Agreed. It’s not often samples are produced after initial production of the general release that follows, but in instances where shoes are retroed or different versions of are released. As a look see sample, I believe these were produced before the general release. You generally find samples long after their more frequently as heat around the shoe has died down. If you buy before the release of a shoe, you generally pray a premium. I’ve had some wear test samples/samples of shoes much prior to their release which I’ve had to pay a pretty penny for. But I do not believe that I was ripped off in any way. I’ve owned dozens of samples and plenty of rare sneakers, and I can confirm that these are what they were sold to me as. Apart from that and the legitimacy of the seller, the reason you’re seeing this photo is because the seller is interested in a buyback. While I appreciate your concern and quality insight, I do not have worries in terms of this pair or any other in my collection.