Suspect VTC5 Unwrapped

[Cotay]

So I received two supposed VTC5s today from an ECF vendor. I won't name them since they were very clear that these had been reported as fakes to them but they insisted that they had unwrapped them and the cylinders were marked properly. I bought them knowing they wouldn't be returnable and I am okay with that. I may pick up an Opus charger to check the capacity and resistance of these.

When they came in I immediately suspected these were actually re-wrapped Samsung 20Rs or 25Rs based upon the cylinder profile. Since I have PVC wrap on its way I figured that I have nothing to lose by pulling off the wrapper.

Anyway, they do appear to have the Sony markings on the cylinder and I normally would have been surprised that a counterfeiter would go to the trouble of screening false info on the cylinder...but these are a dead ringer for the Samsungs. What say ya'll?


upload pics

 

[Waddle]

Other than the top cap it looks identical to my VTC4. The gap looks big to me.

 

[Froth]

Definitely a larger top gap than any Sony cell I own, it's likely you're correct about it being a Samsung 20 or 25R. There was a large batch of fakes that were using 25R cells.

 

[inswva]

Looks just like the fakes I've received in the past. There's really no reason to roll the dice on VTC5s these days.

It's kind of crappy that the vendor continues to sell these. I'd like to know who the vendor is so I may avoid doing business with them.

 

[Cyrus Vap]

Looks like a samsung to me based on the top cap/gap

 

[Cotay]

Looks just like the fakes I've received in the past. There's really no reason to roll the dice on VTC5s these days.

It's kind of crappy that the vendor continues to sell these. I'd like to know who the vendor is so I may avoid doing business with them.

Oddly (or fortunately depending upon your point of view), the vendor apparently is OOS and has pulled their page for them.

 

[Don Robertson]

Oddly (or fortunately depending upon your point of view), the vendor apparently is OOS and has pulled their page for them.

If a vendor sold one brand of suspected "fakes" is it not logical / possible that they would knowingly sell yet another "fake brand". A word of caution to the ECF folks who assisted you would seem to be a great way of saying "Thank You". Naturally it is up to you; a PM to the folks who might ask would seem quite appropriate and not openly taint the reputation of the vendor / forum seller.

Admittedly not my business; it just seems like the proper thing to me.

Senile Old Man Donnie

 

[Yiorgo]

I know for a fact due to performance and the reputation of the vendor....

That this is real.....

Bought from Vapor dna awhile ago!
I was going to retire this beat up VTC5 but before I do.... I needed to strip the wrapper and post a pic for comparison and Imo the positive cap gap is too big in the op pic ...... This vendor hasn't had these in a while! They were selling them 3 for $29.99...... I grabbed 6...... should've picked up 12 or 24 !

 

[InfinityzeN]

My best guess is a Sammy 25R as well.

Have patience on the real VTC5s. The new Sony plant is working hard to expand production, but contracts will be eating up all the VTC5s coming out for a while. After those contract obligations are fufilled you will see a surge of VTC series batteries.

Also I really hope that Sony does decide to open a US based battery factory.

 

[Cotay]

If a vendor sold one brand of suspected "fakes" is it not logical / possible that they would knowingly sell yet another "fake brand". A word of caution to the ECF folks who assisted you would seem to be a great way of saying "Thank You". Naturally it is up to you; a PM to the folks who might ask would seem quite appropriate and not openly taint the reputation of the vendor / forum seller.

Admittedly not my business; it just seems like the proper thing to me.

Senile Old Man Donnie

I've already responded to several PMs on this and will continue to do so if asked.