Hi everyone. It's my first time here.

I'm writing this hoping to get some opinions & advices on my purchase.

I just got a Galaxy Note 9 from ebay. Although it doesn't seem like a total scam, but somehow I feel deceived.

Not sure if I should just keep it for the value, or return it...

The last time I bought a phone on ebay was like 5 yrs ago (Note3), so I don't know if I picked the right timing or seller or made an acceptable/reasonable purchase...

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/203044013098

(Seller: imktstore. Has pretty good ratings. Most reviews say they're happy with their Note9)

(The model I bought has sold out. Listing's still up but looks like it's restocked with different models)

(Model I bought: SM-N960U, Ocean Blue, 8GB RAM, 512GB, "Factory Unlocked")

First, when unboxing it felt a bit weird. Neither seal sticker or barcode sticker (w/ IMEI, S/N, etc you know) were there, although the box looked real (I don't mean seal's cut or taken off. It's just not there). I mean if this isn't a real Note 9 box, it's an elaborate fake. (seen review videos on fake Note9, and the box design's like Note8's, so that's why I thought so)

It contains all the components apart from the pen nibs.

But they're all fake. I mean not the obvious generic ones, but fake ones pretending to be Samsung ones. (had a hunch upon seeing charger adapter brick in the box was sealed in an extra plastic pouch) (Also earphones. I was able to figure out right away with real AKG earphones to compare. Plus, simply terrible sound quality. This really annoys me cause it's one primary reason I was looking for a "new" phone cause my earphone's broken. Cuz "open box" ones never come with genuine accessories)

As you can see on the listing page, it says "new condition" and "factory unlocked"

When I first turned on the phone, home screen came up after booting, not the Google login + setup pages, unless that's how it is in Android Pie. (My current phone is LG V20 with Oreo)

I checked for rooting & Knox, both intact.

One UI was 2.1 and Android was 10 already.

(I'm guessing while unlocking the phone, the seller updated One UI and Android. So that's why I didn't see the initial setup pages...?)

(miscellaneous: in the languages menu, there were English(US) and Chinese(Simplified) already. I wonder why.)

The phone itself seems to be legit. Ran benchmark, checked for IMEI.

On the backside though, IMEI is not imprinted as it should, but instead has a sticker with IMEI and S/N. I have found out this happens due to backcover change.

IMEI on the backcover sticker matches with what I see in settings menu as well as *#06#.

However, S/N does not. Would this be a problem? (Also got S/N checked later. Could the sticker be just mistake?)

Btw, service provider SW version says SPR/SPR/VZW, but in the apps list there's a Sprint app (Device Manager. The app has disappeared after running latest Android updates). Also there's an app called 'mobile installer', and according to Playstore, it's of Softbank (=Japan.... wth??), used 9 wks ago.

(miscellaneous #2: I later realised the quick start guide says N9600. Chinese version.)

So, in short,

phone: legit, mint condition

accessories: fake (frustrating)

box: probably fake (not a big deal), but box has no stickers

IMEI: matches, clean

S/N: matches with IMEI (phone, checker), doesn't match w/ backcover sticker

Quick Start Guide: wrong model (N9600) (doesn't matter, just find it hilarious)

back cover was changed = not original (repair?)

"Factory Unlocked" (X) Seller Unlocked (O)

"New": ½? "Unused": Y

And this was roughly USD 500.

Do you think this is a reasonable enough deal to ignore the catch(?) ...?

Sorry for a long post

p.s.

I see the description doesn't neccessarily mention about "original/genuine" accessories, but this seller also sells non brand-new devices, so I assumed it'd only apply on those, not the "new", "unused" ones.