How do you Tell if Sony VTC5s are Authentic?

[stancato9]

Hey everyone, I recently purchased some Sony VTC5 batteries and was wondering how you can really tell if they are authentic or not.

I purchased from this eBay ad:
2 Sony US 18650 VTC5 High Drain 30A Rechargeable Battery Nitecore I4 Charger | eBay

I am concerned that they are not authentic, thus not really having a 30 amp discharge rate, and possibly being dangerous.

On the battery, there is a dull print that reads:

SE US18650VTC5
T C5A1XWA24B

There is also the clear sticker reading:
18650 3.7V 2600mAh

And something that looks like a QR code.

Edit: Forgot to add that they came in a clear plastic case.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Rickajho]

If you want real batteries with no guess work you have to buy then from trusted suppliers. Generally that means "not eBay". Faking battery wraps is cheap and easy. Do you trust the place you got them from?

 

[KurrptSenate]

seems like a pretty darn reliable seller by ebay standards

 

[thebanik]

TBH, I wont doubt that seller judging from his ratings.

 

[stancato9]

Not entirely but it was the only place I could get batteries at the time. His eBay rep is also extremely good.

 

[Nailz]

I've bought from that seller a few times on ebay, 1 thing being my vtc5's and just ordered another 2 yesterday again, think from his ratings, we're pretty safe they are the real thing.

 

[stancato9]

I've bought from that seller a few times on ebay, 1 thing being my vtc5's and just ordered another 2 yesterday again, think from his ratings, we're pretty safe they are the real thing.

Are they performing fine? Ever do an extremely low ohm build?

Are the QR codes in different places on yours? That, and the fact that I've seen some that have a 3rd line of text saying, "Sony 31" concerns me.

 

[Nailz]

My builds on my drippers are normally around 0.5ohms, so not extremely low.

QR codes in same place on my 2, both at the top of the battery, my other 2 are meant to be here tomorrow, so will see if they are in the same place too.

I got mine from this listing http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-SONY-US-18650-VTC5-HIGH-DRAIN-30A-RECHARGEABLE-Li-on-18650-Battery-2600mAh-NEW-/231183504497?pt=US_Rechargeable_Batteries&hash=item35d39c5471&_uhb=1

They match the picture, they do have a sticky saying '18650 3.7v 2600mah' on them too, think on there to help identify them better, as the text on the battery is faint, but from what I have seen, that is normal with these batteries.

He sells a ton of batteries, over a 1000 of these ones alone, think if he was selling fakes, his ratings wouldn't be so high.