new genuine bands on eBay

[ftlum]

I was wondering how safe it is to try to buy a new genuine /OEM Apple watch band (Milanese loop) on eBay. Some sellers include a picture of the sealed box, so that's reassuring, but is there any good way to make sure you're not getting a knock-off (beyond the feedback given about the seller)?

It seems like official Apple bands are supposed to be sold through major retailers (like Target, BestBuy), so I'm not even sure how these eBayers would get their hands on new stock to sell that's in its own box (and not, for instance, a band that came with the watch that the user didn't want; and not stolen goods). Is there a serial # on a band label that can be checked (the way you can look up a watch's number online)?

Also, if you do get a genuine product from eBay and it's defective, will Apple replace it?

thanks in advance!

 

[Vader2]

In general when non authorized sellers have bulk product for sale they got it one of three ways. The first way is they got an authorized retailer o sell the, the products at enough of a discount that they can still make money selling it online. This is unlikely with Apple products because Apple dictates what their products sell for, which is why they are typically the same price no matter where you get them.

The other 2 ways are either fraud or theft.

 

[SchneiderMan]

You can know at this point. There are 1:1 replicas know on eBay and on Amazon that are being sold as genuine when in fact they are really good fakes.