Help, please!? Is this 209 fake? (pics)

[x__methodacting]

Hello all, this is my first post

... too bad it can't be more positive! I just got this 209 from ebay and it
seems kind of off to me, but I'm not sure because I only own one other MAC brush. Here you go:

Notice the glue? There's a little globule of glue or something. Also, on the transition
from the black part to the silver part there's a ridge, while on my other brush
it's a smooth transition (if that makes sense haha).

It also has USA imprinted in it. I noticed it smelled a bit of paint
(a telltale sign, I know

); however, this seller
has a 99.8% positive rating, and none of the negatives mention anything about fakes.

Thanks for the desperately-needed help!

 

[panda0410]

This brush shows fairly poor craftsmanship and I sincerely doubt that MAC would sell something with obvious flaws like this.

 

[kymmilee]

that's not what my 209 looks like...

 

[x__methodacting]

What's the difference between this one and yours? I think I'm going to contact the seller and ask for a refund, but I'm of course going to have to have some good reasons for why I think it's a fake :\

 

[here_is_gone_88]

I'm sorry but that is a fake!!! The actual metal looks off, the smell is a huge sign and the glue is NOT a mac brush, they wouldn't let that out. Good luck.

 

[x__methodacting]

Meh, she says she guarantees it's 100% authentic. She'll give me a refund but only if I pay the return shipping... meaning that all that work of packaging it and going to the post office will be for about $5. I don't know if it's worth it.

 

[Malice]

Which eBay Shop is it?

I'm soooo fed up with all these shops selling more and more fakes! You cannot trust anybody!

It seems to me like the amount of fakes sold increased dramatically within the last few months, isn't it?!

 

[x__methodacting]

Her name is gingerpett.

It's totally unacceptable how many fakes are sold on ebay! Too bad we can't do much about it.