Some solder paste to avoid - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2012, 04:38:01 pm
content: So yesterday I went looking for cheap and cheerful small quantity solder paste on eBay. Unfortunately I ended up getting a rather smaller quantity than I thought.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mechanic-Solder-Paste-MCN-300-SMD-SMT-SN63-PB37-50g-/160690709235?_trksid=p5197.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D5%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D5513772716819418063The listing states 50g net weight, but...Only 39g including all the packaging! Scoundrels!

author: Rufus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2012, 05:03:09 pm
content: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=5485.0At least your supplier says approximately. I suppose 39g gross with a plastic bag is approximately 50g net.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2012, 05:06:51 pm
content: You have been unlucky.I have two new pots of the exact same solder paste from two different suppliers...one weighs 50g whilst the other weighs 51g. I haven't used it yet so no idea how good it is.Aurora

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2012, 05:09:55 pm
content: Quote from: Rufus on January 10, 2012, 05:03:09 pmExcept net weight is the weight of the product without packaging. So there's probably about 25g of paste in there.

author: Zad
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2012, 05:29:39 pm
content: Complain! The seller has 100% feedback and they will be eager to maintain that. It looks like they are physically located in the UK too, which is unusual.

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2012, 05:35:22 pm
content: Quote from: Zad on January 10, 2012, 05:29:39 pmI have just sent the seller an email asking for a partial refund. They expect the buyer to pay return postage but that's just silly for such a low price item.

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2012, 07:16:09 pm
content: Well, I got an interesting reply to my complaint.QuoteI'm not sure if he realises there's at least 2 other sellers on eBay with the same product in the UK. I guess I'm about to be blocked, oh dear, oh dear. No more pastas for me from this guy!

author: RCMR
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2012, 07:35:30 pm
content: I've purchased the same stuff from various Chinese suppliers and found the weight to be highly variable. I guess it depends on how tired the girl with the icing pipe is when she fills each one as to how much you get.

author: metalphreak
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2012, 09:42:50 pm
content: There was another thread on this before but it may have disappeared as it ended up being a "discussion" about chinese productsI've always bought my mechanics paste from DealExtreme and I've not once been short changed on the quantity inside.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2012, 10:44:57 pm
content: Quote from: RCMR on January 10, 2012, 07:35:30 pmAlso the time of day and level of paste left in the machine.Worker isn't going to want to refill the machine if there's only 10min before end of shift.So they will probably reduce the amount in each pot so it lasts.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2012, 11:26:10 pm
content: My paste will be longgggg past it's 'use by' date before I get to the bottom of itThe ebay seller sounds a jerk though. Banning you for raising the issue of underweight product ....I was surprised at his response. Obviously not 'retail' trained !

author: Zad
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2012, 05:39:37 pm
content: Definitely report them to ebay. first of all they sold you a product which was not only "not as described" but with wilful intent to mislead. Then they make a threat against you because you complained about their illegal act. This tells me how they got their 100% feedback, they presumably don't show up when someone is banned.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2012, 06:06:48 pm
content: I think the seller's attitude is bad, don't get me wrong, but he has a valid point. He is selling a pre-packaged product "as seen" for peanuts per item, and the product is exactly as described in the sale. It is a sealed jar of Mechanics solder paste as delivered from the factory. Whatever it is is what it is. If you don't like the risks of buying cheap stuff from eBay, buy from a retail store like Maplins. Asking for a partial refund on a £3.50 item does seem a bit pathetic. Honestly, suck it up and put it down to experience.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 11, 2012, 06:42:37 pm
content: The seller mentions the 50g figure several times in the listing. The seller is responsible for both the listing and the product. If he's not sure of the quantity, he should state so in the listing. The seller also picked the price. This is clearly a case of an object that's not as described in the listing, in my opinion.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2012, 06:56:34 pm
content: Yes, the seller has a bad approach to business. I would hope a polite note to the seller along the lines of "The product did not weigh 50 g as promised when I received it, can you do something to put it right?" might have drawn a better response. I guess we will never know now.

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2012, 07:19:08 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on January 11, 2012, 06:06:48 pmI expect he knows exactly what goes into these.And why is it pathetic to ask for a partial refund? I only got half the stuff inside. If you're Mr. Moneybags then good for you, I however, am not, and I won't let people scam me out of my money.The right course of action is to do my refund, and then to contact his supplier about the issue, and he can decide whether to continue to sell dodgy product or to stop using the supplier. It's not on my head to put it down to experience, I already know to avoid it in future, why should I not be refunded as well?

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2012, 08:47:54 pm
content: Quote from: 8086 on January 11, 2012, 07:19:08 pmIf the product you receive is not as described, the first response should just be a polite note pointing this out and asking them to put it right for you. Then they can refund you or send you more product at their choice. If you get a rude reply from that you could write appropriate feedback, and if the seller gets stroppy you could then file a complaint.I'm just saying emails that begin with "I want a refund" are probably not the right place to start.

