Am I missing a reason this is marked as "Acquired from a reliable source"? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Tony_G
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2019, 12:38:32 am
content: Not sure why it needed to be remarked that it was a reliable source:https://www.ebay.com/itm/FLUKE-5440B-DIRECT-VOLTS-CALIBRATOR/401754886878?epid=1300246980&hash=item5d8a7512de:g:QuUAAOSwtjlcv7TdUnless maybe they think someone stole it thinking it was an ATM and went to work with the drills and crowbars only to discover that, no matter how heavy it was, it didn't contain any money....Tony"Cut&Paste sure doesn't impact your credibility"G

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2019, 12:49:13 am
content: Since the device is being sold as faulty, my interpretation of "Acquired from a reliable source" is that all its bits are there and it's not been damaged by unskilled repair attempts.When buying faulty goods to fix you have to be very careful not to buy something that's being ruined by someone else attempting a repair.Or something where there are bits inside missing.Or something that has already been classified as unfixable by 10 other people who tried to fix it before you but gave up.It's sad but you often find people selling faulty goods because they already tried fixing it and couldn't, or they discovered that it is unfixable.They are hoping to trick you into thinking it might be repairable so they can recover all the money they originally spent on it.Honest people will resell these items as "for parts" instead of "faulty"To be successful at buying faulty goods to repair you need to know that you're the first one to look at it.

author: Tony_G
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2019, 01:58:05 am
content: You're far more charitable on that than I am. Though I do have to agree your explanation sounds possible.I actually have 2 of these (B and the AF version) and they're certainly not for the faint hearted to repair... which actually reminds me that I still need to see if I can source reasonable cost replacement relays before I try manually cleaning them.TonyG

author: lowimpedance
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2019, 02:15:12 am
content: Hmmm , looking at the physical shape of the outside I would be questioning the 'reliable source' statement and whether all internal bits are present or in a serviceable state..........then moving on to the next add.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2019, 02:43:03 am
content: "Acquired from a reliable source" is just one of many examples of misleading double-speak thatinsert favorite expletive heresellers use to make their wares sound more valuable than they actually are. I started to see it within the past handful of years, so it's a lot newer than the more common, but similarly useless and misleading, "pulled from a working environment."Take it as a warning that things may not be as they seem.

author: Stray Electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2019, 03:05:07 am
content: "A reliable source" might be the dumpster behind the local repair shop after it was cannibalized for parts!I've looked at a lot of gear from this seller but his descriptions are so vague that I haven't found anything that I wouldn't even pay the shipping costs even if the item itself was free.My opinion is that sellers like this are either trying to sell total junk or they're too lazy to do any checking on the equipment and to write a decent description, in which case they shouldn't be in business. Either way, Irarelybuy equipment with this kind of vague description.

author: sambonator
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2019, 11:45:41 pm
content: FWIW I got an HP 3455A from the seller for $50, "COMES AS SHOWN! Comes from reliable source. Has some cosmetic wear. Powers up! No means to test further"He was selling for $100 and I offered $50, which was accepted.This $50 meter works well and is very accurate and stable... I bought it thinking I was going to be learning to do some repairs, but I'm afraid to do anything to it now and ruin it.Only negative is the buttons are tad stiff, and its huge, taking up a lot of room on my bench...

author: Cubdriver
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 13, 2019, 12:06:06 am
content: I've purchased some gear from them, too, and while some of it was a bit battered, it was overall as described and shown. The main thing I can think of off the top of my head is a digital HP scope - a 54542A. There are some cracks in the bezel, but other than not being pristine, it seems to work just fine.FWIW-Pat<edit to add - despite my experience with the seller mentioned above, I'd personally be inclined to skip the calibrator shown in the OP's link - that poor thing looks like ten miles of bad road.>