How to tell if my LG V20 is genuine? - LG V20 Questions & Answers

I bought the phone from ebay from china, the seller claims its "new and original , send in sealed box, not opened." How do I test if it is real and not some knock-off and/or not used? I'm thinking it could be fake or used because:
1. Cheap plastic wrap on the box
2. Box says made in Korea but phone back plate says made in china
3. Poor print quality in manual and on some labels
4. Doesn't match boxing T-mobile unboxing videos online
5. Different screen protector from online
6. There was no security sticker on the box
7. Phone box says b&o but the back of the phone doesn't say it
8. Battery was inside the phone, but was the terminal was covered in yellow tape
9. When I booted up the phone , the phone was already set up.
10. No plastic film over the camera
other than the the phone seems to be fined but i haven't used it enough.
EDIT:
https://ibb.co/6g4QwXC
https://ibb.co/B28p9gV
https://ibb.co/Lp8PdmK
https://ibb.co/nqGqQdY
https://ibb.co/3c6brjj
https://ibb.co/qYgHz5V

I was recently in the same boat so I'll take a stab at this.
By "genuine", are you asking if it is a real H918 or are you asking if it is "new/unused"?
The listing says it's new. I would say there is about a 99.9999999999% chance it is not "new/unused".
All of your suspicions are valid. I would add the following:
As far as I know, the H918 was only a T-Mobile phone and a new one would only come in a T-Mobile branded box. If you haven't already done so, look at Jerry Rig Everything's unboxing video. That's what a T-Mobile H918 box looks like.
The sticker on the side would not look like what you have posted. Most, if not all of the Chinese Frankenphones/refurbs have the type of sticker in your picture. The UPC code on that sticker (8801031687305) is for an LG G3, not a V20. Use a barcode scanner and check for yourself.
The battery wouldn't have that capton tape over the contacts and wouldn't be in the phone. It would be sealed in a separate bag. I'll bet the writing on the back of the battery is all Chinese. Correct? A "real" H918 battery would be in English.
The date on the inner label is from 11/2015 and the V20 wasn't even released until the 2nd half of 2016 (IIRC Sept/Oct).
Those screen protectors that say "V20" are what you usually see on a refurb. The screen protectors on new "real" H918's were clear.
A "genuine" V20 would come with a flat USB C cable.
No H918's had the B&O tuning and wouldn't say B&O on the box.
The mere fact that it is coming from China probably means it is some sort of refurb. Also, look at the seller's feedback. 97.7% isn't very good.
Check if the serial numbers on the box, battery compartment and inside the phone settings all match. I would be surprised if they do.
With all of that said, just because it is a refurb, doesn't necessarily mean it is bad. It could have new parts (screen, mobo etc.) Check out ALL of the functions, and also check for screen burn in/image retention. If you already have image retention, then you know the phone has already been used extensively. If not, and everything else is OK, then maybe you got a decent phone for a pretty good price, considering these things were $700ish when new.
Here is a Reddit thread that talks about things to test when you get an H918.
I hope this helps.

Another thing you can try for checking a used phone might be to go to About Phone -> Hardware Info and check the value of lifetime calls as well as the internal S/N. The vast majority of "older" phones on eBay are refurbs even if they say "new". Most say "New - Other" as if that lets them get away with it. They typically have new cosmetic housing, but the internals are used. I would trust a listing by an actual person with in depth description and pictures of that specific phone over a large eBay seller any day.

"Lifetime Calls" in settings is a great indicator of a used phone for sure, but I don't think the H918 has it. My VS995 has it, but neither of my H918's have it, unfortunately. They only have "up time" which only tells you how long the phone has been on since the last power cycle.

Rootabaga said:
I was recently in the same boat so I'll take a stab at this.
By "genuine", are you asking if it is a real H918 or are you asking if it is "new/unused"?
The listing says it's new. I would say there is about a 99.9999999999% chance it is not "new/unused".
All of your suspicions are valid. I would add the following:
As far as I know, the H918 was only a T-Mobile phone and a new one would only come in a T-Mobile branded box. If you haven't already done so, look at Jerry Rig Everything's unboxing video. That's what a T-Mobile H918 box looks like.
The sticker on the side would not look like what you have posted. Most, if not all of the Chinese Frankenphones/refurbs have the type of sticker in your picture. The UPC code on that sticker (8801031687305) is for an LG G3, not a V20. Use a barcode scanner and check for yourself.
The battery wouldn't have that capton tape over the contacts and wouldn't be in the phone. It would be sealed in a separate bag. I'll bet the writing on the back of the battery is all Chinese. Correct? A "real" H918 battery would be in English.
The date on the inner label is from 11/2015 and the V20 wasn't even released until the 2nd half of 2016 (IIRC Sept/Oct).
Those screen protectors that say "V20" are what you usually see on a refurb. The screen protectors on new "real" H918's were clear.
A "genuine" V20 would come with a flat USB C cable.
No H918's had the B&O tuning and wouldn't say B&O on the box.
The mere fact that it is coming from China probably means it is some sort of refurb. Also, look at the seller's feedback. 97.7% isn't very good.
Check if the serial numbers on the box, battery compartment and inside the phone settings all match. I would be surprised if they do.
With all of that said, just because it is a refurb, doesn't necessarily mean it is bad. It could have new parts (screen, mobo etc.) Check out ALL of the functions, and also check for screen burn in/image retention. If you already have image retention, then you know the phone has already been used extensively. If not, and everything else is OK, then maybe you got a decent phone for a pretty good price, considering these things were $700ish when new.
Here is a Reddit thread that talks about things to test when you get an H918.
I hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I checked all the functions and sensors, and headphone ports. camera, recording, etc. everything seems fine and no screen retention. The only issue i experienced was when the power button didn't work, but taking a screenshot fixed it. I hope i didn't miss anything.
The battery surprising matches what i see online from Jerry Rig Everything, minus the part that says it was made in late 2018. I emailed LG the IMEI and s/n and they confirmed that my phone was sent in for a "full refurbishment". But after that, the s/n was altered. I find it weird how they said the phone was made in USA but the box and the back of the phone says otherwise. I'm going to msg the seller.
jackson019 said:
Another thing you can try for checking a used phone might be to go to About Phone -> Hardware Info and check the value of lifetime calls as well as the internal S/N. The vast majority of "older" phones on eBay are refurbs even if they say "new". Most say "New - Other" as if that lets them get away with it. They typically have new cosmetic housing, but the internals are used. I would trust a listing by an actual person with in depth description and pictures of that specific phone over a large eBay seller any day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my phone doesn't have the lifetime calls.
I noticed my phone has the t-mobile device unlock app and it says my phone is carrier unlocked. Online says the app will disappear once i unlocked my phone. But i was able to make and receive calls from 2 different sim cards/networks just fine. Do I need to worry about this? should i do it anyways to see what happens?
EDIT: ran the unlocking app and when i press permanently unlock, it fails. I accidentally pressed temporary unlock and it worked. hopefully i didn't screw it up in the long run.

