Author Topic: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score  (Read 69401 times)

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Offline EEVblog

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Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #75 on: December 22, 2013, 11:44:54 am »
Surely you can at least get a bunch of forms ahead of time and pre-fill them, and as a self-employed person, choose a time when the PO isn't busy...

Ever heard of Murphy?  ;D
No such thing as a non-busy time at a business PO centre really.
For regular parcel post, yes, I have the CN22 forms at the lab, but anything extra like tracking etc requires triplicate forms they will not give you.
If the gear is worth a fair bit, sure, I don't mind, but walking to the PO and back + waiting + packing + printing sticker etc all takes time, and if you do it for just one person, one item, then it's a PITA, and not worth it for stuff that doesn't cost much.
For a self employed person to list on ebay and then go and line up at to the PO to ship say a single $50 item is just silly. I don't know why people on ebay do that for a $10 item or something.
And on something big and expensive like the TDS3054 scope, worth thousands, you really want tracking and insurance, otherwise you'll get left up shit creek without a paddle, and that's big $$$ for overseas. Just dealing with the email requsts for individual overseas quotes is a time sink.
Shipping say 50 uCurrents in one go isn't too bad (if you don't hit a clueless counter person with no idea how to do them efficiently) as you do it all in one hit, so it makes the trip worthwhile.
I'll be trialing Aust Post click'n'send this time to see if it's any easier.
 

Offline EEVblog

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Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #76 on: December 22, 2013, 11:50:33 am »
But for run-of-the mill things like multmeters, I'm sure there are enough potential buyers in Oz that offering international shippping wouldn't increase the price-to-hassle ratio sufficiently, and there isn't any shortage of this sort of stuff.

That's the thing. This stuff is run-of-the mill, plenty of buyers locally. The meters fit in pre-paid parcel satchels I have, no lining up, no paperwork, no one requesting individual quotes, nothing, drop in any box and it has tracking that gets plugged into ebay and I'm covered. Anyone would be a fool to offer the extra hassle of international postage for this stuff.
 

Offline Dreddling

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Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #77 on: December 22, 2013, 12:32:05 pm »
Hey Dave do you want some NOS OC series transistors to test with your new avo? :D i have a coffee can full of them still in their paper packets,
 

Offline lewis

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Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #78 on: December 22, 2013, 01:07:57 pm »
I always offer to ship ANYTHING internationally. We have courier brokers in the UK which can use their volume discount to get decent pricing with Fed-ex, UPS, DHL and TNT. Book online, and a man comes the next day to pick the package up. Easy! You get full and complete tracking too which Paypal loves if there's any dispute. So why NOT offer it?

Yes, it can be expensive (although not as expensive as you might think), but I pass all the cost on to the customer. It's entirely up to them if they want to pay the shipping for the item, at least they get the opportunity to buy it, and I broaden my market as a seller.

I hate the post office for the same reasons as Dave, it's a pain in the arse. Couriers are definitely the way to go. Dave seems to be getting more hassle for NOT offering international shipping than he would be if he did!
I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered.
 

Offline EEVblog

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Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #79 on: December 22, 2013, 01:23:23 pm »
I always offer to ship ANYTHING internationally. We have courier brokers in the UK which can use their volume discount to get decent pricing with Fed-ex, UPS, DHL and TNT. Book online, and a man comes the next day to pick the package up. Easy! You get full and complete tracking too which Paypal loves if there's any dispute. So why NOT offer it?

Because I'm not in the UK. It ain't that easy here.
You forgot about the individual quotes bidder wants. Unless it's the same price everywhere which I doubt.

Quote
I hate the post office for the same reasons as Dave, it's a pain in the arse. Couriers are definitely the way to go.

Not if, as Mike pointed out, you have to be around for the pickup. I can assure you that here in Oz, the PO is much nicer option than a courier for the casual shipper.
 

Offline con-f-use

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Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #80 on: December 22, 2013, 01:51:17 pm »
I can assure you that here in Oz, the PO is much nicer option than a courier for the casual shipper.

I just misread that as "stripper" :-DD
The discussion is over: No international stripping!
 

