real bargin Tektronix  TDS540 Oscilloscope 500mhz 4 channels !!! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: SnakeBite
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2010, 04:33:26 pm
content: hi,i almost bid and bought this item but i'm from Israel and the shipping is too expansive for me.it's NO RESERVE item (no minimal winning price)prefered bank wire transfer but you can also pay via paypal.Please read theWHOLEpage before you bidding.pay attention : for shipping cost to the rest of the world - contact the member via private message .the shipping to USA (48 states) and canada is via flat rate (cheap)Idoalmost forgot the linkhttp://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130433731216&_trksid=p2761.l1259

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 20, 2010, 04:45:34 pm
content: it will probably go for what it is worth, but i don't like listings with huge writing and the tone of the listing makes me suspicious, no specs given or history hm.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 20, 2010, 08:56:44 pm
content: Don't like the ad either. Seems to prefer wire transfers or money orders (no buyer protection) to Paypal, although it looks like they'll accept Paypal if you insist. Doesn't seem to have sold a lot of products (although several other scopes). The auction text doesn't look like someone who only sold 13 products. Very little stated about condition, no returns, as is. Strange that the pictures doesn't include a self test passed screen (assuming this scope has one). I think this series had trouble with leaking SMD capacitors (see TekScopes Yahoo! group for details). A lot of work, but can be fixed as long as the circuit board is not damaged. Still four days to go, so don't be surprised if it finishes much higher (not sure what the going rate is for this kind of scope in as-is condition). $0.99/no reserve is just a trick to get more people interested and emotionally attached to winning it (if you were the top bidder at $100 for some time, you're more likely to bid again if someone overbids you with $200). I would ask the seller lots of questions before giving him/her money.Apart from the seller, it's a good scope. Make sure that they pack it very well. The $425-$650 is probably a fair estimate for shipping overseas, especially if it exceeds USPS weight limits and has to be shipped UPS/Fedex. Probably not worth it for overseas customers unless it sells for $1.

author: updatelee
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2010, 01:12:31 am
content: it sais farther down he does paypal. at the price I might be willing to take a risk as I live in Canada and could really use an ocilloscope

author: Zad
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2010, 01:58:23 am
content: To be honest, I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole. No item description, he says they are actual photos, but they are horribly low resolution and seem to be a photo taken from someone's web site or brochure. The obsession with bank transfers - they HAVE to offer Paypal in the adverts, it is part of Ebay's terms - but my guess is that if you won it, he wouldn't accept Paypal. It smells to me like someone's account has been hacked and they are using it to sell an imaginary product.Of course it may be legitimate, but I wouldn't chance it.

author: PetrosA
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2010, 02:49:42 am
content: That's about as dodgy looking as they get. I don't think I would buy a party hat from this guy...

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 21, 2010, 04:52:29 am
content: It does ring the alarm bells, but the feedback from numerous buyers for scopes seems good.The PayPal money request might not be through the ebay auction, it might be done as a separate invoice, beware. If so you are NOT covered by the usual Paypal protection. They need to contact you to get your email first though to do that though.Dave.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 21, 2010, 05:33:45 am
content: I'm surprised that they can even create a listing without Paypal enabled (only Amex shows up under eBay's payment options). I was under the impression that Paypal was mandatory for eBay US. The crap about Paypal money requests may just be to avoid some fees, they might just be trying to screw eBay, not the buyer. But if it's not covered under eBay/Paypal buyer protection, it does add extra risks for the buyer. Not only is the product sold as-is with no returns allowed, you don't even have a recourse if they never ship it.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 21, 2010, 07:00:39 am
content: to be honest the tone of the text makes me highly suspicious. Either the person is dishonest or perhaps does not have full command of the English language. continuous repetition (3 or 4 times maybe more ?) of phrases reminds me of people that have little English to offer and compensate by repeating the same thing over and over. and all the stupid massive coloured text don't make me feel confident at all, it's so childish. I have bought items before from people with less than 100 sales and great feedback and gotten well screwed. I'd not like to be the first person before 100 sales to have to leave negative feedback on that one

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 21, 2010, 09:04:00 am
content: I've bought stuff from people with zero feedback with no problems. It's really all about "the vibe" (Aussies will get the joke).Dave.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2010, 09:17:20 am
content: It reminds me of those dodgy spam emails selling viagra or penis enlargement pills.If they refuse to accept Paypal register a complaint with ebay.Would it really cost that much to get it shipped to the UK? I can buy goods from China that size and shipping isn't that much. May be sending it by air would be expensive but via ship shouldn't be much if one is willing to wait?Not that I'm willing to take the risk, of course it isn't worth it.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 21, 2010, 11:41:10 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on September 21, 2010, 09:04:00 amWell i must be just picking them then but I get the "vibe" that in the last year ebay sellers have gone down in quality, then the continual increase in ebay costs does not help

author: Time
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2010, 02:41:55 pm
content: Yea... no thanks. Even if you did get the item I'd say the chances of it even turning on are slim to none.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 21, 2010, 08:23:24 pm
content: Quote from: Hero999 on September 21, 2010, 09:17:20 amI believe the Chinese goverment subsidizes mail, it's ridiculously cheap. Companies like DealExtreme sell $1 stuff with free shipping. I could barely ship it across the country for that money, let alone to China. And USPS to Europe is still much cheaper than the other way around.The problem with large objects is that the USPS discontinued international surface mail a few years ago, and Fedex/UPS never offered it. So there's no easy way to ship stuff via ships unless the seller drops it off at the port and you pick it up, and you handle all customs paper yourself. All freight forwarders seem to suck in some way.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 22, 2010, 06:35:23 am
content: well it's now at 102 USD with 8 bids, sure will go for a tidy sum, I'd be interested to check the feedback in a month or two

author: allanw
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2010, 07:20:56 am
content: Two days left... it'll get a lot higher in price.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2010, 07:50:17 am
content: Dodgy ad with good feedback could be a compromised account. Not includng Paypal in standard payment section is highly suspect.I always get suspicious when the photos look like they've been cut from a manufactuers website or just don't look like photos of the actual item.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 22, 2010, 11:59:17 am
content: no he's not sold enough to get someone pissed off. I bought a printer from a seemingly genuine seller and found that a "new printer bought with a laptop and never used" came with pre installed almost empty cartridges. I checked all his feedback out and found he had sold another printer of exactly the same model and got neutral feedback. Bad sellers are getting ever more aggressive and people can feel uneasy about negative feedback, I've had threats from people i left negative feedback too and I've had negative feedback left on a non paid for item to get back at me. Low and behold the guy i got the printer from threatened negative feedback but i had already out manoeuvred him by blocking him from buying from me. I stick to my guns; less than 100 sales he can't be trusted yet and the added worry of him not wanting to use paypal. not a very reassuring listing. I now have a policy of having ebay items bought in the UK delivered to work, that way they do not have my address and i won't display my address on ebay as they would like me to. ebay is not as safe as they make is sound, at the end of the day even if you get your money back it's a whole load of hassle you get a duff item you may need quickly