You are better off using Factory authorized dealers, distributors, and service centers and staying away from the Grey market sellers of websites like eBay. If you purchase a product from the Grey market from a site like eBay the odds of getting a "look a like", fake, or counterfeit product are greater than 50% regardless of the product according to the US GAO.
A manufacturer may also make products for specific regions, this is especially true in the electronics market. It turns out making "Safe" product for each market is not as easy and simple as some people want you to believe. If you are interested in "Audiophile" performance levels don't try to out smart the system you will be creating your own personal nightmare. It is what you don't know which will eventually cause you a problem. Then there is the issue of performance, the board may be the same but the parts may be different resulting in different performance and not all markets have the same performance expectations.
A manufacturer may also make products for specific regions, this is especially true in the electronics market. It turns out making "Safe" product for each market is not as easy and simple as some people want you to believe. If you are interested in "Audiophile" performance levels don't try to out smart the system you will be creating your own personal nightmare. It is what you don't know which will eventually cause you a problem. Then there is the issue of performance, the board may be the same but the parts may be different resulting in different performance and not all markets have the same performance expectations.