The Bad Shopping Experience Thread - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Rayonger
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 12:05:34 pm
content: Hello Ladies and Gentlemen:We need to bring each other up to speed on where to shop without getting ripped off. Most online merchants selling electronic stuff are OK, but there are a few scumbags out there that will take your cash and do a dash, one of them is:...and feel free to add more to this thread if you like.http://www.aliexpress.com/store/623118Keli Electronics Technology Co Ltd..located somewhere in ChinaThey have mouth watering stock from my techie viewpoint, but it is unlikely you will ever even see any brown wrapping paper or a postage stamp.Be careful with this store, they will not return your money, they will not deliver and you have no recourse if you let them con you into paying before you receive the goods. The Aliexppress shopping portal will stall, stall, stall until you give up.I am out of pocket 20 bux because I have been ordering, ordering ordering small things to qualify a list of suitable sellers to get more uptown with (do extensive business with). THIS GUY HAS FAILED.All the best online shoppingRayonger

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 12:23:15 pm
content: Had a bad experience with a seller of electronics gear?, you can have a little rant about it here for record on the interwebs, but please be factual and detailed.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 12:28:02 pm
content: Quote from: Rayonger on December 19, 2013, 12:05:34 pmI've started a new sticky thread for this type of thing, is that ok?In this case they have 768 feedback, and mostly positive, so it's likely just a one-off on your part?

author: Rayonger
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 19, 2013, 12:38:39 pm
content: Ok Dave, looks fair to me.I try to be fair with suppliers, but that guy seems to doctor his statistics and made no attempt to reply until I started abusing him...we are talking an order placed in August 2013, delivery from China to Thailand...ahhh we are landlocked neighbors!!!... I can bike there in 7 days.cheers

author: electronics man
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2014, 09:22:29 pm
content: i orderd a ccfl backlight invertor and a few other things from sourcingmap on amazon uk i recieverd most of my stuff just fine however they came in seperate deliveries (for some reason) then i got a slip from royal mail saying i had to pay £11.50 for duty(or whatever). the bloody thing only cost me £3.50. they told me that delivery was free so i refused to pay for it i told them they seaid they would give me a refund THEY NEVER DID i never got the ccfl invertor. i now have learnt a lesson.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 04, 2014, 09:41:29 pm
content: Quote from: electronics man on January 04, 2014, 09:22:29 pmI learnt that lesson quite a few years ago. I can't work out what Amazon is/does.I think this thread needs closing. I can't see any good coming of it, unless every retailer is 100% perfect, which they aren't, then pretty much everyone can go here. I have loads of stories about bad service from all the major suppliers over here, can't see how it will do anyone any good to randomly post about it here.

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2014, 04:46:38 am
content: Quote from: Lurch on January 04, 2014, 09:41:29 pmWhat if we want to post about a bad seller from the Buy/Sell/Wanted section who isn't a major supplier? I think that is what this thread was intended for by Dave anyway.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 13, 2014, 10:20:57 am
content: Quote from: peter.mitchell on January 13, 2014, 04:46:38 amFair enough, but none of the complaints are about anyone on this forum so far. That would probably be the only sensible way to send this thread.Quote from: peter.mitchell on January 13, 2014, 04:46:38 amI don't see him mention that, nor does anyone else.

author: Rayonger
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 06, 2014, 02:06:02 am
content: We (I) started this to warn people about certain online electronics merchants who act fraudulently.After more than six months of asking for delivery or give my money back, without response, this is finally what I received (attached)...If you want to do business with Keli Electronics on Ebay or Aliexpress, go for it!, but there are hundreds of other great suppliers.Incidentally, over the last year of purchasing hundreds of items from hundreds of merchants, this is the only fail.... pretty good odds...Happy Shopping...Ohh and Lurch, you sound like some kind of troll.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 07, 2014, 08:55:34 am
content: As someone whose job it is to investigate these sorts of things, I'd like to remind everyone (in Australia at least) that you do have certain rights under Australian law. Without giving you an entire law lecture, if youpurchase(not win in an auction) something from an Australian business or private seller, you are (somewhat) protected and entitled to a refund or replacement under certain circumstances.Every Australian state and territory have Government organisations who can assist, free of charge, with disputes or complaints relating to sellers. In NSW their website iswww.fairtrading.nsw.gov.auI have personal experience which relates; After months and months of hassling a retailer and never receiving goods, I utilised Fair Trading's online reporting service with almost immediate results (i.e.: I got my money back).

author: all_repair
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2014, 10:45:34 am
content: >> After more than six months of asking for delivery or give my money back, without response, this is finally what I received (attached)...If you want to do business with Keli Electronics on Ebay or Aliexpress, go for it!, but there are hundreds of other great suppliers.1. My experience with Aliexpress if you did not "accept", the fund would not be paid to the seller.My only problem was accepting too early. Those China sellers on ebay or aliexpress are mainly traders, and if they have good ratings, they would try their best to keep them. So once there is a problem, shoot for refund, and I got mine all the time.And once it is accepted, these traders know there is no recourse for you, they would not entertain you further. Many selling IDs actually belong to the same trader. Some of the online selling tasks (listing, enquiries, etc) are outsourced.2. Some china traders have learned how to game the ebay system very well. If you have a problem that need to ask for refund, they shall guide you away from ebay rules. Even with email records of their devious move, ebay did not give a damm to protect the buyer. Here is where the game set uneven, as buyers would not possibly want to invest the time to know all the many steps that could void the ebay so-called buyer protection. And if there is a problem, it is very easy for the seller to get away, and yet without suffering a bad rating as the feedback period is very short. These traders normally have good enough rating that you shall give them the benefits of doubts. Before the feedback period is over, their non replies are very fast. That's the time, they start to "play" on you. Mislead, delay, etc etc giving the impression that they are attending to your matters, and at the time, put in steps to guide you away from ebay protection. After a while, they shall ask you to mail back, and when about time, claim no delivery from you, etc etc. Once the feedback period is over, all communication shall stop. And if you think you are protected, and file for ebay buyer protection, that's the time you know which rule you have missed. Of course, one could have fight ebay next, but at the end of the day, I decided this is not my full time job. (Beware of polida2008 of ebay. Still having 99.1%. )Good things always come out of bad experiences, if paying a premium on ebay did not give me the protection, why don't I buy direct from China Taobao. It is a new eco system. But the protection system and the review system is much better. Saving and the range of selection are huge.

author: electrolux
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2014, 11:02:33 am
content: Quote from: all_repair on February 07, 2014, 10:45:34 amIv'e bought an item from Aliexpress and it's come quite quickly. But now iv'e ordered something else and it's taking an age.

author: all_repair
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2014, 02:13:24 pm
content: Quote from: electrolux on February 11, 2014, 11:02:33 amIt Chinese New Year now. Try to buy before CNY and a while after CNY.

author: Rayonger
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 14, 2014, 11:16:18 am
content: Quote from: all_repair on February 13, 2014, 02:13:24 pmGood advice, but pay attention to the "deliver by date" in your order, if it has not arrived 2 days before that date, open a dispute, no if's and or buts :>)Happy Shopping

author: poorchava
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2014, 11:58:47 am
content: QuoteI've bought stuff from polida 10 times or so and never had any problem.

author: mrflibble
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2014, 12:45:40 pm
content: Quote from: poorchava on February 14, 2014, 11:58:47 amSimilar, 10+ times and no issues. All small stuff... What kind of problem did you have with polida?

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 14, 2014, 12:58:14 pm
content: Polida was OK so far. But I received fake TB6560AHQ (rebadged TA8435H) from gc_supermarket which have 99.6% rating.

author: all_repair
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2014, 09:36:49 am
content: Quote from: mrflibble on February 14, 2014, 12:45:40 pmLaser diodes. Fake. She is a trader so when her supplier gave her fake, and walked out on her, she would walk out on you that is my experience with her. My amount was about USD120+. It is typical of these traders even on Taobao, but Taobao knows these people better and has a better system to deal with them.

author: poorchava
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2014, 10:07:21 am
content: Hmm, I have also bought TB6560AHQ from Polida (IIRC 4 batches of 5 units or something like that). They were all genuine. Anyway - I have bought one from TME for 8€ and compared functionally and visually and there was no difference whatsoever.How did you discover that yours were fakes?

author: bookaboo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2014, 10:14:10 am
content: Warning for consumer electronics.May be common knowledge by now but stay miles clear of any reincarnation of WAE / WAE+ / extak.I got away by the skin of my teeth on a ~£600 TV last year, if I hadn't been with Barclaycard I almost certainly would have been stiffed like so many others.Not sure what name they might be going by now but you can bet these filthy weasels will be up to something.http://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/sep/28/bankrupt-electrical-firm-wae-extak

author: all_repair
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2014, 01:13:57 pm
content: Quote from: poorchava on February 18, 2014, 10:07:21 am1. Glass cracked, but they removed nicely and I had to see closely that there was any glass over it.2. But that was secondly, I could use cracked glass type desperately. Mainly the configuration was a clear give away. The fake she sold was a single laser diode type and did not have monitoring diode of the original part.

author: uwezi
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 20, 2014, 07:33:22 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on February 14, 2014, 12:58:14 pmSince two years ago (and some negative experience) I keep my own public list of eBay-experiences:http://www.sciencetronics.com/greenphotons/?page_id=855Polidais on my "neutral" list, but only because the shipping to Europe is slower than from its competitors.So fargc_supermarketis on my "whitelist" - no bad experience from my side yet.It appears that your mileage may vary a lot - even from the same shops...

author: FrankBuss
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 24, 2014, 10:51:33 am
content: I ordered some ICs from Aliexpress and payed with credit card. Shipping costs were high, so they agreed to a dispute to refund part of the money (which I got), because it didn't arrived after a week, which was promised. *BUT* they marked the order as finished as wellAfter a month the ICs still didn't arrive. Any tries to contact the seller are ignored. Contacting Aliexpress is impossible as well, because the complaint form requires an order id, but looks like it doesn't accept order ids from finished orders. Trying to eMail buyer@aliexpress.com doesn't work, I just got an auto-respond message that this eMail address is not read.I contacted my credit card company to cancel the order, hopefully this works. If not, more legal actions might be too expensive (it was just USD 467). I think I don't use Aliexpress anytime soon again.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2014, 10:59:42 am
content: Quote from: FrankBuss on February 24, 2014, 10:51:33 amCall me captain hindsight, but when ordering from A/express, don't just pick the cheapest, sort by the number of orders an item has had, look for the one(s) that have been ordered the most, and check the feedback (which is almost always positive regardless, but at least you can get an idea that some people are happy).No different with eBay, or Taobao, or... don't just pick the cheapest, stand on the shoulders of everybody who has gone before you and blazed the trail :-)

author: FrankBuss
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 24, 2014, 11:08:29 am
content: Quote from: sleemanj on February 24, 2014, 10:59:42 amYou are right, I do accept that there are some bad merchants, but my complain is that Aliexpress itself provides bad services. As I understand it, they should act as an escrow service: I order something, the merchant ships it, I got it, I mark the order as "finished" and then the merchant gets his money. IIRC there was 60 days for me to mark it (I ordered it a month ago now). But the problem was that I never marked it as "finished".

author: dc101
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2014, 09:38:31 pm
content: Hey all. Just wanted to give the group a heads up on a seller to avoid. There's a seller on Ebay who's name issupertechshopand is definitely a shady character. I recently purchased some National Instruments brand cables and received generic ones instead (the ones that say "IEEE-488", not "National Instruments"). While he was willing to give me my money back, he was definitely unhappy about it and never admitted they were generic, but instead insisted that we "agree to disagree." We'll when I was processing the complain on EBay, the return address listed his real name. I googled it and discovered that he was indicted in 2001 by the US attorney's office and the IRS for selling stolen computer equipment and money laundering. Not sure what the outcome of the charges were, but I would definitely stay away from this character.Cheers

author: all_repair
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2014, 09:52:04 am
content: Quote from: FrankBuss on February 24, 2014, 11:08:29 amBy right, only you can "complete" the sale. How did you give feedback if you did not file for a dispute? Or you had been misled "finishing" it without realising. Polida did that to me, kept asking me to accept on every communications, only stop this tactic after I told her there was a big bold print by ebay not to. But I used a cheaper no tracking number mail to return, and that was what ebay said I did not comply with the money back rule even I had the photo proof of the posting, and the method of return was agreed by polida as she would not want to pay a higher rate, and of course for my side did not want to throw more good money after bad.

author: Owen
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2014, 06:27:06 pm
content: Quote from: mojo-chan on March 03, 2014, 04:38:27 pmI don't think that they have to. Under EU law they have to pay the shipping within a specific timeframe - like 2 weeks or so. That's what's called "Widerufsrecht" in Germany. Take a look at ebay'sEU Consumer Protection Law and Information Obligations. After that timeframe it's amiability of your seller, except the unit does have a defect. If it's defect within the first 6 months the seller has proof that the unit did had a defect or lack and the lack has been caused by the user. That's the defects liability between seller and buyer in Germany called "Gewährleistung". Especially with those Rigol DP832 unit those aren't defects - that's the way they were shipped from factory. Rigol is replacing those units under their guarantee so it's been the relation between buyer and manufacturer. This isn't covered at least in german law so the seller/manufacturer provides the rule how to deal those returns. I do think they will handle it like this: you pay the shipping to Rigol EU, they'll pay the return to you. But i'm no advocate so maybe i'm wrong.

author: Owen
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2014, 11:24:34 am
content: Quote from: mojo-chan on March 04, 2014, 09:30:07 amBut Rigol is still calling this an upgrade and not a defective - seeDP8 Board Revision 2.0 Upgrade FAQ. Maybe that's the case.

author: Robreeves
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2014, 11:28:48 pm
content: I was shorted an Arduino in a five pack, and after much back and forth I received the replacement today, so I'd have to say that the high feedback score is not undeserved.

author: TheBorg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2014, 03:41:56 am
content: I posted a few days ago about a $50 DER EE 5000 LCR meter on eBay. Looking like a scam... listing was pulled, and the poster has no feedback and registered recently (with what looks like a garbage name). Should've looked more at the seller before buying, but I jumped the gun and bought it anyways... Just a reminder, make sure the seller is legithttp://www.ebay.com/usr/chrhou.gd5mdld4j?_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2754Edit: refunded, yay eBay buyer protection! Darn stupidity on my part though...

author: G4ZWI
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 17, 2014, 04:01:03 pm
content: Watch out for these guys:-http://www.simplyelectronics.net/They used to trade as Simply Electronics, London, (but they are in a shed in HongKong, somewhere,) they seem to do good prices, but they take your money, then waffle, fob you off, put you in a 50 minute queue on the phone, offer you higher spec 'upgrades' that don't come, either.........I had a 6 months carry-on before I got a refund on a £200 waterproof camera I ordered, ( one guy I emailed was chasing them for £2400 worth of Canon lenses.........)Just Google 'Simply Electronics complaints ', then look elsewhere....Cheers, Guys, Fred

author: FrankBuss
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 19, 2014, 10:00:16 pm
content: Just an update: the credit card company refunded the rest of the money today, after some weeks processing, so it's worth trying it, if you have the same problem. I had to send them all eMails and printouts of the order (which included the fake post tracking id, which might have helped).For the records: I tried to buy two rolls of Avalon A3255-Q48 chips from aliexpress.com. Seller name and Aliexpress account (not available anymore): jianlin li, eMail: txjezydffp at hotmail.com.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2014, 08:16:05 am
content: Bad experience with eBay-member: haruyr_kbBought a $35 item, it never arrived, escallated to Ebay but then the standard response which I was so gullible to accept came:QuoteI waited another 5 weeks which happens often on the shitty standard chinese mail to Europe..... nothingContacted seller again and got the same mail as above, then I requested the money back he tried to change my mind, i insisted he agreed, i had to send him the paypal transaction number and since it was out of the paypal refund time period he never ever answered any email again.So next time don't do business with this dishonest seller and if you accidently do on the first sign of shipmentfailure always ask for a refund at that point, don't wait too long and if no success force it through Paypal/Ebay action because the seller says he will ship again but nothing is ever shipped (or it is lost in the crappy chinese mailsystem).Anyway the biggest problem I find is also with Ebay because they have this 40 day or something period where you can escalate but that is often not enough time for packages that are shipped from China to arrive. So should I then escalate almost every transaction on forehand because that is what it boils down to. I stopped using Ebay for now, I am totally done with the chinese electronics garbage stores, I am again funding our local electronics store , yeah you pay more but you help your local economy and how important is that local store if you need a certain connector on fridayevening: very important!

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2014, 04:31:18 pm
content: Whilst your tale would normally point to some kind of con, I have to say that haruyr_kb is pukka IME. I had exactly the same thing: ordered the kit, nothing turned up, got the exact same response, etc. The difference for me was that I'd been stung before with prevaricating past the escalation deadline, so I asked for a refund just before that. He sent it too.Then a month or so later the kit turned up...Of course, I emailed him to let him know and offer him a refund of his refund. I imagine he has this problem a lot and he could well be quite out of pocket.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2014, 07:27:14 pm
content: Quote from: dunkemhigh on March 20, 2014, 04:31:18 pmIt could well be that the mailsystem screwed him over, I don't know, I only know that I spent $35 and got twice nothing.Then he offers to refund me but obviously after figuring out that the paypal deadline has expired he stops answering emails and does not refund me.So the last action is what makes a difference between good and bad sellers IMO and a good and bad experience.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2014, 08:57:29 pm
content: OK, fair enough.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2014, 04:53:46 am
content: Quote from: Kjelt on March 20, 2014, 08:16:05 amIt used to be 45 days from the date of purchase, but they have changed it. Now you have 30 days from the seller's last delivery date.

