counterfeit 18V XRP batteries on ebay

[waltinbatonrouge]

Hi all. I'm waltinbatonrouge. New to your forum but not new to DeWalt tools...

Anyway just wanted you to become aware of counterfeit XRP batteries making their way into the US.

I bought 2 of them off of ebay in December 2011.

Paid $92.92 and they arrived from California without the plastic blister packaging but otherwise looked fine to me..I did noticed that they appeared a tad lighter in weight than the other 3 18V Dewalt batteries I own.

The batteries were date stamped February 2011 so i thought "thats ok, maybe an overstock sell off"

they worked ok for about 5 months but both failed to hold a charge about a week apart in mid June 2012...(6 months after i received them)

I brought them to my local DeWalt Store and the young guy behind the counter looked them over and noticed that the #1) "date stamping didn't look quite right"  He's seen many per day over 5 years.

So he pulls his torx driver out to open them up and notices that:

#2) the torx bit is the wrong size

Meanwhile he pulls a new 18v XRP of the shelf and sets it alongside mine... and opens the top of his battery

#3 he opens my battery and we both notice that the overheat sensor is not present on my battery. the hole is there in the cardboard battery shield for it, but no sensor.

#4 the carboard cover on mine is red.

#5 no moisture/ shock barrier at the base of the top cell on mine

#5 he removes the battery pack from my battery and shows me a blank piece of carboard.

He pulls the battery pack out of his and shows me the same code number that is stamped on the plastic top cover..

#6 now i compare the weigh of the 2 battery packs..the fake is noticeably lighter

None of these differences are initially apparent

You'll notice in the pics that there is no temp sensor and a hand soldered joint ..but be careful..they are cleverly built fakes that fooled me (notice the excellent lettering and labeling) but don't last AND DeWalt obvisously won't warranty them

I'm working with ebay and the dozens of others that bought these fakes from a seller on ebay....

I just checked ebay and there are a number of sellers selling UNpackaged NEW XRP's on ebay.

I'll hold back mentioning his name unless he continues to insist that I didn't buy them from him.

I've been an ebay member since 1998 and know how the seller feedback system works. I bought them from him.

Yup I was just trying to save a few dollars..somethings I can save money on, somethings I can't.

waltinbatonrouge

[kjones]

Sorry to hear that you were taken advantage of like this! Unfortunately, I have dealt with a few users who have bought different versions of these batteries (one user bought over $6000 in these things, and he was just out the money!)

I'm not sure about yours (you can check and let us know if you want)  but in all of the fake batteries that I have seen, there have only been two electrical contacts in the stem of the battery, where the DeWALT has three. That has been the easiest way for me to find them.

[waltinbatonrouge]

Sorry to hear that you were taken advantage of like this! Unfortunately, I have dealt with a few users who have bought different versions of these batteries (one user bought over $6000 in these things, and he was just out the money!)

I'm not sure about yours (you can check and let us know if you want)  but in all of the fake batteries that I have seen, there have only been two electrical contacts in the stem of the battery, where the DeWALT has three. That has been the easiest way for me to find them.

Hi K it appears that the counterfeiters are stepping it up a notch. Mine has the 3rd post, its just not connected internally. Instead of being connected to the thermal switch, It goes no where electrically.  

[michaeljj]

There have been many people like you, who also have been duped by these crap fake sellers in the past.

[Badpete]

The casing is probably a real one from Dewalt but the inside as bin refurbished with batteries in series you need 15 X 1,2 volts in series to get the 18 volt as specify alot of shopdo these mode to make these batteries more afordable ,in this market its unreal to charge over $100.00 for a single nicad batteries if you do a bit of research you will find quality 1.2 volt batteries 2.1 milli amp for $1.50 each the sensor is about $2.00 each the casing 4 to 5 bucks

so there seem to bit a litle to much markup on these nicad from Dewalt specialy since they got the new Lithium out now !

Ryobi sell their 18 volts $40.00 who makes more sense and they are built from 15X1.2 volt in serie the same way !

I am not putting down Dewalt I still think that Dewalt is the company that gives you the more bang for your money the more strengh and durability to ! there is alot of european brands thats sell for 5 times the prices who are not that much better sure they can offer a longer waranty they are 5 times more pricey ! I have my basement full of these yellow tools !! Dewalt and Milwauke are my to main brands !!