Fake EN-EL14A battery

Thought I’d mention this topic, as there don’t seem to be any similar threads on this forum.

Sometime ago, I one of my sons asked what I’d like for Christmas. I suggested a spare battery for my camera.

 

On Christmas day, he presented me with a EN-EL14A battery. I was very pleased with it.

I put it on charge, & noted that it was ‘ready’ in a rather shorter time than expected. I put it in my D3300 and within what seemed like a very short time, it showed as exhausted. This particular battery has been though many charge cycles, and never lasts as long as my other two. These are one supplied with the camera, and one bought directly from Nikon.

 

Today, as I was removing the short-lived battery, I happened to notice a very slight ‘bulge’ front to back on its casing. I compared it to my other two, which had no similar bulge. I didn’t mention this to my son, but asked where he’d bought it. Ebay, he triumphantly replied.

 

It was not a 2^nd user item, and had been supplied in what looked like original Nikon packaging.

I‘ve no doubt, this particular battery will bulge more & may even eplode.

 

My conclusion – don’t buy from doubtful sources.

It could be disastrous!

 

This is the kind of thing that originally soured my impression of eBay when they first started.

 

Now, I realize that this type of scam is far less prevalent today than it once was, but I still tend to shy away from anything eBay. 

 

If I were you, I would properly dispose of that battery as soon as possible. Whether you tell your son or not is up to you but it might be a good learning experience for him to see that cheap isn't always the best option.

 

There are generally two items that I refuse to scrimp on. The first is batteries, because they are so important and because the wrong (or inferior) battery can totally ruin your day. Ditto for the second thing... memory cards. I always buy the best cards I can afford. And for the same reasons.

 

--Ron

If the battery is bulging, it should be disposed of immediately. 
It seems like Maidstone  has a disposal routine in place… Other waste services - Maidstone Borough Council

You don’t want a Lithium fire in your home, even from a small battery.

Gentlemen - wise words - thank you.
The battery in question will indeed be recycled.

I learnt my lesson many years ago, bought the D70 back in 2003, bought a spare battery on eBay, looked genuine, but then Nikon had a recall on a batch of the D70 battery, popped the serial number from my original battery on Nikons website, yes, it was one of the faulty batch, looked at the spare and no serial number, I stopped using it as it's not worth risking the camera, I always buy my spare batteries from an authorised Nikon camera store these days.

I seem to recall that one of the big retailers in the US (B&H?) got caught out and bought and sold a batch of knock-off Nikon batteries. They refunded everyone, of course, but if they can get caught out…

I seem to recall that one of the big retailers in the US (B&H?) got caught out and bought and sold a batch of knock-off Nikon batteries. They refunded everyone, of course, but if they can get caught out…

I didn't know this, but you're right. B&H did apparently sell counterfeit Nikon batteries. I've bought a few Nikon batteries from them, Looks like I need to check and seen if they're genuine. Thanks,

 

--Ron

I forget the name of the camera store in New York (it wasn't B&H) I bought a couple of spare batteries for my D90, which turned out to be fake, so even the proper camera stores get fooled, I buy my batteries from a handful of UK camera stores these days, might be dearer, but less hassle in the long-term