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2014, 05:42:07 am
content: My rules- Contact seller after 20 days, inform them that I will be opening a claim in 5 days.- If the seller offers a choice of refund or resend I choose refund.At the 25 day mark- If the item arrives contact the seller and let them know- If there has been no refund then file for a resolution.When the resolution is opened- inform the seller that I am willing to wait to allow more time for the item to arrive. In my experience at this point items under 10.00 are normally refunded. If the seller offers a choice I respond with "Please refund so I can reorder the item, thank you"- 5 days before the resolution lapses I raise it to a claim.When raised to a Claim- At this point if the seller offers a choice I respond with "Please refund so I can reorder the item, thank you"- In most cases the seller will refund, if they don't then paypal will make the decision. Paypal typically favors the seller, the exception is when the seller has postal tracking information, (can prove the shipment arrived).This has proven to be a very effective routine over the years. One thing that I have done on a couple of occasions, (when the items actually did arrive very late after a refund) was to contact the seller and give them the money for the item. There is nothing wrong with paying for what you get even if it is late.

author: Vulnavia
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 02, 2014, 06:57:34 am
content: Greetings!Please note:While this post does not directly address purchase of goods, it is, I feel (hope?), nonetheless germane in that it deals with an indivisible aspect thereof (to wit shipping).Based upon my own sad experience I offer the following monition for all to whom it may be relevant:Please do not consider transporting Coolidge tubes via couriers or ‘checked baggage’!Noting that the construction of a typical RA (or large FA) features an anode assembly ‘weighing in’ at several kilograms -- said mass being concentrated some 15 to 25 CM opposite the cantilevered anode seal/support (typically a few millimeters of borosilicate glass) -- It should be obvious that the seal will not withstand the sizable moments corollary to even moderate acceleration (up to, perhaps, 10Gs) attending ‘respectful’ handling - much less the veritable ‘thrashing’ routinely offered by couriers.In addition to some liability to the vulnerabilities outlined above, small FA units are subject to misalignment of the cathode via deflection of related support ‘stems’…Having suffered heavy losses over several years I've adopted the practice of providing personal conveyance --- Inconvenient but economical considering the value/cost of the cargo.Finally, please don’t attempt to include Coolidge tubes in ‘carry-on baggage’ Re: public transportation facilities! Firstly, the high-density anode (or shielding if potted) will appear ‘suspicious’ when scanned – Secondly, security personnel inherently balk at the mere suggestion of ionizing radiation and exhibit no small degree of obdurate incognizance of the innocuous nature of non-energized ‘Bremsstrahlung devices’With regards V.

author: madshaman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2014, 02:47:59 pm
content: Er, carry-on-wise, don't see what you could do; the glass is probably their biggest  concern.Also, just a word of advice, save yourself some hassle. You don't have to explain beyond "it's a vacuum tube, like old radios used to use."If the security officer has enough knowledge to say: "hang on, that tube's been specifically designed to produce xrays!!!" they'll know the thing is harmless (unpowered) anyway.

author: uwezi
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 09, 2014, 04:31:52 pm
content: I have a new Bad Shopping Experience to contribute. It is an item which I thought of as completely risk-free to buy from any far-East eBay seller, and I sometimes add those to an order, because you always need them anyway: DIP chip sockets.Last year I bought a pack of 20 precision, narrow 28-pin DIP sockets from sellerauspicious(should it readsuspicious?) - of which I now used the first one in a small AVR project with a colleague of mine.The circuit didn't really behave as it should. Internally pulled-up inputs would show only around 2.5 V on a 5 V supply, when measured externally with a standard multimeter. I thought of all different causes: flux-traces, salt (it's warmer than 25°C in our lab and we sweat), solder bridges...Then I removed the AVR from its socket, remeasured the resistance between neighboring pins. Strangely, two not-connected neighboring pins which had a trace in between measured only 6 kohm to each other but higher than 100 kohm to the trace in between...Then I measured from the pin to the plastic of the chip socket...Well look at the images - and no, I am not touching the probes with my fingers!This is how the sockets were delivered:I guess that you do not have any ESD problems when using these sockets.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2014, 04:44:46 pm
content: Perfect for TTL logic though, built in termination resistances.

author: pablofg
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 17, 2014, 07:11:34 am
content: Hi,I love David's videos, they are fun and you always learn something, although I would like to see more repair videos or repair tutorials.I haven't seen any black list section and I think it's a good idea to start one, be it for good or bad experience.I recently bought goods for $3000 from Tev Electronics co., limited, which has a site athttp://tevdzic.theicstock.com/I asked for pictures before sending goods and everything looked ok. But when I tested the ICs (some flash memories) they were all not working, NONE of them worked. They came in very nice package like original and looked brand new. After further tests it turned out that they were FAKE chips made on demand for my order. They have a complete system of remarking the chips or making chips with empty core. Unbelievable!I've been trying to contact them and make a claim and they don't answer anymore. AVOID AVOID AVOID.

author: FrankBuss
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 26, 2014, 04:02:55 am
content: Quote from: FrankBuss on February 24, 2014, 10:51:33 amOk, I couldn't resist to buy from Aliexpress again (some old retro computing 6581 SID chips). This time the chips arrived, but 1/3 of them where not working, so I requested again a partial refund. Now looks like the trick is this: If a dispute for a refund is accepted by the buyer, the order is marked as finished automatically. So don't request a partial refund for e.g. shipping cost, if you didn't get and tested the article already, and if you don't get the article, just request a full refund. Then it should be safe most of the time to use Aliexpress.

author: Flump
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2014, 07:30:26 pm
content: Ebay trader swle2000There Ebay contact details areSWLElectronicsMALIK BAROUD358, KINGSTON ROADEWELLEPSOMSurreyKT19 0DTUnited Kingdomhttps://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.36807,-0.263976,3a,26.8y,353.4h,84.47t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1ss0sAte0IhydrtNcgkJGCBQ!2e0I purchased 2 mains rectifiers with spade terminals from them, i needed that specific typeand they sent me 2 wire legged ones which without a lot of messing around wouldnt work,so I messaged them and they said they would send out replacements of the correct type,I waited a couple of weeks and contacted them and he said they would not fit through the letter box,after I explained my personal situation and there was no chance at all that was he said was truebecause I am never 10ft away from the front door and the mail man knocks on the door if things dont fit throughand IF i had of missed that he would have stuck a missed delivery card through.So after that i left him bad but honest feedback and he replied to the feedback and said"Refund issued straight away as customer 'claims' not received replacement" he knew full well I did not receiveit because he said it wouldn't fit through my letter box.He did give me a refund after a couple of weeks and he said I am banned from buying from him again.I think a lot of this goes on because sellers don't have that specific item in stock but they have something similarand try to fob you off with it so they don't lose a sale.

author: richms
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2014, 01:55:29 pm
content: Something I have happened recently was I was ordering a USB powerbank.The shippment arrived not too slowly, and there was no damage on the outside of the parcel. It was usual ebay seller wrapping with a couple of layers of that white 5mm or so thick foamy stuff taped up and stuck in a grey plastic bag with a sticker on it.This time, there was another grey bag inside the foam, and it was all beat up like it was dropped and scuffed across concrete. And the pack inside showed the damage to match.Seller offered a $3 refund because it "must have been damaged in shipping"The other thing is when they offer a reship or refund, choose the refund because the reship seldom happens and they know it will be outside the ebay protection and paypal times by the time you realise that.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2014, 03:40:09 am
content: I bought a "40MHZ DDS FUNCTION SIGNAL GENERATOR DIY KIT SPI I2C MASTER SLAVE PULSE GENERATOR" on ebay:http://www.ebay.com/itm/111149124406Issues so far....1) Listing states: "Item location: Seattle, Washington, United States" But the item shipped from Israel.I specifically selected that vendor because he claimed he was shipping from the USA.Now that by itself wouldn't be significant except when combined with the other issues....2) Listing states: "This module includes: An AC/DC to USB power converter (220V to 5V) to allow you use power outlet.No power supply, cable, or anything remotely resembling powering method included. No mention of why it was not included.Now that by itself wouldn't be a show-stopper, either as I have plenty of power sources already I don't need another one.Furthermore, no mention in subsequent communication even acknowledging the discrepancy.3) Listing states: "Kit Features: Assembly drawing, and components (BOM) list for easy kit assembly"Again, not included. And no mention of why it wasn't included.He offers a link to the operation manual, which I downloaded. But zero kit assembly documents.Impossible to correctly assemble the PC board without4) Seller sent me a "pre-emptive" email message essentially warning me about poor service, To wit:Quote5) After complaining that two months after ordering and receiving the kit, there was still no evidence that he ever sent the promised documents either by snail mail nor by email. I emailed him and complained about the missing power supply and the missing assembly documents and he replied:Quote6) So now, several days after that response, I have had no subsequent communication from the seller at all.He claims (if I am interpreting his poor English properly) that he has been selling these for 3 years.Yet, now, two months after ordering the item, all I get from him is excuses and hand-waving, but none of the promised documents.Since I attempted to give him the benefit of the doubt, I missed the deadline, so "This item is not covered by the eBay Money Back Guarantee."I should have looked at the evidence more carefully before I ordered something from this person.He has a history of only 23 feedbacks, and a rating of 87.5% positive responses.Another person also gave negative feedback and complained about the item being shipped from Israel after being listed as coming from Seattle, WA, USASo it's not as if the deception hasn't already been brought to his attention.Now, the kit itself looks reasonably nice. And I don't have any significant worries about the quality, etc.Of course, without the BOM list, I also have no way to inventory the included parts to see if anything is missing.This item appears to be sold by several different people on Ebay.Anybody know someone who has got one of these and could send me a copy of the kit assembly docs?Indeed, ordering most anything on Ebay is a gamble. But it has slightly better odds than buying a lottery ticket.I would never dream of ordering anything from this vendor ever again.I have no expectation that there is any effective way of alerting Ebay of this questionable vendor.

author: all_repair
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2014, 04:18:43 am
content: I have shooting orders on Taobao and Amazon like crazy, but some item I have to buy from ebay. And yet again, my impression of ebay sellers just get worse. They are getting too clever for their own good.Beware of cec_store1980. The price for his SAFT battery is good though. The biggest problem is he is claiming the batteries he savaged from a pack with clear spot welding markings on both ends of the battery are NEW and FRESH. Incidentally, the batteries shown in the listing do not have spot welding marking. I am asking tolet ebay arbitrate, but the seller dare not, but yet keep insisting the batteries are new and treating me as stupid and dumb, yet willing to do a refund if I shipped back the lithium back.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2014, 04:46:59 am
content: Quote"May arrive earlier than usual", this is hilarious.And the rest of his text in fact looks very familiar to me, this is a typical copy-paste follow up message Chinese eBay sellers usually send. Having said that, how this item was shipped to you from Israel is beyond my understanding

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2014, 04:56:39 am
content: Here it is, just got it two days ago, it was a Chinese item transaction:'======Dear friend,Thanks for your purchase.Have you received your item? Are you satisfied with it?I'm writing to you because sometimes items may arrive ealier than usual.And I'd like to tell you that if you have any problem, please feel free to contact us.If you have received the item and satisfied with the product,we hope that you can leave 5 star for us.If there is a little delay or you have any dissatisfaction, please feel free to contact us in advance before you left any feedback for us.Actual delivery time can only be estimated but not guaranteed. We will try our best to find good solution for your problems.Thanks very much for your understanding and cooperation in advance.Best wishes and have a nice day!SincerelyAzureAzure, Customer Support'======

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2014, 06:30:10 am
content: Quote from: FrankBuss on July 26, 2014, 04:02:55 amThat is normall with very old ic,s the process was not very good in the old days and the chips are rotting from inside. You can,t expect the seller to test the ics because how could he?

author: salfter
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2014, 06:31:27 pm
content: Quote from: Kjelt on September 26, 2014, 06:30:10 amHuh? If that were the case, wouldn't devices built around those chips have mostly conked out by now? Usually when an old computer (for instance) isn't working, reseating socketed chips and/or replacing electrolytic capacitors will bring it back to life.When designing an adapter to stick a Raspberry Pi into an Apple II, I almost went with a new-production WDC 6551 until someone posted to warn of some deviation in its behavior from older parts. I ended up using a NOS Rockwell 6551, obtained from some random US-based eBay seller...no issues after over 30 years on a shelf. If NOS parts are failing in large percentages, I'd suspect they weren't stored properly.

author: flolic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2014, 06:04:52 am
content: Another thumb down for "swle2000" ebay seller.I bought some RJP4301 and RJP5001 IGBT transistors from him and they are fake.Those transistors are used in photo flashes, they cut discharge current through xenon tube. Current is in a range of 150+ amps and original transistor is pushing the limits, not to mention fake ones...Anyway, fake transistors lasted for only two flashes and then shorted outOriginal on the left (16mm2 silicon die), fake on the right (8mm2 silicon die)

author: Porto
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2014, 05:00:18 pm
content: I only buy from Ebay sellers, mostly from China/Hongkong and Taiwan. I search for the specific product and order from the cheapestavailable with at least a few thousand positive feedback; so, if I order 10 things, it can be from 10 different sellers, I NEVER order everytingfrom the same seller because he will pack it in one package and because of that I have more risk in paying tax duties. With 10 littlepackages (box or bubblewrap envelope) I don't have that risk at all.A package from these countries were never opened at customs. I once ordered for 20 bucks in the US and OFCOURSE they opened up thepackage and taxed me for another 25 bucks! NEVER again!Sometimes I don't receive an order in which case I file a complaint with the seller and they pay me back, in all of these cases therefund was swift and 100% satisfactory.In short, Ebay IS my (and your) best friend!

author: Refrigerator
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 09, 2014, 07:36:29 pm
content: I once ordered 10pcs 10x7 cm FR4 copper clad boards after about two months of patient waiting i started an eBay case, the seller, surprisingly, urged to give my money back, really, two days after starting the case i had my money back, and after two more weeks my boards arrived ( yay ), being a good guy i refunded their refund back to them.Just noticed this message from lotsgoods88 :QuoteSeems nice, surprising lack of chinglish to say the least.

author: Arlen moulton
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2014, 07:33:39 am
content: I had a terrible experience at maplin electronics I bought a mini drill and a box of bits and asked if the bits would fit the drill they didn't know so I asked if it was returnable but it was returnable in the original shrink rap I mean they don't even know whether their own stock will work and how are you supposed to try it if you can't return it without shrink rap and for all those Americans I don't think you can buy it over here

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 26, 2014, 09:16:24 am
content: Quote from: poorchava on February 14, 2014, 11:58:47 amI've bought some 40 or so items from Polida, and even requested some non listed items which were sourced and paid-for outside of Ebay with no problems.

author: IO390
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2014, 03:24:28 pm
content: eBay seller to watch out for...Ordered this:http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191261668159?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AITa week and a half ago. Got a dispatch notice the next day with a tracking number. Tracking number was 19 digit, starting with JJD but no courier specified. I know those tracking numbers are for DHL/Yodel, tried both but nothing. So called them today and they couldn't find it anywhere on the system. Guess it's just a made up number, no reply from the seller... But that's ebay I guess

author: riverrat373
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2015, 04:24:22 pm
content: I only buy from sellers that take Paypal and are located in the United States.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2015, 04:32:59 pm
content: Quote from: riverrat373 on January 11, 2015, 04:24:22 pmThat doesn't prevent them from lying and drop-shipping from some other part of the planet.

author: mswhin63
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2015, 01:01:49 am
content: Quote from: Richard Crowley on January 11, 2015, 04:32:59 pmAgreed, but at least there is an estimated shipping time which I use to formulate a refund if it is not adhered to. I also usually try to avoid wherever possible with sales that enormously long trading conditions. These are the one that can drop-ship.

author: riverrat373
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2015, 04:36:36 am
content: Quote from: Richard Crowley on January 11, 2015, 04:32:59 pmThat's true, but if I don't get my money back for a defective part or a non-shipment, Paypal will refund my money and suspend the account of the no-account seller!

author: hopeANDhope
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2015, 11:19:56 am
content: Hello,i ordered a hakko fx888d soldering station from ebay from a top rated seller, it arrived damaged the bottom(the base which is black colour) of the product itself and the box (interior and exterior!)I would like some advice how to handle it. I do not know what is the best series of actions , i want a soldering station but an undamaged one.I have very little experience with ebay. Actions that i took up to now:1)I went to ebay website- > purchase history->contact seller->bla bla-> item is damaged.2) I logged in to my email account and sent an email to the seller with photos of the damaged product and a letter of complaints. I asked a refund or if they could send me a new unit.I am waiting for seller's reply. I think i will have to return the product since it is useless. But that will make my purchase process a lot more expensive, because i will have to pay shipping costs. Shipping costs are around 26 british pounds (product price 76).That will defeat the purpose of buying at a reasonable price. It will make my whole purchase price: 76+26= 102 pounds. That is crazy expensive. Then i will have to rebuy a new unit from somebody ,let's say it costs 80 pounds, so i will end up paying for a stupid iron machine 102+80=182 pounds! That blows my budget. omg

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2015, 01:03:07 pm
content: Your location is set as Greece (didn't know anyone there could afford anything right now) but you talk in UKP. Your real location (as in delivery address) could be a big factor in this so maybe you could clear that up.You are doing the right thing so far in contacting the seller, sending him photos and suggesting suitable courses for resolution. The sticky point is what to do with the old item - you will need to send that back regardless of whether the seller refunds or sends you a new one, and the issue is shipping cost.If you were UK based then that's a non-issue since the seller would have to carry the can. The seller is also no doubt a business (I think you need to be one to become top-rated) so distance selling regulations come into play. However, if you are in Greece then I don't know the local regulations or how Ebay.gr look at it.Now you wait for the seller, but not for too long. There is a timeout for escalating things which is around 30 days in the UK, maybe different for you. Ebay help pages will tell you what it is, though. Either the seller will resolve things to your satisfaction or you will approach this deadline without getting anywhere. In the latter case, which includes everything from the seller ignoring you to negotiations not producing fruit, you must escalate to Ebay before the deadline. Go to the resolution centre on Ebay and start a dispute.Suppose you have to carry the cost of shipping this item back... that's one of the problems of international commerce, I'm afraid. But also one of the benefits of using Ebay (for the buyer). I believe that the default stance for many areas is, or will be changing to, the seller having to cover the cost of returns where it is his fault (and bad shipping is his fault). But that may not have rolled out for you yet, or may never (particularly if you get booted out of the EU!).

author: cosmicray
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2015, 01:47:05 pm
content: @ hopeANDhopeWhat country was the seller/shipper located in ?

author: hopeANDhope
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2015, 04:16:15 pm
content: @cosmicrayHongkong

author: hopeANDhope
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2015, 04:31:01 pm
content: Quote from: dunkemhigh on January 31, 2015, 01:03:07 pm1)Thanks for your feedback for ebay options. There is no such thing as ebay.gr as far as i know. I bought it from ebay.com.2)No country will be kicked out...it would be hell for entire Europe would that happened. Thus, that's TV brainwashing...it sells, that's why it is in circulation on the media. It helps also some stock exchange gamblers recycling that rumour for profit. I wish i had a few millions to gamble as well

author: cosmicray
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2015, 05:02:14 pm
content: Quote from: Richard Crowley on January 11, 2015, 04:32:59 pmThe item listing on eBay will clearly say "Item location". Many US sellers put "United States" in there rather than a specific city. Those I tend to avoid.On another site, there is a seller selling electronic equipment/parts. He claims to be in Iceland. I believe he really is located there. Some percentage of his feedback indicates the item actually shipped from HK. Drop-shipping is something that none of the sites want to talk about.

author: neslekkim
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2015, 10:58:29 pm
content: Yeah, regarding USA..http://www.ebay.com/itm/151441967747Bought this book (lost mine years ago), and the dhl tracking i got says it's shipped from India.. wonder what I'm going to get.. damn.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2015, 11:25:00 pm
content: I just got hornswaggled by Amazon, so it isn't just Ebay.I bought two different small digital audio adapters.I bought one analog to digital converter (SPDIF/TOSLINK)And I also bought a couple of the other direction (digital to analog).The two items were nearly identical, but the D/A gadget showed up in 2 days,while the A/D gadgets will take 21 days from China.Amazon never mentioned shipping from China, and even had the usual "click here to get delivery in 2 days" option.I didn't use the "2 day" option because I didn't need it in 2 days, but I was expecting better than 21 days.In fact exactly the same thing happened when I bought my Hakko soldering station (at the recommendation of people on this forum)The station itself was delivered in 2-3 days as promised.But I also ordered an assortment of "genuine Hakko" tips, including the ones recommended for SMD work.Alas, the tip collection came from a vendor in China and it was essentially 21 day delivery.No mention on the Amazon web page what comes from the other side of the planet and will take several weeks.Of course, you could make the argument that even 21 days direct purchase from a Chinese vendor is orders of magniitude better than a decade ago, etc.Back then unless you were a big-time importer you didn't even have access to any 3rd world vendors, or any kind of convenient ordering, etc.

author: elgonzo
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 04, 2015, 11:46:13 pm
content: Quote from: Richard Crowley on February 04, 2015, 11:25:00 pmI don't know, but it sounds to me that you ordered from a seller in the Amazon Marketplace. Did you really order directly from Amazon?

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2015, 11:52:39 pm
content: Quote from: elgonzo on February 04, 2015, 11:46:13 pmIt says: Eligible for Prime"Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.""Want it tomorrow, Feb. 5? Order within 38 mins and choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details"Does that sound like "Amazon Marketplace" to you?Maybe I don't know what "Amazon Marketplace" means?http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005DIRI6I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

author: elgonzo
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 04, 2015, 11:59:53 pm
content: Quote from: Richard Crowley on February 04, 2015, 11:52:39 pmHoly shit. If it is eligible for Amazon Prime, it should indeed be directly from Amazon. Wow. That's bad...

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2015, 11:26:47 am
content: Yeah you have to be carefull with amazon these days, always ordered from amazon Uk and got the stuff within a week no extra costs since it is europe.Last december I ordered a bluray box for around €110 and it didn't arrive within a week. Looked again to see what is going on and it had to come from Australia.So I had to wait 30 days before getting it, then there was this "nice" customs declaration form I had to pay an additional €40 in duties

author: Neganur
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 05, 2015, 08:14:36 pm
content: Quote from: neslekkim on February 04, 2015, 10:58:29 pmI wouldn't worry about it, it's the same publisher (Prentice-Hall India). The US printed version is not a hard cover either and except for the cover everything is black and white anyway.

author: neslekkim
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2015, 10:20:06 pm
content: Quote from: Neganur on February 05, 2015, 08:14:36 pmYes, I didn't now that there was hardcover, the one I have lost was also softcover, but I was more wondering if I actually are going to get a book, and not stapled papercopies.We'll see what happens.. But 1) I hate DHL when I didn't plan for it, 2) why do they write it's in US when it's in India..

author: jamesd168
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2015, 01:48:10 am
content: DHL is terrible. If you see shipping method is DHL International, that's a good sign that the item is coming from international location. I have never encountered a seller in US that uses DHL.nowadays a lot of items on Amazon are sold and shipped by international sellers, they sometimes will give you the impression that they are in US while they are not.

author: Neganur
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 15, 2015, 11:13:12 am
content: Quote from: jamesd168 on February 15, 2015, 01:48:10 amNot to start a fightbut does that make DHL terrible or the seller ?I have no idea how well DHL works inside the US, they are like USPS inside Germany and additionally an international courier service. I sometimes use DHL express for shipments from Oregon to Finland, it tends to cost less than USPS or TNT/UPS (when taking speed, weight and insurance into account).I'd probably agree that DHL is a sign of an international shipment in the US?

