Buying a new scope: haggling for price? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: rheb1026
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2017, 08:36:58 pm
content: We had an old scope at work finally give up the ghost and we're shopping for a replacement. I've heard many times on the forum here that "nobody pays full price" for a scope. What kind of discount can I realistically expect to get? We're a very small company and really don't have much in the way of influence that some other companies might.I saw that Keysight has a 30% trade in deal, do most manufacturers have these as well?Thanks for any info

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2017, 09:01:00 pm
content: If you buy large amounts of equipment then you might get a better price but other than that you either pay list price or get an ex-demo unit.

author: DavidDLC
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2017, 09:19:47 pm
content: What I have done is to look for the lowest price I can find, and then contact the vendors and ask them if they can give me a lower price. It worked when I bought my DSOX scope.David DLC

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2017, 09:20:30 pm
content: Or buy used. What are your needs? You can often find some great deals on older equipment that is still perfectly good. Especially if you don't mind the bulk of a CRT based instrument those are often a fraction the price of a sleek new LCD scope of the same or lesser capability.Another option is fixing the scope you have. Surely anyone who knows how to use an oscilloscope is also capable of repairing simple faults?

author: rheb1026
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2017, 09:32:48 pm
content: Thanks for the replies so far. If it were for a personal scope, I would have no issue buying used equipment, but I think where as this is a work instrument it should be new or used/refurb with a manufacturer warranty. We're looking for a 4 channel, 200 MHz mixed signal. I think we're pretty set on the Keysight MSOX2024A, just looking to make sure that we get a good deal is all.The Keysight ebay specials are a very good deal for what you get, but unfortunately are out of the price range and really are too much scope for what we needI'm sure that one of us could fix the scope, but I don't think it would be a good use of work time. Plus the new scopes are leaps and bounds better. I think this is a late 90's era HP scope

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2017, 10:12:15 pm
content: Oh I'm sure new ones are better, and yeah I get where you're coming from. I only mentioned it because a lot of people assume they need a fancy high end instrument when in reality they might not. You can waste a lot of money on features and capabilities that you will never use. You can also waste a lot of money buying an instrument that lacks features you do need or that will save time or make your life easier.Hopefully the old scope can find a good home rather than being unceremoniously dumped into an e-waste bin.

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2017, 10:36:49 pm
content: Like all high dollar purchases (even though the smaller scopes dont fall into that category) such as cars or houses, the salesperson will be trying to extract maximum money from your pocket and upsell you on anything possible. You need to come into the negotiations with 2 things:A list of things that youneedand will get value from.Market research to find out what the price you can get that at the competitors.Dont fall for the "value" of including things you dontneedsuch as decoding licenses for bus types you dont use. 200MHz is the middle ground of the ranges so there arent bargains to be found, and requiring a MSO really limits the options. Probably just the Siglent SDS2204 and Keysight MSOX2024A.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2017, 10:49:20 pm
content: Quote from: rheb1026 on March 02, 2017, 09:32:48 pmAlso look at the GW Instek's new MSO2000 series (GDS2000E with digital channels and function generator). It is a better buy than the MSOX2024A even if the prices where the same.

author: Keysight DanielBogdanoff
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 02, 2017, 11:17:24 pm
content: It never hurts to ask. The worst someone says is "no"

author: djnz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2017, 06:30:24 am
content: I believe the cost price that distributors pay is around half the list price So, a discount of about 30% on the list price is usually possible after some haggling. More or less, depending on the order value. This is without any sort of exchange / trade-in. Also, I think options tend to have even higher margins.Don't hesitate to ask for, what you might consider as ridiculous, discounts. You might be surprised.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2017, 06:53:13 am
content: Quote from: rheb1026 on March 02, 2017, 09:32:48 pmHave you looked at SDS2204X, there's some deals on these ATM....buy the MSO option and HW (probe set) and get the Decode suite and Function gen free.http://siglentamerica.com/pdxx.aspx?id=1488&T=2&tid=1Quote from: djnz on March 03, 2017, 06:30:24 amYour beliefs are wrong.

