Don't sweat it bro. Everyone knows there is risk with any deal alert. I have held off on announcing finds only for the deals to disappear before I verified they were legit. I've also alerted to deals that ended up being scams. Both situations suck. I prefer someone announce a deal as early as possible so that members can make their own decision. Thank you for starting this thread regardless of how this all falls out. I have purchased 30Q's for $2.50 a couple times on special promotions before. It wasn't out of the realm of possibility.
Also, I meant 4$CA, not 4$US. So about 3$US actually.
I’m also glad that you anounced this deal. I placed my order prior to reading about the 4 leg positive end but I figured it was a gamble. Haven’t put these cells to use yet but hopefully someone that placed an order can do some extensive testing on them so we know their limitations.
All of the cells I ordered test genuine. Specifically the Samsung batts arrived with 3-pillar button tops and weights are identical to 30q’s I bought from Illumination Supply months ago. I have purchased the following and would do so again from the Aliexpress Liitokala store:
Panasonic NCR18650B flat tops
Samsung 18650-30Qs
Liitokala Li-50A 26650
Sony VTC6
Sony VTC5
Out of these batteries, all markings and positive posts check out.
Which store? The Liitokala Factory store or Liitokala Official Store?
Liitokala Official Store in AliExpress
Oh, you bought at the real store then.
I suggest removing the link to the Factory store in my original post. Who is with me?
I would prefer it be posted too. It’s not your fault if the deal isn’t as good as advertised. But if it is real batteries, we’re all happy. If not we will get money back. No biggie
The pictures from LiitoKala Original store have now also 4 legs.
Has Samsung something changed?
On the other hand they sell them as Samsnu
LiitoKala 100% original New for Samsnu INR 18650 battery 3.7V 3000mAh INR18650 30Q li-ion Rechargeable Batteries
http://s.aliexpress.com/2yAjYF77
Look at the post above the polar bear, for your answer. And also in my other post I’ve said if this store is in anyway affiliated with the real liitokala store they should be black listed.
That’s what I’m pointing out, nobody in this thread has confirmed they’re affiliated and certainly, nobody has confirmed the “factory” store is genuine and not a fake. There’s no links to the factory store from the Liito Kala site, which suggests that it’s a fake store.
And if the above post is true. Then it is connected. If the offical store has a picture of a 4 pronged 30q then they are in on it as well. Unless the official store is fake as well. Either way in the end I’ll avoid their products.
That’s a bit of a leap of logic - just because both stores are using the same images, doesn’t mean they’re connected, or that the products in the image are fake - it could be that there’s a different type of genuine Samsung battery which does look like that, even if the items most people have received turn out to be fake.
I don’t put much of anything past overseas company it seems that PayPal doesn’t have a contract with aliexpress anymore that it’s alipay now. A lot I mean a lot of counterfeits are sold on there. I wouldn’t be surprised if PayPal was tired of the massive amount of claims.
That’s not how it works - different retailers on Aliexpress use different payment methods, some use PayPal and others don’t. The fact the store you bought from doesn’t use PayPal and the official Liito Kala AliExpress store does, may be further evidence the factory store is a fake and isn’t affiliated with Liito Kala.
PayPal won’t care too much about the claims from AliExpress, it still makes it profit, it’s the retailer which loses the money from a claim.
I’ve had problems with aliexpress before and my bank card. I’ve learned to use a prepaid throw away card when ordering from there. Your bank info isn’t so secure as you would think. Anything is possible it could be fake stores, the company could have sold out to another CEO with different ethics using the name to make money. Who knows what the truth might be. In the end the whole situation sucks for everyone. Best case is refund and keep the cells. Worst case is no refund since product picture was shown beforehand. If they are decent drain cells it’s a learning experience don’t spend money on a deal that’s seems to good to be true unless your willing to lose that money. I almost ordered myself but decided to wait until some orders landed since I already have new cells not being used. Even from China the price just didn’t seem right for the amount of cells. For 100 200 cells but 2.50 a cell for single cells was a red flag. I’d rather pay a extra dollar a cell and know what I’m getting and this event just reinforced that since I almost took the chance as well. China is the counterfeit king of the world with no consequences for it. No morals no sympathy just about money. You don’t see that as much with American or European sellers. And when a rare bad batch comes along they replace the order no questions asked even contacting you about the cells and replacing them. I’ve seen imr and liionwholesale do this. Plus like I said I’d rather spend my money when possible in America and keep some of it here. Even if it’s a little more expensive. I’ll get peace of mind they stand behind their products.
Well yes, it looked too good to be true and it probably was.
Oh, you bought at the real store then.
I suggest removing the link to the Factory store in my original post. Who is with me?
I would agree, I don’t think it’s good to promote it in any way…
^
I think the links should remain so that the history remains intact. Too many Ali vendors with similar names. It gets confusing and the links provide a way to verity which vendor. It might be a good idea to post a warning above the original OP saying some members are reporting that the cells they have received are not the same as advertised in the below links and that we are awaiting more definitive testing results.
Done and done.
… It use to be a reputable company that’s not your fault
Let's say you and maybe others too presumed they were reputable.
Advice: extinguish expectations, presumptions, etc.
2$/cell could be possible if they had almost no margins and buying the cells in the 10000s, but only if you bought 10 cells, and not 6 and less.
Do you actually know actual China inland wholesale/trade factory prices for these cells?
Liitokala Official Store in AliExpress
As far as my understanding goes, the only univocal identifier for AliExpress stores is their store number. Is store number 217753 the store you are referring to?
AliExpress stores can change their names and I can share proof for you to see: "AM battery Store" Google search
Store number 1721160 first named itself (or as far as I am aware of) as “Colaier Direct Sales Store”, later they changed their name to “AM battery Store” and now they're called “liitokala 0fficial Store”. All names exactly as I have written them.
…
I think the links should remain so that the history remains intact. Too many Ali vendors with similar names. It gets confusing and the links provide a way to verity which vendor. It might be a good idea to post a warning above the original OP saying some members are reporting that the cells they have received are not the same as advertised in the below links and that we are awaiting more definitive testing results.
Agree, but store numbers and or pure & shitless links. Format: https://www.aliexpress.com/store/STORENUMBER
The “www” can be changed with locale prefixes (es, de, ru, etc.) for translation but please avoid them here. 
Cheers ^:)
@Barkuti, yes I do.
I have asked companies on Alibaba their prices on their 30Qs and VTC5s, and they quoted me around 2$ if I bought in the 1000s of 10000s.
I’m beyond frustrated. Have no clue how to post a question . Just recieved my blf gt. Can I use my Tenergy tn 261 charger to charge batteries ? Is 3500 mAh 3.6 volts same as 3500mah 3.7 volts
Was trying to post a picture but it says I need to have a link for a photo no clue how to do that
@Barkuti, yes I do.
I have asked companies on Alibaba their prices on their 30Qs and VTC5s, and they quoted me around 2$ if I bought in the 1000s of 10000s.
A 6-pack of 25R cells quoted to me for $12.98/€11.39.
Cheers :-)
So which one is the real LittoKala store? I see these mentioned in this thread.
liitokala 0fficial Store - since this has the number 0 + fficial in the name I assume this isn’t it (store # 1721160)
LiitoKala Official Flagship Store (store number 133859)
liitokala Official Store - lower case name (store number 217753)
liitokala Factory Store - lower case name (store number 725333)