It is pretty hard to copy a v20 never seen a cloned one yet.......

Related

Advice requested for weird purchase issue - tale of caution to all potential buyers

Hello All,
Apologies in advance for a necessarily long story but I think it has implications for unsuspecting customers. Hope people start checking goods very carefully!!
I bought a new 64GB TPT with Keyboard Folio from a reputed online seller in UK on 19 January, paid full price and for next day delivery.
Parcel arrived promptly the next day in a big black plastic bag with carton inside. So I signed for it and opened the big plastic bag. Inside I found a large Thinkpad Carton which was a bit banged up and there was some rattling inside. I was now worried but having signed for it, I opened the outer carton and found a smaller Thinkpad Tablet box inside it, which looked undamaged.
However, on closer inspection, it was clear that this was NOT a sealed box, that someone had opened it and re-taped with narrower tape. I was getting quite worried now that I had been sent a customer return rather than Brand New.
Anyway, I open the smaller Thinkpad box, find the tablet inside but guess what, the red security seal was broken. I didn't even need to open the seal, it was poorly stuck back. I take the tablet out and see smudges and dust on the screen and scratches on the back!!
I decided enough is enough and phoned the dealer who promptly sent me an email requesting a photograph. I sent that after several attempts and they acknowledged receipt and that they had requested replacement from supplier.
I took further steps to make sure that I don't get lumbered with a used item. I checked the serial number on the despatch note and the boxes and compared it to the serial number on the tablet inside the flap cover of the SD/SIM slot. They were the same. I cleaned the screen, there were no scratches.
I thought to have a look at the tablet working anyway while waiting for exchange. It powered on and went into the home screen straight away, further confirmation that whoever had handled it before hadn't bothered to factory reset. The battery showed 3/4 charge so I went to "Settings" to have a look.
Much to my surprise, the internal storage showed up around 28GB (I had purchased the 64GB tablet) which I couldn't understand. Then the tablet shut down and stayed dead (SOD) despite every effort to put life into it. I emailed the seller anyway but they are closed on the weekend. I knew by now that not only had I been sent a USED and scratched customer return but also a defective and lower spec tablet. Weird enough but it gets worse.
I left it on charge for >24 hours and tried again today. Thankfully the tablet started without a hiccup, went into the home screen and I went straight to "Settings" and "About Tablet" to confirm internal storage. It still showed about 27.4GB plus 540MB used space. No question that they sent me 32GB tablet.
I then discovered the worst thing I could expect. I went into status and checked the Serial Number of the System Unit as recorded IN the tablet firmware itself. Guess what, the serial number embedded in the tablet is TOTALLY DIFFERENT from that in the pull down flap cover of SD slot and that on the cartons!
Until this point, I had assumed that some sleeper in the warehouse had mistakenly sent me a customer return. Now I question that assumption.
The shocking thing in this whole scenario is that the Outer carton, Inner carton and Despatch note all state the same serial number and this matches with the small print label inside the pull down flap SD slot cover. But the embedded System Unit Serial Number is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!
I would not have known at all if I hadn't become suspicious from the outset. Even then it was the internal storage size that caught my attention and induced me to check system unit serial.
There is no doubt whatsoever that a replacement cannot be refused by the dealer, I phoned them and emailed photos on the day of receipt. Why should the embedded system unit serial be different from that on the SD flap cover which is after all, part of the tablet itself?
However, I would ask other forum members if I am mistaken in thinking that system serial number as seen in Settings>About tablet>Status should be the same as on the SD flap label and the boxes. If they are different as I have now found out, what is the implication?
If I am correct in thinking that the serial numbers everywhere should be the same, how come the sticky label on the SD flap cover is same as on the cartons. Indeed, according to despatch note and boxes, the serial number on them should be the 64GB machine. Not mine though!
I would appreciate comments and advice. Once again, sincere apologies for the long post and a couple of repetitions (long winded as usual!).
Kind regards
Sounds like a pretty terrible thing to have to deal with, hope you eventually get what you paid to receive.
The S/N on the flap matches the System-unit serial number under About Tablet on my tablet
Thanks for confirming that, mine is different
MrKwatz said:
Sounds like a pretty terrible thing to have to deal with, hope you eventually get what you paid to receive.
The S/N on the flap matches the System-unit serial number under About Tablet on my tablet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My serial number in Settings>About tablet>Status = MP06xxP
On the label inside the SD flap cover on tablet, despatch note, both outer and inner cartons, the serial number reads = MP04xxX
So does this mean that whoever despatched it did a dodgy swap of the SD cover flap on my unit to show a different serial number "to match the purchased unit"?
If so, is this a fraudulent alteration of serial numbers to deceive the customer?
I take a dim view of it if this is what has happened and wonder if I should bring it to Trading Standards Office's attention.
I still can't believe someone would go so far as to alter serial numbers but surely he would know that the correct serial number would be embedded in the About Tablet!!
I certainly will compare serial numbers on all electronic items in their displays whenever possible as it looks like someone has been dodgy in this case!
I just didn't expect it from a very well known dealer although they said on the phone that it was despatched direct from their supplier, who now has several questions to answer. It is illegal to alter serials just as it is to alter car plates.
Thanks for your confirmation.
Kind regards
Update
Hello All,
I phoned the dealer this morning and he said they have forwarded my emails to the supplier and it will take 5 days for them to respond.
I decided this was total dung and phoned HM Govt Trading Standards Office and they said that as the contract is between dealer and me, supplier is irrelevant and that I am entitled to refund forthwith from the dealer as they did not supply the goods that I ordered.
There may be an issue of misconduct as well somewhere in the chain as I cannot imagine the Settings>About tablet>Serial number being different from box, invoice and sticky label on SD flap unless someone actually changed the sticky label or even the SD flap!
Amazing. I am waiting to hear from the dealer and taken plenty of photos to show mismatch, scratches etc. I have asked for a refund as there is no way I will trust this dealer again even if the fault is the supplier's. The dealer should deal with the supplier rather than asking me to wait 5 days for them to pontificate.
Thanks for your patience. I strongly recommend that people check the product serial number in its OS or display before accepting it as genuine. You never know these days, despite this dealer having a good reputation this happened.
Best wishes!
I guess I'm "lucky" that I ordered mine straight from Lenovo Direct and waited 2 months for them to deliver (3 months - Keyboard Folio).
I wish you the best, I would have blown my top if I got scammed like that.
All I can say is wow. Hopefully you will get what you purchased or a full refund.
wow
TS
I am still waiting though!
twospirits said:
All I can say is wow. Hopefully you will get what you purchased or a full refund.
wow
TS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The dealer has not yet responded to my request for refund. I decided I didn't want a replacement from his dodgy supplier and I have advised my credit card company of the issues.
Out of interest, I searched the internet for serial number fiddling and it turns out that this is very common with Sony PS3. Apparently, scammers repackage cleaned and used PS3's AND alter their serial numbers to resell at new price!
All I can say is that this is the first time I have come across years of online purchases in the UK and it is probably a new innovation that only scam artists can think of.
Check serial number is my new motto!
Kind regards
KF

