Rigol 1052E - GROUP BUY - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: AB
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 21, 2010, 06:00:16 pm
content: Hello folks.I'm in the market for a decent hobby scope and was wondering if anyone else was buying this particular Rigol scope in the near future? Maybe we can do a group buy and save ourselves a decent amount of money.For those not familiar with it, here are some specs and a photo.-1 GSa/s maximum real-time sample rate-1Mpts long Memory Depth-50 MHz Bandwidth when you get it, 100 MHz three minutes later-Ultra compact design: 303mm x 154mm x 133mm (WxHxD)-64 k TFT color LCD-Advanced trigger modes: Edge, Video, Pulse Width, Slope, Alternate-20 automatic measurements-Cursor measurements: Manual, Track and Auto Measure modes-10 waveforms, 10 setups, BMP and CSV storage-Math functions:+, -, x, FFT, Invert-Special digital filter and waveform recorder-Built-in hardware frequency counter-Standard interface: USB Device, USB Host, RS-232This scope used to go for around $380 on Ebay if I remember correctly, before evil Rigol stepped in. I have a feeling the very same sellers still sell for around this much as long as Ebay doesn't find out.I wonder what kind of deal one can get for 10-20 units.Unless I'm missing something this unit sells for 1660 Chinese yuan on Taobao, which is $250 US.http://item.taobao.com/auction/item_detail-0db2-c245075cf93b7adfecf1b029b12bc495.jhtml?cm_cat=0Imagine the possibilities. Less than $300 for a good quality 100Mhz* bench scope, yes please.In case you're new here, Rigol 1052E is a 50Mhz scope that can be converted to 100Mhz in a minute with a RS232 cable and Hyper Terminal installed, no physical modding necessary.Some requirements now for those who would like to participate:you're serious about this and have the necessary funds (we don't want to wait for evil Rigol to kill the mod with a firmware revision)the scope will be for your personal use only. If you want more than one, no problem, but please no reseller wannabiesyou have a Paypal account. If not you know someone who does. Personally I don't care how people pay, but Paypal seems pretty safe and it would be best if everyone paid for their unit individually via Paypal to minimize complications.you don't live in NigeriaBefore purchase we would make sure that everybody is okay with the Chinese supplier we'd be buying from and the final price (excluding customs fees and other country specific costs should there be any). We would expect the item to be brand new in box with (Chinese) warranty.Those that might be interested, but are not sure since we don't know how much we can bring the price down (I guess it depends on the amount of people interested), simply post the highest amount you'd be willing to pay and I'll get back to you.Power cord: I guess a standard PC power cord would work alright, don't know if it would be possible for everyone to specify the type used in their country, but if it could be done, great.If you think I forgot anything or in case you have any questions, let me know.Thanks for reading.

author: septer012
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2010, 01:31:08 am
content: I am down. So thats 2 of us now.

author: Mark_O
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2010, 05:46:24 am
content: Quote from: AB on March 21, 2010, 06:00:16 pmThey were selling for $356 on eBay, at one time, delivered. You can currently get them for $404 delivered, directly from a reputable seller that many here have already dealt with.QuoteAt current exchange rates, that's $244 USD. So, I take it you know Chinese? If not, then dealing on TaoBao is fairly risky business. Also, you said, as long as "everybody is okay with the Chinese supplier we'd be buying from". How would we (or you)have any idea whatsoeverif the supplier was reputable or not? They spring up and disappear all the time. And realizing that if by bad luck you happened to get a defective unit, the hassle-factor would probably be enormous, and shipping charges alone to swap it out would be ~$100, or more (if they'd even be willing to do that). Then there'd be some serious sour grapes.Also, you started out talking about a quantity purchase of 10-20 units. But that's not the same as what you ended up with, which was 10 or moreindividual transactions, as part of a group, with 10 different payees, and 10 different Ship To addresses. I don't know that that will get you any discounts at all.QuoteGood luck finding a seller on TaoBao that will accept PayPal!QuoteYes, that's pleasant to imagine. But be aware that in some sense you're "rolling the dice". If you can afford to gamble $300 (and it won't be much less than that, after shipping $$$), that's fine. I don't necessarily want to discourage you, but there are some significant logistical issues to work out, that you haven't even addressed yet. Good luck!- Mark

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 22, 2010, 07:58:48 am
content: don't think you will be turning it into a 1102 so easily for certain by the time you buy it they will have got around that (although it will probably be done again) I've already got one so I'm out, i thought most people here had one. pity the prices went up, it was a bit of an investment for me but I'm glad I did it

