Thinkpads Forum

Hi,

Generally speaking are Ebay adapters genuine Lenovo/IBM parts or are they grey-market/re-badged aftermarket units?

Id like to make sure an important part like this is 100% official as I don't want to take any chances with the power.

The price seems pretty good its only $20 shipped from within Canada.

This is the one Id like to get, it matches my p/n.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... AQ:CA:1123

Has anyone else bought an Ebay adapter?

Many thanks!

It appears to be missing the cord between the adapter and the AC. You will have to buy that too somewhere else, or get a complete set altogether elsewhere.

SkiBunny wrote:It appears to be missing the cord between the adapter and the AC. You will have to buy that too somewhere else, or get a complete set altogether elsewhere.

Thanks I confirmed with the vendor and they told me that its new (never used) and does come with a both cords its just not pictured.

But I dont really trust the vendor to tell me if its OEM official or not, since my last vendor told me my T60 came with 10mos Lenovo warranty which it didnt.

It sort of depends... you have to read between the lines sometimes. For example, some sellers will say "For IBM" or "Replacement for IBM" in their descriptions or that is what's printed on the adapter itself. Or you have to have an original unit, one that you know came directly from the factory since it was in the same box as the laptop, in order to compare/know the differences. My understanding from reading posts in this forum and others is that the factory Lenovo (branded as such on the back of the adapter) 20V adapters should have a gray DC plug and a gray Velcro strap. That's what the one that came to me from Lenovo with an SL500 has and I'm pretty sure the adapter that was supplied with an R61 also was that way. Can't tell from the picture if the plug/strap is gray but I can see an IBM logo. It appears from looking at other eBay auctions of "genuine" adapters is that the IBM branded adapter will have "Manufactured for Lenovo" below the IBM logo but then again, that's relying on those sellers actually selling a genuine adapter .

I've purchased upwards of 20-25 adapters from eBay, though they were of the older 16V type. As far as I know, they are original factory units. The logos look right, as well as the labeling on the back (FRUs, certifying standards logos, electrical specs, etc.). The ones which were touted as "new", came with AC cords that still had the IBM FRU labels attached to them. As long as they pass my incoming inspection (measurement by a voltmeter and are able to power a system without immediately blowing up or getting extremely hot), then I'm happy with them. I suppose one could use an oscilloscope to see how much AC ripple is on the power line or attach a dummy load and see if the voltage droops.

If you are really concerned with getting an aftermarket/knockoff, then I'd say, spend the extra dough and get one directly from Lenovo. It will ease your mind and you'll have the support of the factory if anything goes wrong with the adapter, or causes a problem with your laptop.

If they are coming from Asia, you can almost guarrantee they're fake (no matter what the seller/label says). From North America - well, it's anybody's guess.

rkawakami wrote:It sort of depends... you have to read between the lines sometimes. For example, some sellers will say "For IBM" or "Replacement for IBM" in their descriptions or that is what's printed on the adapter itself. Or you have to have an original unit, one that you know came directly from the factory since it was in the same box as the laptop, in order to compare/know the differences. My understanding from reading posts in this forum and others is that the factory Lenovo (branded as such on the back of the adapter) 20V adapters should have a gray DC plug and a gray Velcro strap. That's what the one that came to me from Lenovo with an SL500 has and I'm pretty sure the adapter that was supplied with an R61 also was that way. Can't tell from the picture if the plug/strap is gray but I can see an IBM logo. It appears from looking at other eBay auctions of "genuine" adapters is that the IBM branded adapter will have "Manufactured for Lenovo" below the IBM logo but then again, that's relying on those sellers actually selling a genuine adapter .

I've purchased upwards of 20-25 adapters from eBay, though they were of the older 16V type. As far as I know, they are original factory units. The logos look right, as well as the labeling on the back (FRUs, certifying standards logos, electrical specs, etc.). The ones which were touted as "new", came with AC cords that still had the IBM FRU labels attached to them. As long as they pass my incoming inspection (measurement by a voltmeter and are able to power a system without immediately blowing up or getting extremely hot), then I'm happy with them. I suppose one could use an oscilloscope to see how much AC ripple is on the power line or attach a dummy load and see if the voltage droops.