[Q] Just got my 7.7, should i be worried?

So, i just received my 7.7 Galaxy Tab today. I purchased it off of E-Bay. The item description was "brand new". However, when it arrived, the little Samsung sticker on the box was already broken (FedEx guy was already gone when I opened it). I pulled it out, all the plastic wrap on the device is there and appears to have never been removed. When i turned it on, it was already set to english, so i did not have to do anything (i.e. i did not get the android quick start screen)
Just wondering if anyone knows what i should look for to see if there is something wrong, if it was already registered or anything else.
Try to ask the seller on why the seal was already broken, carefully check of any scuff marks or signs of usage.. if it all looks and even smells pristine then you should have nothing to worry about.
Sometimes the seller will turn on to make sure it works. I'll bet this is the case. You probably have a brand new one. Enjoy.
I did the smell test, have looked it over carefully and did not notice any signs of use. I e-mailed the seller to see why, but I think all appears to be ok.
TBarb169 said:
I did the smell test, have looked it over carefully and did not notice any signs of use. I e-mailed the seller to see why, but I think all appears to be ok.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really love doing the smell test on new devices! ( not kidding )
Maybe he just wanted to check it out and see if he shipped a fully working device. A lot of local samsung retailers in my place also break the seal the boxes especially if the first few batches of shipment, they test for basic functionality and check if everything is in place.
Did you buy an unlocked P6800? I don't know if all of these come factory unlocked of if the seller does it.
At any rate, there were a ton of defective 10.1s from the first shipment so maybe the seller had bad memories of that and wanted to be sure the units he's moving work.
No, it is the P6810 wifi only.

