Product review (4 stars): It's a filter
I've bought ALOT of stuff at Amazon over the years, and it has never occured to me that I might not be getting anything other than brand new retail items, exactly the same as if I bought from a brick and mortar store.  Getting this filter caused me to question that.  It came in the GE retail box, but the box was open.  The filter was shrink wrapped inside the box, but it did not look like it was shrink wrapped at the factory.  The instructions said to remove the adapter if you didn't need it (which I didn't), but the filter didn't have an adapter.  The instructions said to put one of the enclosed monthly stickers on the filter to remind you when to change it, but mine didn't come with any stickers.  I'm hoping that it is not a return, but how would I know.  The filter looks brand new.

Regardless, it's a filter, it does what it's supposed to do, it's easy to remove the old filter and put in the new one, and Amazon has it a few dollars cheaper than Home Depot or Lowe's.