author: AB
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 22, 2010, 04:29:33 pm
content: Don't know what the point of your post is, Mark_O.Seems like you're against buying in China, and against group orders for some reason (I wonder where your reputable seller is located).Taobao was just an example of a superlow price. I wouldn't necessarily want to buy there.Unfortunately $404 doesn't cut it for me. If you're buying from anyone in China, nobody is really reputable, and you'll have to send it there in case you need repair. We know that. Surely you can't get it for $404 from a North American authorized dealer?And how many people here haven't bought it from China/Hong Kong? I reckon, less than 5%.And how many are ranting on the forum for lack of technical support, warranty issues, fraud? Haven't seen any.I believe the unit weighs 2.5 kg. Would definitely not cost $100 to ship it back.If I had to ship it back to say California, you think it would be free?QuoteYou don't know? Okay, I know. You can get a discount, just not as large as if all went to the same address, of course. You just have to talk to the seller and explain the situation.Quote from: SimonYeah, right.Well, if they do a secret recall RIGHT THIS VERY MOMENT worldwide, you might be right, but that costs money - and this is Rigol. Gotta make sure I ask some extra questions before purchase just in case, though.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 22, 2010, 05:57:34 pm
content: as for cost of returning it for warranty repair look carefully, when I was offered the chance to return mine I looked up charges and from the UK it was 60-90 pounds depending on curior. what I'm thinking is with the popularity of these scopes by the time you have your little group set up the new rigols rolling off the shelf may be "hack proof" although I'm sure there will be another way around it.where will the members of this group be ? seriously unless your in the same country it will soon cost you the price of the scope to send it anywhere, as an ebay seller I soon learnt that it is pointless selling anything abroad because if it is over 2 Kg it costs 40 pounds to post (boxed weight of the rigol is 3.5 Kg acording to the manual).A group scope would be a great idea for people living no more than a few towns apart. Me, although I offered my scope for use at work that was only to push myself further "in" with the company and design, I'll be watching it like a hawk and if anyone is heavy handed with it I may be heavy handed with them

author: Mark_O
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2010, 05:42:17 am
content: Quote from: AB on March 22, 2010, 04:29:33 pmJust trying to inject a bit of caution, and not let hopeful exuberance overwhelm reasonable caution. I thought I did that rather well. I'm sorry if it rubbed you the wrong way. Regardless of how you perceived it, it wasn't an attack on you.QuoteNot necessarily. There are various levels of risk involved. I was simply urging some caution,especially with TaoBao, which was the only option you laid out at the time.QuoteChina. DealExtreme is one vendor that multiple folks in this Forum have bought from. I haven't, but I'd consider them relatively trustworthy, based on reports here.QuoteGreat! That makes two of us.QuoteThat's fine. I have no problem with you trying to find it for less, and sharing the fruits of your labor with others. A laudable goal.QuoteThat's not completely true, though one certainly can't expect the same level of hand-holding a local vendor might be able to supply. But buying from DealExtreme or HappySeeds or DealExcel, who people have positive experiences with, is a bit different from taking a shot in the dark, and ordering from a stranger with no reputation and 3 positive feedbacks on TaoBao. If you need me to explain that to you then... nevermind.Quote3.5 kg ship weight. And of course it wouldn't cost that much to ship it back to China. Maybe $50 or so, from the US. Would you be doing so for a refund, or to get a replacement? If the later, then don't expect the seller to eat the $50+ to ship you a new one. That's where the $100 figure I posted came from. You've overlooked the fact that swapping a defective unit requires shipping TWO ways.QuoteNow you're just being combative.QuoteThat's great! More power to you. I'm glad to hear that all you have to do is "talk to the seller". That's never been my experience with quantity purchases in the past. But if you can negotiate it, then excellent.Seriously, I wish you the best of luck. What you're trying to do isn't impossible, but it will take some work, and considerable diligence. If done carefully, you may be able to pull it off with no one getting burned, and still getting a great deal. Keep us informed as you work out all the details. I may even decide to grab an extra Rigol while the getting is good, if you can get a 1052E delivered for <= $300 (and find out what it would cost to add a 1052D to the order).- Mark

author: Mike
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 17, 2010, 04:05:28 pm
content: Just to give you awarning:I would be very careful with sending money to Dealexcel if I were you. I think they may be ripoff artists and scam you. I have sent them money and have not received my instrument. First they didn't answer my reminders at all, then they finally answered with a dodgy excuse, writing that the tracking number would take at least two working days to send me (!). This is nonsense because the tracking number is received by the sender when the goods is delivered to the post office for EMS shipment. I have been in China / HK and have used the postal service from there. I know how this works. Now week after week pass by and I have still not received any tracking number from them. I have opened an issue with PayPay. I will escalate that quite soon in case they don't proove they have sent me the item. In case that doesnt solve the case I will contact my card company and demand a chargeback. In the event that I can't have them carry out a chargeback, I will have to contact a lawyer in Hong Kong and take legal action. I will not be ripped off by a Chinese guy, as a matter of principle.Furthermore, Alexa shows that this is a site with low traffic. They have frequently changed e-mail adresses, the business appear to have a short track record and they dealexcel have received poor critique on several other forums on the net.You have ben warned!

author: ThunderSqueak
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 17, 2010, 06:53:26 pm
content: Just a side comment, I got mine from someone in the USA... I even got free shipping, sure I paid 399.00 USD for it (this included 2 day shipping to Alaska), but it was someone I had purchased from before and have always got top notch service from. I would happily buy from them again if they had something I needed. I just prefer dealing with someone in my own country when I have a choice, even if they are selling a product made overseas. This is a MAJOR plus when I have questions about a product before purchase or have an issue after the purchase.http://www.saelig.com/PSBEB100/PSPC016.htmThey even threw in a nice padded bag to use when I transport the scope.... in my favorite colorContact InformationSaelig Company, Inc.1160-D2 Pittsford-Victor Rd.Pittsford NY 14534 USAPH: (585) 385-1750FX: (585) 385-1768info@saelig.comwww.saelig.com