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Stop Buying From Shady Sellers

Stop Buying From Shady Sellers

SBX Performance • Community PSA

Stop Buying From Shady Sellers – Protect Yourself & The Honda/Acura Community

Fake parts, sketchy sellers, “too good to be true” prices—people are still getting burned in 2025. Here’s the real talk on how to spot scams and keep your build safe.

The Risks You’re Taking

  • Counterfeits: fake Spoon/Mugen/titanium—looks fine in pics, trash in person.
  • Bad fitment & safety: cheap “catbacks” that drone, melt sensors, or fall apart.
  • No warranty/support: when it fails, the IG seller ghosts you.
  • Outright scams: you pay, nothing ships, seller disappears.

Red Flags to Pump the Brakes

  • No legit website — only DMs or Marketplace.
  • Prices way below everyone else.
  • Only stock photos; no real in-hand pics.
  • No receipt, no return policy, no tax.
  • Vague answers to basic product questions.

Why Authorized Retailers Matter

Buy from the source.

If you don’t buy from an authorized retailer, you’re opening yourself up to replicas or gray-market parts. King Motorsports and Spoon USA are official, factory-backed distributors—parts are legit, covered by warranty, and straight from the source.

Gray-market caution.

Companies like Blackhawk Japan are not authorized Mugen resellers. They source from unknown channels: no guaranteed authenticity, no factory warranty support, and zero accountability if something goes sideways.

Trusted (Examples)

  • King Motorsports
  • Spoon USA
  • Dealers listed on the brand’s official site

Risky (Examples)

  • Random IG/FB sellers with no site
  • “Too cheap” overseas storefronts
  • Gray-market resellers not on brand dealer lists
Pro move: Check the brand’s official dealer list (Spoon, Mugen, PRL, APEXi, HKS, etc.). If the seller isn’t on it, think twice. You can also email the brand to confirm authorization.

How to Spot Scams (Fast Checks)

  • Verify the dealer: Only buy from the brand’s dealer page. For Mugen in North America, King Motorsports is the distributor. For Spoon, use the Spoon USA Authorized Dealers list.
  • Inspect the product: Check logo cuts, casting/machining quality, finish, and underside details.
  • Beware ECU/tuning clones: Poor soldering, missing serials, upload/datalog failures, random rev limits.
  • Price & payment: Way below market or “PayPal F&F / Zelle only” = walk away.
  • Listing quality: Stock photos only, vague copy, reused images.
  • Packaging & holograms: Proper boxes, manuals, labels, unique serial/hologram codes.
  • Business basics: Real address/phone, tax info, clear return/warranty policy.
Examples (quick tells)
  • Mugen valve cover fakes: watch the shape of the “G,” cam-gear “moons,” and underside casting details.
  • Hondata K-Pro counterfeits: green clone board, sloppy solder joints, missing serials, upload/datalog failures.

How to Protect Yourself

  • Verify authorization: check the brand’s dealer page before you buy.
  • Do your homework: reviews, forum feedback, packaging/hologram checks, real photos.
  • Ask for a legit invoice: with return policy and contact info.
  • Support shops that support you: warranty help, tech advice, real humans answering.

Why It Matters

Every shady purchase props up fakes, kills trust, and siphons money from the companies doing real R&D. Supporting legit shops keeps the community strong—and makes sure the parts you bolt on actually perform.

Final Word

We love this scene for the passion, not the cheapest knockoff. Don’t cut corners on your build—don’t roll the dice with sketchy sellers. Buy real, buy safe, and back the shops that back the Honda/Acura community.

SBX Performance is built on that. We’re enthusiasts first, and we stand behind what we sell—no games, no fakes, just the real deal.
#Honda#Acura#Spoon#Mugen#BuyerBeware#PSA

Questions about a seller or a part? Message us—we’ll help you verify it before you buy.