DER EE DE-5000 , counterfeit  ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: KD0CAC John
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2019, 11:26:15 pm
content: The last couple of days I have been seeing the DE 5000 hit ebay at half or less of the average low price in the past - $100 - $120 .Now seeing $50 & $36 ?Wondering if these are being counterfeited or what ?

author: Terry01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2019, 11:29:24 pm
content: I'd give it a wide berth regardless buddy. Sounds like a con.

author: BillB
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 12, 2019, 11:31:39 pm
content: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/(ebay)-new-der-ee-de-5000-w-tweezers-etc-for-cheap/msg1892756/#msg1892756We've seen this before. My bet is that it is a scam.

author: KD0CAC John
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2019, 11:47:07 pm
content: Here's one of them , ebays site say they are both in CA different cities .Both sellers stores show a lot of things I've looked at with prices around $150 - $200 , almost nothing in there stores are over $50 .https://www.ebay.com/itm/DER-EE-DE-5000-High-Accuracy-Handheld-LCR-Meter-w-TL-21-TL-22-New-F-S-Tracking-/323831689917?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10Need to find a way to tell ebay when I see these obvious bs .

author: oPossum
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2019, 12:08:30 am
content: Says item is in CA, but..."Based in China, mqwhg27 has been an eBay member since May 25, 2018"This has become quite common. Probably will ship from china if it even ships.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2019, 02:38:33 am
content: just posted on another threadSames pictures, they say they are in Usa but when you check their store, it say China and Usa basedhttps://www.ebay.com/itm/DER-EE-DE-5000-High-Accuracy-Handheld-LCR-Meter-w-TL-21-TL-22-New-F-S-Tracking/323831689917?https://www.ebay.com/itm/DER-EE-DE-5000-High-Accuracy-Handheld-LCR-Meter-w-TL-21-TL-22-New-F-S-Tracking/323831860749?Tried to report it to EbayIv'e been bitten in the past, managed to get a refund before they where cancelled and removed.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2019, 02:50:06 am
content: Yeah, these kinds of scams come in waves. I saw a bunch of them this week. Often, they're well-established accounts that have been hacked into to make them more convincing. Easiest tell is when they have large inventories, most of the items were added only recently, and/or most of what they're selling is priced much lower than everyone else.Use the "Report this item" button/link in the listing. Then select, Listing practices, Fraudulent listing, You believe this listing may be fraudulent, and submit it.When I see one, I usually check what else they're selling and submit fraud reports on several (or more if I'm feeling cranky). If you're unsure about the typical pricing, you can often see other listings advertised on the item's page. I don't know why eBay doesn't algorithmically flag these already. Maybe they do and they're dog slow doing anything about them until people start submitting negative feedback.

author: windsmurf
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2019, 03:36:35 am
content: The good thing is, there's buyer protection through ebay.https://pages.ebay.com/ebay-money-back-guarantee/

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2019, 05:09:05 pm
content: https://www.ebay.com/itm/DER-EE-DE-5000-High-Accuracy-Handheld-LCR-Meter-w-TL-21-TL-22-New-F-S-Tracking/323831689917?Seems to have been removed, sad for the people who have paid for nothingand the other say :100% GENUINE PRODUCTSBeware of counterfeit items sold on eBay

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2019, 01:50:33 am
content: The products may be genuine, but it doesn't mean you'll receive them.

author: windsmurf
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2019, 04:35:54 am
content: Quote from: coromonadalix on June 13, 2019, 05:09:05 pmThis one is still up.https://www.ebay.com/itm/DER-EE-DE-5000-High-Accuracy-Handheld-LCR-Meter-w-TL-21-TL-22-New-F-S-Tracking/323831860749

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2019, 11:13:50 am
content: Quote from: windsmurf on June 14, 2019, 04:35:54 amStill up and show China stuff in his/her store ....

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2019, 01:08:16 am
content: Quote from: coromonadalix on June 14, 2019, 11:13:50 amI reported this listing, and eBay said there is already a case of products being sold without prior approval from the owner - i.e., the account was most probably hacked.The trigger is also seeing many of their products being sold for the same low price, regardless of the product type itself.

author: KD0CAC John
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2019, 02:39:27 pm
content: I found the report key , then every drop-down menu had nothing that would allow reporting this type of issue .

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2019, 05:38:43 pm
content: Stupid Ebay, seriously something is going wrong for them ? they love selling and dont give a F@% for the buyers, they rely on Paypal protection.Well Bitten again at 32$ best offer, if i try 2x items at 32$/ offer, Ebay say: i cant do that since i've probably bought from him/her in the past 10 daysNever bought from that name.But 32$/ offer for 1 is allowedYou can make a complain, listing practices, other listing practices, item location misrepresentation ...I actually did that yesterday... nothing changed, 35 buyers and risingOne at 49$ usdhttps://www.ebay.com/itm/DER-EE-High-Accuracy-Handheld-LCR-Meter-DE-5000-bundle-TL-21-TL-22-AC-Adapter/362676479162?Other at 36$ usdhttps://www.ebay.com/itm/DER-EE-DE-5000-High-Accuracy-Handheld-LCR-Meter-w-TL-21-TL-22-New-F-S-Tracking/323831860749?

