Did I purchase a fake pioneer drive BDR-209

[DC-2187]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if I perhaps purchased a fake pioneer drive. The drive just looks different compared to the other pioneer drives I purchased before. I got it on ebay and the seller had good feedback. Maybe I'm just wrong but I would like some thoughts from the community. I will attach some pictures and a screenshot. My biggest question is the drive was made in 2022 but has firmware from 2014? Is that possible? I would think it would be much newer. Also the sticker on the drive looks much different to others. I just want to make sure it's legit drive.

Thanks.

[Coopervid]

My theory is that this is a return.

Somebody has a drive that causes trouble somehow, e.g. polluted laser lens. He orders a new one and exchanges the housing parts between his old one and the new one. Then he sends his old drive back and asks for a refund. This way he has a new drive at no cost.

I have never come across a fake Pioneer drive. So this is one is a Pioneer drive but I suspect you will not be happy with it according to my theory above.

[Billycar11]

idk there is something funny
all pioneers i have seen sn matches fw sn most end in WL not numbers
the top stamping pattern looks different from other pioneer 208/9's i have

[Batman&throbbin]

They are different internally.
The press/fabrication is more similar to Sony Optiarc as an attempt to copy…
Pioneer would never apply a label partially like that…

Better off buying a genuine used Pioneer on eBay, there are many of what you purchased as new on Amazon too…

It needs cleaning up really…

Counterfeiting is still rife so don’t entertain it.

[DC-2187]

idk there is something funny
all pioneers i have seen sn matches fw sn most end in WL not numbers
the top stamping pattern looks different from other pioneer 208/9's i have

This is exactly why I'm asking. I saw other listings when I went back to look yesterday that had the same serial number. Also as you stated I have other another pioneer 209 drive and it looks completely different. I'm probably just going to return it