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2015, 11:18:53 am
content: DHL is good in country, if expensive. As to international they are very keen to get fees both ends, as the local divisions in each country have to pay their way, and they will charge for both sides of the delivery. They will also do customs payments ( even if it is actually customs free) and add charges for this service, even if not requested.But for next day delivery in a single country they are good, especially for those more out of the way places without a regular daily courier service. You cannot however in ZA beat the SAPO speed services, they are cheap and have a 3-5 day delivery throughout the country to the local post office of the recipient for the same price.

author: jamesd168
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2015, 10:38:38 pm
content: Quote from: Neganur on February 15, 2015, 11:13:12 amThe fight is on!, just kiddingYou are right, I mixed two ideas in one paragraph. I think DHL is terrible, but the second sentence was not to support this idea. we tried to ship an item to Italy via DHL, and made arrangement for them to come to pick it up from us. they told us that they will come between 1-3 pm, we waited till 5 pm and there was no show. the second day we called them up, they told us that the driver was here and cannot find us. so we made a second attempt, waited until 4 pm with our door wide open. no show again. we called them up, they said the driver cannot find us! I challenged them because we did not even hear the truck, then they told us maybe we can drop it off at their location half an hour away!

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2015, 04:17:11 am
content: DHL trucks seem to be owned by the drivers, not sure how their business model is but I always felt like they were hired couriers with trucks that are about to fall apart.To me,my preference goes like this:USPSFedEx/UPS (FedEx slightly better most of the time)DHLBut UPS is the most consistent of the bunch, the rest depend on who is going to deliver your package. USPS usually is great but sometimes is a nightmare.

author: macbreak
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2015, 09:03:14 pm
content: Bad shopping?Tesco.The end, and I bid you good night.

author: electrophiliate
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2015, 02:00:54 am
content: I've never had much trouble with international orders to Australia that used DHL, FedEx, or UPS.All my negative experiences with shipping taking much longer than expected were domestic inside Australia and involve the delivery company StarTrack.Here is a biased sample of several hundred dissatisfied customers:http://www.productreview.com.au/p/star-track-express.htmlMany Australian companies use StarTrack and it is owned by Australia Post so it is difficult to avoid them. Some of the drivers at StarTrack are apparently liars, claiming an "unsuccessful delivery" but not bothering to knock on the door. So-called "express" packages can take several weeks to receive. I've received orders using economy shipping from China which arrived faster!Coincidently, the worst problems I've had over the years were all clustered around ordering interstate from Jaycar Electronics. Next day delivery for metro areas Australia-wide never once arrived on time and is more like up to a week at best for this "premium" service. However, on one occasion I strongly suspect that Jaycar were lying about which service they used i.e. I ordered the premium service but when given details about the shipment in order to track it down when it was clearly late it became apparent that they used the cheaper and slower express service. If this was a common occurrence, it would help to explain why all previous orders with Jaycar were also slow.

author: PsychoMaster
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2015, 02:05:29 pm
content: I want to buy a Hakko 888D here in England ,I have the money but I am not going to buy one and I hope the importers realize this, that charging double what it costs in the States and every where else isn't going to cut it in this present economic crisis.This is the reason why people here are buying dodgy knock offs because they are so greedy.There is this unwritten law here that the "stupid English will pay". Well I won’t I'll buy else where.The greedy sods have n,t got the brains to work out that success comes from high turn over . Yes I'm pissed!

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2015, 06:44:20 pm
content: You might want to understand that in the US they have (almost) no sales tax. In the EU this is 21%.Then US is not EU so you get duty and importtax.I was angry about this multiple times but a 1US$ product is gonna cost you at least $1,80 at a distributor in the EU.Don't blame the salesbusinesses they just make their same % on US products as they will make on an english made brand.

author: PsychoMaster
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2015, 03:04:57 pm
content: I won't go on about much but I will tell you they are taking the piss."I KNOW THIS". I have a large goods importer in the family.(Not irons)

author: macbreak
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2015, 02:00:21 am
content: Quote from: PsychoMaster on February 26, 2015, 03:04:57 pmYou don't use quotes for emphasis; you use quotes to QUOTE people (hence the name), you use **asterisks** orbold textto draw attention or to emphasise things.

author: PsychoMaster
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2015, 04:49:22 pm
content: Sorry ,learn something every Day.

author: KE4PWE
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 06:24:10 pm
content: I'm interested in the Alliexpress issue, I have not had any issues with them, but I also use Paypal to protect my purchases, I hardly use the china nonsense sites but sometimes you find something that you need for a project that comes from them.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2015, 09:19:30 pm
content: Quote from: KE4PWE on April 28, 2015, 06:24:10 pmAliExpress doesn't accept PayPal(But they will probably start after the PayPal/eBay split.)

author: camallison
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2015, 08:20:40 am
content: I got caught too, raised a dispute with ebay, and was given a "complimentary" refund by them once they had read my attempts to reach the seller. I completed the transaction then by giving a one star feedback with the word "Avoid".Colin

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2015, 05:35:54 pm
content: I almost got screwed by placing a big order with a vendor that I should have known better.I keep seeing ads from 42nd Street Photo for Sony HXR-NX5U cameras at a very low price, presumably because it is a discontinued model. I had a nagging suspicion in the back of my mind that 42nd Street Photo was a sleazy vendor, but the deal was so good....So I place an order for two of them, and they call me back asking about whether I wanted to specify signature required for delivery. I told them it depended on what day it was being delivered (since I work normal hours at the office).Then the guy says: Oh, by the way, you know this is a discontinued model. Yes. I knew that.And These are "demonstrators which have not left the showroom". Well, OK, but why do you have multiple units for "demonstration in the showroom"?Oh, he added, they don't include any accessories. Well, reputable vendors keep the boxes, paperwork (including warranty), accessories, etc. for their "showroom demonstrator" gear. I was prepared to buy the cameras even without the accessories because I don't need them anyway (except for the proprietary power connector which is also missing).Then he said, Oh, and they don't come with warranty because they are discontinued. Well, no. That is not true, even discontinued models are covered by full Sony warranty as I know from multiple first-hand experience. Like from who?, they said. Like from B&H, for example. Oh, they said, B&H is an authorized dealer, and we aren't. So who knows what these things are, and why they seem to have as many "demonstrators" as I want to buy?Well, that was the last straw. Sleazy vendor, questionable provenance, missing accessories un-authorized vendor, and no warranty. It all added up to NO SALE, no matter how good the deal sounds.Then, just now I got an email questionaire from Bizrate and I am letting them have it with both barrels. Yes, Bizrate, feel free to share my feedback with 42nd Street Photo.

author: Neganur
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 16, 2015, 10:03:18 am
content: I don't see it state the word "atmega" anywhere nor anything about the used components. Did he edit the description?

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2015, 02:19:25 am
content: My only (so far) bad experiences with eBay has been with:Quote

author: PsychoMaster
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2015, 09:50:56 am
content: Hi FolkI suppose the idea of this thread is so we can watch out for one another whilst trying to be fair to the vender we are not happy with so here goes.I bought two PSU boards from Moutoulos .They work out quite expensive ,I don't mind that as they are nice quality.You just fill in the boards directed by the screen silk and all should be well. With the information provided the circuit made no sense so I emailed with what I thought missing and he sent me a link to where he got the circuit from . From this I saw I had been correct but would not have known if I hadn,t chased it up.So far still happy and now with the full schematic from a magazine article. Any how after looking at it I found some faults in wrong resistor placement and so I sent him a email letting him know and did he agree as it would catch out other folk maybe.Ater doing his circuit debugging for him he was not exactly grateful pointing out he,d already sent me his files even though he,s made a mess of profiting from some one elses design and does notwant to be bothered.No one is perfect ,the boards are well made and a small note in with the boards would put it righttill he orders a fresh batch and would have been so easy not to have pissed me off.Can I recomend this to some one like myself who is learning by building his own gear? Not really.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2015, 02:18:07 pm
content: Yes, there seem to be several of those people/companies selling boards like that (some quite nice, even), with ZERO supporting information. No documentation included, not even a URL to online information. Dunno what they think their customers are going to do with the boards? Even if you could get enough information from the board screen printing to determine what components go where, what are you supposed to do if it doesn't work? How do you debug it without a schematic diagram? If you have to go back and reverse-engineer the thing just to get a schematic diagram, how much "value-added" did you actually buy from them?BAH! HUMBUG!

author: PsychoMaster
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2015, 07:37:02 pm
content: Hi FolkAfter a bit of research I found this circuit to be a copy of a Velleman product or a copy of what someone has had a poke at and got it wrong ,the information with it is wrong which is worse than having none.I thought I was buying off someone reputable like Dave who can engineer his own products and benefit from his own skill. All part of the learning experience I suppose.

author: Jon_D
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 04, 2015, 01:45:28 am
content: Had this posted on another thread but this location seems better...rigoloscilloscope.com.auI have just spent the last month trying to get refunded for a faulty scope I purchased from them.I stupidly assumed I was dealing with an Australian Business, I even emailed them and got responses from a guy calling himself Stefan (later found out his actual name is Zhu Jun) but as we all know .com.au doesn't mean you have anything to do with Australia, just that you have "borrowed" someones ACN, in this case a company called Golden Triumph Pty Ltd.So after waiting for 2 weeks the unit arrived on my doorstep, with a bashed up box. Opened it up and plugged it in Gray Screen!Contacted the seller, he requested I post it back claiming he will refund the unit cost and my postage costs. Sent it back, he then ignores my emails, but luckily I used PayPal to purchase it so started a claim and that got a refund but only for the unit cost, I'm still down $95 on the postage. Sent numerous emails and Paypal invoces - all ignored.Its a shame that the .com.au TLD is not better policed to ensure only legitimate businesses can own this domain - but you live an learn.Note: since found that you can claim money back on postage costs viahttps://www.paypal.com/au/webapps/mpp/returnsso now only $50 down!

author: Arlen Moulton2
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2015, 06:27:54 pm
content: i bought a mosquito repeller from the pound shop and payed a pound for it ofcourse. today it was on in my shed and there was a big cloud of white smoke gathering above it and i ripped it out of the two pin adapter breaking off one of the pins and threw it on the floor whilst i went to get a bucket of water. it turned out to just be flux residue on the main heater resistor but none the less i wasnt pleased seeing as it scared the life out of me!

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2015, 10:28:35 am
content: He may have confused you with another customer. But it's still his problem since he didn't send it to your registered Ebay/PayPal address and you should have no problem gettting a refund from Ebay.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2015, 10:50:01 am
content: OK, does indeed sound like a dickwad

author: Arlen Moulton2
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2015, 07:45:15 pm
content: Quote from: Deathwish on June 09, 2015, 09:57:39 ami also live in wales

author: videobruce
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2015, 12:24:12 pm
content: Just think, if EVERYONE would stop purchasing from China since that's where the problems lie, what would the Chinese do then?

author: EdgeOfTheWorld
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 07, 2015, 02:30:53 pm
content: Quote from: PsychoMaster on February 24, 2015, 02:05:29 pmPM sent.

author: Arlen Moulton2
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2015, 08:59:35 am
content: sounds like us brits are dumb

author: rickselectricalprojects
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2015, 07:25:32 am
content: I brought a uhf cb radio and the seller (they said they held it for be so no one else would get it) of gumtree and as we were driving out of the drive way i called them to get there address and they were very rude. Now i have there number i think a payphone prank call is needed!!!

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 23, 2015, 11:18:13 pm
content: Do payphones still exist? I vaguely remember them-black boxes on a wall, usually missing handsets and the whole area smelling like urine for some reason.

author: Deathwish
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 23, 2015, 11:20:58 pm
content: Quote from: GreyWoolfe on August 23, 2015, 11:18:13 pmI didnt realise you lived in the UK, thought it was America !.

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2015, 11:24:21 pm
content: Quote from: GreyWoolfe on August 23, 2015, 11:18:13 pmthere are still a handful of them in my town

author: rickselectricalprojects
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2015, 02:38:53 am
content: Quote from: GreyWoolfe on August 23, 2015, 11:18:13 pmyes in Australia you do get a few of them, but they are very, very dirty and extremely expensive. people only use them is if they are smashed and lost there mobile phone and need to call a cab after a long night at the pub

author: OldSchoolTechCorner
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2015, 02:43:42 am
content: Quote from: Richard Crowley on May 11, 2015, 05:35:54 pmSound like the same guy I dealt with "abe's of maine". They had a 65 inch 4k TV for a good price online, so order it and then a couple days later received a phone call about The TV I just bought was refurbish model and it having a different main board then the retail version, that the price was for a refurbish one had a non OEM board and no warranty, even when they never stated it was refurbish on there website I told them and they try to sell me the same model for more money and pretty much told them at that point to return my money and to go Fu#k themselves, that it clearly a scam. I notice they have a few stores and websites and same bullsh#t they try to do the classic bait and switch scam. It more likely the same people.http://www.yelp.com/biz/abes-of-maine-lindenhttp://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/abes-of-maine.htmlhttp://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/53466555

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 10:49:55 pm
content: Quote from: rickselectricalprojects on August 26, 2015, 02:38:53 amI'm in Florence Italy at the time (on vacation from my vacation to Spain) and they do have payphones that even take credit cards. I guess it is because some tourists don't have international phone/data plans when traveling.

author: wiss
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 06:50:58 pm
content: Bought a few rotary switched of ebay the other day:http://www.ebay.de/itm/161285645887?euid=e774cc42bb39477c9a3fb32b3376b66f&cp=1&exe=12793&ext=32586&sojTags=exe=exe,ext=extWhat I received do not have the ALPS engraving and the plating on the metal on the back side is coming off...Seller: electricsleehttp://www.ebay.de/usr/electricslee?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 07:00:42 pm
content: What they gave is ALPS- A Lot of Poor Scrap....They might work if all you need is 5 operations and a lifetime measured in months.

author: 0xdeadbeef
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 10:41:16 pm
content: Just tried to buy a solder paste dispenser (982A) from a shop calledLandeletin Italy.Well, I mailed them yesterday and they didn't answer - which should have stopped me. But there were only two of the dispensers left in the store and this seemed to be my only chance to get the analog version from a European dealer (no customs hassle) for a somewhat reasonable price, so I ordered it anyway. Actually, when checking out, they offered me three shipping options from 12€ to 15€ which I found reasonable, so I chose the 15€ GLS option. Side note: I also got a quote from another Italian shop for a very similar item (~2kg) and they asked for 22€ for an express shipment to Germany.So some time later I finally got an answer from the shop owner with an Indian sounding name and he demandedanother41€ for shipping. In addition to the 15€. So 56€ in sum.I complained that I was not willing to pay for a flaw of his shop software. So this is what he replied:1) He complained that I ordered even thoughhedidn't answer my initial mailfor a day.2) He stated that this is the price GLS asked for12kgdelivery (where the item is only around 2kg).3) He stated that his shop doesn't deliver outside Italy and there is no flaw. Even though you can enter your address outside Italy and select one of three delivery services for the given address.Jesus Christ, I always thought that treating customers like crap was a typical German attitude.

author: wiss
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 03:21:43 pm
content: Quote from: SeanB on September 14, 2015, 07:00:42 pmSellers message:QuoteI replied that I can take the loss of 15 USD and I will leave my feedback as it is as a warning to others

author: Neganur
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 06:44:52 pm
content: that's not really how the feedback system is intended to be used, you should have given him the chance of correcting the issue first.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 06:58:27 pm
content: Quote from: wiss on September 15, 2015, 03:21:43 pmYeah, acting like a dick. Everyone can make a mistake, and this one seem to be. Willing to waste own money just to hurt someone. What matters is how seller deals with such situations. This is not even trying to deceive a custumer by selling a counterfeit for what negative feedback should be left. For every sane buyer it would already be obvious he got not what was ordered and not being deceived by looks of it.Hopefully you never buy from me on ebay.

author: Deathwish
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 07:10:52 pm
content: my latest mess up on ebay with a certain courier co "borrowing" my goods is one thing, however the seller has been very helpful and has even shipped a replacement via HK post and I refuse to neg him for others mistakes. He was fast at sorting the problem out so why should I.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 08:01:01 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on September 15, 2015, 06:58:27 pmYeah, maybe. If they pay for shipping the counterfeit back and promptly send the genuine article (which is what they advertised), that is one thing. But you will have to admit that there are sellers who make a business of selling counterfeit goods who behave exactly like this. They make nice with their emails and feature photos of genuine merchandise, but I wouldn't trust them to take out my rubbish.

author: wiss
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 08:17:45 pm
content: Quote from: Richard Crowley on September 15, 2015, 08:01:01 pmIf we follow local law, I have to pay return shipping, that will be 40 or 50 USD...Assume that seller gives a full refund for everyone that complains, which will be 1 in 10? Seller still manages to rip off 9 out of 10 buyers and zero negative feedback.Sure, it could be a mistake, yea right, what's the probability? Seller could be screwed by local staff packing the wrong stuff, that will be on seller then!Had it been a private individual selling a used multimeter or GPIB-cables (been there!) I would bother to find out what went wrong! But not over labeled-as-new APLS switches for just a few dollars, I'm not interested in spending time on stuff like that, I give negative feedback, take the loss and move on!I did spend 3 months figuring out that the German guy packed overweight for the 3 GPIB-cables I bought and I did not get the money back for that (package got returned to sender with a rather significant fee).

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 08:45:42 pm
content: Quote from: wiss on September 15, 2015, 08:17:45 pmI guess seller wouldn't even ask to return them. You didn't even give him a chance. Also don't write nonsense about $ 40-50 for a such a small package,http://www.postnord.se/en/english/postage-and-prices/Pages/postage-rates-for-international-mail-outside-europe.aspxI guess they'll fit under 100g -> SEK 30 = U$3.60at worst < 250 g -> SEK 60QuoteYet had a time to intentionally hurt a seller and posting in this tread (more time than send a message to seller) = acting like a douche.QuoteThat works only with counterfeit items which look like genuine stuff. Considering amount of switches he sold, it's very unlikely that he sent non alps switches to everyone and got away with it.

author: wiss
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 09:02:12 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on September 15, 2015, 08:45:42 pmPossibly, but that would be several messages back and forth with a turnaround time of 24 h.QuoteThat was for how the seller of a broken dashcam wanted me to return it, more than 250 g and bulky and rek, for these you'd have to add bulky, 14 sek, and hope that they get there...QuoteOne single message on ebay and done, posting here doesn't count! I do that anyway.QuoteWell, then the seller only get one (extra) bad review out of 6000 positive, won't matter that much...I agree that I was not particularly nice to the seller!

