ebay scam? How can a parcel with an Agilent 34401A weigh just 3kgs? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: not1xor1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2017, 01:02:09 pm
content: Hi,I ordered an Agilent 34401A from South Korea.The seller has 100% feedback and during several years has sold other expensive equipment so I thought I could trust him even if the item was sold at just 175 US$.The first UPS tracking number he provided was referred to an 8kgs parcel, but then it was cancelled.A few days ago he provided a new tracking number and it looks like UPS collected the parcel, but now the parcel weight, as reported by UPS, is just 3kgs which looks quite suspicious since the Agilent manual reports a weight of 3.6kgs.I know I can get a full refund from ebay, but I should anyway spend money and time for customs handling and do not want to do that for some piece of trash.I tried to get in touch with the seller but didn't get any reply so far.Did anybody run into this before? Any advice?thanks

author: Jon.C
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 17, 2017, 01:36:25 pm
content: I bought the same ( had 4 units for sale )we have to wait

author: not1xor1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2017, 02:14:09 pm
content: Quote from: Jon.C on July 17, 2017, 01:36:25 pma trouble shared is a trouble halved ... let's hope for the best...

author: alm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2017, 02:26:44 pm
content: Maybe the 3kg figure is one that the seller put on the shipping label, not an actual measured weight? It seems like an awfully round number for something that was measured. Either that, or the seller put in a precise number of bricks.

author: anotherlin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2017, 02:45:07 pm
content: Already happened to me, the seller probably just want to save on shipping so he declared a lower weight.It's just amazing that shipping companies don't automatically double check the weights of the packages.Wait until the package arrives, if you paid using PayPal, you should be well protected.

author: testpoint
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2017, 03:16:12 pm
content: from the feedback you will know there is few scam in ebay, you try to sell something in ebay you will know, hard to list, many limitation

author: Jon.C
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 17, 2017, 03:57:13 pm
content: I promise to upload photos of my brick

author: pmcouto
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 17, 2017, 05:02:21 pm
content: Quote from: anotherlin on July 17, 2017, 02:45:07 pmOf course they do!UPS not only checks the weight but also the volumetric weight of every parcel they process.This is done automatically by their parcel processing machines. You would be amazed to see how fast this is done!Keep in mind that the vast majority of parcels come from customers with an account (contract).Regardless of what customer declared as size and weight, they will charge customer’s account according to the information they have from their machines (real weight or volumetric weight, whichever is greater).Tracking information probably shows what the customer declared, not what they measured/weighted.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2017, 05:40:14 pm
content: Quote from: pmcouto on July 17, 2017, 05:02:21 pmIn my experience, UPS will also hit the shipper with a rerating charge.FedEx just charges the corrected amount, which is handy if you want to ship something and don't have a scale available. Just put a 1 pound label on it.Also, FedEx will reduce the charges if the label weight is too high, but I think UPS keeps the extra money.QuoteYes, it can take quite a while for the rerating to get through the system.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2017, 07:52:27 pm
content: Lighter, non-original packaging? Shipped without manuals and leads maybe?The original 8kg soundsa biton the heavy side.Was the Agilent figure equipment weight or shipped weight?

author: Jon.C
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 17, 2017, 08:05:51 pm
content: Gyrois only the unit

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2017, 08:36:12 pm
content: Ah, that's going to be a neat trick then!

author: not1xor1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2017, 04:53:47 am
content: Hi, anupdateI got a reply from the seller:Hi sir,don't worryAGILENT 34401A you ordered wrapped correctly.However, it shows the weight lowered to reduce a little postageat the moment the 34401A I ordered, according to UPS, is in Alaska:Anchorage, AK, United States, local time 17/07/2017 15:59BTW,Jon.C., how much did you pay for it?

author: Jon.C
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 18, 2017, 05:27:49 am
content: for UPS Andorra is a "remote country"

author: Jon.C
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 19, 2017, 12:43:10 pm
content: updates

author: not1xor1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2017, 04:11:24 pm
content: Quote from: Jon.C on July 19, 2017, 12:43:10 pmit looks like a new edition of Jules Verne'sLe Tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours

author: Jon.C
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 20, 2017, 02:31:04 am
content: Quote from: not1xor1 on July 19, 2017, 04:11:24 pmor more

author: Nusa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2017, 02:39:54 am
content: Gotta love it taking the long way around the world. It is moving quickly, for all that.

author: Asmyldof
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2017, 07:58:52 am
content: Seems to me like all courier companies are still all upside down after this hacking thing.You'd think a company this reliant on the computer systems working properly for maximum profit would have hired the best available people/teams to fix their systems by now.

author: not1xor1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2017, 12:25:24 pm
content: According to the last update my 34401A is already in my country (Italy) and should be delivered tomorrow in the afternoon, but I won't be surprised if they deliver it on Monday or even Tuesdaywe'll see who get his first... although being first is not the most important thing in this case

author: Jon.C
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 20, 2017, 12:32:41 pm
content: HiIt is possible that they will deliver it to me tomorrow

author: Jon.C
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 20, 2017, 12:36:40 pm
content: not1xor1future photo of content...it's a joke ....