If you are really concerned with getting an aftermarket/knockoff, then I'd say, spend the extra dough and get one directly from Lenovo. It will ease your mind and you'll have the support of the factory if anything goes wrong with the adapter, or causes a problem with your laptop.

Very good post, thanks!

Youre right about the wording apect, what caught me was the ad reads:
Replaces IBM FRU P/N: 93P5026

So maybe replaces means its an aftermarket...I did just email the vendor a second time to confirm its OEM genuine.

An offical one from Lenovo Canada is priced at $49 so I was hoping to save a bit to offset the 4GB ram I just bought (Crucial CT25664AC667 as recommended on this forum )

As an aside it seem the genuine ones aren't rated that highly at Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-ThinkPad-9 ... B000BUIP6K

sktn77a wrote:If they are coming from Asia, you can almost guarrantee they're fake (no matter what the seller/label says). From North America - well, it's anybody's guess.

You mean my $25 Rolex Daytona from Shenzhen China isnt real?

LOL

i think the genuine ones are around C$50 shipped on visaperks, so i'm skeptical that this is the real deal, unless the manufacturer dumped a bunch of excess stock... which they don't usually do until the item is discontinued.

For me an ac adapter isn't something to cheap-out on. You save $25 - $30 but possibly have it wreck your lappy's power supply, ooze toxic goo, or start an electrical fire while you're away.

SkiBunny wrote:For me an ac adapter isn't something to cheap-out on. You save $25 - $30 but possibly have it wreck your lappy's power supply, ooze toxic goo, or start an electrical fire while you're away.

OTOH almost every electronic or computer device like external HD, LCD monitor, DSL modem, etc. comes with a similar external power brick that's made in China. You face the same risks. Yet there's no way to know if the manufacturer of the device "cheaped-out" on the power supply.

P.S. Lenovo isn't immune to this sort of issue either.

JohnB2000 wrote:As an aside it seem the genuine ones aren't rated that highly at Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-ThinkPad-9 ... B000BUIP6K

That's interesting, I must have had over 2 dozen IBM/Lenovo power adapters over the last 10 years and never had a probelem with any of them. Maybe the folks reviewing the products on Amazon bought the "$20 Rolex" versions, thinking they were the real McCoy?

And yes, they are pretty much all made in China (including most of the other Lenovo products) but China is capable of making quality products...... just not the cheapo stuff we mostly see on e-bay.

Well I just bought my $20 Ebay adapter, the vendor confirmed its new/never used/genuine IBM part.

When it comes I can post a review - seller has 2 more in stock in case someone else in Canada wants one.

Worst case is I'm out $20 so no big loss.

Now I just need to find a cheap Ebay sleeve to fit a 15" T60!

You really cannot tell by looking. Most come with original-looking labels and correct FRU numbers. Once I got a bad batch of 5, but others have all been fine.

richk wrote:You really cannot tell by looking... Once I got a bad batch of 5...

Gotta ask, "So how did you know those ones were fake?"

I didn't say they were fakes. I said they were bad.

Adapter arrived today.

Everyone was right, it looks like a fake, aftermarket, re-badge, non-IBM/Lenovo.

The cord is thinner with printing on it, the dimensions arent the same...the label sticker isnt applied evenly, the yellow part at the end isnt the same, its not the same shade as gray, sharp edges on the casing, the elbow is cheap and flimsy etc. On the front of the adapter where the name is supposed to be, its just blank. Velco wrap is black.

Sticker on the bag reads
PW-116-03
3ft 5-15P to C5

Granted I cant be 100.0000000% sure its fake/genuine since I havent seen every adapter in the world to compare it too. Since its my own fault for ordering it LOL I wont leave bad feedback, maybe the battery works 100%, but I wont be using it myself. But I should note that the vendor did confirm to me it was genuine 2x, maybe this is a standard line for ebay sellers.

So steer clear of $19.99 new Ebay adapters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!