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 09:27:12 pm
content: Quote from: wiss on September 15, 2015, 09:02:12 pmFor example, today I've got a request opened that item didn't arrive and 4 weeks already passed. Checked the tracking and seems that it was lost once arrived to Germany. Sent the message if he wants refund or to resend the item. He said that wants it being reshipped so I resent it the same day. Two messages from him in total. Needless to say, If he left me a negative feedback saying "scammer - never shipped the item", it won't do anything good to anyone.

author: wiss
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2015, 07:53:14 am
content: Quote from: wraper on September 15, 2015, 09:27:12 pmNever received item is quite different compared to getting an item that almost looks like the correct one, I did not do that when the solder-tips didn't arrive but accepted a full refund!

author: wiss
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2015, 08:44:13 am
content: Now seller refunded me.QuoteLegally this would still be attempted fraud, now I have to think about how to proceed... Did any one else in here buy from this guy?

author: RogerRowland
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2015, 08:46:57 am
content: Sounds like he's bending over backwards to correct his mistake.What's your problem with that?

author: wiss
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2015, 09:40:38 am
content: He is bending over backwards for me since I complained and gave bad feedback, what about all those that did not complain?Now I will not make a loss out of this transaction but in the big picture this would be similar to corruption.

author: RogerRowland
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2015, 09:46:13 am
content: I think you need to let it go and move on. Just consider the facts:You complained.You got your money back.So, he will now contact eBay and will ask for your negative feedback to be removed (yes, he can do this).Then eBay will see that he has just 5 negatives out of 9000 feedbacks in the last 12 months, they will see that he has unilaterally refunded your money, and he has been polite and helpful throughout. They will agree with him that your negative feedback is unfair.Life is short. The world is not perfect. You can't change that.Move on .....

author: wiss
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2015, 11:07:17 am
content: Quote from: RogerRowland on September 16, 2015, 09:46:13 amI moved on right awayI just note that it would be wrong of me to not do anything after the refund!

author: unitedatoms
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2015, 08:52:30 pm
content: Meh. Who could have known that one needs to check what is actually in the bag.I bought 1.3k resistors, and they were actually 1.2k. Too late, my power supply 15V rail is 800mV off.This is seller with misadvertised parts. In case if it is honest mistake, I notified him/her.http://www.aliexpress.com/item/100pcs-lot-Metal-film-resistor-1-3k-1301-1-1-8W/32369286480.html

author: unitedatoms
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 15, 2015, 10:41:41 pm
content: Quote from: AcHmed99 on October 15, 2015, 09:06:26 pmDid you mean 13 Ohms ? They are color coded 1.2k with 1% tolerance. I did not look at code. I am so used to just picking from labeled bags.

author: jitter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2015, 03:15:42 pm
content: Time to leave a post here on Jonas Rijnders from JR Special Electronics, the go between for orders placed on the websites of Gratten.eu, Maynuo.eu, Siglent.eu and Scoob.net.Mostly relevant for people ordering from the EU, but they might ship worldwide.I recently placed an order on Maynuo.eu.First I'll post the facts as objectively as I can, see what you think of it. In the next post I'll include the thoughts that went through my head and it'll be a lot more subjective.1. I placed an order for two items from Maynuo on Maynuo.eu, an electronic DC load and the optional USB-interface; both items were "in stock", according to the website. The order was payed in advance by bank.2. I received an autamated email confirmation for creating an account; no email confirmation for placing the order.3. Logged into my account and looked at the order's status: "processing".4. A week goes by without any change in the status, so I contact the seller by email and quickly get a response informing me that the unit is in stock but the interface wasn't. New interfaces had arrived and shipments to clients had been resumed. Mine was expected to be consigned a lot tracking number the next day. I politely thank him for the response.5. The next day I indeed receive an email from DHL that a tracking number had been consigned including a link to track the shipment. I try the link and the number is unknown.I also check the order status on my Maynuo account and it says "complete".6. The next couple of days, the tracking number remains unlisted, so I contact DHL by phone. They explain that even though a tracking number was consigned (by JR Special Electronics), the parcel is not yet in their posession.7. I contact the seller again explaining that the parcel was not handed over to DHL. Again I get a quick response, this time explaining that my order was picked up by their forwarder the day before and that that forwarder should have handed the parcel over to DHL. The seller assures me that he will sort it out straight away. I thank him and ask him to let me know when he knows more.8. Since it is Friday evening, I decide to wait the weekend. It's now 9 days after placing the order.9. On Monday, I receive a tracking consignment from TNT Express telling me that a parcel was handed over to them by JR Special Electronics. I check the link, and it works, a parcel is in the posession of TNT Express and I can track its movement.10. The next day the parcel is delivered to me, 13 days after placing the order. The contents are what I ordered and seem to be in good condition. I never receive a reply on my last email.

author: jitter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2015, 04:22:52 pm
content: Now the more "adorned" subjective version.1. I placed an order for two items from Maynuo on Maynuo.eu, an electronic DC load and the optional USB-interface; both items were "in stock", according to the website. The order was payed in advance by bank.2. I received an autamated email confirmation for creating an account; no email confirmation for placing the order.3. Logged into my account and looked at the order's status: "processing".This already has me worried a bit. I'm used to getting several updates from webshops before the order is even sent, so this seems a bit strange.In the meantime I do some research and what I find doesn't inspire confidence. Streetview in Google maps shows the company adress to be a house in a residential area. But at least the company is listed in the Chamber of Commerce registry (Dutch abbreviation: KvK).In one of the threads here he (username: Smoking) denies that his ties with the brands he sells are illegitimate (but he does not adress allegations regarding not keeping stock).I also come across not too positive remarks about JR Electronics / Jonas Rijnders on this forum of whichthis threadseems the most negative.4. A week goes by without any change in the status, so I contact the seller by email and quickly get a response informing me that the unit is in stock but the interface wasn't. New interfaces had arrived and shipments to clients had been resumed. Mine was expected to be consigned a lot tracking number the next day. I politely thank him for the response.Hmm, both items were in stock when I ordered, according to the website. I'm seriously having doubts about the truthfulness of the excuses I'm being given. What immediately strikes me is that he specifically says: "consigned a tracking numer" rather than "sent".5. The next day I indeed receive an email from DHL that a tracking number had been consigned including a link to track the shipment. I try the link and the number is unknown.I also check the order status on my Maynuo account and it says "complete".Hmm, they said the parcel would be shipped by TNT Express, not DHL. Suspicions that I will ever receive my order grow. I also PM a member here asking about his negative experience. I does look like I will receive my order... eventually.6. The next couple of days, the tracking number remains unlisted, so I contact DHL by phone. They explain that even though a tracking number was consigned (by JR Special Electronics), the parcel is not yet in their posession.7. I contact the seller again explaining that the parcel was not handed over to DHL. Again I get a quick response, this time explaining that my order was picked up by their forwarder the day before and that that forwarder should have handed the parcel over to DHL. The seller assures me that he will sort it out straight away. I thank him and ask him to let me know when he knows more.Well, well... another excuse that I have a hard time believing, but I decide to wait nevertheless.8. Since it is Friday evening, I decide to wait the weekend. It's now 9 days after placing the order.During the weekend I ponder about several options available to me. Since the shipping adress is in the Netherlands (actually not even 15 km away!), I do have the benefit of laws protecting me that I wouldn't have had I ordered directly from China. Some more googling finds Jonas' Linked in profile. Ex-army communications officer, and one of the languages he seems to speak a bit is Chinese (well that language doesn't actually exist, so I presume he means Mandarin).9. On Monday, I receive a tracking consignment from TNT Express telling me that a parcel was handed over to them by JR Special Electronics. I check the link, and it works, a parcel is in the posession of TNT Express and I can track its movement.So, sent by TNT Express after all. The DHL tracking number must have been another tactic to stall...10. The next day the parcel is delivered to me, 13 days after placing the order. The contents are what I ordered and seem to be in good condition. I never receive a reply on my last email.When unpacking the outer box, I find the inner (Maynuo) box was never opened after it left the factory, but the optional interface was inside nevertheless. So the excuse that the DC load was in stock but not the interface is debunked. Another thing: the factory calibration form shows that it was calibrated on the very same day as I placed the order, remarkable for a unit that was supposed to be in stock in the Netherlands that day...Here's how I think JR Special Electronics really works: he (yep, a single guy) takes orders and your money and then places the orders with his suppliers in China, he does not keep stock, or very limited at best. The websites look pretty authentic, so I presume that he does this with permission of Atten/Gratten, Maynuo and Siglent.The prices are the attractive part, they are pretty low. I could have ordered the same stuff from a webstore that does keep stock and receive it within three days, but that would have cost me almost € 120 extra (a whopping 20%!). How can he sell at these low prices? My guess: he is the go between for the brands he sells with permission. The discount he gets earns him a living.I actually don't mind if I can get a discount like this and then wait a few weeks, as long as I know beforehand that this is going to happen. What I don't like is that he's not honest about it. It looks like the webshop has stock while actually, it doesn't. And also the extent to which he seems prepared to go to create smokescreens flabbergasted me a bit.He must have been playing this, what I call "game" for a while, judging by some of the dates of the posts on this forum. So he's not actually doing anything illegal, but providing a real service to customers? I don't think so.Would I order there again? Strangeley enough, now I know the game, yeah, but only if I can wait. This seems the best alternative to buying directly from China but without the associated risks and import duties to be payedafterwards.So, now this is off my chest I would like to say that you can buy from JR Electronics as long as you are prepared to wait a while. You will also need to be able to take his replies with a grain of salt if you're going to communicate with him on shipping times etc. If you do need something quick, my advice would be not to use the webshop but call him directly asking him if he will consider getting payed after you have received your order. Maybe he can expedite things if gets the right incentive. If he doesn't, walk away and buy at a (web)shop that you know will deliver quickly. Yes, you will probably pay (substantially) more.

author: 0xdeadbeef
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2015, 05:27:36 pm
content: I must admitI also ordered an Maynuo some months agowithout being aware that this is not an official site. Then again, I can't really complain as the M9812 arrived fast and for a good price (as they sold the M9812 for the same price as the M9811 until recently).Taking into account the shipping time, I don't think the load was ordered from China after I ordered. But as this guy seems to have shops for severals Chinese brands, it seems likely that he offers more than he has in stock.Anyway: as a side note since you mentioned the USB interface: by chance, I just uploaded all the files for a DYI USB isolated interface I built for my M9812 to abitbucket repositoryand created asmall project pageas well.

author: jitter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2015, 06:55:57 pm
content: [Off-topic]Looks good. Inthispost there's another diy version that works with the Maynuo.The "official" Maynuo M133 TTL to USB uses an AD ADUM1301 isolator in the TTL side and a Prolific PL-2303 USB to serial converter. Curiously the board also has a SO8 footprint on the bottom of the pcb which is left empty.I tried the BK Precision software on the Maynuo. BKP supply the same driver but the BKP software refuses to work on the Maynuo saying something like "Wrong Model" or "Wrong device" in the lower left corner. Wonder if that has anything to do with the missing SO8 on the M133 or if it's the firmware inside the M9812 that is different from the BKP 8500.Not a problem, though, as the software from Maynuo and BKP are only visually different, functionally they seem to be the same.[/Off-topic]Good to hear that your unit didn't take forever to arrive... to me 13 days is almost like forever for an item that was supposedly in stock.

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 31, 2015, 12:35:37 am
content: Masters and their slavesI’m not one to generally bag a company in public on the grounds that in most circumstances no one really benefits particularly a firm that employs many young staff but in this instance my recent experience deserves sharing so that others don’t fall for the same trap.Two years ago I purchased a 5.4 X 3.6 meter heavy duty tarpaulin from Supercheap Auto down here in Melbourne, the tarp was to be used as a boat cover which is located under a carport and not directly exposed to sunlight, the tarpaulin from Supercheap lasted 11 months and after a few successive hot days it started to go brittle and fall apart, I packed it up and pulled out the original purchase receipt and took it back to Supercheap. They were extremely helpful and offered me a full refund, I asked if I could simply grab another tarp as a replacement and the manager said that because of this products failure they would remove the item from sale until it was established with the manufacturer that the product is fit for purpose and would last for at least the warranty period which in this case was twelve months.I had previously done my homework in relation to tarpaulins and been around to other suppliers such as Bunnings, Masters, Rays Outdoors and obviously Supercheap to inspect and compare their products and at the time the Supercheap tarp seemed like the most suitable so that was the one we went for. Anyway Supercheap gave me a full refund and I now needed to find another tarp so I called into a Masters store which for you overseas people is a large Home Depot style hardware store as is Bunnings and it was on the way back home anyway, I inspected their collection of tarps and found a super heavy duty industrial strength model that had a long 48 months warranty label on the front and on the rear the terms and conditions of the warranty which clearly stated that should the product fail within the 48 month warranty period then it was to be returned to the place of purchase for refund or replacement.Satisfied with the particular tarpaulin and in particular with the offering of 48 months warranty I went ahead and purchased it and as I had never dealt with Masters before I did specifically ask the cashier at the time what their policy was should there be any problems and he replied that we should simply bring it back with the receipt.So that was twelve months ago almost to the day and I noticed a few days ago a gaping hole in the tarpaulin where it had turned brittle and was starting to fall apart exactly as the Supercheap tarp had done a year before, like Groundhog Day I packed it up and pulled out the receipt and went on my merry way down to the Masters store where it was purchased, I get to the service desk and plonk the folded tarp now back in it’s original packaging down on the counter and handed over the receipt to the service manager and explained the history behind the tarpaulin expecting that it would be easily resolved one way or another, boy was I in for a surprise and after their initial ill informed, deceptive and misconstrued response they were about to get a lesson in common courtesy, good business practice and Australian Consumer Law.The young lady behind the counter stated that the item was to be returned to the manufacturer who was based in Queensland and who's contact details were indicated on the rear of the label so I then pointed out that same label clearly declares that the product is to be returned to the place of purchase, she wanted to argue the point and then pulled the imaginary Masters 30 day warranty return policy card out of her arse and told me to contact the tarp company in Queensland, I asked where it shows on the purchase receipt or anywhere for that matter a 30 day warranty return policy so then she says it’s clearly displayed on the sign mounted on the wall behind the service counter, let's see I said so she leads me over to the sign in question and we both read it and nowhere on the sign does it declare anything about warranty returns or a bullshit made up 30 day waiver.She now looks like an incompetent fool and starts waffling on about their companies strictly 30 day returns policy in a rather demeaning and insulting manner, It was a bit much to swallow and I wasn’t buying any of it, not good enough I’m afraid you will need to do better than that I expressed, she then explains that her area manager will sort it out so she gets on the phone to call for backup and after a few minutes she comes back to the counter where I am frustratingly waiting and again declares that they cannot help us and that we need to send the tarpaulin back to Queensland, I told her that it’s not going to happen and it would cost a fortune to sent it anywhere and by the way Supercheap Auto in a similar circumstance didn’t argue the point nor did they make up the rules on the fly and they happily resolved the situation in a courteous and professional manner.Her wanker sidekicks now entered the conversation sticking their ill informed noses in where they didn’t belong so I promptly responded by putting them back in their place with a few stern words, rudely she then addressed another customer who was waiting behind me and perhaps she thought that I would take what she says as gospel and simply walk away, this wasn’t my style nor would it ever be so I politely interrupted her and said we are not done here yet by any means, I turned and apologised to the fellow behind and he was ok and appeared to be returning something else so was obviously interested to bear witness to the outcome of this debacle.I then informed her that I had been running a successful business for over 25 years and am fully aware of both my obligations and rights under consumer law in addition to mentioning a few other choice mobs such as Consumer Affairs, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and social media sites, I then asked to see her manager to take the matter further so she then gets back on the hot line to her conveniently inconspicuous area manager and after a few minutes of me listening into the conversation in which she relayed all the cards that I had played including social media their return policy suddenly and miraculously changed to one of a full refund with no questions asked, she was clearly pissed off and her nosy parker wank buddies behind the counter had quietly departed the scene looking like idiots and leaving her embarrassed and for dead in front of a small crowd that was now gathering.Now with the money in hand I went to town on these morons declaring that I would never again in my lifetime return to their stores and that I would expose this unnecessary episode in both public media and a formal letter of complaint and disgust to their head office, furthermore that they themselves need to read and comprehend the consumer law act regardless of what the plonker upstairs tells them, whom by the way conveniently never showed his or her face.I did not set out on the day to upset anybody nor did I expect to be insulted, disrespected and made a mug of, I treat people as I myself like to be treated, pleasant, patient and courteous at all times but these arseholes tried to put one over on me and were not only extremely rude but deceitful and incompetent from the get go, they will never see my money nor that of my friends an colleagues ever again, this I promise you.After exiting Masters and only a few hundred meters up the road I stopped at Bunning’s to get another tarpaulin for the boat and don’t know what I was thinking by ever going to Masters, Bunning’s have always been a pretty good mob to deal with and we have never had an issue with returning a product, they even threw in a free fluoro work vest for both myself and the neighbour.Anyway people sorry for making this a three part trilogy, I was hoping for a short sweat stab into Masters chest but I do find it difficult at times to give the full picture in a few words.Big thumbs up to both Supercheap Auto and Bunning’s Warehouse……Big thumbs down, face palm and bullshit to Masters Hardware……And just to finish, if anybody has a spare nuke hanging around to drop on to Masters PM me for the coordinates, but if possible please avoid causing collateral damage to the other fine businesses which are in close proximity.Masters Warranty (they need to read this policy and those of the links below)https://www.masters.com.au/diy-projects-ideas/support-help/returns-policyConsumer Affairshttps://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/businesses/fair-tradingAustralian Competition and Consumer Commissionhttps://www.accc.gov.au/

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2015, 08:31:22 am
content: Go find a trucking company and ask if they have any damaged tarpaulins, often they get a corner ripped out. Might be free off the big pile in the one corner, and all you do is cut it to fit the boat, clean it ( it will be very dirty) and put in some eyelets. Should last another 2 decades by you.

author: jitter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2015, 05:32:43 pm
content: Quote from: Muttley Snickers on December 31, 2015, 12:35:37 amDon't worry, it was a good read!QuoteThat reminds me of a remark about Aldi-personnel that we make at work. We jokingly say that people that work for Aldi are selected for being very unfriendly.In that respect, competitor Lidl seems to do a lot better. Now thatLidlis coming to Australia, it would be interesting to see if the same difference is to be found there too.

author: MotorMagic
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 07:35:35 am
content: I can offer some insight into the other side of the equation in terms of Aliexpress, as I've helped some businesses sell products there. You have to keep in mind most electronics shops are racing to the bottom. There are a few problems with Aliexpress as I see it:1. It's pay to play. You essentially have to pay for visibility in their search, and nobody I've ever talked to made more money than what they paid Aliexpress. Most manufacturers or big suppliers quit because it's not worth their time, and they end up putting more money in than what they get out2. Aliexpress customers are generally extremely price sensitive, so most sellers only can sell products by breaking some rules.Example: A 4 dollar item with free shipping (China e-packet) will never ship with a real tracking number. You're required to submit a tracking number for Aliexpress orders, according to the rules. However, it costs more money for a tracking number than the item is worthAre you going to buy the 4.30 item from a seller who secretly uses fake numbers, or the same exact item for 7.00 from another shop who follows the rules and only gets a few sales?The tracking number costs twice as much as postage.Here is a case study:Item cost: 3 dollarsShipping cost: 1 dollarTracking number: 2 dollarsAliexpress fee: 15%Wages, taxes, expenses: HahaThat means to make any profit you have to sell in the 7 dollar ballpark, while other sellers can sell the same thing in the 4 dollar range. The people who don't use tracking will sell hundreds of units, and you will sell a handful at best. Most people don't know, or don't care that the other seller is breaking the rules. They just know that some shops have more customers and that their price is far less. Sellers also can't tell you they won't ship with a tracking number, because that is admitting to breaking the rules.3. It usually takes 60 days to get paid. I always sent with tracking. Still, almost nobody confirms their order once they receive the goods. The result is that you need to wait until it times out, and then an additional month for Aliexpress to pay you. You need to finance all orders for 60 days while operating on razor thin margins. Which might work if you have a lot of customers (and free cash), but this is a website that has many sellers and relatively few buyers. Bigger sellers with a lot of cash will invest in other platforms like Amazon, where they will make better returns. The result is many sellers on Aliexpress are part time traders who I can only assume, make almost no money.4. Because everyone is fighting to the bottom of the price barrel, the biggest sellers are only making a couple cents per order. That means if 1 person asks for a refund, there goes your profit for several hundred orders and the time it took to fulfill them. This is the cost of high volume low margin trading. Except, few sellers even get high volume on Aliexpress, and there is a lot of risk when dealing with international logistics. Retailers can take a product back and not generally be Ok, because they can have a huge margin on certain products. But, if you want to add the cost of providing no hassle refunds into your pricing structure, the customers will go to the seller who doesn't, and some of them will wonder why that seller has a death grip on the refund button.In short, Aliexpress is a system that favors the cheap, and that is partially driven by people looking for the "buy from China" experience, who expect impossible prices with the same service they get shopping at home. In other words, let's all share a little blame cake. Bon Apetite!I would actually say the biggest problem is actually sellers who list bogus specifications or outright lie about the products. It screws the honest seller in the long run. People are always looking for the too good to be true sale which offers an impossible amount of bank for the buck, so if you're actually honest about your sale you look non-competitive to most buyers.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 12:10:24 pm
content: QuoteWelcome to the race to the bottom. European and probably also american companies have been put out of business ten years ago due to chinese import products and prices.They could just not compete because our workers needed a normal wage to get a normal living.At that moment in time a chinese worker was 30 to 50 times cheaper per hour than an european worker.China got a lot of money, there were many people getting enormously rich but also a lot of people did not profit.Nowadays the cost for labour starts to get in the same amount as the european and if I am not mistaken the chinese worker also starts to look for better wages and leaves a company that does not pay enough. So in the end it are waves across the globe where the money is going and they shift as time goes by.I am afraid that in a few years China will not profit in the same amounts as they were used to and guess what the same you saw in Europe and America.The latter shifted their external economy to an internal economy (pumping money around in the same country) and export is low, import is unfortunately high.As far as I can tell if you sell a decent product for a decent price there will always be customers that want it, but the change the chinese producers really have to make is towards quality of hardware and software and certify this quality to be able to increase the selling price and margin.If you can't do that and keep on selling the low price hardware against minimum margins you keep on going down that race to the bottom.

