Dodgy knockoff or genuine bargain? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: HeMan
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2025, 03:19:39 pm
content: Hi,I am in the UK and for £299 (inc. tax and delivery) I can get a DHO804 from here:SUSPECT AFFILIATE LINK REMOVEDBut in the advert, they have gone to some effort to hide the Rigol name, even blocking it out of the pictures (although I note it is clearly visible in the picture of the back of the unit).By comparison, the cheapest I can find it elsewhere is £435 (inc. tax and delivery). So its not just a few quid saving, it will save £136 on a £300 purchase!I'm not really worried about it being a complete con (as in nothing turns up), as they must know I would just claim the money back from my credit card company and Banggood wouldn't want to be involved with that I wouldn't have thought. I can't imagine someone is manufacturing fakes, as surely there can't be enough of a market for that! Are they factory returns or something perhaps? But then why would Rigol release them and risk damaging their name by flooding the market with bad units?I know this seems a dodgy as hell, but does anyone know why they are hiding the name and are so much cheaper than the alternatives, or does anyone have any direct experience of one of these units?

author: NE666
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2025, 03:36:43 pm
content: It will be absolutely fine, unless it isn't.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/rigol-dho800-(814)-failing-to-boot-upI view it as being a high risk of losing some or all of my money. Only you know what your own appetite for risk is here.

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2025, 03:46:45 pm
content: Quote from: HeMan on February 16, 2025, 03:19:39 pmThat's basically their business model. 😉

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2025, 03:51:25 pm
content: Totally dodgy.They could ship you a brick in a box then vanish.(a brick with a "DHO800" sticker on it)

author: Grandchuck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2025, 03:57:50 pm
content: They mention a USB cable but do not mention a power supply?

author: HeMan
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2025, 04:12:25 pm
content: Quote from: NE666 on February 16, 2025, 03:36:43 pmKinda why I wanted to hear from someone who had some experience?I did read Hix's sorry tale, and I feel for them. But I would have probably resorted to claiming against the credit card by now...Quote from: KungFuJosh on February 16, 2025, 03:46:45 pmI'm guessing your on the Siglent side of the religious divide then?Quote from: Fungus on February 16, 2025, 03:51:25 pmAs I say, I would claim from the credit card company, and besides, Banggood wouldn't stand for that sort of thing either.Quote from: Grandchuck on February 16, 2025, 03:57:50 pmTrue, but they mention "Power" and "USB" cable, so possibly poor translation, and besides, being type-C it wouldn't be the end of the world if I had to use another. I suspect it may come with the wrong (non-UK) plug in any event, so I might have to consider that anyway...Out of interest, AliExpress would deliver one proudly showing the Rigol name, for about £342 (inc. tax and delivery):https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007361617458.htmlSo still nearly £100 cheaper than anything available over here.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 16, 2025, 04:15:58 pm
content: I don't see a single reason why you would not get a real thing. However it will be a unit for Chinese market, expect no warranty.

author: xtech
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2025, 05:26:39 pm
content: Almost 100% sure this is genuine one (but always pay with credit card in case of chargeback. Hiding manufacturer name is also common on aliexpress - why? I don't know, copyrights (in China?!), non official distribution?! Who knows. In general, you are paying 30% off(gangbangprice vs NDN price in PL) because you have no guarantee.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2025, 07:06:29 pm
content: Quote from: HeMan on February 16, 2025, 04:12:25 pmYeah, but you've wasted a lot of time, you didn't get a 'scope, you helped a scammer, and Banggood will put up all it's prices to cover their losses.It makes the whole world a slightly worse place to live in.

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2025, 08:11:21 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on February 16, 2025, 07:06:29 pmI love mild hyperbole. 😉

author: NE666
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2025, 08:14:56 pm
content: Quote from: HeMan on February 16, 2025, 04:12:25 pmYou have but instead of taking anything from it, you persist in your preconceived view, which instead you persuade us to validate.Sorry but no dice. It's dodgy, end of. Deliberate obfuscation of the brand as they aren't an authorised distributor/reseller. They'll sell you up the river if you have any after market issues.Knowing that, it's your choice alone whether you engage or not.

author: eTobey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2025, 07:27:04 am
content: Quote from: HeMan on February 16, 2025, 03:19:39 pmIs that a geniune link? I would not even click on such a link! (I altered it in the quote, for security)

author: Solder_Junkie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2025, 01:56:48 pm
content: Personally I would buy from Telonic, the UK distributor/dealer. I recently had a question about my old Rigol Spectrum analyser… before they would answer, they wanted to know the serial number.So, bottom line is anything from Banggood and you are on your own.SJ

author: trilerian
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2025, 02:20:15 pm
content: Quote from: eTobey on February 17, 2025, 07:27:04 amI would agree with this post. I wouldn't even click on the link without verifying. Not sure about other countries, but in the US the main banggood link would be: usa.banggood.com. Your link, while usa won't be there for obvious reasons, has a dot in the middle of the word banggood. ban.ggood.Please use caution! It may be a legitimate link, I don't know. I would try to navigate to it from the main page at banggood by searching on the main site.As to the product itself, other posters have already put in their two cents, I have nothing to add.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2025, 02:42:10 pm
content: Quote from: eTobey on February 17, 2025, 07:27:04 amI don't know exactly what's going on there but it redirects to banggood.com if you click on it.This is where you end up:https://www.banggood.com/DHO804-Digital-Oscilloscope-70MHz-4-Channel-12-Bit-1_25GSa-or-Sec-25MPts-Depth-Convenient-1,000,000-wfms-or-s-HD-Touch-Screen-p-2006738.htmlMaybe it's some sort of affiliate thing.