How to tell if Samsung Galaxy Note N7000 is refurbished or not

Hello everyone
I do have Samsung Galaxy Note N7000
And i was wondering how to tell if my galaxy note is refurbished or factory made
because i keep notice that my phone keep freeze a lot plus the Google maps and GPS totally kill the phone and so slow to use so please tell me if that normal thing to happen too or not ,
It might be the firmware.
Try Flashing XXLA6 Stock.
AFAIK, There is no way to tell whether a unit is brand new or Refurbished.
Dont know if this applys to notes. But for my galaxy s the different of a retail and a refurbished( the replacement phone samsung gave me) was the sticker on the back of the.phone showing serial imei and such. The retail onw is nice and good quality with samsung logo and made location. The refurb one is just one cheap sticker with some barcode and number
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk
JazonX said:
It might be the firmware.
Try Flashing XXLA6 Stock.
AFAIK, There is no way to tell whether a unit is brand new or Refurbished.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That means i shud flash my phone to European version ?
Is that ROM is the fastest ?
tg9413 said:
Dont know if this applys to notes. But for my galaxy s the different of a retail and a refurbished( the replacement phone samsung gave me) was the sticker on the back of the.phone showing serial imei and such. The retail onw is nice and good quality with samsung logo and made location. The refurb one is just one cheap sticker with some barcode and number
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I cant tell if my material good or not on the phone because i havent used any galaxy note's before except mine
So i was thinking that some guys says go to RTN number but idk how to do that
because they say i shud dial up some code which never work for me
any idea about that code ?
From where did you get it ?
Do not flash XXLA6
wipe your device and flash the latest Emirates rom (arabic rom)
it is fast and stable.
The ICS will be released soon.
M.Noury said:
From where did you get it ?
Do not flash XXLA6
wipe your device and flash the latest Emirates rom (arabic rom)
it is fast and stable.
The ICS will be released soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got it from a guy who sells them on big hardware site in egypt
And i already have the emirates version on my phone
Just the thing is , how to tell if my phone is refurbished or not , whats the steps to know ?
there is no physical evidence new / user or phone from shop returns ...
i have your same version of the note, and it does the same with freezing, a friend has the same note but with v2.3.6 not 2.3.5 and it works a lot better.
so try updating to 2.3.6 (assuming that your device has no warranty) or wait for the ICS
Never ignore gut feelings!
I should have trusted my gut when I received my "NEW" SGN (N7000) -- a purchase I made on Amazon from a seller named "Goodios" -- when it arrived in a box with a broken factory seal. There was a sticker over the original seal but upon closer inspection it was obvious that the original factory seal had been broken. Unfortunately for me, due to the seller's high feedback rating I unconsciously began making excuses for them from the get go. I assumed they opened the box merely to add an aftermarket US power adapter despite common sense screaming out the fact that there would have been no practical reason to do such a thing. Any additional accessories could have simply been dropped into the shipping box -- there was after all plenty of room.
The last and biggest clue which would finally convince me that this was in fact NOT a new unit as described by the seller was the missing sticker that should have been covering the screw at the top left corner of the battery well. Removal of this sticker voids the factory warranty, and the fact that it was missing on mine told me that my unit was likely refurbished.
Unfortunately again for me I didn't figure out that last clue until after the 30-day window in which I could have returned the phone. I'm kicking myself now because that's something I would have otherwise thought to check had my suspicions not be quelled by the seller's feedback rating. A high positive feedback ratio often signifies an honorable seller, but it can also signify a crooked seller with ignorant customers like me. Another expensive lesson learned (sigh).
AjaxTheCleaner said:
I should have trusted my gut when I received my "NEW" SGN (N7000) -- a purchase I made on Amazon from a seller named "Goodios" -- when it arrived in a box with a broken factory seal. There was a sticker over the original seal but upon closer inspection it was obvious that the original factory seal had been broken. Unfortunately for me, due to the seller's high feedback rating I unconsciously began making excuses for them from the get go. I assumed they opened the box merely to add an aftermarket US power adapter despite common sense screaming out the fact that there would have been no practical reason to do such a thing. Any additional accessories could have simply been dropped into the shipping box -- there was after all plenty of room.
The last and biggest clue which would finally convince me that this was in fact NOT a new unit as described by the seller was the missing sticker that should have been covering the screw at the top left corner of the battery well. Removal of this sticker voids the factory warranty, and the fact that it was missing on mine told me that my unit was likely refurbished.
Unfortunately again for me I didn't figure out that last clue until after the 30-day window in which I could have returned the phone. I'm kicking myself now because that's something I would have otherwise thought to check had my suspicions not be quelled by the seller's feedback rating. A high positive feedback ratio often signifies an honorable seller, but it can also signify a crooked seller with ignorant customers like me. Another expensive lesson learned (sigh).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats really annoying when you can find people like these all over the internet trying to steal you with all ways possible . Sorry to hear that you fell in such a trap man .
Sent From My Samsung Galaxy Note N7000 Using XDA Premium
AjaxTheCleaner said:
I should have trusted my gut when I received my "NEW" SGN (N7000) -- a purchase I made on Amazon from a seller named "Goodios" -- when it arrived in a box with a broken factory seal. There was a sticker over the original seal but upon closer inspection it was obvious that the original factory seal had been broken. Unfortunately for me, due to the seller's high feedback rating I unconsciously began making excuses for them from the get go. I assumed they opened the box merely to add an aftermarket US power adapter despite common sense screaming out the fact that there would have been no practical reason to do such a thing. Any additional accessories could have simply been dropped into the shipping box -- there was after all plenty of room.
The last and biggest clue which would finally convince me that this was in fact NOT a new unit as described by the seller was the missing sticker that should have been covering the screw at the top left corner of the battery well. Removal of this sticker voids the factory warranty, and the fact that it was missing on mine told me that my unit was likely refurbished.
Unfortunately again for me I didn't figure out that last clue until after the 30-day window in which I could have returned the phone. I'm kicking myself now because that's something I would have otherwise thought to check had my suspicions not be quelled by the seller's feedback rating. A high positive feedback ratio often signifies an honorable seller, but it can also signify a crooked seller with ignorant customers like me. Another expensive lesson learned (sigh).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is why I prefer to go out n buy stuff myself rather than ordering it from eBay or Amazon..if u yourself would have gone out to a Samsung store or any other store u wouldn't have gone through this..
Sent from my Galaxy Note with Blazing CM9
AjaxTheCleaner said:
I should have trusted my gut when I received my "NEW" SGN (N7000) -- a purchase I made on Amazon from a seller named "Goodios" -- when it arrived in a box with a broken factory seal. There was a sticker over the original seal but upon closer inspection it was obvious that the original factory seal had been broken. Unfortunately for me, due to the seller's high feedback rating I unconsciously began making excuses for them from the get go. I assumed they opened the box merely to add an aftermarket US power adapter despite common sense screaming out the fact that there would have been no practical reason to do such a thing. Any additi]onal accessories could have simply been dropped into the shipping box -- there was after all plenty of room.
The last and biggest clue which would finally convince me that this was in fact NOT a new unit as described by the seller was the missing sticker that should have been covering the screw at the top left corner of the battery well. Removal of this sticker voids the factory warranty, and the fact that it was missing on mine told me that my unit was likely refurbished.
Unfortunately again for me I didn't figure out that last clue until after the 30-day window in which I could have returned the phone. I'm kicking myself now because that's something I would have otherwise thought to check had my suspicions not be quelled by the seller's feedback rating. A high positive feedback ratio often signifies an honorable seller, but it can also signify a crooked seller with ignorant customers like me. Another expensive lesson learned (sigh).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you please post a picture of a note with or without the sticker? I've looked everywhere but i can't find a picture. I fear i am like you and am missing the sticker but am still within the time period to return my note
AjaxTheCleaner said:
I should have trusted my gut when I received my "NEW" SGN (N7000) -- a purchase I made on Amazon from a seller named "Goodios" -- when it arrived in a box with a broken factory seal. There was a sticker over the original seal but upon closer inspection it was obvious that the original factory seal had been broken. Unfortunately for me, due to the seller's high feedback rating I unconsciously began making excuses for them from the get go. I assumed they opened the box merely to add an aftermarket US power adapter despite common sense screaming out the fact that there would have been no practical reason to do such a thing. Any additional accessories could have simply been dropped into the shipping box -- there was after all plenty of room.
The last and biggest clue which would finally convince me that this was in fact NOT a new unit as described by the seller was the missing sticker that should have been covering the screw at the top left corner of the battery well. Removal of this sticker voids the factory warranty, and the fact that it was missing on mine told me that my unit was likely refurbished.
Unfortunately again for me I didn't figure out that last clue until after the 30-day window in which I could have returned the phone. I'm kicking myself now because that's something I would have otherwise thought to check had my suspicions not be quelled by the seller's feedback rating. A high positive feedback ratio often signifies an honorable seller, but it can also signify a crooked seller with ignorant customers like me. Another expensive lesson learned (sigh).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it was fulfilled by Amazon then you might have hope. Let them know what you discovered and then tell them the item was not as described and that you demand a full refund. Amazon customer service phone number 1-866-216-1072
---------- Post added at 01:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:52 AM ----------
Techimplant said:
This is why I prefer to go out n buy stuff myself rather than ordering it from eBay or Amazon..if u yourself would have gone out to a Samsung store or any other store u wouldn't have gone through this..
Sent from my Galaxy Note with Blazing CM9
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good point but hard to find a "brick and mortar" store in the USA that sells this international unlocked phone therefore Amazon and ebay. I didn't even know Samsung had their own stores. If they have them in the USA it must be major cities like NYC, Chicago, LA, etc.

