Buying safely
How to Verify a Legitimate Seller in Six Steps
Counterfeit fear is the #1 pre-purchase hesitation in our evidence, raised in roughly 65% of pre-purchase sources — and it is grounded in a consistent, described mechanism. Red-flag lists alone copy every other guide; what protects you is a workflow. Do not pay until all six steps pass.
The six steps
- Codes first. Find the brand + body code + head code. A listing without codes fails step one.
- Authorised check. Match the seller against the manufacturer's authorised-dealer list or a published authorisation certificate. Some sellers publish certificates; some listings carry a manufacturer authentication code.
- Manufacturer confirmation. Email the manufacturer with the retailer name (and order number once placed) — multiple retailers state orders are trackable with the manufacturer this way.
- Factory photos committed. Require pre-shipment factory photos/video of your actual unit before dispatch. Reputable dealers offer photo confirmation; refusal is a walk-away signal. What to check in them is in How to inspect a delivered product.
- Price sanity. Compare against the multi-retailer band for that exact configured model. Far below band — especially sub-$800 for full-size premium silicone — matches the counterfeit pattern. See Premium vs budget.
- Payment and policies in writing. Card/PayPal available, no bank-transfer-only pressure, and written warranty/returns terms read before payment.
What a legitimate retailer's policy pages show
Named business identity and contact channels, a cancellations page with actual windows and fees (not just a 'guarantee' badge), a damage-report deadline, and shipping terms that state who pays duties. Vague policies are themselves a finding — compare with the matrix in Return and cancellation policies.
Our audited seller records live under Sellers. No seller is labelled fraudulent here on a single source — that is this site's standing rule, and it should be yours too: unverified is enough reason not to pay; you do not need to prove fraud. If a listing fails step 1, 2 or 6, stop and read How to recognize suspicious listings.
How this guide was written
From the seller and manufacturer listings behind our catalog records, retailer policy pages and owner accounts we reviewed, checked 13 Oct 2026. Where a fact could not be checked, the guide says so rather than filling the gap. See our methodology, editorial policy and who we are. Spotted an error? Tell us.
We may earn a commission when you buy through seller links. It never changes our rankings or verdicts. We have not hands-on tested the products discussed. Prices and policies change; confirm terms with the seller before you pay.