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 12:47:37 pm
content: Quote from: MotorMagic on June 08, 2016, 07:35:35 amThanks for the great insight! It was clear to me that the sellers don't make much money, but I didn't know it's just cents. Is that also the reason for 5W LED lamps sold as 10W? Sorry, if I'm making fun of it and calling it the Chinese Watts or Amperes. Usually a factor of 2 up to 3 works fine, e.g. if the seller claims the PSU is 1A at 5V a measurement shows 0.5A. The same goes for most products. Recently I bought a 7W LED lamp from a German seller in Amazon's marketplace and the lamp draws just 4.3W.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 02:04:40 pm
content: Perhaps it is wiser to ask how many lumens the led will produce instead of Watts unless you are not interested in the amount of light

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 03:03:01 pm
content: Quote from: MotorMagic on June 08, 2016, 07:35:35 amThis doesn't jibe with my experience. On AliExpress, ePacket is almost always optional. I have never had a case where I was promised ePacket and didn't get it (that has happened a few times on eBay though).If AliExpress requires an international tracking number, why do they even allow sellers to offer China Post airmail, which only has in-China tracking?And whenever I've checked a China Post tracking number from an AliExpress seller, it's been real.P.S. I've had that same problem with "China watts". I bought "3W" and "5W" LED bulbs from one seller, and they turned out to be identical ~1W bulbs. They didn't even have power supplies, just capacitor droppers.

author: jitter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 04:48:54 pm
content: Quote from: edavid on June 08, 2016, 03:03:01 pmThen it may come as a surprise to you that recently I tore down a Philips GU10 LED spotlight that has a capacitive dropper as well.I havepostedabout this on a Dutch forum and was planning to do that on this forum too. As it's off topic for this thread, I'll post a link here when it's finishedEdit:Finished:link to the topic.

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 04:54:50 pm
content: Quote from: Kjelt on June 08, 2016, 02:04:40 pmIt's even better to ask for both, since it allows you to calculate the efficiency. Anyway, I would end up with Chinese Watts and Chinese lumens

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 05:13:19 pm
content: Quote from: edavid on June 08, 2016, 03:03:01 pmIf something is really cheap I always expect Chinese Watts, but selling 1W bulbs as 3W and 5W is nasty (assuming the 5W bulbs are more expensive than the 3W). A capacitor dropper isn't bad, might even last longer than other solutions. Anyone with experience in life times of the different power supply solutions?

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 05:16:17 pm
content: Quote from: jitter on June 08, 2016, 04:48:54 pmI think all GU10 leds have capacitive powersupply else there is no room. Beside for low wattages a capacitive powersupply is not that bad, they can last a very long time if the used capacitors are good.

author: jitter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 05:32:08 pm
content: Quote from: Kjelt on June 08, 2016, 05:16:17 pmWhen the outside has exposed aluminium (somehting of the past, by now), the driver will most likely be of the galvanic isolated type (read: SMPS). You can even find them inno-name stuff...

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 05:52:36 pm
content: Quote from: jitter on June 08, 2016, 05:32:08 pmSorry but that example looks like crap, those solderings are amateur (children made this?)And I wonder if those isolation distances are within the tolerance or this is one other of these dangerous examples of live threatening electronics.Anyway to answer your question if prices go down and consumers don't want to pay decent prices the design in BOM cost also has to come down or nothing will be sold.

author: jitter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 06:04:13 pm
content: Quote from: Kjelt on June 08, 2016, 05:52:36 pmAgreed, that's not the best example there is.Big Clive does a teardown of an Osram here:

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 07:04:51 pm
content: Ok well I wonder if they fit in all the GU10 fixtures out there, I had the early GU10 lamps from Philips and they did not fit in my fixtureThe new ones do. Anyway, it is all a matter of price and profit, since the chinese and Ikea are flooding the market with cheaper bulbs , the western companies can't stay behind.

author: jitter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2016, 07:55:11 pm
content: Most of the stuff is now the same size as the halogens were. Improvements in efficiency have made the use of thermally conductive plastics viable, so drivers isolated from the mains are no longer a necessity.Since a couple of years single chip solutions are available, ICs that are powered off the mains directly and driving the LEDs without the help of any external components. High flicker is, of course, a trade off of this kind of technology.Edit: sorry for going off topic. If you'd like we could continue in my2mTD(2 minute teardown) of that Philips LED lamp.

author: MotorMagic
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 09, 2016, 03:41:04 pm
content: Quote from: madires on June 08, 2016, 12:47:37 pmMany factories will ask OEMs if they want to write fake information on the product to make it more attractive. It's seen as a feature, and so many people do it that a certain percentage of buyers assume that EVERYONE does it.Shoppers for the most part seem to fall into two camps:Camp 1 - those who assume specifications are genuine.Camp 2 - Those who assume everyone inflates their numbers, and so look for products spec'd a bit higher than what they need.Camp 1 will choose the product with the higher specs every time within their price range, so long as it's not ridiculously astronomical (200000mAh wallet sized power bank for example). Camp 2 will often choose those with higher specs also, because not only are "10w" lights listed at just above the price of a 5w light more exciting to click on and browse, but a better choice if you choose not to trust anybody. After all, you could get a 1w bulb if you shop for 5w.Let's also mention that camp 1 has been giving those dishonest shops more business and making them appear more reputable and visible as a result as well. Some would assume buyers will know when you're being genuine or not, but that's not usually the case.I wish people would start leaving negative reviews on shops who use clearly fake specifications. Until shops are punished for listing fake specs, few people will volunteer to do more work verifying the actual product information from the source, and make less money while competitors also are listing the same product with better specs.That's just my opinion/experience anyway.

author: FrankBuss
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 16, 2016, 01:34:15 pm
content: I bought some of these USB to RS232 adapters:http://cgi.ebay.de/161886451086The adapter was recognized by Windows 10 as a Prolific PL2303 adapter, but with error code 10. So probably a counterfeit chip, as describedhere. But I could install the old driver from the CD which was delivered with the adapter and it worked.At least this is what I was thinking, because I did the usual test, shorting pin 2 and 3 of the DB9 connector and check in a terminal program if it echos. But it didn't work with my benchtop multimeter. Measuring it with the scope it turns out that the output voltage is 5 V TTLDid I miss something in the ebay description? It says "RS-232" and has the standard DB9 connector. Why does it use TTL levels? I told this all the seller, and got an eMail that I can send it back and get the money back, but the auction is still online and no notes added, that the chip is crap and the voltage level is TTL instead of the standard RS232. Doesn't make sense, because other people will complain, tooDo they hope that not too many people complain for this price and they want to clear the stock from it?

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2016, 01:51:07 pm
content: QuoteMore likely they know that most people will look at the cost of sending it back and just write it off as a bad experience - areyougoing to pay shipping to get your 5 euro refund? They'll say they'll refund when they've received it (back at their China factory). I'm sure you'll think it's a) worthwhile and b) will actually get thereSo, not expecting return customers, what do they have to lose? It is all gain, and once they have enough negative feedback they'll close the account and start again with something else.

author: FrankBuss
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 16, 2016, 04:29:06 pm
content: I bought 3 of it, otherwise I would have just tossed it, but it was all automated in eBay: A click to a link in the eMail, then print a label, stick it on the packet, and I just delivered it at the post office and they scanned the bar code, no payment required, all payed by the seller. The seller was from Germany, but I guess they are just forwarding the things from China. So at least a bad experience with a somewhat happy end for meBut now I have to find a good adapter. I don't understand why they fake such chips. It's not rocket science to build a decent and cheap original adapter. Starting with Windows 10 you don't even need to write your own driver, it just needs some special bits set in the USB descriptor so that it is detected as a generic virtual COM port. And the mechanical design was good and looked nice. They could even spend the one dollar to buy something like a CP2102 chip. If the adapter costs two dollars more, but is good quality, they could print their name on it, get a good reputation and more people would buy it.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2016, 04:35:50 pm
content: QuoteOK, that's a bit different to many vendors demands and my suggested scenario doesn't apply. Your assumption that many won't bother is probably the reason, then

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 18, 2016, 09:16:33 am
content: Quote from: FrankBuss on December 16, 2016, 01:34:15 pmI have a bunch of IT colleagues that would not know the difference and make the same mistake, the blame are a lot of microcontroller proto boards that do not follow the rules and have a db9 connector without max232 or other interface chip to make it real rs232 levels.I guess that the term RS232 is watered down to "serial port communications" without level specification, just as no one uses the different rs232 a/b/c specifiers anymore.at least the decent interface manufacturers stiil make a difference and their ttl adapters end in wires or a header not a db9 conn. There is still hope.

author: FrankBuss
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 24, 2016, 07:57:18 pm
content: Got another one, pricey, but I can highly recommend this:http://cgi.ebay.de/322260436067No problem with Windows 10, gets detected automatically, no manual driver installation required, +/-9 V levels and even 3 LEDs showing power, send and receive.

author: ZomBiE80
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2017, 01:22:56 pm
content: I've had bad taste in my mouth from Ebay in general. For example: I'm looking an used scope, but people are asking insane prices for these OLD tools. Nothing antique value about those.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 03, 2017, 01:35:06 pm
content: Quote from: FrankBuss on December 16, 2016, 01:34:15 pmLikely fake, however Prolific just dropped support for older devices in their drivers. So they might be made with discontinued chips as well.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2017, 03:50:56 pm
content: QuoteJust being old doesn't make something worthless. Does it do the job it's intended to do? Is it cheaper than buying a more recent tool? Can't fault the price, really.What do you call 'insane' anyway? Can you give an example (don't need a link, just tell us what it is and what it was priced at)?

author: ZomBiE80
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2017, 04:07:18 pm
content: People are asking new scope prices or even more. Those boneheads seem to think that 2 channel 20MHz scope and 20+ years old is worth hundreds, few years ago i got those free. My old scope was destroyed by fire as with my other equipment and now i just want to get "back in business", which is impossible with those asking prices.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2017, 04:16:50 pm
content: Either they don't sell and the price will come down (or not - see comment below) or they do sell and the price is hardly insane.You say you have a problem getting back into the game because of the price. But consider the sellers: if they are selling their scope to upgrade, it's going to cost them more to replace it, so there's a point below which it just isn''t worth their while to sell. I have that problem myself - an old 'name' scope which is perfectly capable and still working as well as it ever did, but to replace it I'd need to sell it at a price that you would probably class as insane, so I'm not even considering it.Even where a price is such that buying new is cheaper, that's probably a silly price but you can't really berate someone for not giving kit away to you.

author: Satbeginner
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2017, 06:14:57 pm
content: I bought an 2465B Tektronix scope from eBay seller fga2014 , based in Italy.Although I specifically asked if parts were removed, I received the scope with the A5 controller missing..........Filed for a refund, but eBay policies are not really buyer friendly lately, so I do not get my hopes up.

author: Jamebonds1
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 01, 2017, 09:38:49 pm
content: I had bad experienced with amico part from amazon.com. My transistor always blow up until I switched to IXYS or International Rectifier. It is a bit expensive than amico but better.

author: Rbastler
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2017, 09:16:47 am
content: Quote from: Satbeginner on April 01, 2017, 06:14:57 pmIf you paid via Paypal you should get your money back very easy. The seller lied to you, so there shoudn't be a problem...

author: Neganur
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 02, 2017, 10:31:41 am
content: Quote from: Rbastler on April 02, 2017, 09:16:47 amWon't the seller just claim that the unit was complete and that the buyer removed the assembly...?Obviously, the buyer had to open it in order to assess the situation and I think it is also clear that the seller is ready to say anything.Which makes me wonder, what did the seller say when you complained about the incomplete instrument?

author: Photon939
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2017, 03:15:47 pm
content: Quote from: Neganur on April 02, 2017, 10:31:41 amEbay and Paypal almost always side with the buyer, if the buyer kicks up enough stink they get their money back 99% of the time. Ebay is a much worse place for sellers than it is for buyers

author: bozidarms
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2018, 02:08:22 pm
content: !!!!!!!!E-BAY false seller - fraud!!!!!!!!Attention- seller with this Name, IBAN and BIC is false:EmpfängerALCARAZ CARDONA GALOIBAN: IT17T0760105138221016821034SWIFT: BPPIITRRXXXHi use different seller(e-bay) names!

author: GerryBags
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2018, 02:07:51 pm
content: I won an auction for a Tek P6137 probe, at a really low price, about £20 with postage. Three hours after the auction ends I get a message saying he'll have to refund me because he just realised the tip is broken. I said oh, no you don't, I'll have the probe anyway and I'll fix the tip.So I get the probe, what do you know? No broken tip, because... no tip. The little fuxtik just removed the tip and sent the probe. I thought he'd at least take a pair of pliers to the tip to back up his tale, but that tip will probably turn up for sale fairly soon. I won't be buy anything ever again from Rakman1UK on Ebay, so I'll have to get one from somewhere else. The Tek UK site lists the part no. but doesn't seem to stock them.Any ideas, on the Ebay thing or getting a new tip? Any tip tips?

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2018, 12:02:45 pm
content: Did the auction show photographs of the product? If so, you would have the upper hand in any conversations between you, eBay and the seller.When I buy something on eBay I tend to save the original listing page to a PDF file just to avoid any issues if the seller tries to change the item conditions, terms and photos. Nowadays eBay saves a copy for you, but I still don't trust them 100%.

author: jancumps
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 02, 2018, 12:10:44 pm
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on May 02, 2018, 12:02:45 pmyes:https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tektronix-P6137-Oscilloscope-Probe/152979784643?hash=item239e4e43c3:g:BqEAAOSwFHNazj3g

author: GerryBags
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2018, 12:16:58 pm
content: I don't actually see the probe tip in the picture, but the listing was for "used" not "useless".

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2018, 01:08:07 pm
content: I am not exactly sure what you call "tip", but in the photograph I don't see a metallic tip on the probe - perhaps a JPG artifact?If not, the seller did not seem to have removed it after the sale and therefore his message makes sense.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2018, 01:38:04 pm
content: The photo does show the tip missing, so I doubt if you have a leg to stand on. But if I'd been buying that I would have completely missed that there wasn't a tip too.

author: GerryBags
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2018, 01:49:39 pm
content: I am going to wear it, as I really should have been more careful scrutinizing the pics, I DID get a bargain, however you look at it, and I've found a brand new probe tip in UK stock. The rest of the probe is in great condition so for less than £60 I will have ended up with a good probe. I won't be buying anything else from the dude, though.Thanks for the responses and perspective, guys!

author: Acecool
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2018, 04:08:56 am
content: I purchased 2 monitor mounts from Suptek through Amazon...They were both purchased on a Prime account, and NEW... but I received 2 used items... They were thrown in the box, and one was missing parts... They didn't have user manuals...The C Clamp desk mounted version ( which I kept but am still fighting with them ) someone screwed the pole into the base and stripped the threads so it's locked in, but it isn't even flush... Additionally, the pole is bent...Absolutely disgusting - it also whines when I move it - but I need it for my broken neck / back / severe nerve damage issue so I can move the main 4k monitor ( other 3 to 5 are stationary around it until I get more mounts ) so I can lean in my chair and have the monitor come to me..Overall the unit isn't bad aside from the wining when I move it at times - and the missing cable management for the lower portion - and the upper cable management can only hold a single speaker wire - no room for others and the plastic thing will pop out if thicker or heavier wire is in it.... It is adjustable gas spring / piston or whatever and can hold a heavy weight - my monitor is 28" but I've seen people using these for TVs..The wall mounted one I bought I returned....If I can get the pole out, I am going to see about buying a TALL one, then buying another desk mounted one then simply add it to the top of the pole and add a 3d printed bracket to go from the pole to a stud or something... or I'll simply buy a wire thing so the pole won't move... Or I'll just 3D print pucks and fill the pole... that would strengthen them - when I get a 3d printer anyways...

author: Jamebonds1
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 12, 2018, 01:13:21 am
content: This is not about me but my brother has accident bought a counterfeiter charger for laptop. Because of this, it break jack port. So I had to replaced it. Really hard. Always buying ASUS charger.

author: TRN
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 16, 2018, 11:14:54 am
content: Here is my experience with a Chinese online retailer;Never buy anything from Light In The Box!LITB is a Chinese company, and my experience with Chinese online retailers is that 1) their sites are confusing and misleading, 2) they never admit if they make a mistake and 3) customer support is a fiction and does not exist.On 10 May I bought 2 cameras at LITB and they charged the following amounts 2 each cameras: EUR 353.20 Shipping & insurance: EUR 47.86 Import Duties and taxes: EUR 20.10 Total: EUR 421.16 The cameras were delivered by PostNL on 15 May with as sender name LITB Europe in Zwolle. PostNL normally charges EUR 24.50 for a package of that size and weight, incl. Insurance, so when I asked customer service why they had charged EUR 47.86 for the shipment, and on top of that another EUR 20.10 for import duties and taxes, they first gave me all kind of evasive excuses. Then they said the package was sent from Poland, (even though PostNL had confirmed to me that the package was sent from the Netherlands). In addition, LITB said that the EUR 20.10 was VAT, which is impossible because it is equivalent to 20.10 * 100 / 353.20 = 5.69% of the purchase price. While VAT in the Netherlands is 21% and in Poland it is 23%.To make a long story short, it is now 16 June, and after 30+ ticket messages with their so called customer support, and supervisors, who first of all never read what you have written, and simply ignore your questions / comments, and Second, do not try to solve the problem, but try to make it clear in all kind of ways, that LITB has not made a mistake, but that you as a customer simply do not understand the bill correctly.So I still have not recovered the incorrectly charged amount.My advice is to buy nothing LIGHTINTHEBOX because if something goes wrong with the purchase, you can shake it, and you need to hire a lawyer to achieve your right!

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2018, 10:24:16 pm
content: Sometimes these companies sent complete containers with inventory to Europe and ship it locally to customers. They do pay vat when the container enters Europe, only exception I heard of is if it is sent from HongKong to Great Brittain, not sure if that is correct though. From GB to any other EU country is then 0 vat.

author: TRN
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 18, 2018, 01:30:14 pm
content: Yes that is correct,Light In The Box has local warehouses in Europe, but they don't tell you where these are, and it is impossible to find any information about the whereabouts on the internet.The point is that even if they ship goods container-wise to Europe, they will have to pay VAT; and VAT for electronic goods is 23% in Poland, and 21% in the Netherlands and Belgium.So the EUR 20.10 they charged me as "import duties and taxes", and later claimed that this was VAT cannot be correct, because it represents only 5.69% of the purchase price.Furthermore they claimed that the package was shipped from Poland, although the package label was from PostNL, and a return address in the Netherlands.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2018, 01:37:21 pm
content: Quote from: TRN on June 18, 2018, 01:30:14 pmSo actually you are complaining that they made you pay too little tax ?It is weird yes, that they pay less tax can be because they deduct the shipping costs, storage costs, administrative costs and net profit before paying import duties. So say they put $100 on their camera for import and they have to pay $30 tax and duties, if they sell the camera from the Netherlands for €353 they should put 21% on top of it. So yeah something fishy is going on but it looks like you profit from it ?