[Q] Galaxy S5 fake/international/broken - I am at loss

I have a galaxy S5 that I have purchased from someone on Craigslist (been doing this for years, never had a bad experience).
But I am completely at loss about this device.
The box and the battery labels have one kind of a EMEI and the phone SW in the "about" section a completely different one.
Prior to purchasing the phone, I have asked the owner for the EMEI, I have called the ATT store and they said it's unlocked. (this is the one on the back of the device under the battery and the box). After I have purchased the phone (because I am a fool) and realized there is something wrong with it, I have called Samsung US customer service. I have given them both EMEI numbers from under the battery and in the menu, but they were not able to find anything. They said that if it is an international device, they would not have any information on this device. Which makes sense, but doesn't help at all.
I have downloaded an info app to get the exact model number because if I click on the model in the menu, it pops up and I can change it to anything I want.(wtf???) The info app says its a SM900S version, the SSN number on the back says its a G900G SMH version.(The model no. is simply SM-G900). The sticker says a certain serial number, the inside SW in about section says 123456789ABCD. This phone is a joke.
Battery drains like crazy, the display seems to be something like a 240p resolution when taking videos or pictures.
Watching youtube videos is laggy and washed out. I thought it's the fake Galaxy S5, but the finger scanner works, heartbeat sensor works as well (these would not work on the fake ones as far as I understand it correctly). By now I figured this is not an American version but a unlocked version (works with ATT on H speed and T-Mobile on Edge and uses roaming for a European version). The info app shows that there is a 801 processor in it and that all CPU's are running. GPU is 330.
What puzzles me is the screen resolution and the horrible quality of the picture/videos on the screen and camera. I have reset the phone to see if it helps, but it doesn't. I don't feel great about reselling it knowing that there are these issues there. I wanted to see if it is even possible to burn a ROM on this device and see if it helps, but since the label and SW version show a different model, I have no clue which version, or whether I can install a ROM in the first place.
For the love of God, can anyone think of something here. Please do not go into "don't buy of Craigslist" thing.
I really need help with this piece of ****e
I live in DC, MD, VA area. I am willing to meet with someone in the DMV or PA area if you would be willing to take a look at this phone.
emanko111 said:
I have a galaxy S5 that I purchased from a Craigslist owner (been doing this for years, never had a bad experience).
But I am completely at loss about this device.
The box and the battery labels have one kind of a EMEI and the phone SW in the "about" section a completely different one.
Prior to purchasing the phone, I have asked the owner for the EMEI, I have called the ATT store and they said it's unlocked. (this is the one on the back of the device under the battery and the box). After I have purchased the phone (because I am a fool) and realized there is something wrong with it, I have called Samsung US customer service. I have given them both EMEI numbers from under the battery and in the menu, but they were not able to find anything. They said that if it is an international device, they would not have any information on this device. Which makes sense, but doesn't help at all.
I have downloaded an info app to get the exact model number because if I click on the model in the menu, it pops up and I can change it to anything I want.(wtf???) The info app says its a SM900S version, the SSN number on the back says its a G900G SMH version.(The model no. is simply SM-G900). The sticker says a certain serial number, the inside SW in about section says 123456789ABCD. This phone is a joke.
Battery drains like crazy, the display seems to be something like a 240p resolution when taking videos or pictures.
Watching youtube videos is laggy and washed out. I thought it's the fake Galaxy S5, but the finger scanner works, heartbeat sensor works as well (these would not work on the fake ones as far as I understand it correctly). By now I figured this is not an American version but a unlocked version (works with ATT on H speed and T-Mobile on Edge and uses roaming for a European version). The info app shows that there is a 801 processor in it and that all CPU's are running. GPU is 330.
What puzzles me is the screen resolution and the horrible quality of the picture/videos on the screen and camera. I have reset the phone to see if it helps, but it doesn't. I don't feel great about reselling it knowing that there are these issues there. I wanted to see if it is even possible to burn a ROM on this device and see if it helps, but since the label and SW version show a different model, I have no clue which version, or whether I can install a ROM in the first place.
For the love of God, can anyone think of something here. Please do not go into "don't buy of Craigslist" thing.
I really need help with this piece of ****e
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you bought the device with a creditcard you should be able to get your money back because of fraude. Or contact the seller and see if he reverses the sale, if he will not do that file a police report for fraude and give them as much details/info as you can. Thats about it mate you can do imo, good luck mate
gee2012 said:
If you bought the device with a creditcard you should be able to get your money back because of fraude. Or contact the seller and see if he reverses the sale, if he will not do that file a police report for fraude and give them as much details/info as you can. Thats about it mate you can do imo, good luck mate
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.
Of courseI have paid cash, it's hard not to with CS stuff. (he went down from $480 to $420 bc I was willing to meet him the PM hours).
I will contact the police although from what I heard, they don't give a damn about "fraud" cases such as these.
Also, I wonder how can I prove that I have purchased a device from him, if I have no receipt?
emanko111 said:
Thanks.
Of courseI have paid cash, it's hard not to with CS stuff. (he went down from $480 to $420 bc I was willing to meet him the PM hours).
I will contact the police although from what I heard, they don't give a damn about "fraud" cases such as these.
Also, I wonder how can I prove that I have purchased a device from him, if I have no receipt?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless there we`re witnesses present during the sale you can`t prove anything.
Its impossible to prove who a seller is through the ad so legally the police can't do anything, And you didn't pay with credit card so basically you are completely stuffed and your only 2 choices are to track him down and beat the **** out of him or just take this as a life lesson and spend a bit more next time from a reputable seller.
Michael_P said:
Its impossible to prove who a seller is through the ad so legally the police can't do anything, And you didn't pay with credit card so basically you are completely stuffed and your only 2 choices are to track him down and beat the **** out of him or just take this as a life lesson and spend a bit more next time from a reputable seller.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.
But does anyone have an idea about whats going on with the phone?
I have the same model, but I was aware beforehand that it was a fake. My question is this: Has anyone found the correct way to hard reset this model SM-G900 (G900SMH) ? I can get to the factory reset screen, with the android guy saying "no command". I need help on this one, if anybody has the correct sequence of button presses?

