I bought a “new” HDS-12 Live on eBay. Seller claimed it was recently purchased from Dicks and was factory sealed. When I received it, there were a lot of lose parts in the box rattling around. Broke the seal and someone swapped out a Hook 12 for the HDS. When I say seal... a piece of packing tape holding the box closed. Noted that there were tamper strips on the corner of the box.
Anyone buy a new in the box Lowrance? Do they rattle around? It’s the transducer and amounting screws that are lose.
FYI. Seller is saying that he verified it by weight and that he is not buying the story...

Need help on the factory pack.

Sounds like you’re about to get screwed, hope you used PayPal or a credit card.

How did you pay for it? If PayPal, file a complaint with them.

I agree file complaint with paypal. How is the guys feedback? the box shouldn't rattle at all and should have plastic bags for all lose parts.

here is a video of unboxing a new one.

HDS 12 unboxing

Is there a tamper proof seal on the box?

ebay has buyer protection. I had same thing happen on a motorcycle part one time, got my money back

I have been on eBay since 2000 and work for PayPal. Only use them. The unit was “factory” sealed with tape and the serial number was on the box. Assumed everything was legit. Got a good deal so decided to keep the unit if the seller would do a partial refund. Once we agreed to an amount, I agreed to keep the unit. Once I broke the seal, discover that someone swapped out a hook with the HDS. Came from Dicks in Indiana. Seller is some wholesale electronic company in Iowa. Seller immediately accused me of swapping the unit. I recorded everything on video including all the rattling parts. On with lowrance for an exact weight and what a factory seal looks like. This seller has 77 feedback and I spoke with him on the phone.

Sounds like seller got scammed and may not have known about it. Item was probably returned to Dicks for refund with Hook in it instead and not checked. Then bulk returns sold to a buyer who resales on eBay. Ebay seller should work with you on refund and return or partial refund and keep, if he does then give him good feedback, if he doesn't then file claim and give bad feedback.

I have been going back and forth with the seller. He said via some texts that I did it. Of course I didn’t, but the way he responded let me know that he knew about the scam. Quick search shows His prior theft arrest and is in the CODIS database. My wife works at an accredited DNA lab. I let him know that I can easily run prints and see who touched the unit. He was belligerent but just refunded all my money... 100%. Which lets me know. So I now have a (probably stolen) hook 12 that I am not sending back. He did ask that I give him his partial refund that he sent me. Lots of heart ache. Always buy from a reputable seller.

Glad you got you money back. Bad and Good luck on this one.

If he refunded your money, I strongly suggest that you return the unit.

The only problem with returning the unit, if it's stolen, then merchant could accuse the buyer of returning stolen goods to him instead of the so called "real merchandise".

OP: Since the merchandise has a serial number, and the transaction crossed state lines, you could have your local LE run a check on it at the interstate level. Get a Detective in the theft division involved.

Since it was an interstate transaction, what I would do would be to get USPS involved. Go talk with an Inspector. They are the police of USPS, and deal with all types of international and national crime at all levels of products crossing state lines. The theft could have also happened during shipping. I've had that happen before with one of the top 3 shipping companies in the USA. And lost half my order. Thankfully the merchant took good to me on the merchandise that was lost. And the offender was later caught after some investigating.

I have a former girlfriend who was a USPS Inspector. They are not the same as a post master. Inspectors carry a badge and gun. And enforce mailing/shipping laws, counterfeit currency laws, and many others. And many times work with other branches of our Federal government such as Customs. They are thoroughly after justice at all levels of Federal crime.