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2018, 07:53:54 pm
content: Funny as I think about experiencing bad shopping, I see this thread. My bad experience is driving to my local Costco which is about 5 miles away. The roads are in such poor condition that they make me drive slowly and I am afraid of getting into road rage because I slow for the pot holes. I am amazed how fast people drive through pot holes. I live in San Diego and fear for my life because of the roads.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2018, 08:21:58 pm
content: Easy solution, if a civilian here gets damage to its car due to a bad road, the city pays the damage.We have excellent roads

author: jotrinelectronics
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2018, 06:20:38 am
content: i buy electronic parts by steady distributor

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2018, 03:28:39 am
content: In 2014 I brought a hard drive on Ebay described as new old stock from some seller I think Portugal and they have been around for a couple of years but started selling things.Seagate stopped selling 2.5inch 7200 rpm drives for a while until recently. One of my customers wanted the drive that I used to disk image all the stuff across from his broken drive as he noticed it was much quicker on his laptop when came round to get some work from it. Can't have my as it was for my work. I told him I can't get hold of 7200 rpms drive anymore and the if I can look on Ebay as I got the other parts from there for his laptop.The seller was selling some low capacity drives I think it was a 200gb or 250gb new and advertised as old stock and I paid a little more.No negative feedback from the seller so I ordered it.A drive turned up in a jiffy bag in some sealed anti static bag.There was a returns label with an address from Portugal on the back so it had be from that seller.I told the seller that it was inadequate but I got some arrogance back that it was "acceptable" nevermind whether it was crushed depending on what was put on it by chance.Out came the camera to picture every step of the way from unpackaging to testing. Coloured and brown copper joints and date of manufacture was in 2011. In 2011 there was hard drive shortage due to floods, supplies ran out the prices went up so just looking at that there was no way it could not have been old stock.I connected it up and no clicking.All the sensors showed 0 no power on hours and started to count on Gsmartcontrol.It looked suspicious. Connected to up to the other one that I use just for MHDD in dos.Many slow and bad sectors were showing up.I looked at a tool called HD sentinel, it reported about something about some altered checksum value.Obviously they hooked up to the serial port on the drive to reset the counters and make it not to count bad sectors.I made a case on Ebay with all the pictures and testing and I notice lots of new negative feedback appearing on the profile.I phoned Ebay up and they had some team look at it.They said I'll have to wait some weeks to get my money back.Four hours later the seller wanted to pay me back small little amounts.The next day Paypal refunded me full out of surprise and his account disappeared.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2018, 09:58:59 pm
content: Thanks for sharing. I have seen so many mess ups with mechanical drives (HDDs, CD/DVD/BR) that I tend to be very afraid of buying any NOS drives. I am always afraid of having a working drive but with severely reduced reliability.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2018, 10:36:04 pm
content: Quote from: jotrinelectronics on August 13, 2018, 06:20:38 amThen all you have to do is depend on your trusted distributor to not source any counterfeit goods.We have seen counterfeit stuff get into the distribution channel at almost every point.

author: peteb2
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2019, 08:55:28 pm
content: Quote from: ez24 on June 18, 2018, 07:53:54 pmSounds like a trend to save Public Money when it comes to roadway maintenance. Here in wee Auckland, New Zealand the City Council has virtually given up on Pothole repairing and adopted paying those who complain with a smashed-to-bits-alloy wheelrim off their car that cost 1000$ to replace, should they have hit a hole. You can also hassle them for the cost of a wheelalignment but it's all a huge fight. As a result some enterprising folks paint warnings on the roadway around the real nasty Potholes with a HUGE dick-pick in spraybomb bright pink paint that lasts all of a day as the Council sends out a roadway repair gang to paint it out with black paint and do zip-nadda about the actual pothole!On the shopping side, many carparks aren't being maintained to the point that the businesses who rent the building spaces take it upon themselves to fill the holes with colourful potted flowering plants and new roadcones as a warning to motorists.

author: TiN
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2019, 10:54:00 am
content: Beware ebay buyerpacifictesteq.They bought an item (I've accepted their offer on auction) from me (PCBA from HP DMM) and didn't pay, nor didn't reply any communication attempts. Waited 2 weeks till ebay allowed unpaid case to be closed. Not a bleep from seller.

author: syau
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2019, 01:52:24 am
content: Got a extremely bad experience with an evilbay seller. Bought a tektronix dual x-y scope 603 + 604, received on a tight fitted cartoon box with just cardboard and plastic wrapping around the scope.After spending some effort to unwrap and found glass sliding inside the unit. Large piece of glass start falling out from the end cover.Contacted the seller and he claim that the glass was left over from previous CRT replacement. Power applied and the 603 side surely dead and the 604 come up with dual dot which the center dot not movable !Contacted the seller again and he said the 604 side is normal with 2 dots and the 603 side need some time to warm up.After escalated the case to evilbay, he suddenly send me money to my paypal account asking me to ship the unit back.I bet I shouldn’t send the unit back unless evilbay instructed me to do so. Without sending the unit back, I at least have a broken one. If send back and the seller didn’t refund then I am in a double lost condition.Am I right ?

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2019, 02:22:40 am
content: This may vary by country, but I think you're OK to send it back providing it is tracked (so you have proof that you did send it and that he received it). Make sure the funds he's sent cover that cost and ensure you have photos.However, before doing that I'd get in writing that he will refund your entire transaction (including original shipping). If you need to escalate to Ebay then that's a pretty good guarantee you'll win it. And don't do any of this via email - always send messages via Ebay so they have a record of them.

author: syau
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2019, 02:53:02 am
content: Thanks for the advise, will have his written guarantee that he will refund my entire transaction (including original shipping) but he is the type of person very difficult to deal with as he just send me the shipping cost with the value he think suitable (I told him that I will get a quote first but he not listen)

author: FrankBuss
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 31, 2019, 07:52:31 am
content: Some bad batteries:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/dodgy-technology/9900-mah-18650-accus/But I got a full refund.And adeleparts2010 is selling fake ICs. I boughtsome YM2151, which are fake, already sent one to Zeptobars for decapping, including a working genuine one. Refund request started. He writes back that he wants me to send it back. I answered that it is illegal in my country to send counterfeit products, so I can't send it back

author: TRN
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 06, 2020, 04:37:39 pm
content: Hi guys; here is another "bad shopping experience".On June 21 I bought Item: 283919963673 (R&S RTO-B1 Mixed Signal pods & Accessory Kit) on eBay from surplusseller75440 (microwave75440 / texasmicrowave.com)I paid a total of $422.26 ($300.00 purchase / $28.25 shipping $94.01 Import charges) with PayPal.Almost immediately after the sale this order was canceled by surplusseller75440 with as reason that eBay had put a 21 day hold on my payment, and that they couldn't wait that long for their money, and $422.26 was credited into my account.So I contacted surplusseller75440, and they told me that if I was still interested in the item he would need my PayPal address, so they could send me a PayPal invoice.So I did this, and shortly after received an Invoice for $349,50 ($300,00 purchase / $49,50 shipping) from kelly@texasmicrowave.com, which I paid wit PayPal on June 22.After this I had to send them 11 emails requesting confirmation of shipping and the courier name with tracking number, to receive 1 response saying that they had shipped the package with USPS, and that "their packing company" had sent me the tracking number.So after another 5+ emails which stated that I had never received the tracking number, and requesting to re-send it, they responded that they could contact "their packing company" to see if could re-send it.Well it is now the 6th of august, I never received my package, nor did I receive the tracking number, so I opened a claim with PayPal, and hope to get my money back.My advise; do not buy anything from texasmicrowave.com, unless you live in their neighborhood and can pick up the package yourself.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2020, 06:27:29 pm
content: QuoteBetter advice would be to not send money outside of Ebay for an Ebay sale. One hopes the vendor didn't suggest the funds were sent 'friend or family' or, if they did, you nevertheless classed it as funds for goods/services.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2020, 07:57:31 pm
content: Quote from: dunkemhigh on August 06, 2020, 06:27:29 pmI agree with that, as you lose the eBay buyer protection.This company has an interesting webpage, linked to what it seems an umbrella e-commerce site. I wonder what is the financial situation of a company that is unable to sustain themselves for 21 days, but in 2020 all bets are off.Good luck with your transaction

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2020, 03:16:30 am
content: QuoteNot half!Quote from: TMS webpageQuote from: TMS webpage

author: eplpwr
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2020, 05:41:42 am
content: Last weekend PayPal decided that my account with them is "limited". According to their FAQ you're supposed to get an explanation of "why" in an e-mail from them. No such thing.If you ever try to get in touch with PP, all your mail replies will be auto-generated by a robot that triggers on some stray word in the message header or body.Every new mail will get the same robotic response. Having your acct limited is like having it terminated but worse.PP is also the Credit Card processor for eBay, so all transactions with "PP known" CC:s will be denied. Thus, "limited" by PP = no eBay. After some googling, a picture of an ultimately evil company - PayPal - reveals itself.My chances to communicate with a human at PayPal in the next 10 years is essentially zero. Even their contact forms only allow you to choose from pre-defined topics, no free text for you!Luckily, I've only used PP for purchases linked to CC:s; I never had funds with PP. If you have funds with PP withdraw them as fast as you can, many people have got their accounts limited/frozen and then PP simply confiscate their funds.Sigh.

author: Ed.Kloonk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2020, 07:57:51 am
content: Quote from: eplpwr on October 09, 2020, 05:41:42 amYep. Bye PP. Nice knowing you.

author: kawal
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2021, 02:32:22 pm
content: Got a nice power supply from Ebay . Unfortunately the packing was not up to the weight of the item and that cause massive damage. The seller tried to pack well but used low density foam for such a heavy unit. Shame to have this happen to such a nice supply.Sellermsc-llc 100% positive so might be just bad luck.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 26, 2021, 03:04:51 pm
content: Ooof... That is brutal.My current beef is with Aneng store at Aliexpress. They did not send a DMM and keep insisting in sending another one or sending bungled messages. That with them postponing the deadlines as most as possible.I am at a very close end of the dispute deadline. I'll let you know how that goes.

author: kawal
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2021, 01:26:25 am
content: Seller actually responded the next day and refunded me. Let me keep the leftovers for spare parts. So actually a good seller after all. But packing such a heavy unit needs more attention. This supply is over 60lbs. It's a monster.

author: ct1bxt
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2021, 12:23:41 am
content: Quote from: kawal on February 26, 2021, 02:32:22 pmHi,had the same problem few years ago whit a scope.They trow it to the floor and unfortunately broke the inside of cynoscope .RegardsRodrigo

author: Leo Bodnar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2021, 01:49:23 pm
content: A gentleman called Lothar Baier who runshttp://texasmicrowave.comscammed me last year for $250 on eBay.After waiting a month and not receiving my $250 eBay order (for which I never had a tracking number) he sent a "replacement."This has not arrived by the end of generous multi-months eBay delivery window either, so I have opened the non-delivery complaint with eBay.eBay has initiated a refund, PayPal sent me the money back and after confirming to eBay that I got the money the complaint got closed.Now things got weird. Remember, this is now many months after I have bought the item.I have suddenly received the "second" shipment delivered to the office (while I was working from home and was not immediately aware of it arriving.)Almost immediately I get a very aggressive eBay message from Lothar who claims he knows I have received the goods and I am a lawless cheater and should pay him for his goods he knows I have. He mentions everything that is wrong with me, including my dishonesty, lack of ethics, fraud and outright criminal intent.I politely point out that the order was by all means considered lost, even though it was actually found and delivered and I am not the one to be blamed for that.He increases pressure, calling me a criminal, and threatening legal action claiming he has a team of lawyers here in the UK who have successfully prosecuted many of his eBay scammer customers like me. He "gives me" a deadline to either pay or return the product at my cost with tracked and signed delivery to a German(?) address - even though I bought it from the US.He was so threatening that I had to contact eBay abuse and threats helpline to ask what to do. eBay assured me that I was right, the item was technically lost and I should have receive the refund. They suggested forwarding the chat log to him.I have passed my eBay chat log to Lothar who refused to accept it, calimed that he contacted eBay too and was told by eBay I was a scammer, and my eBay account will be taken down (of course it wasn't.)Seeing that this keeps escalating and we are not making any progress and after giving it a calm think I thought I'd take the high road and since, indeed, I have got his goods maybe I should just pay him back and forget this altogether.So, feeling defeated, I agreed to pay him $250 - again - (for goods I, arguably, didn't need) and asked him to send me a PayPal invoice.Immediately got the invoice. Paid it right away.You'd think we are square? Think again.In a few days I receive a PayPal email that my original $250 refund from texasmicrowave has been cancelled and money taken back from my account.After ringing PayPal they said there is nothing they can do - the refund has been made with eCheck that has bounced weeks later because the seller never had any funds in his PayPal in the first place.I went to PayPal to see if I can request a cancellation or at least put a claim against second PayPal payment to Lothar. It turns out the invoice was made in such a way that transaction cannot be disputed.Meanwhile, Lothar blames PayPal, promises to sort it out, promises to ring PayPal, promises to put $250 cash in his account, promises to refund again, definitely next week because it's Friday, certainly in two weeks when account funds arrive, etc, etc, etc. After another month or two nothing changes so I decide to appeal to eBay. Unfortunately, now it is half a year since original auction so they have removed it altogether and I have lost the ability to communicate with texasmicrowave via eBay messages.I keep emailing Lothar every month asking to return one of my $250 payments to him but don't get anywhere. I find it almost funny that after he called me immoral scum for illegally taking his property I now have to ask him to return my money for almost a year with no result.Recently, after another email asking him to return my $250 he suddenly got aggressive and claimed that he has no idea what this is all about and I am just a general scammer trying to get money out of him out of the blue.So here we go - a cautionary tale for you.LeoP.S. I am thinking that I should go ahead and open an unpaid debt claim in TX, USA. Has anyone done this remotely from the UK? What are my options?

author: schmitt trigger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2021, 02:46:14 pm
content: Quote from: kawal on February 26, 2021, 02:32:22 pmLike the Rolling Stones song says, watching those photos “makes a grown man cry”.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2021, 02:57:31 pm
content: QuoteGosh, that's a clever scam if you have the patience. Thanks for making us aware of it.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2021, 03:57:47 pm
content: Quote from: Leo Bodnar on May 15, 2021, 01:49:23 pmWow, blast from the past. We used to have endless discussions about Lothar's misdeeds on the Yahoo Groups mailing lists, e.g.:https://groups.io/g/HP-Agilent-Keysight-equipment/topic/24807073Amazing that he's still up to the same tricks 10 years later.

author: aldupon
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 17, 2021, 11:15:25 am
content: Hello to all,A real bad 'experience' with AliExpress and his seller Ecoolkey Technology... last yearI did buy a iPhone 7 for my wife's birthday.... had sound problems, the person called did loose the caller (fading) from time to time...Did send back the iPhone, and confinement arrived.... the seller didn't try to get the parcel to the custom's.... so the package did come back to me....(took more than 90 days) and after many exchanges with the seller and absolutely no help from AliExpress, even after 4 calls to the client support... the seller offered to exchange the iPhone on warranty.... but sorry the warranty had passed days ago... so I have a broken iPhone 7 ( I did make an expertise at Apple, but they would replace the iPhone for about the same price I already payed )DON't Buy anything from AliExpress and his seller Ecoolkey Technology, they are f* bastards!

author: sordid_resistor
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 20, 2021, 06:36:33 am
content: Quote from: Leo Bodnar on May 15, 2021, 01:49:23 pmWow that is some complicated scam scheme, is it a scam or a person who is mixed up? I've had similar kind of abusive situation regarding another activity I'm involved with, so I recognise the tactic. Obviously an unworthy person, proceed on that basis.I know it's easy with hindsight. That threat about legal action, team of lawyers here in the UK, is the warning signal, like a watty resistor giving off smoke. Call his bluff, ask for the papers, they'll not arrive.PayPal was good when it first got going (to lure us in), now it seems to have turned into a monster, there is a move to close access to accounts, AI is on the move and PP is a part of that. (AI as in automated "intelligence" - computers "dealing" with human interactions)Times are changing (to our detriment), we need to be more carefull than ever.Where to go for a refund is tricky, the seller will be well versed in all the tricks. Time for a lot of reading methinks, however not being in the US and I hear TX as a state has a lot of serious political issues to deal with.With the unworthy seller I mentioned earlier, for the past 20 years (since we did business) I have made people aware on the various public message boards. I was careful to publish only facts I could substantiate and over the years many other people did the same thing. 4 years ago I met a person to buy some kit, who mentioned the guy's name and went on to describe the exact same situation I was complaining about!? The outcome being, make the unworthy seller come up in searches so people can check before entering into a deal with them.

author: TRN
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 20, 2021, 05:32:37 pm
content: The people who operate Texas microwave are crooks, and everybody should avoid doing business with them.I had a more or less similar experience with them last year when I purchased an R&S RT-B1 kit from them on eBay.I already posted a comment about this last year, and I am repeating it again, just as an advice to newcomers.On June 21 I bought Item: 283919963673 (R&S RTO-B1 Mixed Signal pods & Accessory Kit) on eBay from surplusseller75440 (microwave75440 / texasmicrowave.com)I paid a total of $422.26 ($300.00 purchase / $28.25 shipping $94.01 Import charges) with PayPal.Almost immediately after the sale this order was canceled by surplusseller75440 with as reason that eBay had put a 21 day hold on my payment, and that they couldn't wait that long for their money, and $422.26 was credited into my account.So I contacted surplusseller75440, and they told me that if I was still interested in the item he would need my PayPal address, so he could send me a PayPal invoice.I did this, and shortly after received an Invoice for $349,50 ($300,00 purchase / $49,50 shipping) from kelly@texasmicrowave.com, which I paid wit PayPal on June 22.After this I sent Kelly 11 emails requesting confirmation of shipping and the courier name with tracking number, and only received 1 response saying that they had shipped the package with USPS, and that "their packing company" had sent me the tracking number.So after sending another 5+ emails stating that I had never received the tracking number, and requesting to re-send it, they responded that they could contact "their packing company" to see if they could re-send it.I also called their registered phone number 1-903-474-7943 several times on the 24th, 25th & 26th of June,and all I heard was an automated message saying that the person from this number hasn’t setup a mailbox yetOn the 6th of august, I still hadn't received my package, nor did I receive the tracking number, so I opened a claim with PayPal, and after a while got my money back.My advise; do not buy anything from texasmicrowave.com, unless you live in their neighborhood and can pick up the package yourself.

author: EPAIII
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2021, 10:59:37 pm
content: Proper packing is a subject unto itself. Over the years I have been the person to receive many items of expensive, electronic equipment. Most were packed professionally by a knowledgeable shipping department of a major company and they usually arrived in mint condition. But when the packing was done by a new-comer the damage was usually predictable from the way the item was packed. One of the best methods I have seen is the double box with sufficient packing material in both of them. My rule is there should be at least one inch of packing material on ALL sides of the item and that applies to the SPACE between the inner box and the outer one. But some items do need individual consideration.Another very good way is to use that spray can foam that is available at hardware stores, Great Stuff is one brand. A bottom plastic bag is placed in the box and the foam is sprayed in it to about the 1/3 level in the box. Then, before the foam hardens, that bag is sealed and the item is placed onto the top of the bag and allowed to sink in about half way. Then another plastic bag is placed on top of the item and it is filled with the foam to the top of the box. The bag is folded over and the box is closed. If there is at least one inch of foam on all sides of the item, this is almost bullet proof. And the receiver only has to lift the top bag of foam off and take the item out. The first time I saw this I was amazed.Oh, and on that "all sides" thing. The BOTTOM does count. In fact, the bottom is the most important side to have good packing.Quote from: kawal on February 26, 2021, 02:32:22 pm

author: EPAIII
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2021, 11:15:25 pm
content: This may not apply world wide, but for the buyers in the US it is almost a bullet proof way to prevent being swindled.US law and/or banking regulations provide a LOT of protection against fraud via a credit card. I ALWAYS pay for any web purchases and for most of my local, in person purchases, with a CREDIT CARD. The credit card companies (banks) are very attentive to fraudulent purchases made with their credit cards.What do you have to do to get this protection?1. Use a CREDIT card to make the purchase. I emphasized the word "CREDIT" because I think that DEBIT cards probably work differently. Debit cards are similar to a cash transaction or a check written on your checking account at your bank. Once the money is gone, it very well may be just that, GONE. Use a CREDIT card.2. If you are the victim of fraud, REPORT it to the credit card company in a prompt manner. 30 days is best, but do report it as soon as possible. And do so IN WRITING! Sure, call them, but back it up with a paper and ink letter that has your signature. Yes, it will cost a stamp, but that is peanuts vs. the amount you may lose.3. Keep on top of it. Do not let the credit card company just let it drop from inattention.And I have personally had fraudulent amounts reversed by the credit card company/bank on some web transactions. One such incident went back over a year and involved a company that seemed to go out of business, but still collected monthly payments from my credit card. I got every penny back simply by following the above three steps.Even if you use PayPal or another similar service, you can specify that the funds for the purchase be taken from your credit card account. I do that all the time.I have never lost a penny with internet purchases just by following this simple practice: always use a credit card.

author: gameru
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2021, 09:01:07 am
content: I bought a power supply from Aliexpress (RD Official Store)He sent me a refurbished power supply. He sent me the power supply without that foil.But it had foil!Because the pieces of foil stuck to the power supply.Especially around the screws And with a broken seal.After this I asked for a refund and gave him negative feedback and after that he also gave me negative feedback

author: Leo Bodnar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2021, 05:17:36 pm
content: I have tried to buy some ICs from WIN-SOURCE based on octopart.com recommendation.WIN-SOURCE website listed them as 4000 in stock for $2.56 so I bought 118 ICs (highest price break) for $302 total.Their stock level immediately dropped by 118 units.Paid right away and got the order confirmation.Nothing happened for a week.Emailed them - they replied that they have been on a week long holiday two weeks ago, celebrating National Day (sic) and had a lot of orders to ship but now will get to mine right away.Then they emailed me to say that the market is difficult and they have adjusted (increased) the price from$2.56to$3.32so unless I pay them another$89they won't ship the order.I have told them that I am actually looking to buy a few thousands of these ICs (which is true) but bought 118 just to see if WIN-SOURCE is trustworthy to which I now have doubts (which is also true.)They said: nope, no mistake, no money - no honey. But they will be happy to cancel the order and refund payment.I have requested cancellation and refund. But this has not happened either.After waiting some more I had to open a PayPal dispute.---So, maybe think twice when buying from WIN-SOURCE. Unless I was just unlucky?

