Have You Been Scammed with a Counterfeit Tool Battery?

Let’s figure out how to identify a counterfeit tool battery for Makita, Dewalt, and Milwaukee. Are counterfeit batteries even safe? Let’s find out!

I bought all of the batteries to ensure an unbiased review. So, thank you for supporting the channel!

➡ Thank you for supporting the channel through memberships:
➡ As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

➡ Products Tested In This Video (in no particular order):

Videography Equipment:

This video is only for entertainment purposes. If you rely on the information portrayed in this video, you assume the responsibility for the results.

[ProjectFarm]

Here's the list of batteries reviewed. More details in the video description. Thank you!

[jnic]

It's so annoying searching for batteries on Amazon. 90% of The top results are counterfeit ones.

[catsspat]

It's one thing to sell aftermarket batteries that are "compatible" with the tools. It's an entirely different thing to sell fake ones as genuine.

[farhanredza]

You know what's the worst? Paying for the price of a genuine battery but getting the fake one! ☠️

[gregkimura]

Wow, this was a great video. Many years ago, I had a Bosch 7.2V drill. I left the battery on the charger in my garage and it caught on fire. I lost my garage and my house had damage from the fire. The firemen thought the fire started from the gas hot water heater, but the most damaged area was where the charger was.

A few years later, I was in my store when I smelled something burning. I also heard a crackling noise and it smelled like melted plastic. I followed the sound and found the battery smoking while it was in the charger. I pulled it off the charger and it melted in my hand (and burned my skin). I pulled the plug from the wall and watched it to make sure the battery didn't catch fire. Needless to say, the entire Bosch kit went into the trash! If I'm not mistaken, it was a NiCad battery - the original was purchased around 1993 and the replacement in 1997.

Since that happened, I don't leave my chargers plugged in with a battery. As soon as the charge light is on, I pull the battery pack off.

I haven't bought an online battery yet and after watching your video, I won't. Having been though a house fire, it's not worth the small savings to put myself and family at risk.

A deepest thank you for doing this video. The shorting of the battery pack was very important and informative!

[GrandPotatoe]

Buying batteries online is borderline gambling.

[arashnikoubashman]

These counterfeits look extremely professional and hard to spot without opening them up… thanks for raising awareness

[clarkpitts]

Crazy how CLOSE the fake batteries look like the real ones.. A++ Video.

[MrTruckerf]

It was very surprising when you were allowed to register a counterfeit battery on the company website. This is alarming!

[badboy]

Those sellers should be arrested for fraud. OR BETTER YET, make a claim with your credit card company, and not pay a single cent, then the seller loses.

[acappellahymns]

Todd is out here protecting every average Jo. Thanks sir. And we hope to have many more years of this incredible channel!

[dcee]

I got scammed by a "reputable" on-line dealer. Both the battery pack and the charger I purchased were fake and potentially lethal. I now only buy direct from the manufacturer websites. This video really reinforces how careful you need to be. Thanks!

[craigomalley]

This video is already being shared in the Fire Investigation groups. Another thing to have to look for. Great information.

[kenwillis]

I had two counterfeit batteries by accident, Lowe’s had an open package on clearance that was returned with no problems reported. When I got home they would not charge so I returned them, Luckily they grabbed an unopened package and swapped them for me plus the guy informed me that I got to pick a free tool! I told him I had bought these on clearance and therefore didn’t think I qualified and he winked and said well the promotion doesn’t say otherwise so I picked up a free cordless angle grinder after getting $200 worth of batteries for $75.00

[IanMott]

You are now doing more than the FTC did in years about these problems!

[dragonfalcon]

This is genuinely shocking how real the counterfeits look. Really hope the FTC does something about this.

[bobbycone]

I have 18 different Dewalt battery packs in my garage at various watt hours and I never even thought of some of them being counterfeit. Turns out 4 of them are. I will definitely not be using those anymore. Thanks for the video!

[theplayernkc]

Thanks for not blurring out the seller's name that are selling the counterfeit batteries.

[WhiteDwarfVR]

I have no idea counterfeit tool batteries were so prevalent. Thank you for raising awareness.

[Joe-xyvy]

I'm glad you are talking about counterfeiting. It's getting completely out of control, particularly on Amazon. It's getting hard to buy any brand names products without getting a counterfeit, because the number of counterfeits is overwhelming authentic products.