Nexus 6 Ebay fraud...pass along this information if you know somebody

If you know someone who took advantage of the recent $199 brand new Nexus, locked to T-Mobile, "sealed in box" deal, tell them it was a fraud and file for a return claim IMMEDIATELY. I figured it out today when I opened the box
a) for starters, the original Google box did not read "make in china"; even if it did, it would say.....umm.. Made in China (Grammar, people, grammar).
b) The original Google OEM packaging did not have the production date inscribed on the box; this "new box" did.
c) the dotted seal itself was a quite a bit misaligned (you guys will know what I am talking about)
d) No N6 is EVER locked to specific service. I still took the bait thinking that well, since it says locked to T-Mobile, the sim will come separate. I am not sure if this part is authentic, but I assumed that none of these N6 OEM boxes were supplied with sims inside. This one came with one inside. So, how did it end up inside if this was "sealed"?
e) the BIGGEST giveaway--the OEM screen protector was quite unique for our handsets; it was rough to touch but plain, and more importantly, it had a marked white triangular spot at the left corner of the handset (Google's way of saying that you can peel this from here if you want). This one I received had a cheap 60 cents type screen protector with smudges and crumples all over.
So, yea, filed a report and waiting for a refund. So much for my future love for this brilliant beast. Now I will have to give more love to my current one.
sdg1980 said:
If you know someone who took advantage of the recent $199 brand new Nexus, locked to T-Mobile, "sealed in box" deal, tell them it was a fraud and file for a return claim IMMEDIATELY. I figured it out today when I opened the box
a) for starters, the original Google box did not read "make in china"; even if it did, it would say.....umm.. Made in China (Grammar, people, grammar).
b) The original Google OEM packaging did not have the production date inscribed on the box; this "new box" did.
c) the dotted seal itself was a quite a bit misaligned (you guys will know what I am talking about)
d) No N6 is EVER locked to specific service. I still took the bait thinking that well, since it says locked to T-Mobile, the sim will come separate. I am not sure if this part is authentic, but I assumed that none of these N6 OEM boxes were supplied with sims inside. This one came with one inside. So, how did it end up inside if this was "sealed"?
e) the BIGGEST giveaway--the OEM screen protector was quite unique for our handsets; it was rough to touch but plain, and more importantly, it had a marked white triangular spot at the left corner of the handset (Google's way of saying that you can peel this from here if you want). This one I received had a cheap 60 cents type screen protector with smudges and crumples all over.
So, yea, filed a report and waiting for a refund. So much for my future love for this brilliant beast. Now I will have to give more love to my current one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did the phone work?
Whether the phone worked or not is irrelevant. The phone is counterfeit, meaning its components would be subpar. Especially the screen, which would be an IPS LCD at best, TFT LCD at worst, with a resolution decidedly below the 2560x1440 of a genuine article.
As the above post mentions, it is most possible counterfeit. My guess is that it is at best a US refurbished item that was sent to China for repackaging and became "new and sealed." I checked for its IMEI and turned out clean.
I did not even turn on the phone because
a) ethically, it would be wrong and
b) if I am going to return a counterfeit or not as described item, the closer it is to the original condition, the better it is for full refund
sdg1980 said:
If you know someone who took advantage of the recent $199 brand new Nexus, locked to T-Mobile, "sealed in box" deal, tell them it was a fraud and file for a return claim IMMEDIATELY. I figured it out today when I opened the box
a) for starters, the original Google box did not read "make in china"; even if it did, it would say.....umm.. Made in China (Grammar, people, grammar).
b) The original Google OEM packaging did not have the production date inscribed on the box; this "new box" did.
c) the dotted seal itself was a quite a bit misaligned (you guys will know what I am talking about)
d) No N6 is EVER locked to specific service. I still took the bait thinking that well, since it says locked to T-Mobile, the sim will come separate. I am not sure if this part is authentic, but I assumed that none of these N6 OEM boxes were supplied with sims inside. This one came with one inside. So, how did it end up inside if this was "sealed"?
e) the BIGGEST giveaway--the OEM screen protector was quite unique for our handsets; it was rough to touch but plain, and more importantly, it had a marked white triangular spot at the left corner of the handset (Google's way of saying that you can peel this from here if you want). This one I received had a cheap 60 cents type screen protector with smudges and crumples all over.
So, yea, filed a report and waiting for a refund. So much for my future love for this brilliant beast. Now I will have to give more love to my current one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was the seller from the US or Hong Kong ?
mikeprius said:
Was the seller from the US or Hong Kong ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did my bit of research to figure that out. First, some context. So, lot of Chinese sellers have a US pos (point of sale) with a residential address here (primarily happens to be in California cities because of closer proximity to airports with ease of international imp-exp) and sell stuff here as US seller. It is only when you look at their sale history and what they've been selling vis-a-vis their returns/return comments, most buyers are disgruntled with having requests to either take partial refunds and take off negative reviews or keep the product and...options are endless.
My seller was in PA, and I have been keeping an eye out for a NIB N6 for months. Few weeks ago, they (32GB, Blue or White) were being sold for $285 directly from Hong Kong from different sellers. Not too many bought those (I kept them on my watch list to see what's going on). Suddenly, these vanished from the site (for the most part). Then, this $199 deal came along from a 98.5% rating seller. Sounded too good to be true; still, I jumped at it because I was hoping for the best and also trusted Ebay's return policy. Now this...so, I think that My seller is likely a point of contact for Chinese sellers.
sdg1980 said:
Did my bit of research to figure that out. First, some context. So, lot of Chinese sellers have a US pos (point of sale) with a residential address here (primarily happens to be in California cities because of closer proximity to airports with ease of international imp-exp) and sell stuff here as US seller. It is only when you look at their sale history and what they've been selling vis-a-vis their returns/return comments, most buyers are disgruntled with having requests to either take partial refunds and take off negative reviews or keep the product and...options are endless.