Offline Rutger

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Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #81 on: December 22, 2013, 03:55:04 pm »
Dave, because you are going to ship a lot of items in the next month/year and because I am shipping a lot of packages every day using postal service and couriers service this is what I recommend;

1) Get an account with a local courier service, like TNT, DHL, Fedex, etc, the one that has good pricing/service, but the also look at pickup service and drop off locations in the area. They key is your time, not the cost.
They should provide you with shipping software and a free label printer, and all the packaging material you might need.
Yes you would pay a monthly fee, but your time is more precious.
If you don't want a courier account buy a used label printer, like the 'ZEBRA LP 2844' or 'Zebra ZP 450' and the thermal printer paper.
2) Buy a scale that connect to the software, like the 'Mettler Toledo Model PS60' (you might have to get a parallel card)
3) Get any service for online/software postal shipping like the 'Click and Send'. I use Endicia in the US, which is great. It offer commercial rates and I just printout the label, take it to the postal office and drop it off (if I miss the daily pickup).  If the postal service doesn't pickup from the office, consider maybe the pick it up from the house?
Not having to stand in line at the post office, is the best thing ever, you would agree. That is such a time waster.

Hope some of these suggestion help.  Wishing you and your family a Happy Christmas and a happy New Year.

Rutger
 

Offline max-bit

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Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #82 on: December 22, 2013, 04:08:49 pm »
But I see that in Australia :) the same problems as in the Polish Post :) :) and I thought that for us is badly :)
Fortunately in Poland is a whole bunch of courier companies and other companies :) Postal :)
I know that shipping in Poland on the other end of the country is not the same as in Australia :)
In addition, Australia is far away from other countries which have their pros and cons  :-//
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jucole

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Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #83 on: December 22, 2013, 04:09:17 pm »
Tek never made multimeters. They are escort designs
Hi Vincent,

Can you expand on the relationship between Tek and Escort?  I'm interested in learning all these past/present ODM/OEM relationships.

From my own research, I thought the Tek DMM 912/914/916 were made by Appatech?
Oh crap, you may be right. It could be APPA too. I know the tek power supplies with the runner keypad and red led displays were the same oem like ten a and many others. Escort at one point made stuff for metex, wavetek, hp and many others including tek. Tek had a function generator made by leader as well . I believe also a frequency counter.
At one point escort became sort of a hp only thing and finally they were borged by agilent.

I'd have to total agree with retiredcaps in that it was by Appa Tech,  maybe an early version of their 100 series.
 

Offline KD0CAC John

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Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #84 on: December 22, 2013, 04:56:47 pm »
Oh the hell with it .
I just need to ship myself to OZ
I need a change
Dang too much stuff to bring with , oh well , see ya when I win the lotto ;)
 

Offline TiN

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Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #85 on: December 22, 2013, 05:32:53 pm »
Nice loot :)

As for shipping hassle, just 5c from me, it still depends a lot on destination country and buyer :) Back days when I lived in Ukraine, shipping and customs was huge PITA, tremendous amounts of hassle even for 50USD items from overseas. But that's buyer problem, not seller.

Now in Taiwan, in almost 3 years of buying various stuff (as small as bunch of thru-hole resistors, up to CSA7404 scope for parts for 1.5K$) off ebay - all going smoothly, shipped by USPS,DHL,Fedex,ebay's global shipping program. Few times paid customs fee (which is here just a % of declared cost), but that's it. I don't even know where is customs office here  O0.

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Offline BFX

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Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #86 on: December 22, 2013, 06:42:25 pm »
Oh my god  8) Nice
 

Offline BMac

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Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #87 on: December 22, 2013, 07:11:57 pm »
Dave,

I had to replace all the BNC connectors on our TDS 220 at work, not a very good design, the frame of the connector easily snaps if you have a ham handed tech use these scopes, found exact replacement foot print connectors through mouser. Pretty easy repair, biggest issue was figuring out how to get the handle off.
As for the post from the member asking how much it cost, I assume he must be single or his wife doesn't have a computer.

Thanks for the great entertainment!

BMac
 

Offline Towger

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Re: Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #88 on: December 22, 2013, 08:00:50 pm »
As for the post from the member asking how much it cost, I assume he must be single or his wife doesn't have a computer.
:) I get the feeling Dave exceeded the SWMBO non pre approved discretionary spending on 'junk' limit. As we all know, the fact that is 'good value' never holds water with a SWMBO...
 