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2019, 06:14:59 pm
content: The $49 offering would be a bit more credible if the seller's other items didn't include brand new items such as a 3500W sinewave inverter and a Roomba for the exact same price.I usually use the settings attached to report these.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2019, 08:14:37 pm
content: Interesting; the same user doubled down on the offer and reduced the price to $29.99!The reporting seems to be innocuous.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2019, 08:52:09 pm
content: I've bitten at the 36$ usd, well see ...https://www.ebay.com/itm/DER-EE-DE-5000-High-Accuracy-Handheld-LCR-Meter-w-TL-21-TL-22-New-F-S-Tracking/323831860749?49 sold loll

author: windsmurf
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2019, 09:31:32 pm
content: Quote from: coromonadalix on June 17, 2019, 08:52:09 pmLooks like the auction is stopped.

author: maginnovision
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2019, 09:33:57 pm
content: When this happened with some meters not long ago eBay eventually shut it down and refunded everyone.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2019, 09:36:54 pm
content: It relink under a new name loll wow complaint done again lollReceived this : "This listing was ended by the seller because the item was lost or broken."Talked to an ebay representative, they dont understand why the seller name has changed to the "zdda12589" and was "homelikegrandma" originallySame Amount of sold items .... 49 deveived buyers like meAnd now i have to wait past the estimated delivery time in 1 monthto open a refund case pfffffff this time i've learned loll wont be bitten again for sure.Done the same complaint for: 29$https://www.ebay.com/itm/DER-EE-High-Accuracy-Handheld-LCR-Meter-DE-5000-bundle-TL-21-TL-22-AC-Adapter/362676479162?

author: windsmurf
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2019, 10:20:21 pm
content: How would this make the scammers any money? I don't think EBay allows cashing out their Paypal accounts before the transaction is completed, do they?Or does EBay allow them to profit, and EBay takes the financial hit?On another note, the scammers should sell something more popular like a new Fluke 87V for $150. Seems that would net them a lot more than a $39 LCR meter...

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2019, 11:22:31 pm
content: I think Ebay is seriously flawed, you access it thru an email account or poor logging credentials, you can create many temporary emails, 20 mins or less in life.Ebay should cross check credit card, bank accounts etc... it should be enforced. They changed some paypal process, you can have cash faster than before.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2019, 01:24:21 pm
content: Quote from: windsmurf on June 17, 2019, 10:20:21 pmI can't help but wonder if the shipping and phone information is what they are looking for. From time to time I receive scam calls entirely spoken in Chinese and I have a vague recollection this happened after I fell for one of these.If the item is too popular, the listing would get shut down quicker, but I suspect there are a few of these with iPhones and other gadgets.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2019, 10:47:12 pm
content: I've begun suspecting this, too. It's a pretty reliable way to harvest contact data.

author: NoisyBoy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2019, 11:36:08 pm
content: This is the constant risk/inconvenience one encounters on e-Bay.For that last listing, fraud is very evident. If you go in the seller review, you will see a mostly positive reviews. However, if you dig deeper, you will see a ton of transactions of very low price item (like a small stone for $1.99 - really!), each giving a one sentence review. The pattern repeats for low price identical items within that short time frame. So this set up of a fake store with a set of fake buyers is how they make the seller appears as a reliable seller. Most buyer will never spend the time to review it, and fall into the trap.Now, when it comes to how they profit from the fraud. There are a number of red flags in the listing:"We Accept Paypal ONLY! Payment Must Be Blanced in 7 days After Auction Ended.""The images shown are not the actual item and are for your reference only.""If you have not received your shipment within 30 days from payment, please contact us. We will track the shipment and get back to you as soon as possible with a reply. Our goal is customer satisfaction!"Typically, funds are withdrawn from your account and placed into the seller PayPal account as you make the payment. It often takes a few days before seller can transfer the funds they received from their PayPal account into their own bank account. Given the goods comes from China, even if they actually ship you something, the payment would be settled well before you receive your merchandise. If you follow their 30 day suggestion, the money is long gone from the PayPal system by the time you file a claim. Assuming they close their bank account, or hack into someone else's, so they can take their money and run. In that case, I presume PayPal would end up getting hit with the fraud, and the buyer will eventually get the money back.If you look at the reviews, you will see some -ve reviews of people who actually got scammed. They said the seller never respond to messages, send out fake tracking number, and the merchandise never arrived.So buyers beware for goods that are too good to be true, do your research before hitting the buy button.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2019, 12:45:16 am
content: Even more... The bad reviews are mostly concentrated in the last few weeks or the last month, hinting the account was hijacked. At least that was the case with a couple of the listings shown here.

