Who buys $1.89 test "Fluke" leads for $32.94 USD + $2.50 s/h - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2015, 06:59:05 am
content: I have seen these ads for "Fluke" style leadshttp://www.ebay.com/itm/111642051684over the last couple of years and I'm flabbergasted at the people who will pay $32.94 + $ 2.50 USD shipping for these leads.Theexact same leadscan be ordered from China sellers for18 times less+ free shipping.I know because I have ordered the exact same leads in the above auction and $2 + free s/h price is reflected in the quality of the leads. Something like thishttp://www.ebay.com/itm/221708601962I realize some people don't want to wait 30 days for shipping from China and will pay a premium to get quicker shipping, but paying $35.44 versus $1.89?I guess buyers of these auctions don't realize you can get real Fluke leads for less than $32.94 even paying full retail MSRP prices.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 10, 2015, 07:12:40 am
content: There are many good reasons to buy from a "local" source. Firstly you have more recourse in the event of problems, yes you get them quicker and there is often the perception that local sellers will have checked the quality of the products before reselling them. Not all of us do that.

author: amc184
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2015, 10:12:16 am
content: What gets me is that you can actually just buy real Fluke / Pomona lead sets for that money.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2015, 12:08:04 pm
content: It's just a shady sales strategy, the observant consumer is not tricked by words like "Fluke type", changing the price often and increasing it when low stock, and will look up sales history to see what "buyers" really paid.Please post good deals and resist the temptation to post bad ones, there are more than enough products on Ebay to whinge forever and there is a dedicated thread for bad shopping.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2015, 04:53:15 pm
content: Quote from: Simon on April 10, 2015, 07:12:40 amIMHO the above if filled with several misconceptions. Local sellers sell you the same crap with a huge markup and don't even think about getting proper customer service. Better buy from China directly.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 10, 2015, 06:11:09 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on April 10, 2015, 04:53:15 pmWell there are pros and cons, you will find many local sellers selling for a fraction more than chinese ones. It of course depends on the value of the item. If you don't look hard you might find a highly marked up item, it's up to you to look

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2015, 07:58:05 pm
content: QuoteI can tell you only buy thingsDo you expect the local seller to sell for the same price that you, and he, pay for these things from China? Why would he bother? Why don'tyousell these for the price you pay and make a real killing over other local sellers, eh?Of course the local chap wants to make a profit - that is why he is bothering to sell them in the first place. What he offers is quick delivery and all that tedious import thing taking care of. Of course, as it might have occurred to you about now, he has costs, which will be the original price, his time, the onward shipping, the returns (becauseheis susceptible to the distance selling regs whereas the Chinese are not), the... well, you get the idea.Although I am not sure you do get the idea. Why not just sell a bunch for half the price you are complaining about and see for yourself.And don't forget that the ones you get from China for $2 may actually be cheap and nasty clones of the $32 not-so-nasty clones of the Fluke jobs. Of course, that wouldn't be the case since you have acquired a set from each source and compared them right? You're not just armchairing this?

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 10, 2015, 08:00:58 pm
content: Quote from: dunkemhigh on April 10, 2015, 07:58:05 pmthank you! I thought i was the only one that values my time and expects to make a profit particularly when i make the effort to do my best for customers and answer often stupid technical questions and help them with finer points of their designs

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2015, 08:23:43 pm
content: Quote from: dunkemhigh on April 10, 2015, 07:58:05 pmWhat is tedious about importing and exporting? Especially as a non-business buyer buying from China is a complete no-brainer for both payment and insurance. Ebay has Paypal, Aliexpress uses a credit card. Buyer protection is in place (either through Paypal, Aliexpress or ultimately the credit card). I don't get why people keep spreading FUD about buying from other countries. I'm ordering dozens of items from China alone every year.What always makes me laugh is companies who sell airconditioners. They always complain about people buying Chinese crap for DIY installations. Guess what they are installing... even worse Chinese crapThere is a difference between giving a customer what he/she pays for and ripping a customer off. If I sell a customer a set of test leads for $30 it won't be a set of crappy leads I purchased for $1. If they want it cheaper I happily refer them to EBay and Aliexpress.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2015, 09:09:52 pm
content: QuoteObviously, nothing. It is so simple that these people selling for a profit don't actually sell any because no-one thinks they are worth the money.And yet... they presumably do sell this stuff, so someone must think it is worth the cost. Or at least a reasonable price to pay (not everyone things half a cent over raw materials costs is a rip-off, and some are happy to pay an asking price without feeling the need to haggle).Instead of complaining about stuff that will never affect you, why not accept that some people are happy to pay the price asked and are fully capable of not buying something they think is overpriced? Don't forget that the vendor is merelyofferingthese for sale - he is not holding a gun to their head and demanding money with menaces.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2015, 09:29:16 pm
content: If it is such a good offer then why would the seller need to mention the brand 'Fluke'? In my book that is nothing else but a scam.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2015, 11:39:19 pm
content: QuoteTo attract attention, get picked up in searches, etc. And no doubt catch the odd person that doesn't read the advert finely enough to realise they aren't fluke.QuoteHey, who said anything about good offer? You would whining about the price, and all I've been doing in return is point out why it is not as clear cut as you seem to think it is.Besides which, the two sets of leads are not the same. They are clearly different in material ways. Blimey, I don't know how you could mistake them for the same product with even a cursory glance!But, for the record and so you don't misinterpret what I am saying again, the cheap ones look to me to be much better quality than the expensive ones. And that vendor isn't afraid to post hi-res photos of them.

author: wagon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2015, 10:35:03 am
content: I've had those style of leads, and they're only worth $2. They are crap.