My seller was in PA, and I have been keeping an eye out for a NIB N6 for months. Few weeks ago, they (32GB, Blue or White) were being sold for $285 directly from Hong Kong from different sellers. Not too many bought those (I kept them on my watch list to see what's going on). Suddenly, these vanished from the site (for the most part). Then, this $199 deal came along from a 98.5% rating seller. Sounded too good to be true; still, I jumped at it because I was hoping for the best and also trusted Ebay's return policy. Now this...so, I think that My seller is likely a point of contact for Chinese sellers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have seen a lot of sellers from Hong Kong, but it never occurred to me that they were using US addresses to front. Ironically, the product was nearly the same as the Hong Kong......Ebay has gotten much better about fraud though. Before (over 10 yrs ago) Ebay and Paypal were 2 separate companies and the protection was very weak and only a percentage of the price. Now they allegedly cover it....I'm curious to what ends up happening with your situation.
sdg1980 said:
If you know someone who took advantage of the recent $199 brand new Nexus, locked to T-Mobile, "sealed in box" deal, tell them it was a fraud and file for a return claim IMMEDIATELY. I figured it out today when I opened the box
a) for starters, the original Google box did not read "make in china"; even if it did, it would say.....umm.. Made in China (Grammar, people, grammar).
b) The original Google OEM packaging did not have the production date inscribed on the box; this "new box" did.
c) the dotted seal itself was a quite a bit misaligned (you guys will know what I am talking about)
d) No N6 is EVER locked to specific service. I still took the bait thinking that well, since it says locked to T-Mobile, the sim will come separate. I am not sure if this part is authentic, but I assumed that none of these N6 OEM boxes were supplied with sims inside. This one came with one inside. So, how did it end up inside if this was "sealed"?
e) the BIGGEST giveaway--the OEM screen protector was quite unique for our handsets; it was rough to touch but plain, and more importantly, it had a marked white triangular spot at the left corner of the handset (Google's way of saying that you can peel this from here if you want). This one I received had a cheap 60 cents type screen protector with smudges and crumples all over.
So, yea, filed a report and waiting for a refund. So much for my future love for this brilliant beast. Now I will have to give more love to my current one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is a moot point compared to the rest of your post, but the ATT models can be locked. I purchased one for someone, and it was carrier locked. The person didn't really care since they use the AT&T side of straight talk anyways.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
...The phone is counterfeit, meaning its components would be subpar. Especially the screen, which would be an IPS LCD at best, TFT LCD.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it is a look a like.
The price 199, is to low for a brand new N6.
chapelfreak said:
It is a moot point compared to the rest of your post, but the ATT models can be locked. I purchased one for someone, and it was carrier locked. The person didn't really care since they use the AT&T side of straight talk anyways.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not comprehending your point here. I'm talking about fraud. As I type this, I'm being fully refunded through eBay. Whether you got the original one or not for your friend is the point of this thread, not which carrier.
NLBeev said:
I think it is a look a like.
The price 199, is to low for a brand new N6.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it's the real deal but used or at best refurbished. Look up on eBay. Thousands of well known brands are sold as new or used. I got my N6 brand new over there. So, it's not always fraud. In this case, it's not as advertised and the box is fake. That's all.
When you see "brand new in box" after two years of a flagship phone, you'll have raised eyebrows for sure. I did, bit the bullet anyways, and am getting refund.
sdg1980 said:
I'm not comprehending your point here. I'm talking about fraud. As I type this, I'm being fully refunded through eBay. Whether you got the original one or not for your friend is the point of this thread, not which carrier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My comment was in response to your point d. The N6 is in fact locked to a specific carrier, ATT, in my experiences buying them for customers.
I've had bad luck buying "new" phones in the past. I'll never forget the headache when I bought a brand new Galaxy S and the speaker doesn't work. Wasn't the seller's fault. The phone was just defective. Anyway I decided just to send it to Samsung since it was covered under warranty. They sent it back to me THREE TIMES before they actually fixed the problem. Then I bought a Samsung Galaxy Note II on ebay and the camera wouldn't focus. Finally I decided to never buy a phone from ebay again. I feel your pain.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA-Developers mobile app
sdg1980 said:
I'm not comprehending your point here. I'm talking about fraud. As I type this, I'm being fully refunded through eBay. Whether you got the original one or not for your friend is the point of this thread, not which carrier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your point D mentions that no Nexus 6 is ever carrier locked. As written that's false, making point D invalid. To make point D valid you would need to mention that no N6 comes carrier locked to T-Mobile.
That is why he pointed it out.
As far as I know, there havent been any rumblings of a Nexus 6 Clone on the net like Samsung phones.
Also there were 3 variants of the Nexus 6 where as 2 of them were carrier locked and one which was carrier branded but technically unlocked.
T-Mobile/At&T are carrier locked, while the Verizon version is not and I can attest to this because I own a Verizon variant running on T-Mobile.
Like most Chinese clones the phones are usually IPS or TFT panels with subpar resolution of the original. Also they can only achieve 26 but will have a fake 4G icon to make people think the phone is using 4G.
Now your story is a cool one, as you did not even test the phone, or actually use the phone. You didnt even turn on the phone. Therefore I do not buy your story, and without proof you cannot say the phone is a clone or fake one. You have every right to inspect the item you bought to make sure it is not fake. So i find your claims incomplete of merit.
@bvzxa3: T-Mobile never locked their Nexus 6. That dubious honor was reserved for AT&T, along with having the death star on the back. Also, he never said the phone was counterfeit. I made that assumption based upon the description of the box having spelling errors and misaligned "cut here" hash marks. A later post of his mentions his belief the phone was in fact refurbished, but not by Motorola.
two variants: unlocked US version, and an International version.
I bought one from us for only $249.00 and have never had a problem with it.
I agree you should have tested it without that you should not get a refund.
I got Verizon one and it was locked.
Sent from my Pixel XL using xda premium
sdg1980 said:
If you know someone who took advantage of the recent $199 brand new Nexus, locked to T-Mobile, "sealed in box" deal, tell them it was a fraud and file for a return claim IMMEDIATELY. I figured it out today when I opened the box
