they.didn't seem very worried about my claims.
I swear I see more fake AW cells than real ones.
I'll stick with Sony cells and pray the counterfeiters pass them by.

 

[beckdg]

The AW batteries now in production will have a new holographic AW logo to help consumers know if they are authentic or counterfeit.

View attachment 312527 previous AW sticker (pre-2014)

View attachment 312528 current production AW hologram sticker

just a heads up.

i bought 2000mah AW 18650s from provape and 1600mah AWs from another authorized vendor in Feb and both had the old sticker. though, that was nearing the end of the chinese new year drought, so they were presumably older stock.

this is the place to ask... IMR16340 / IMR14500 / IMR18350 / IMR18490 / IMR18650 / IMR26500 *Part 2* - Page 47

andrew will answer you personally if you post the pic there. then you'll know for sure. you can also reference that list of approved vendors.