author: omar9000
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 17, 2025, 03:22:37 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on February 17, 2025, 02:42:10 pmNot for me; it goes to onelink.me, which UBlock Origin has black-listed for malware.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2025, 04:18:30 pm
content: Quote from: omar9000 on February 17, 2025, 03:22:37 pmI'm using Firefox with uMatrix.Edit: I went there with Microsoft Edge in VMWare and it sent me to "banggood.es" (I'm in Spain). Go figure...

author: eTobey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2025, 05:42:05 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on February 17, 2025, 04:18:30 pmBut did it send you directly there without any diversions?Go figure...

author: DaneLaw
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2025, 06:55:26 pm
content: Your being played.If OP actually wrote his intention. he would be kicked in a heartbeat.New user account.."Look everybody go and purchase this item from my affiliate link, so I can get 6% affiliate cashback from anybody licking that link and purchasing anything".(*that wouldn't fly and OP would be dropped by a mod..)So people instead camouflage it with a loaded narrative...and still get all the vital parts included.. Low price and affiliate linkSadly happens on a lot of forums.

author: HeMan
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2025, 10:54:40 pm
content: Woah there! I looked away for a day and it seems the conspiracists have been let loose! Maybe the paranoid atmosphere around here explains the sort of answers I am getting to my original question...I'm not saying they are wrong mind... But I will read all that at length when I have a bit more time. More urgently......that link came from the link button on the item page. If you don't trust me, and clearly you don't, search Banggood for DHO804, go to the page, click the little link icon at the top-right (circle with arrow), then the chain icon and your clipboard will contain the link I originally posted. And no, I do not get a small commission for everyone who tries this.I'll wait for the apologies until later, but in the meantime, please can people be a little more sure of their information before posting. I don't want to seem rude, after all I am new around here and I love the knowledge and experience contained on the site, but the whole basis of my question was one of trust, and by posting false hysteria (no link alone can blow up your PC, or whatever else people feared clicking it might do) it erodes trust in the other responses.

author: wasyoungonce
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2025, 11:39:03 pm
content: Quote from: omar9000 on February 17, 2025, 03:22:37 pmYep Ublock origin blocked it for meBanggood should be ok though. Blocked out to get past sales area restrictions? I opend blocked link...address etc is ok

author: TurboTom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2025, 01:13:38 am
content: I bought mine from an identical looking offer on banggood about half a year ago and it was 100% legit. Since I anyway intended to pimp/modify my scope, I didn't worry about warranty. The only risk might have been receiving a DOA, but fortunately the instrument worked perfectly and still does so. The black friday deal was still a little better priced, but I received mine several months before, so I'm happy with the deal.IMO, the only question is if you can live with the possibly problematic warranty situation, otherwise you should be fine.

author: NE666
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2025, 12:23:27 pm
content: Quote from: TurboTom on February 19, 2025, 01:13:38 amIf it were just the lack of an aftersales warranty, that would be one thing. However, based on the experience of Hix with his, I've learned that situation also includes the possibility of being served a dud, and the vendor's/website's T&Cs including return at my own expense, including duty charges, and all the hassle that goes with that.Whilst I too have purchased via unofficial sources on AliExpress in the past (DG822 Pro) because of the low pricing as compared to UK resellers, this incident has caused me to review my appetite for exposure to such risk.

author: HeMan
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2025, 10:17:54 pm
content: That's great, and what I was hoping to hear.I get that faults will be hard to get fixed, but if it arrives dead, in my experience of AliExpress at least, is they pay to ship it back to their UK agent (I have a bag of broken plastic on its way to them now as it happens; they sent me a label).I don't think Hix said it was a DOA, so maybe a fault developed later on... I don't know where they are based, but in the UK a credit card company will refund anything if the supplier won't help (and they then get it back from the supplier out of their next months payments no doubt).It's a risk for sure, but as long as the unit that arrives is a genuine unit and not some copy or damaged return, and with the consumer credit act as protection, it seems a decent saving that's maybe worth it...