a) for starters, the original Google box did not read "make in china"; even if it did, it would say.....umm.. Made in China (Grammar, people, grammar).
b) The original Google OEM packaging did not have the production date inscribed on the box; this "new box" did.
c) the dotted seal itself was a quite a bit misaligned (you guys will know what I am talking about)
d) No N6 is EVER locked to specific service. I still took the bait thinking that well, since it says locked to T-Mobile, the sim will come separate. I am not sure if this part is authentic, but I assumed that none of these N6 OEM boxes were supplied with sims inside. This one came with one inside. So, how did it end up inside if this was "sealed"?
e) the BIGGEST giveaway--the OEM screen protector was quite unique for our handsets; it was rough to touch but plain, and more importantly, it had a marked white triangular spot at the left corner of the handset (Google's way of saying that you can peel this from here if you want). This one I received had a cheap 60 cents type screen protector with smudges and crumples all over.
So, yea, filed a report and waiting for a refund. So much for my future love for this brilliant beast. Now I will have to give more love to my current one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You didn't share any links so it is hard to know what the situation was other than the fact that you feel ripped of by the unauthentic looking phone. But let me share my own experience of buying what seemed like new phones and how that turned out.
I really like Samsung Note 3. I think it was one of the best phones ever made, not because it has the best performance or build, simply because it is a good toy; it is easy to root and a lot of development has been done on it. You can tear it apart and put it back together in 5 minutes. It is not full of glue and impossible to reach corners. After 3 years used Note 3 phones still get sold at prices higher than some mid tier phones. I also have an S7 edge but I rarely use it. It is just not as much fun.
It is because of that, that I have owned 6 of them so far. If I break them I either fix them or get another one. And since it is not sold in retail stores anymore the only place to get them is Ebay.
Six months ago I found one advertised as a new T-Mobile phone on Ebay for ~$240 but it would be shipped from Hong Kong. I was curious how a T Mobile phone would actually be sold in Hong Kong? But with today's global economy it would not be a far stretch of imagination so I went ahead and ordered it. Took about a month to get it and when I opened the box I could swear the thing was a new phone. Everything was correct down to the T Mobile logo on the box.
After a few days I realized that, as new as the thing looks on the outside, it was in fact not a T Mobile phone. The LCD had an image burned into it which was visible especially on a blue background. It had clearly been used as a demo unit for a long time showing the same image over and over, which had gotten burnt into the OLED display. The headset connector had been used 366 times, charger connector 1216 times, and S pen had been detached 313 times. So the phone had been used extensively.
I dug a bit more into the hardware of the phone and I found that the model number hardcoded into the phone was SM-N900TZKETMB which is the model number for a black phone. This phone was white so clearly the frame and the back had been changed. I should have known better because the phone had a gold trim. T Mobile never sold this phone in this color.
I called Samsung and they said the phone had run out of warranty. I actually guessed it myself because again I could access the hardcoded info in the phone and I knew it had been manufactured more than 2 years before the purchase date.
So, in summary, this was not a new phone. This is a refurbished phone, albeit masterfully refurbished. I emphasize that it was not a copy. I verified myself that it has all the genuine hardware inside. So I ended up returning it for a refund.
A few months later, I found a "new" T-Mobile Sony Xperia Z3 on Ebay, another one of my favorites, sold from Hong Kong. Went ahead and ordered it, just to go through the same ordeal. If you know one thing about Z3 it is probably the fact that it has a great camera. The camera on this one was horrible. I have never before or since seen a camera that bad. The LCD was dim with uneven brightness, and some other problems... you get the picture. I ended up returning that as well. Later, I found out that T Mobile never sold this phone in this color either, so fool me once...
A couple of months passed by and I figured that since I like Note 3 and that white phone with the gold trim actually looked good, knowing that I will get a refurbished phone, I should go ahead and order another one from Hong Kong. After all, it was the original hardware in a refurbished shell, so what could go wrong. I ordered it and it came, again, in a sealed box with all bells and whistles. This time however, the phone would not function properly. It would not attach to T Mobile LTE network and even after putting the right APN etc, I would lose connection after every reboot. I started looking into the hardware. I found that it was in fact an N9005 (international model) refurbished as a N900T!!! They had force-flashed the T Mobile ROM on it and in the process had blown the knox fuse, which was a deal breaker since I need to use the phone in a secure corporate environment. That phone went back to Hong Kong as well.
So three phones from three different vendors all having the same problem. Why?
Because there is a cottage industry in China that buys used phones from the US and other countries. They clean them up, replace the exterior frame, replace any broken components with aftermarket parts, and they even print the exact same brochures, boxes, and plastic wrappings to masquerade them as new, and they sell them on the internet. This is a step-up from the fake phones they used to make a few years ago so at least the hardware inside is mostly authentic, but they are dishonest and will easily lie to you about the phones being new. The above-mentioned phones were all shipped, not from Hong Kong, but from China through Hong Kong. Not everyone is picky like me to go through all this trouble to test and return these effectively used products. Some people just use the phone to make phone calls, which most of these phone do very well anyway.
I do not want to disrespect the Chinese. But in the consumer electronics sector, this is unethical and I see it being done more and more by them. Selling low grade goods disguised as original products to people erodes the buyers confidence. Five years ago if I wanted to buy a replacement LCD on Ebay, I could find some at the $100 dollar price mark and some at the $10 level, which would tell me which one it the Chinese low quality crap so I could stay away from it. Today, I want to buy a Sony LCD on Ebay and I have a price range from $20 to $50 and there is no guarantee that the $50 is any better than the $20 one. For what I know they may have all come from the same crappy low quality manufacturing line in Shenzhen.
Just to make things clear here, when we're referring to AT&T locking the device, we're referring to a SIM lock, not a bootloader lock. Regardless of carrier, the US Nexus 6 could be bootloader unlocked so custom ROMs could be installed. But only AT&T SIM locked the device.

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