author: not1xor1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2017, 09:43:11 am
content: Quote from: Jon.C on July 20, 2017, 12:36:40 pmno, please, not another brick in the wall...now it is out for deliveryif they find my home (sometimes they have problems because of another street with the same name), later I'll be able to post a picture of the actual brick

author: Jon.C
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 21, 2017, 10:14:21 am
content: The Agilent 34401A most adventurous in the history of mankind

author: Jon.C
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 21, 2017, 10:26:40 am
content: When Dave starts shipping 121GW from Australia we will see where it comes from...

author: Bill158
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2017, 03:08:09 pm
content: Quote from: Jon.C on July 21, 2017, 10:14:21 amMy younger brother flies cargo 757s, as a plane captain, for United Parcel Service "UPS". It is obvious UPS is the package carrier for this item. He lives in Anchorage AK and routinely flies from Anchorage to Korea, Taiwan and places in the Far East. He will also fly from Louisville KY to as far as Istanbul Turkey. He got stuck in Istanbul for 4 days after "9/11". From what I understand when talking to him, UPS does NOT want to fly the Far East to Europe route for a LOT of reasons, including what happened to MH17 that got shot down over the Ukraine. Plus UPS has most of it's maintenance and sorting facilities in the USA because that is where UPS got started many many years ago. Louisville is the MAIN hub. So I hope this explains why your 34401A seems to have taken the "long" route to get to you. This is UPS's strategy and it works. I hope you DON'T get a "brick".Bill

author: not1xor1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2017, 03:17:24 pm
content: The brick has landedThe parcel is something more than 4.2kgs:The brick looks like a real Agilent made in Malaysia:There is also a sort of 4wire adapter, but the Kelvin clips are missingNow I'll open it to check if everything looks fine inside, then will see if it works.I'll let you know later.P.S. they did not even charge me any customs duties, handling fees or VAT (multimeters from South Korea to Europe should pay just VAT).

author: Jon.C
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 21, 2017, 03:25:09 pm
content: Bill158 , Thank you very much for this explanation, certainly very interestingnot1xor1 Congratulations !!!!Mine think I'll have it on mondayThe display looks bright?

author: not1xor1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2017, 04:22:59 pm
content: Quote from: Jon.C on July 21, 2017, 03:25:09 pmWarning!!!It was set for 100VAC supply.BTW Agilent manual states that one has to use the 220VAC setting for 230VAC (Europe standard supply voltage).I held down the Shift key while switching the multimeter on to perform a full self test with PASS as result.The display is a bit dim, but still quite readable. Probably it is 10-15 years old.There is a 2003 in the middle of a long code number on a sticker inside, but I've no idea if this has any relation to the manufacture date.I tested a few voltages and 0.1% resistors. I got the feeling it is a few tenths of ppm off.But I do not have any new calibrated instrument to compare it with, apart an older Fluke 8842A which agrees by one digit with one of those cheap voltage references sold on ebay (the one with handwritten sticker).Besides that the multimeter was quite hot, probably 30-35°C when I unboxed it.I'll make more tests tomorrow, but that might better fit in a different section of the forum.Updatethe local courier (delivery was not handled directly by UPS) called me and told I had to pay 57.63€ for customs expenses...a bit more than I expected but the total cost is still around 100€ less than the average ebay price for items in such good condition

author: Jon.C
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 25, 2017, 07:18:43 pm
content: Ladies and Gentlemen ....the brick !!!!not badI'm waiting for this week a more serious voltage reference

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 25, 2017, 11:58:37 pm
content: Quote from: Jon.C on July 25, 2017, 07:18:43 pmVery nice.

author: not1xor1
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2017, 04:01:12 am
content: Quote from: Jon.C on July 25, 2017, 07:18:43 pmyours looks better than mineThe one I got has a faint display with some segment more bright than others (it doesn't look so in the photo below).It is still perfectly usable though.The most annoying problem is that it is off by an average of 200µVs (the 2 LSDs) when switched on, and of about 300µVs after warm up.The cal menu displays 35 calibrations and 25 jan 2004 as calibration message.Since I found 2003 on the stickers on the PCBs, when I opened the case, I suppose it was produced at the end of 2003 and calibrated multiple times during burning in before being sold and then never calibrated again.If I short the inputs with a thick copper wire the 2 LSDs still flicker, but so does the last LSD of the old Fluke 8842A (5-1/2 digits) I got a few months ago.Now, after having switched the display off (menu -> sys -> display -> off -> enter), I'm keeping the multimeter on for a couple of days just to check voltage/resistance measure drift.

author: edpalmer42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2017, 04:55:26 am
content: You can get the approximate production date for any piece of HP equipment from the serial number. The four digit prefix gives you the number of years from 1960 and the week. So if the serial number started with 2645, it would be 1986, week 45.Ed

author: alm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2017, 07:28:22 am
content: That is the date of the last design change. Actual production date could be a decade later. It does set a lower bound. In my opinion semiconductor date codes are a better guide.

author: Specmaster
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2017, 11:12:04 pm
content: Quote from: not1xor1 on July 26, 2017, 04:01:12 amApparently that type of display has known problems after a few years of use, particularly if they have been treated in the normal lab fashion of being left switched on all day long while not actually being used. Is it really required to be that precise with measurements that makes it worth sacrificing longevity of the display for as opposed to switching it on when required and switching off to conserve power and equipment?

author: Nusa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2017, 12:03:53 am
content: Quote from: Specmaster on July 27, 2017, 11:12:04 pmIf the users didn't have a perceived need (justified or not) for that kind of accuracy, they wouldn't bother buying such an expensive and precise meter in the first place.