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2021, 05:58:04 pm
content: I ordered something (20-30 USD) from one of the major Chinese websites (AliExpress or somesuch, I can't remember.)But my bank (Bank of America) decided that ordering something directly from a Chinese online seller was too dodgy and they refused the payment. When I contacted them, they said that I confirmed it was a legitimate request and that they would honor the transaction if I tried it again.BUT, the Chinese seller decided that the buyer (me) was too dodgy to trust with annother attempt, so they required all sorts of documentation that I was unwilling to give to ANY seller, much less some alleyway gang in Schenzen(?)So, the distrust escalated on both sides to the point where I don't see any way of ever ordering anything from a direct Chinese seller. But perhaps that is a good thing to curb my lust for cheap electronic trinkets.

author: trebejo
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2021, 05:37:06 pm
content: This didn't happen to me, but to a complete stranger." 1 out of 5 stars'Metal has sharp broken edges. I cut myself, taking it out of the package. Very poorly made.'By LVO on December 9, 2021.Message from Amazon: This item was fulfilled by Amazon, and we take responsibility for this fulfillment experience."I guess the actual physical cut has to hurt more than the response. I guess. Crossing out the words as a response is just a bonus.

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2022, 09:59:10 pm
content: Arrgh..That is just horrid, I really hope you get your money back and then some.Fuck- $3000.And it sounds like they are well experienced at ripping people off.. I hope they get caught, and nailed.Quote from: pablofg on July 17, 2014, 07:11:34 am

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2022, 08:00:55 pm
content: One for UK ebay users to avoid, seller name: abduken0Sent me a duff ADF4351 synthesiser module, uncommunicative when I asked for a return, had to get ebay to step in. Then tried to scam me out of return postage. The 100k 99% positive feedback is a joke, don't believe it.

author: Matt Coates
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2022, 10:28:29 pm
content: I purchased an ESD bag sealer for £240 from what I though was a reputable supplier here -https://www.antistaticesd.co.uk/shop/anti-static-bags-esd-shielding-bags/esd-bag-sealer/I was told they were out of stock but they'd order me one in. This EXACT item is what turned up 1 week later...https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nestling%C2%AE-Plastic-Impulse-Quality-Packing/dp/B0839DKSJH/ref=pd_day0fbt_img_2/259-8604477-8422001?pd_rd_w=iU6o2&pf_rd_p=93e1d4b1-bb8c-45f0-baaf-a13934852b31&pf_rd_r=FBTD1P6ZQEV1BTPCQHE5&pd_rd_r=a948e3f2-395d-46c2-828b-f0027813181a&pd_rd_wg=GAk3U&pd_rd_i=B0839DKSJH&th=1Clearly someone is trying to take the piss.

author: TRN
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 14, 2022, 11:47:26 am
content: Well.The sealer looks ok, but the price they charged you is exorbitant.Did you complain with the supplier?

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2022, 09:39:18 pm
content: Years ago I had to remind sellers not to forget the anti static bag.Now they just ignore me or don't bother reading the notes:They have accepted a return which is decent but that's a shame given it was at a good price.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2022, 06:55:00 am
content: Quote from: Leo Bodnar on May 15, 2021, 01:49:23 pmNot entirely similar to your experience which sounds awful, but this last week I put in a lowball offer for a very tatty, incomplete Kenwood R1000 (of which a good example would usually sell for ~£100 if in decent condition up to ~£150 in excellent boxed and complete condition) figuring there'd be a little back and forth and perhaps we could meet somewhere in the middle at around £60-65.Not a chance, I got an abusive message from the seller which, stupidly, I replied to explaining why I offered what I did.What happened next was just surreal, the seller sent messages via the eBay service, eventually saying they had my address and that I was putting my family in danger which I regard as a threat.eBay of course did absolutely sod all.Another bad experience with a UK seller (and I think the 'owner' of a very popular retro computing Youtube channel) where they left me feedback 'buyer wants everything perfect, avoid' after I'd complained about their piss poor packaging which destroyed a 48 pin shrink DIP IC socket in the post and also destroyed the replacement even after I told him I was happy to pay a little more for better packing.

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2022, 12:47:22 pm
content: You can't fix stupid, you have to wait for Darwinism to take effect.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2022, 01:49:56 pm
content: Quote from: CJay on May 06, 2022, 06:55:00 amI'd call the police and maybe take out a harassment order.I was working at this firm when I came across an ebay seller just like that, it was to do with a card printer, I made some inquires on increasing the manufacturer's warranty that was listed with it and turned out it was fake they didn't not have such an agreement, so when I investigated they copied someone else's listing word by word picture by picture sold without the warranties. Their listing wasn't their own. I asked them not to send out the printer and reported them. Ebay customer services agreed, organized a refund, and to cancel the order. The seller still sent out the printer with tracking after I asked them not to, it never arrived anyway but accused me a day after of receiving it and keeping the money despite their tracking showing nothing arrived.They they started threatening me saying they know people in the area etc etc that they will be getting it back.I had a right go at them threatening to involve the police.I said it was quite simple, if you want it back you deal with the courier. We have cameras here, if you turn up and start causing trouble you will have a lot more problems to deal with than picking up a parcel that we don't have yet and neither does your own tracking support it. If it turns up, tracked or untracked, I'll let you know, then you can arrange for it to be collected at your own expense.QuoteThere were a few times about 10 years ago this happened to me with all sorts of things I brought off ebay.One time I found a set of brackets for a customer which I had difficulty finding as there wasn't much of them about especially on Ebay at the time for this particular model. Seeing how it was the only reasonably priced one I can fine, the next one was over seas and overpriced and with many parcels getting damaged in the post I explained this to the seller and specified how I wanted it packed in bubblewrap and thick strong cardboard and asked for how much. The seller replied, it's fine and not to worry but sent it poorly packaged in some thin bubblewrap in a bag where they got bent and one snapped.The seller refunded me issued me a refund straight after reporting the damage without saying anything or a care in the world.

author: arcitech
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2022, 10:34:34 pm
content: "Item Condition: New"...right bruv. new.

author: unknownparticle
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2022, 05:03:26 pm
content: Had a fairly perturbing situation with an ebay seller a few years back, here in the UK.It occurred due to the no arrival of an item I purchased from this nut job. I waited over 2 weeks, well past the indicated delivery time, then contacted him to advise non delivery. He responded by saying that tracking confirmed delivery 2 days before I contacted him, I replied saying that must be wrong because I was in that day and nothing had arrived.He then started to become hostile, saying I must be one of these scum bags that claims non delivery, even when it has been delivered, just to get a refund. I asked for proof of delivery. After a few days he sent this and the signature wasn't mine, just a scrawl. I told him that whatever had happened to it, it never arrived at my address and the signature was not mine and nothing like it, so refund me.I heard nothing back but a few days later there was a knock at the door, it was him, his wife and their dog! They started ranting and raving at me, accusing me of fraud and insisting that he was going to force his way in and search my house for the item to prove it! I told him to jog on and tried to shut the door and both he and his wife tried to force me back! I managed to close it, with great difficulty, then went to the window to watch them whilst I called the police. He was going insane with anger, shaking his fist at me and shouting threats and profanity, his wife was also joining in.It was then I played my ace card, I pointed up at the CCTV cam that looked at the front door, it also has audio!! it took him a while to realise what I meant, then he saw it! I also pointed at my phone and mouthed Police at him! I was on a 999 call as we spoke!The realisation then hit him and his wife! They started to walk away, still spouting off. The best bit was, his car was in the drive and another cam had his reg no.!This pair had driven about 175 miles to confront me, with nothing!!They had gone by the time the police arrived, but I had obtained their details from ebay, so made a statement and provided a copy of the CCTV recording.The Police said that even if I had done what they claimed, they would have been in serious trouble anyway, but as I was innocent of any offence or wrong doing they would be charged with attempted serious assault, attempted break in, threatening behavior with intent to cause harm, breach of the peace and a few other things. Enough to get their attention. It also transpired later that they had been questioning my neighbors, and a delivery driver who they happened to see!!It went to court about 5 months later, I had to appear as the only witness, but backed up with incriminating CCTV evidence. They were charged with attempted assault, attempted forced entry into a private residence, causing distress and anxiety and breach of the peace.Turned out he had a record of violent behavior, so it didn't go well for him! He got 24 months suspended, she got 6 months suspended.They were ordered to pay substantial compensation to me, plus my expenses for having to travel to a distant court. They were also ordered not to make any contact with me in any way, permanently.Ebay were advised of this situation and they permanently deleted their account and were told they would never be able to have another ebay account. Don't know about paypal. Whether they can get around the ebay ban is another matter.So, make sure you have CCTV guys, because without that I could never have proved what happened and they would have got away with it.There are some troubled individuals out there.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2022, 06:18:26 pm
content: Blimey! At least there was resolution for that one, but it would be far better not to have that hassle in the first place.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2022, 11:46:59 pm
content: Depending on the place in the world, the issue would have been solved quicker, although with much more dire consequences...https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_doctrine

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2022, 08:27:31 pm
content: I had been sold many times before used things advertised as new where I'd report and take action if they cost considerably or are in bad condition.I reminded a seller to remember the anti static bag for some ram that I just ordered and they replied that they always do that.A Lenovo M92p minipc arrived today.For the small box and the weight of that thing I would have expected bubble wrap outside or a larger boxI heard a rattle and as I opened it I found one screw loose:I didn't want to take a chance with it as I wouldn't know what damage that could have caused so I started a return and seller approved. Seller said it was a caddy screw. I thought fair enough, it's only one and accidents like this can happen.When putting it back I heard a little rattle and then other screws fell out behind the fan with one crushed up against the board.Crushed up aganst board when I removed the fan:See the scratch marks on that die on closeup:All Four caddy screws like someone just thrown them in there for me instead of putting them in a bag in the packaging.I am not sure if it was an accident that I'd like to think or whoever put it there thought it was acceptable.Now I have ask sellers to check for these things too.

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2022, 08:22:40 am
content: How broken is the ebay app these days? I bought something yesterday, and despite being theonlybidder, it took13 minutesfrom auction close to being declared the winner.

author: arcitech
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 01, 2022, 08:28:02 pm
content: Got an old 87 that appeared to be in decent shape. “Used” condition, which on eBay in the biz/ind category has rather stringent requirements.It shows up, and where the two (of three total) enclosure posidrive fasteners under the battery door are gone. Rings of rust highlight where they once sat.I open it up, and the thing is just uniformly coated with rust particulate. Seems like it probably sat out in a garden shed for a decade or more while the screws gave way to entropy.One of those rotting screws also took a stand-off (plastic, integral, also one of three) along with it.Pinged the guy politely. Boy oh boy was he proud of how accurate his cal was in his response — the cal that, of course, relied on the rust staying in place. He closed the door on any dialogue. I gave nearly zero ducks, as it didn’t cost a heap.A week and a half later, I find myself yanking its input terminal block for use in an 87III that arrived with sheared block posts, and upon removing a fuse to make the job simpler, lo and behold there are two parallel 10ohm resistors bridging the HRC cartridge (with solder just as shiny as his dots on the battery lead he admitted to replacing), which was of course open. These teensy doodads were positioned to minimize likelihood of being spotted, of course.This willful negligence & reckless deception is beyond acceptable, I think to myself, and send a photo of what I’ve found. I then open a return, of course he’s stubbornly righteous and claims he won’t take it back as I ripped out wires (a bold take on snipping resistor leads) and shouldn’t have torn it down. I take the stance from the outset that I don’t plan to send it back, and plan to let eBay decide the outcome after the precursory few days lapse.He’s got the balls once I’m able to escalate to call the fuse “repaired” — yeah guy, you must live in a world where an airbag is repacked into a steering wheel.Scumbag works on avionics. Jesus.Never buy from a guy whose username is the three letters by which a daily financial publication often goes. Or do, and enjoy ripping his work, and logic, apart, if you dig that sort of thing. You’ll get some free parts out of it, at least.IMHO he should’ve been banned from ever selling again.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 01, 2022, 10:41:39 pm
content: It isn't clear from your post: did the meter power up and work on all ranges, despite the rust and the fuse antics? lf so, AFAIK it is considered "used" but it is obviously in bad shape and previously "fixed".I would never sell such thing in this state, but if a buyer of mine complains of something inside a working equipment after opening it, I would also dispute back the buyer's claims.

author: arcitech
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2022, 04:38:48 am
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on October 01, 2022, 10:41:39 pmIt'd be downright stupid for me to have tested the meter in all ranges, without first sufficiently cleaning it. Perhaps you meant modes though, and in a sense, yep, it "worked" but certainly didn't meet two important core criteria: that the device function as intended and arrive without any key components missing. Check the condition requirements yourself for the business & industrial category's used condition. Simply being functional is insufficient.A foundational aspect of a handheld meter is inherent safety in a device intended to be touching both a human and voltages up to & including 1kV. Fasteners & fuses can be replaced. A standoff that's not just cracked, but totally absent, certainly can't without the entire front half of the housing being replaced.I did hope when initially reaching out to the seller that a fair partial refund would make things right. That wasn't an option for this indifferent and dismissively prideful arse though, and it didn't bother me until I much later found his lazy and willful effort to deceive, and for a component material to the device's safety.Yeah, there are probably enterprising idiots who try to make fraudulent claims that have no basis in fact or seller responsibility, but I'm not an idiot of that particular sort. And yes, sellers should certainly contest any claims where they've got even one leg to stand on, but this seller had none, and the righteousness all his messages were steeped in hopefully indicates there were lessons learned.

author: arcitech
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 12, 2022, 09:57:19 pm
content: An interesting sort of silver lining for the dark cloud that I suppose is this thread:The other day I spotted a New Open Box Fluke 87V/E2 Kit (a fabric case, some fancier leads & alligator doodads), TPAK. The box looked like it’d been through the war, but sure enough, all accessories were there.Something didn’t seem right with the meter at first glance. Ah, the shift button and secondary dial indicators: they weren’t yellow.Wait a minute, there’s not even text on the meter’s screen bezel.I wasn’t sure if it was an 83 or 85 or maybe even an older 87 but I sent a friendly note to the seller. Then I noticed the Amazon Warehouse tape on the exterior of the box in the pictures — that’s the branding they use (similar to Amazon Renewed) for selling returns that they’ve decided not to fraudulently sell as new (don’t get me started!).I figure some wannabe conman swapped in their old meter and maybe even the serial number sticker got migrated, then returned their “87V” back to Amazon thinking no one would be the wiser. And I’m guessing that, initially, nobody was. That’s the only way I could see that branded tape making its way onto that tattered retail box.I should get to learn the details for myself, because the seller thanked me and offered me a coupon to their store that mainly sold stuff I’m not interested in. They said they’d dispose of it, so I floated the idea of buying that now-delisted item for the accessories and to run a mock investigation on the meter (was it missing the whole display bezel? did the SN sticker get carefully migrated? etc.). They were game for a couple Jacksons and I’m smirking at the level of anxiousness for the postman to make his daily pass more than I think I’ve been for a long time.It’s a shame these sorts of bad actors kick off a sequence of events that can have a pretty long tail with several people getting ripped off after the fact. I’m honestly hopeful that there’s some possibility that either Amazon (who’d likely give no ducks) or Fluke would be interested in chasing down what, from my IANAL point of view, involves wire fraud, mail fraud, & almost certainly falls under federal jurisdiction. Even if I don’t get to indulge my dreams of being a tiny action figure-sized version of some superhero or another (imho this is far from a rat-class move), I did score some decent accessories and a random old meter for a deal, and helped shield who I’d imagine is a seller with no culpability in the fecal smears all over the situation.

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2022, 11:51:45 am
content: Also beware of the discount/bargain scam! Scammers use hacked reseller acounts to offer more expensive stuff (smartphones, coffee machines, ...) for a too-good-to-be-true price and try to lure the potential buyers away from the shopping platform for the payment, i.e. no buyer protection anymore. Either the product description includes a note like 'contact seller before buying' or the seller cancels the order and sends you an email. This scam is quite rampant at the moment.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2023, 05:58:56 pm
content: I was looking for some alcohol cleaner and ordered a few strengths from different sellers which turned up fine except for one.Listing states:"Fast Aid 70% AlcoholHands & Surface Cleaning Disinfectant Spray Sanitiser""FAST AID70% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA)Hand and Surface Disinfectant Spray"Listing photo shows a "Robinson Healthcare" branded bottle with 70% Isopropyl Alcohol.Received:Clinell Universal sprayIngredients:QuoteI don't see any 70% Isopropyl Alcohol in the ingredients above.A listing description of one brand and a picture of a another brand both showing 70% Isopropyl Alcohol and they sent out one with none.Opened a return and I think it will be fine from there.I cannot see this Clinell Universal spray listed on the other seller listings so it looks like it wasn't sent out by mistake.Some weeks ago I ordered 2x 8GB 1600mhz DDR3LPC3L-12800S as listed and pictured.They turned up packaged well in an anti static bag as I'd expect but it was a it is DDR3 slower speed PCL-10600 (1333MHz) non low power variant.The seller apologized and said that's all they had left in stock but could I test it to see if it works. I replied that I am sure it works but it is not what I ordered so returned that without a problem.Well at least they apologized but I'd imagine it would have been if they'd just cancel the order, a message explaining that they are out of stock and amend the listing than waste their time and money posting it.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2023, 06:46:32 pm
content: QuoteThey wanted you to try it so that they could then say that, well, it works so how about taking that and they'll give you a fiver discount. They most likely knew they had no stock of the faster stuff and are hoping that buyers will go for the slower one rather than have nothing for a bit longer. That's if they notice - a certain percentage of punters won't spot the difference.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2023, 01:03:47 am
content: Apparently it was banned in 2017 (EU and UK) and again at the end of 2022 (UK). I started a thread on it in Dodgy technology. It seems to me that they had been using old EU regulation (cherry picking old EU) in the safety documents about the side effects and safety.QuoteWhen it comes to things like this I don't usually "try" things anymore without careful consideration of what ingredients are inside.I remembered when I was over 8 or so I had a lot of problems cleaning my glasses.I didn't know at the time the plastic lens was the contributing factor.Years after I started to buy cleaner from the opticians in this small metal can with this provided cloth. I think they mentioned something about alcohol OR ethanol? on the back. Well some sell the cloth separately but it worked as long I don't use the used bits of the cloth.Now in 2000 or 2001, one day when one was empty I brought one it did absolutely nothing but smeared it making it worse.I was shocked. Is this spray faulty?I noticed something the can.Pretty decorations of flowers and trendy colourful writing. (Increased my anger like that would compensate and make me feel better like the prettiness of the packaging itself is more important than putting in the correct ingredients to properly clean my glasses.)And I see"alcohol free"something I don't remember seeing before.I went from opticians to opticians and all they sold the same "non alcohol" stuff under many different brand names. I tried a few and they were useless and did the same thing. I remembered being told by one optician thatit was government guidlines to help alcohol addicts off the smell of alcoholthe same style of bullshit was used when one optician refused to provide me with a replacement glass lens (when my previous one closed down) claiming that the government banned it and because "it is dangerous" and "glass is illegal", "where did you get them from?" when that wasn't the case. It was to do with some disclaimer form if they shattered and damaged my eyes to do with narrow lens but I have them now and never signed such a form.I found it was easier cleaning them with washing up liquid and very carefully using a damp tissue to wipe the residue off and I even found that difficult. Now with glass lenses the same ones i am using since 2009 they are so easy to clean. I use to loose my temper many a day trying to clean the plastic lenses it didn't seem to take lot to smear them.This is why when I order something with specific intent I expect to be as advertised.