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2025, 11:13:10 pm
content: Quote from: NE666 on February 16, 2025, 03:36:43 pmMaybe 1-5% chance you run into a warranty issue which requires the scope to be returned, and end up losing all of your money.Anyway the link now says $396 for me, so I would guess the deal is gone.Quote from: HeMan on February 20, 2025, 10:17:54 pmIf you know what you are doing and how to open a defective item, yes aliexpress usually cover the return shipping costs.In that thread banggood would not cover return shipping, google search finds other examples of this being the case as well.If you read the thread they used it for 10 minutes and it failed, so essentially DOA.

author: Hix
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2025, 01:19:43 am
content: Just discovered this thread. Yep, I bought from Banggood. It worked for a few days, in which I used it for about 10 real minutes of use, the rest of the time I was either updating firmware or seeing which wifi dongles could be used. I paid via Paypal credit, which is fortunate because until this is resolved they're not getting a penny from me. I shipped it back and it turns out Banggood supplied a fraudulent return address, so the unit has been returned to me. I'd avoid them like the plague. As it stands, Paypal should be refunding me, so I've lost the cost [£36] of the shipping it back, but will keep the duff item.I've had good experiences thus far with Banggood and AliExpress, but this has made me think much less of them.I'm still hoping to be able to try to recover the unit, and it is serving to be a pretty good introduction to electronics, as I have a real and worthy project to work on [albeit without a scope to assis me]It was a bit of a gamble, but that's why I used the credit facility, as a guarantor, really.

author: puxe
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2025, 05:35:21 pm
content: Quote from: Hix on March 03, 2025, 01:19:43 amI have had a similar experience with AliExpress twice. I bought a desk light/magnifying glass for soldering (getting on a bit and can't see like I used to!) .....The light was junk and wouldn't support its own weight. AliExpress would not co-operate and I called in PayPal. They took it up with AliExpress and they gave me a return address. I returned from the UK to Germany at my expense, despite AliExpress 'buyer protection' etc. It was rejected and returned from the German AliExpress delivery address and Royal Mail have lost it at present. Paypal gave me a refund. kudos to Paypal for sorting this out.I still buy from AliExpress, but now limit it to low cost items that I can write-off if required. No more oscilloscopes or binoculars that cost real money.

author: dzwer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2025, 02:05:50 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on February 17, 2025, 02:42:10 pmI've just received one purchased from this link from BangGood, shipped from Czech Republic for about 370 euro.It came in 6 days to Bulgaria.The interface language was in Chinese and the power cord also was Chinese, not EU one.The power adapter is very nice Delta 65W and the USB-C connector has a clip on it with Rigol name.I updated it with no problems to FW 1.04 and made the auto calibration after that.The box and everything is Rigol, 4 oscilloscope probes, additional USB A cable...

author: HeMan
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2025, 01:23:08 pm
content: I just want to add that in the end I bought the DHO804 form AliExpress for about £190 less than it is available for in the UK, and it arrived in 2 weeks and so far as I can tell it is a brand new item exactly as if I had bought it from within the UK. The only differences were the UI language was set to Chinese (but it took only a few seconds to change to English) and the power cord didn't have a UK plug and they included an adapter in the box (but as it happens I had a spare UK power cord that fitted, so I just used that and will keep the adapter just in case).Yes, it might break (although I don't see that as any more likely than with a unit bought in the UK), and yes I might have to go back to the credit card company for a refund in the worst case. And it is worrying that more than one person seems to have been given fake returns addresses, so that needs to be reported so hopefully they can clamp down on that sort of thing. I have had several other things arrive broken from AliExpress (and eBay, Amazon etc...) in the past (although nothing this valuable) and I have never failed to get my money back once I return it.So, I guess the summary is, you take your chances... But, for me, an important point isn't just the gamble we take and all the vitriol from people telling us it will end in disaster, but that presumably AliExpress are making a profit on what they sold me, so the UK resellers are making £190 more per unit! I get that they might provide better support than AliExpress (although I don't foresee me needing support from anyone), but they are going to have to do a hell of a lot to justify that aren't they?

author: puxe
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2025, 03:22:07 pm
content: Enjoy your new oscilloscope. I bought a Owon SDS 210s a while ago as it was below the £135 UK import limit and it was fine for my purposes.Regarding AliExpress, yesterday I had to again get a chargeback refund from PayPal, because a SZ20 multimeter was lost during shipping. 36 days and no refund from AliExpress, despite their published 35 day automatic refund policy. I provided 3 or 4 screen shots of the undelivered item and it's recorded (lost) tracking, but they are a nightmare. It's far worse if the item is faulty because they make you pay for return postage to Germany (in my case) and then refuse delivery! PayPal to the rescue in that case too.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2025, 10:05:05 pm
content: Quote from: HeMan on April 08, 2025, 01:23:08 pmWe don't know if the profit is £190 or not, as sometimes you'll have market segmented pricing. A company will sell to certain regions at higher prices (bike companies are famous for this).If I look at taobao price of DG821pro its $273 USD, aliexpress 300, retail in NA $400. DHO804 is $335 (286 after discount) on taobao.I agree its definitely more than the value they provide though.

author: dzwer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2025, 07:40:51 am
content: When you buy in large quantities, the prices are much lower than single unit end prices!So the added value for the re-sellers is much more, than you think