author: NoisyBoy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2019, 03:28:48 am
content: I believe that was true with one of the earlier account I looked at, they might have hijacked one of the store that sold primarily plastic model kits (like the ones we built as a teenager). But this one, I did not go all the way back to the beginning, but from the first four pages of reviews, it was apparently set up as a scam with phony reviews.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2019, 10:10:09 am
content: Well my order seller name has changed to : zdda12589 (no items in the store section) and i received a tracking number, surely a fake one lollThe fun thing is : the feedback section has been made privatewow tought of everything lollDelivery Eta: end of NEXT month ...... pfffffFunny the item was previously lost or broken loll

author: John_Cavanaugh
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 19, 2019, 05:24:44 pm
content: I fell for this at a price of $59. Doh.I just chatted with Ebay, they said it looked suspicious and would forward to their back office team for investigation. My unit has a china post tracking number that somehow says it will be here by the 20th. So the ebay team told me to file a "did not arrive" on the 21st and they would refund me etc.Grr. Now I just need to order the real thing from Amazon.com. Or is there a better price available legitimately somewhere??

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2019, 05:38:17 pm
content: I think there are a few sellers pricing the unit only at a believable $79.eBay auction: #254060179810

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2019, 05:44:02 pm
content: Quote from: windsmurf on June 13, 2019, 03:36:35 amWith people intentionally taking a gamble and ensuring these scammers walk away with a nice chunk of cash, I'd not only say the Buyer's Protection perpetuates the problem but also that these buyers are complicit and should be banned. The problem is distinguishing between the helplessly naieve and bordeline criminal opportunists.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2019, 05:46:20 pm
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on June 19, 2019, 05:38:17 pmA lot of the real units come from Japanese sellers. This item is reported to be located in Japan and the seller is Japanese with a believable price. This one appears legit.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2019, 05:53:56 pm
content: I bought a couple tools from Japanese sellers, good deals and good quality items.

author: Gregg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2019, 07:21:56 pm
content: Quote from: Mr. Scram on June 19, 2019, 05:44:02 pmEbay would wither away without buyer protection.What really needs to happen is for ebay to take charge and develop algorithms that quickly flag known scam tactics by sellers, put a temporary hold on dodgy appearing listings and alert a competent person to investigate. Things like hidden feedback for sellers is blatantly against ebay’s rule for sellers and a change to making feedback hidden after an item is listed for sale should immediately cause the listing to be put on hold.Buyers shouldn’t be banned for attempting to nab a bargain; that is the basic premise for the existence of ebay auctions. If buyer protection hurts ebay’s profits, then maybe they will sit up and take notice (but that is doubtful for a company run by bean counters that are mainly trying to get away from auctions and convert to “buy it now”).I purchased my DE-5000 via ebay from a Japanese seller who shipped the genuine device quickly and thanked me for buying. I have also purchased some Engineer crimpers and pliers from Japan always with great results.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2019, 08:20:23 pm
content: Quote from: NoisyBoy on June 18, 2019, 11:36:08 pmExactly, someone is making money here. No one cares about "getting your information" of name and address, that is completely worthless.There are a number of ways they could potentially siphon this money off, not to mention there may be buyers that lose track of the purchase and forget to file a claim.Quote from: maginnovision on June 17, 2019, 09:33:57 pmIF you file a claim, then yes.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2019, 09:43:05 pm
content: "Nabbing a bargain" isn't the same as willingly participating in a scam. We've seen plenty of threads with people knowing it's almost certainly a scam but still making a purchase "because you never know". If it isn't criminal behaviour it's definitely borderline.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2019, 10:43:33 am
content: As a end note for me, i'm now the 270 th person scammed, the supposed bought items is delivered in another country, the tracking number on ebay did not work (nothing moved / no change), but tacked it thru another epacket website, refund request under way. The seller feedback was made private, and growed day by day up to 270 bad feedbacks.Saw another DE-5000 sold for 45$ and many other tems for a ridiculous prices, sent many reports to ebay ...Lesson finally learned lollEDIT : got refunded

author: e0ne199
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2019, 02:19:30 pm
content: hello, btw i was also the one who ended up buying that scam and i absolutely regretted it... i don't know how rotten ebay can be because it really was my first time buying things at ebay and and the first thing i purchased was a scam and now i am currently waiting for paypal to refund my money..

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2019, 06:21:19 pm
content: Yeah, there's been an ongoing wave of scammers the past couple of months. In general, if the price is significantly lower that everyone else, it's a scam. In the case of these scammers, just check what else they're selling. Their inventory is usually all the same or similar price regardless what the item is.eBay has so much product and behavior data that they should be doing a better job of detecting these scams.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2019, 08:33:47 pm
content: I saw tons of Ebay registrations dating year 2017 and 2018 before they dissapeared, maybe they used some kind of bots