author: Whales
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2023, 07:58:34 am
content: This reminds me how glad I am to live in a world where ingredients MUST be listed somewhere. It's not perfect (eg nonspecific "hydrocarbons" as an ingredient) but it's 1000x better than the alternative.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2023, 11:27:21 am
content: Quote from: MrMobodies on January 25, 2023, 01:03:47 amI think things went adrift there. My comment wasn't about the not-IPA but the memory, in reply to:QuotePerhaps I should have used 'test' instead of try. Mea culpa.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2023, 09:22:43 am
content: Quote from: PlainName on January 25, 2023, 11:27:21 amSorry about that I misread.Quote from: PlainName on January 24, 2023, 06:46:32 pmI take pictures form opening to testing and check everything when I can.I think I heard someone referring to people who do that as "chancers". What a cheek asking me to test something that turned up not to the specifications I expected and as listed. I wouldn't mind testing it (like I use to with mechanical hard disk with the old MHDD in dos) but that is not worth my time and I imagine that the seller could also say, well it works and you have opened and used it so I don't have to accept a return on unless it is faulty.The seller also sent it from a different address and non name than the one on their account so I asked the seller that I received something from this address is this from you? I didn't tell them there was a problem until verifying.Accepting money off certain things is very rare when they are like that unless I have a use for it and it happened to fit somewhere. If something is hard to find, I find it, order it and it had a fault but there is a part in there that may maker the other work then I might negotiate.

author: super7800
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2023, 10:02:04 pm
content: possibly a scam? (or just a really really good deal?)https://www.ebay.com/itm/364127073324?autorefresh=truedid tinyeye and google reverse image search. Showed nothing (doesn't always mean anything though). bought it. sent them message asking for additional pictures (which i find to be a very good way of detecting scams). So far i have had 100% success on eBay (and almost 100% with PayPal) with fraudulent vendors, So i don't think ill be out any money if my hunch is correct, that this stinks of a scam. But i've wanted a friend for my tds7104 for awhile now, and the price was righti asked for more pictures and they sent them. However they could just be from the same source. At this point i wasn't even going to post this, however they did mention something about a "gift" and to "wait". seller is speaking in broken English. (2/2/2023)but then today the plot thickens (2/3/2023). they contacted me with a "suspicious" message saying the tracking number was incorrect, and that this is the right one. 1ZE3R0490308469377. this says it was created a day before i even placed my order (placed 2/2/2022 afternoon). the one they gave eBay, 1ZX102890338173395, says it was already delivered! (and shows no record of being dropped off). They also did the classic scammer move (that i've seen before) which is to buy really cheap items to get positive feedback on their account. the shadows are also all in the same spot, despite the pics supposedly being taken at different times.Edit 2/5/2023 it now says (removed item) in my purchase history. Now I'm starting to get concerned. The "new" tracking I was given says it will be delivered tomorrow. I guess I will have to wait and see...Plot gets even thicker (2/5/2023). Item is in category not protected by ebay money back guerentee (this is a thing? Why?). Item is deleted, and I can't contact the seller. Just filed a complaint with PayPal. I really hope they can help. Seems it won't be resolved until the end of the month though. Turns out when something is screeming at you that it's a scam, it probably is.2/14/2023 PayPal denied my case since there was tracking. Obviously never even read my response. I reopened the case as recieved but open box, but im not hopeful. Looks like there in greece, so contacting the police won't be helpful. Suggestions?2/24/2023 PayPal decided in my favor! I knew PayPal would pull thru when ebay didn't. Imagine if I had paid using card tho... psa: ebay has categories with no protection but PayPal can still issue a refund.what do ya think, am i being scammed? or is it just ups being terrible and a language barrier? Can you fake a UPS label?Definitely probably scam.Definitely Definitely A Scam. Dang.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2023, 06:35:42 am
content: Looking for a laptop battery tp replace a dead one and not easy to find at the moment. It only has to hold about 10 - 20 minutes charge forif the DC plug falls out.I remember reading about this old scam with sellers selling used batteries called theg "untested battery scam" with them mentioning 100% charge but not how much capacity it can hold and sold as untested.I understand when sellers have hundreds batteries to sell and they may have no means to test them. I have seen them in the past £5 to £10 with returns and some even guaranteed for about 30 minutes which I brought and many of them were fine.I found something similar just now but I don't think it is a scam more like way overpriced and not worth touching considering no returns for the price.I think this seller is selling them way overpriced without a warranty.https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304798093201?QuoteAt least they mention above.I wouldn't say that is a bargain more like a gamble if they can't guarantee that it holds at least some charge and no returns.Do you think that is a bit overpriced for what it is?Okay no time to test but:*"Guaranteed photos" "We have tried to show you the best we can.." like that is going to tell me anything useful whether it works or not.QuoteShould the condition be described as "untested?" or "for parts not working?" in a category with no money back guarantee?I think the seller might be putting themselves at risk for forced returns and refunds in that they have also selected 30 day returns in the listing despite intending for none as in description.

author: kermitfrog
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2023, 03:41:06 am
content: FYI Dave did a recent video on his Youtube channel about fraudulent sellers on Ebay selling test equipment. Very informative and well worth watching

author: jsantoro
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2023, 04:40:06 pm
content: There also people trolling here for the WTB ads. I was contacted by a member, who only just joined a few days ago point to a "friend" of his that had what I wanted. I inquired and got back pictures from an Ebay listing that was not his. He has since disappears but the member is still here. If you want a name PM me.

author: gmb42
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2023, 02:33:08 pm
content: Quote from: jsantoro on August 17, 2023, 04:40:06 pmYou'll need to report this to the mods, they don't monitor this thread.

author: wxtyz
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 13, 2024, 09:46:39 pm
content: Greetings everybody, silent forum user deciding to break the ice here. Without further ado, can I actually mention DIGIKEY in this thread? That sounds like fun!I was in the market for an evaluation board to try out from SGX Sensortech and Digikey had one with my name on it, or so I thought. Now, to be upfront, I should have known better and, as it will become evident after I give the details, the issue is more due to “politics” than due to “personal”, so I won’t press further, this forum is not about politics, however, I think Digikey’s way of handling (or lack thereof) this kind of matter needs to be pointed out, since Digikey won’t, so other unsuspecting customers know what they're getting into, unlike me. Nothin' personal, you see.Order summary:• Digikey had what I wanted in stock and for a better price; I hadn’t shopped with them before, except one time when I was in faculty many years ago, different Iceage; but my usual places did neither have the board, nor have any in stock;• Wanted a hassle-free delivery, with minimum involvement on my side, so I checked out my cart with DDP incoterms shipping option;• Automated email with invoice after a couple of hours revealed these terms got changed to CPT;• I immediately replied to Digikey to check if there is no mistake, I was certain I choose DDP option and the web form was ok with that;• Due to time zone differences, I first get an automated notification, the next day, saying, order has been ready’d and due pickup for shipping; only at the end of that day did I get a reply from customer service, saying I was missing the relevant information, thus the terms got changed to CPT;• I immediately replied to that saying I wanted to cancel the order in these conditions, since I did not agree to that (seemed reasonable to me, the parcel hadn’t left the country yet, from tracking info at that time) – I never got any response for that message;• Since there was no reaction, I used a return form found somewhere on their website, to bring to their attention again I want to cancel things;• Next, one morning, I get notified by UPS the parcel has arrived in the destination country, needs clearance – I tell them I refuse reception, so they can send it back or do whatever they want; UPS complies, updates tracking info with my decision to refuse the package;• Later that day, I get an email from Digikey customer service, saying they have been contacted by my local UPS, they have been notified that the “order has clearance issues”, saying that I should contact UPS and “push for customs clearance”, or ELSE: scenario one – the parcel gets returned, so I first loose the right to claim my due VAT amount, which I had to pay in advance, since it'll be incurred anyway, then I’m good to pay import fees back in the USA, whatever their Customs decide is due paid, plus shipping costs, or, scenario two – the parcel is abandoned – I loose any right to claim my money back, plus I’m good to pay for the shipping costs incurred so far, plus any Customs’ taxes incurred, if any decided, this time, at the (failed) receiver’s side;• After a few days, somebody responds to my return claim form, saying they looked into the issue within their carrier group, saying I have been already answered, giving again the message they changed incoterms because… same explanation as before…Then go sorry for the inconvenience.Now, I have yet to see the end of this story; from tracking info, the parcel is still in the process of returning, but, so far, if anybody is willing to share with me their thoughts on the matter, tell me, have I already lost my marbles, if:• I expect default behavior from online shops (at least the claimed reputable ones) to not move shipping when there is the ever-so-slightest doubt there might be additional costs incurred to the buyer, given the specifics of each individual order? If some order terms need to be changed due to lack of provided info, isn’t it reasonable to halt processing until matters are discussed with the client? I specifically mailed them, as soon as I could, to let them know I have an issue, yet they move on like it’s none of their business?• If I consider it reasonable that a package from an order, such as this one was, the sole property of the sender (Vendor) right up until it gets delivered to the destination address, after which the receiver can take claim on it? I haven’t read the fine print in Digikey’s Terms & Conditions (shame on me for that), but I’m pretty sure elsewhere on other vendor’s sites, at least ones more locally to me anyway, they make it explicit of the matter; even if you pay upfront, it’s still their dough, right up until you receive it. I do window-shop and occasionally buy on evilBay too, but I always chuckled when I read those messages “Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing”, given my experience there... If I’m to follow Digikey’s “or ELSE” La-la-land reasoning - in their own wording, “Since we processed and shipped your order as you  requested, you  will be billed for any additional fees accordingly” - going from this, can I please pay ALL of Digikey’s costs of doing business from now on? I’d like to be responsible for that as well… From my own pocket; if I happen to kick the bucket, heck, I've got relatives...

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 14, 2024, 09:59:11 am
content: Quote from: wxtyz on February 13, 2024, 09:46:39 pmI pretty much only have one complaint about Digikey, and that is they use CPT incoterms. Their main T&Cs athttps://www.digikey.com/en/terms-and-conditionsonly list CPT under section 7. Shipping Charges, and the same applies for the Australian T&Cs for when I order in AUD.As far as I know CPT is the only incoterms option that has been offered by Digikey for the last several years at least, but I guess it may depend on which website you ordered from. Maybe you saw the option for DDP on another website? I know Mouser offer DDP incoterms, and thus they have gotten some of my larger valued orders when stock availability and pricing is otherwise comparable.My suggestion is that you start a new shopping cart and go through the ordering process again and see if you can reproduce the DDP shipping option. If you can, then screenshot it and provide that as evidence to assist with customer service... but if not, then it was likely your own mistake. I guess they may have corrected an error on their end, which you won't be able to prove unless you got a confirmation email showing DDP.In any case, I think that refusing the delivery was a bad idea without first reviewing their T&Cs which state that returns must be authorized, and will encounter costs for return shipping and potentially restocking fees when not due to their error. Those are pretty typical T&Cs.The few times that Mouser/Digikey/Farnell have sent me an incorrect or damaged part (it happens with many years of regular purchasing), they generally tell me to keep it and ship me the correct part for free by express shipping, even if only valued a few cents. When they do want the incorrectly shipped parts back, they have organized free return shipping labels. Last year I ordered 10 metal rulers from a supplier when they were on special, but I was shipped 100 pcs (5 x 10pks in two sizes). I was glad that the supplier organised the return shipping label, as I really didn't envision a use for that many, nor did I want to dispose of perfectly good (if cheap quality) items.

author: wxtyz
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 18, 2024, 01:26:36 pm
content: Thanks for your input! The option with DDP did pop up only after changing currency, though; settings are default to local currency and there you have one choice, but when I changed to EUR at least, shipping with DDP terms appeared as an option. Mouser indeed offer DDP incoterms and I have used them many times without any issues, however, this time, they didn't have my item in stock and, well... maybe got divine punishment for trying to buy from competitors. Now that you mention it, I do remember last year I went and read the T&Cs to search for incoterm details and recall I also found only CPT, it was what turned me down from trying back then. This time I guess greed got the best of me, and I skimped through checkout without raising any flags. I added a snippet from a mock checkout to show it actually pops as an option, even though in the previous screen I haven't given a VAT number, which they claimed afterwards they needed.

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 19, 2024, 01:25:53 pm
content: Quote from: wxtyz on February 18, 2024, 01:26:36 pmInteresting!When you change currency and have the DDP option appearing, are you still on the same Digikey website? Does the Terms & Conditions link in the page footer change?I mostly use the Digikey Australia website, and the T&Cs link goes tohttps://www.digikey.com.au/en/terms-and-conditionswhich only mentions CPT like the default USA site T&Cs.

author: Robert Stone
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 13, 2024, 09:45:06 am
content: hey guys. Does any one have experience of this store?https://store.siqma.com/index.php?route=common/home

author: ttx450
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2024, 11:15:08 pm
content: Scam warning. I was scammed in the sell/buyer thread by this person purchasing a Leader 3217. It was finally resolved by paypal on my end. I hope Admins will back list him, not sure where to post this?M3Knight - EEVblog user nameharveygrout75@gmail.com - Another Email accountmarkevans56@yahoo.com - Mark Evans is the paypal recipient

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2024, 12:47:25 pm
content: Quote from: ttx450 on April 27, 2024, 11:15:08 pmYou need to email a mod/admin. They do not necessarily see posts unless they happen to read one at random or go to see something that has been reported to them.

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2024, 11:57:49 am
content: Chinese network behind one of world’s ‘largest online scams’:https://www.theguardian.com/money/article/2024/may/08/chinese-network-behind-one-of-worlds-largest-online-scamsTL;DR:- more than 850k victims- more than 76k fake online shops- scam runs since 2015- operated by a Chinese group

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 28, 2024, 09:15:37 am
content: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/326178721789

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2024, 05:00:29 pm
content: Warning to be aware of a UK ebay seller by the name of jules18999They listed a parts only Fluke 8125A for £60 BIN + £15 shipping, which is upper end but not top price. After a little umming and ahhing, I bought it.A few minutes later I saw they listed another one, also parts only, for £400, which iswayover the odds. Naturally my spidey senses start tingling at this, and sure enough, a short while later I got a message from the seller:"Hi xxxxx, there’s been an error in the listing, my daughter made a mistake and listed the wrong item.I paid far more for the item she listed, really sorry and would you accept a refund in full?"To which I replied:"Dear xxxxx,While I can't stop you from cancelling the sale, I made the purchase in good faith, and I have to say, at the market price for these items, when they are "parts only".As far as I am concerned, the ball is firmly in your court at this point."They replied:"Hi xxxxx , the mistake was made in good faith and I have never ever cancelled a sale before.Im not happy about having to do this but i have to provide for my family and things are very hard at the moment.Best regards."They subsequently cancelled the sale using the reason "out of stock". I've given them the feedback they deserve on ebay, and am waiting to see if they relist it.

author: Traceless
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2024, 02:46:05 pm
content: I'm currently thinking of buying something via batterfly.com and trying to figure out if they are legit. Did anyone buy there already, how was your experience good/bad?Cheers Traceless

author: Whales
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2024, 05:47:25 am
content: Quote from: Traceless on November 30, 2024, 02:46:05 pmSite has legit been around for 20 years:https://web.archive.org/web/20240000000000*/batterfly.comItems have varying stock levels including 0, something that a scam site probably wouldn't do.All of the listed payment options in the footer seem to be legitimate, the cart lets you choose between them. Didn't try checking out, they require a lot of info to go that far, including a password field (?).Can't vouch for them, but they're not an obvious fake or scam.

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 01, 2024, 08:25:17 am
content: As an Aussie, I have never dealt with them, but I have heard of them and generally in a positive light. I cannot say I took much notice as I would rarely order things from Europe, and even rarer from Italy (except something unique like my Makerknife).A search of this forum for the term "batterfly" results in more than 250 mentions over the last 10+ years.Their About Us page gives you plenty of information if you want to do a business search.https://www.batterfly.com/shop/en/about-us

author: Traceless
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2024, 07:13:46 pm
content: @Kean, @Whales: Yes I also didn't see any obvious red flags. I was just hoping that a few people here might have already tried them out and share their experience. Out of caution I chose another local shop for my order.

author: hp3310a
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2025, 10:09:14 am
content: Can someone enlighten me, please:No matter what kind of test gear you're looking for at ebay, there always are a lot of units available from China. Most of them are listed multiple (>10) times under different accounts with identical pictures. Most of these accounts are relatively young with little customer feedback. It seems none of the images are real, they always have multiple items listed, but when you ask for specifics, it's either gone or suddenly the price changes (upwards of course), or specific aspects of the device change. That information is transmitted by way of pictures that don't match previous pictures or the description.I certainly don't believe that sellers from China are generally less trustworthy than those from other places, but how can you distinguish good from bad. The number of feedback points are not a clear sign, older shops are pulling the same stuff.And what's the purpose anyway? I'm not gonna buy something under conditions like this, I want to know what I get and that's simply not possible. The legitimate sellers are the ones suffering, is that the purpose? If not what is?

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2025, 05:03:34 pm
content: The products are no doubt drop-shipped so sellers haven't a clue about what they're selling and all use the same pictures. Since they know nothing about the product they can't answer any questions, and if you ask then they will either make it out of stock (to avoid appearing to be a drop-shipper) or take the opportunity to charge more (you are clearly interested, so the sale is half done already).IMO, E&OE

author: hp3310a
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2025, 05:50:47 pm
content: Makes sense, I'm imagining it like this: There is a giant warehouse somewhere for all that gear that is on offer. The sellers either can't make their own pictures or use pictures from other sources because it is easier (there are many offers with pictures with blurred logos or even logos from their drop-ship competition, for example). As a buyer you have equally little control over what you're actually purchasing.This is where it stops making sense to me, because no one in their right mind would by a HP 3458a at >$5000 or a Keithley 2001 at >$1000 like that. So why offer it in the first place? This might work with gear for <$500 (not for me) but is there really such a high demand by people who don't care at all which used precision instrument they buy?

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2025, 06:26:48 pm
content: QuoteAh, that's a bit different - didn't realise you were talking that kind of stuff.What's most likely happening there is they don't have the items and rely on being able to acquire same if they get an order. If they can't then it's 'out of stock, sorry'. If you start asking questions they may decide you're more hassle than it's worth (you are fussy and might well return the item if it doesn't perfectly match how they describe it).

author: hp3310a
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2025, 08:59:18 pm
content: Quote from: PlainName on March 10, 2025, 06:26:48 pmYes, exactly, but at that price point, would anyone be interested really? So, for whom is this play being set up? I dont get the purpose because I doubt anyone would be stupid enough to actually buy stuff under conditions like that. Yes, at the lower end maybe (like for example a 53181a frequency counter or a 34401a multimeter), but this happens at much higher price points, it's happening for all test equipment. Do a search for 3458a, there is an amazing number of those available, amazingly expensive, with amazingly bad pictures/documentation. It's ridiculous.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2025, 09:05:12 pm
content: Quoteebay.co.uk (local one), but worldwide search, turned up one. Massively outnumbered by manuals and replacement displays.

author: hp3310a
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2025, 09:29:00 pm
content: Tryhttps://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=3458a&_sacat=0&_from=R40

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2025, 12:10:54 am
content: They must think it's a waste of time trying to con Brits

author: PascalNE
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2025, 05:26:51 pm
content: A warning about big Japanese E-bay sellers selling test and measurement equipment.Hello, I was recently looking to buy an Agilent 34401A if you look at Ebay on the moment you'll see that all the cheapest 34401As are concentrated in Japan mostly from big sellers with many items that are mostly not test and measurement related. I was very cautious about this and worried about not getting what was shown in the pictures (A nice newModern 34401awith round shift key)So I messaged the seller asking if all the models they were selling were the same and they said yes (I even specified the round shift key as this is only found on late model Agilents)So I placed my order and waited over 2 weeks for them to dispatch it (Even though they said it would take just a week) I then had to pay a lot of tax when it entered the country mostly VAT which I had falsely believed I had already paid to Ebay but I suppose that's on me.And after a month it arrived I opened the box and of course it was someearly 90s HP in terrible condition.So Immediately sent a refund request which to be fair was accepted quickly. But then the process of trying to reclaim the VAT started which was incredibly annoying and meant I had to get all sorts of documents from fedex which they were very slow to give.I do believe this was an unintentional mistake on the part of the seller probably stemming from not knowing much about what they were selling.In conclusion its probably not the best idea to buy test and measurement equipment from Japan on Ebay especially from big shops who won't have much knowledge. Also don't buy anything your not 100% sure about as reclaiming the tax for returns can be quite fiddly.