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-   -   Headlight bulbs needed - recommendations/tips (https://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthread.php?t=12787)

moltuae 8th March 2017 11:58 AM

4 Attachment(s)
You're welcome :) For reference/comparison, these were the fakes I received. It's hard to tell from the photograph, but the holographic element is 'flatter' on these than the genuine units. Comparing the bulbs with photos of fakes online suggests they fakes have been gradually improving, making it more difficult to tell but the lack of weld points was the clearest indicator.

Attachment 15829 Attachment 15830 Attachment 15831 Attachment 15832


I won't publicly mention the seller since it may have been a genuine mistake (if you pardon the pun) or an issue with his supplier. PM me if you need know.

HPsauce 8th March 2017 01:52 PM

Thanks for those pictures Mark, where would these weld points appear and what do they look like?

My eBay seller has 99.5% positive feedback on almost 50,000 sales so I'm hopeful it will be genuine. Looking at the recent negatives they all seem to be rather dumb people who can't fit LED sidelight/interior bulbs properly. :ROFL:

moltuae 8th March 2017 02:21 PM

These are the weld points (genuine bulb on the left):

https://i.imgur.com/iXAxK7R.jpg


The image was taken from here, which gives a few more things to look for:
https://www.powerbulbs.com/blog/2014...e-real-or-fake

It seems to vary from one fake to another which of the traits are present. The fakes I had were almost identical to the originals (as far as I could tell) apart from the missing weld marks and the missing 'curved' part mentioned here:
http://www.hidconcept.com/blog/a-war...eadlight-bulb/

The seller I bought from also sold on Ebay (and had lots of positive feedback) but I bought them from their website instead.

The name of the seller's business you bought from doesn't happen to contain the word 'style' does it?

HPsauce 8th March 2017 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moltuae (Post 125640)
The name of the seller's business you bought from doesn't happen to contain the word 'style' does it?

It does, and is fairly lengthy...... :tuttut:
I am warned! +++

moltuae 8th March 2017 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HPsauce (Post 125643)
It does, and is fairly lengthy...... :tuttut:
I am warned! +++

Hmmmm. If it's the same company it'll be interesting to see whether or not they send you genuine bulbs (the first time). Hey, they may even send you the ones I sent back :ROFL:

I suspect they know what they're selling but I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Hopefully my suspicions are wrong and you'll be sent a genuine pair of bulbs the first time. +++

By the way, the number printed on the labels of the fake units checks out as genuine on Philips' website, so don't be fooled by that. I contacted Philips because the labels were identical and they confirmed that they should all have a unique number. After giving them further info and photographs they wanted to know who the seller was and requested a copy of the invoice. I felt that they were using me to gather evidence against the seller so I declined. I decided instead to tell the seller what Philips had said and he promptly offered to arrange collection and replacement of the fake bulbs.

tonupkid 8th March 2017 07:31 PM

I changed my HID's a couple of weeks age. The originals were still working but had become weak (presumably 10 years and 120k miles old). I had Audi OEM fitted, and the difference is noticeable.
I think you'l be pleased with the result.

HPsauce 9th March 2017 10:36 AM

OK, so they have arrived and I reckon they are fakes. :angry2:
Same ID on each for a start, no inner tube to protect, hologram very flat, no visible welds.

The question is how to deal with this....

Edit: Just spoke to Philips, they are fake. Recommendations anyone?

HPsauce 9th March 2017 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moltuae (Post 125633)
You're welcome :) For reference/comparison, these were the fakes I received. It's hard to tell from the photograph, but the holographic element is 'flatter' on these than the genuine units. Comparing the bulbs with photos of fakes online suggests they fakes have been gradually improving, making it more difficult to tell but the lack of weld points was the clearest indicator.

Attachment 15829 Attachment 15830 Attachment 15831 Attachment 15832


I won't publicly mention the seller since it may have been a genuine mistake (if you pardon the pun) or an issue with his supplier. PM me if you need know.

Well, well, well, exactly the same (unique according to Philips!) codes on both my boxes! :angry2:

I'll post again when I've made some progress, meanwhile "lips are sealed".

pete-p 9th March 2017 11:57 AM

You could raise a claim against the seller on eBay. Their rules are here: http://pages.ebay.co.uk/safetycentre/counterfeits.html

if it's the same seller as moltuae, then perhaps also let Philips know and report them.

It's not right and I expect quite a few people are being caught out.

HPsauce 9th March 2017 12:01 PM

Yes, I've had counterfeit automotive products before and know what to do. ;)


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