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2012, 09:07:30 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on January 11, 2012, 08:47:54 pmYou haven't seen my original email. It wasn't just "I want a refund, give it to me now". Wrong assumption, there. I was perfectly polite and not demanding, I just stated near the end of it that I felt the fairest course of action was a 50% refund, as there was only 50% product in the bottle, and return postage would be silly. This was not the opening line, either. He always had the option to email with a better idea if he had one, like sending more product. It's not like i put him in a corner, is it? He just decided to be rude to me because he was selling stuff with only half the product inside, and I called him on it.

author: metalphreak
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2012, 01:41:29 am
content: I wouldn't be surprised if he himself got a bad batch from his supplier, and is now having to deal with complaints over what is probably an item he doesn't make that much money on for the effort. Still doesn't excuse him for being rude about it though. Threatening to ban you from future purchases wasn't necessary to add, but he probably won't have to bother since I doubt you'll be buying from him againGoogle "Paul Christoforo" to see how not to do customer service.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 12, 2012, 09:58:34 am
content: Quote from: metalphreak on January 12, 2012, 01:41:29 amThe proper solution in that case would be to add a notice to the listing. Something like 'This is part of a batch that received less than 50g of solder paste. I guarantee that you will receive at least 25g worth of paste. The price was lowered to reflect this.'.Quote from: metalphreak on January 12, 2012, 01:41:29 amThe response reminded me of him, too. Will he forever be synonym with bad, rude customer service?

author: odingalt
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 17, 2014, 05:05:10 am
content: As a former e-bay seller, a purveyor of Chinese goods, and a guy who likes to get a good deal (I buy my cars at auction or used, for example) I just wanted to tell you that tightwads get exactly what they pay for when they shop on e-bay.You are expecting to get high volume prices for tiny quantities, with unreasonably low shipping costs for a hazardous material. E-bay and PayPal fees combined are normally up to 20% of the auction amount. So after you deduct shipping and e-bay fees there's basically no way the seller can actually sell you 50g and make a living wage selling paste.I hear this story over and over again regarding e-bay sellers. Seriously, to all tightwads, you get what you pay for. Pay an extra 1.00 next time you'll see a world of difference in quality and service.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2014, 06:22:09 am
content: Avoid chipquik brand paste if you intend to place the paste by hand with a syringe, their paste is too thick.It keeps flowing out of the dispensing needle for 20sec after you stop pushing the plunger.You could mix in some flux i guess, but it would be messy.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2014, 07:54:36 am
content: Quote from: Psi on September 17, 2014, 06:22:09 amThat is why electronic dispensing systems have a short vacuum cycle after the pressure cycle. It is not as much the thickness as it is physics, gravity will keep on siphoning the stuff out, just pull the plunger upwards a bit after pressing and lay the syringe horizontally away instead of vertically.

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2014, 08:29:40 am
content: Quote from: Psi on September 17, 2014, 06:22:09 amI use it regularly and have no issues, also if refrigerated it will last for a year or two. it is a little thick when fresh out of the fridge but fine once it warms up.Much better all round than the mechanic shit though.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 17, 2014, 09:46:59 pm
content: Quote from: Psi on September 17, 2014, 06:22:09 amRecently bought a lead free chipquik from farnell. Wouldn't say that it's thick but it contains hell a lot of an air bubbles. So no way to be applied from syringe as you never know the amount that will come out. Woks very well with a stencil thou. Residues are easily dissolved with an isopropyl alcohol unlike a Chinese mechanic paste residues.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2014, 11:08:21 pm
content: QuoteOn the contrary, hedidn'tget what he paid forIt's all very well you calling a careful shopper a tightwad, and noting that the vendor can't sell at that price and make any sort of profit. Surely that's the vendor's problem - if he doesn't want to make a loss he shouldn't sell it that low. No-one has a gun to his head, forcing him to sell at zero profit, you know. And just as no-one has a God-given right buy stuff for nothing, no-one has a God-given right to sell stuff at a profit. Or even just sell stuff, come to that.

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 18, 2014, 12:10:15 am
content: Quote from: dunkemhigh on September 17, 2014, 11:08:21 pmNo god-given right to top-shelf customer service, either.I sell a lot of stuff on eBay and it's the unfortunate truth of eBay. Frankly, eBay buyers are the most demanding, most cheapskate, quick-to-whine buyers I've ever dealt with anywhere. I don't necessarily blame the buyers - it's just the environment eBay has created. Combined with eBay's ever increasing demands on sellers and ever increasing prices, there isn't much room left for customer service.As a seller, you don't really have the tools or motivation to distinguish between a good customer with a legitimate problem and a scammer. It's all about moving the most product possible and having the least interactions with customers possible. I don't see why he bothered to tell the buyer he was blocking him - but I'd do the same thing. Someone wanting a refund on a $5 item is cheap, and cheap buyers are more hassle than they're worth.

author: Falcon69
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2014, 02:17:21 am
content: Maybe it WAS 50g when it left the Manufacturer, but was sitting on a shelf for 20 years and all the FLux has evaporated from it, leaving less wait in the package now.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2014, 08:36:38 am
content: QuoteI don't doubt that they are all of that. But if you don't like it you can just not sell on there.QuoteBecause he thinks it's his right to fleece punters, he is going them a favour which they should recognise by letting him tramp over them, and in his tiny mind he thinks "There! That'll showthatswine he can't fuck with me."

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2014, 08:38:55 am
content: QuoteUmmm.... so, you sell stuff ultra-cheap because you know that will attract the cheap buyers, who are more hassle than they're worth. Uh-huh.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2014, 04:47:21 am
content: The paste i had before this chipquik stuff was fine to place by syringe. It came from digikey like 5 years ago. Dunno what brandIt never leaked out at all

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2015, 05:07:58 am
content: Quote from: 8086 on January 10, 2012, 04:38:01 pmYou are in luck ;-)I just got my 50g ebay Mechanics solder paste (seller = ouyou2010) and it weigh only 35g, including the jar. That small jar is more empty than full.