author: Assafl
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2017, 06:53:17 pm
content: All the standard practices of haggling a good price are a go. Try to buy the last week before quarter end. If you are lucky the sales guy has yet to attain quota - state you want to buy in a month time but if the price is right may be able to close in the next few days.Spend their time. Get them to invest time. Produce a better value from a competitors scope. Features the competitors doesn't have poo poo - as you don't need them and therefore don't have the authority to purchase. But of course you like theirs better.See if you can consolidate a bigger sale (DMM + power supply + scope...). That gives you more leverage.Haggle the price of add-ons. Usually they can be bundled by a sales guy that doesn't have the clout to reduce ASP.Etc. Standard fare all procurement managers do...

author: rheb1026
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2017, 09:07:00 pm
content: Quote from: tautech on March 03, 2017, 06:53:13 amI did consider Siglent. I have an SDS1102X for home use and I like it except that it gets quite laggy with more than one channel turned on. Not a big deal for the infrequent use (and for $450 I can't complain), but I think it would really annoy me to have to use on a daily basis. I guess I'm under the assumption that the 2000 series may not be much better in that regard, which may not be true. Something I should look into, though.One of the big draws (for me) to the Keysight scope is that all the videos I've seen it doesn't seem to have any lag with turning the knobs or buttons even when it has many functions turned on.

author: ralphrmartin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2017, 09:56:22 pm
content: I just got a 58% "exceptional" discount on a new scope with an option bundle.

author: rheb1026
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2017, 11:41:44 pm
content: Quote from: ralphrmartin on March 03, 2017, 09:56:22 pmIf you don't mind me asking, what were the circumstances of the purchase? Were you purchasing as an individual? Company? One scope or many?

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2017, 11:48:39 pm
content: Quote from: rheb1026 on March 03, 2017, 09:07:00 pmIs that with the latest firmware from Dec last year ?http://www.siglentamerica.com/gjjrj-xq.aspx?id=5002&tid=15If there's still a problem please document it in the SDS1000X thread so it can be confirmed by others and addressed by the Siglent engineers in the next FW.QuoteDon't confuse 2k and 2kX series, while they are quite similar they do have slightly different HW and the SDS2304X I have is fine, there is no lagginess in the UI.

author: rheb1026
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2017, 12:31:34 am
content: Quote from: tautech on March 03, 2017, 11:48:39 pmI'll have to check the firmware and make sure, but I know I updated it in the last six months. Thanks for pointing out the thread, I'll be sure to read through it.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2017, 12:54:18 am
content: Quote from: rheb1026 on March 03, 2017, 09:07:00 pmThat is because it uses screen data for measurements. There just isn't enough data to process in order to slow it down. Somebody posted these videos in the DSO1000X thread but they apply to every non-PC based Keysight scope:https://youtu.be/vaOJanBYloshttps://youtu.be/Z1tfu0YViTMThen again the Tektronix scopes are known for slowing down. However this is where GW Instek's most recent DSOs/MSOs shine because unlike any other (non PC based) scope currently on the market they have oodles of processing power which can chew through large amounts of data quickly.

author: ralphrmartin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2017, 07:33:38 am
content: Quote from: rheb1026 on March 03, 2017, 11:41:44 pmAs an individual at an educational establishment, just one scope.The first offer was 40% off both scope + options,then the same plus a newly released low end scope for free (yes, you can probably guess now, can't you, which manufacturer...),then when I said I only needed one scope, the free scope was swapped out for a free option bundle.The scope I got was a current touchscreen () model, not some end of line clearout.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2017, 11:35:50 am
content: Quote from: ralphrmartin on March 04, 2017, 07:33:38 amYeah the educational discounts are huge because that is where potential users meet a brand for the first time. It is not a benchmark for what kind of discount commercial businesses or individuals can get.

author: SKPang
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 04, 2017, 06:50:45 pm
content: It is true you don't need to pay full listed price for a scope. Even places like Farnell and RS can give you discounts.I recently bought a Keysight MSOX3034T and not paid full price. Also got the MSO for the price of the DSO and with app bundle. Saved a few £k.