Offline KD0CAC John

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Re: Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #89 on: December 22, 2013, 08:46:23 pm »
As for the post from the member asking how much it cost, I assume he must be single or his wife doesn't have a computer.
:) I get the feeling Dave exceeded the SWMBO non pre approved discretionary spending on 'junk' limit. As we all know, the fact that is 'good value' never holds water with a SWMBO...


This seems to be at the root of western societies mental problems !
The concept that someone that does not know or have any interests in a subject , should tell someone who does know a subject and has an interest , what to do or not ?
Use some common sense / logic / critical thinking skills ---- before getting all defensive and lashing back - hopefully :)
Just because it is the norm , does not make it correct .
Now back to our subject , nice pile of goodies , and these are going to be a source income for food on the table / or other goodies , so it is on topic . 
 

Offline EEVblog

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Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #90 on: December 22, 2013, 08:55:02 pm »
1) Get an account with a local courier service, like TNT, DHL, Fedex, etc, the one that has good pricing

No such thing here!
 

Offline voltsandjolts

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Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #91 on: December 22, 2013, 09:04:49 pm »
FYI, you can unlock all software options for the TDS3000 series scopes.
See this thread:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/tektronix-tds3000-oscilloscope-modules-tds3uam/msg287861/#msg287861
 

Offline EEgalitarian512

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Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #92 on: December 22, 2013, 09:25:20 pm »
Dear Dave. Please, whatever you do, please do not fold your tent and go home. I would much rather have your EEVblog videos than that Transistor Analyser on my doorstep. John
 

Offline open loop

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Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #93 on: December 22, 2013, 10:17:03 pm »
I have sold a number of items (internationally) on eBay and I agree that international shipping can be a pain as I know what Dave means by having to quote for shipping and add the number of items and time diference and you haven't even sold the item. My experience has not been hassle free - one I was charged extra by Parcel Monkey for not measuring the package correctly. It turned out that this was thier mistake and I had to spend time sorting it out. Not something that David wants

Therefore I totally respect his decision and the terms and conditions on eBay is now making it tougher for sellers. Rightly so in some inatances but I am hearing of increasing cases of items being returned not working or working less with a part swapped and the buyer demanding a full refund via PayPal. This would be a nightmare to sort out with an overseas sale on a $4k scope. (I am sure that no one in this forum would ever dream of doing anything like that to anyone as it is theft).

Is Dave going to have one of these items as a "keeper" like Toy Story,  Looks like a transistor tester so far. Hmm film idea,  where test gear comes to life when the lab lights go out and the "one hung low" meters get beaten up by Agilents. Oh well back to the medication...


« Last Edit: December 22, 2013, 10:24:03 pm by open loop »
 

Offline Towger

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Re: Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #94 on: December 22, 2013, 10:59:04 pm »
This seems to be at the root of western societies mental problems !

I think you will find that eastern SWMBOs are much the same :-)

On international sales, I have bought a number items on ebay and resold them internationally for multiples of what I originally paid.  As can be seen here, specialist items can be very hard to get in some countries and people will pay a large premium.  In one case I made over 100 times what I paid, and in another for a 3m touchscreen it was bought by a company who needed it fast. They arranged themselves with DHL to collect it and for express delivery from Ireland to Cyprus, now that did not come cheep.
 

Offline VK3DRB

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Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #95 on: December 22, 2013, 11:38:13 pm »
Stone the CRO's, we have a TDS3054 at work.

It is a not a very good CRO and I am looking to replace it with something better. I hate using diskettes to save traces - how bloody archaic and annoying. We have to keep an old IBM clone to copy the images. More importantly the CRO has difficulty displaying clear multiple traces plus maths at high speeds. I have even brought in my trusty HP CRO from home to do some more serious scope work, rather than have to use the 3054. On the other hand, the 3054 does fairly accurately measure waveforms and is OK for general purpose.

The Rigol cheap CRO has excellent connectivity features including ethernet, but I found the one I bought for a previous workplace was hopelessly inaccurate in its measurements, like 15% out on p-p voltage measurements of 5 Vp-p! Maybe we just got a bad one.

Still, if you got all the dumpster stuff equipment cheap enough, you probably got a bargain.
 

Offline VK3DRB

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Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #96 on: December 22, 2013, 11:48:43 pm »
Microshit borged that when they acquired the semiconductor division from vishay.

What's your problem with Microchip and why the expletive? They make some excellent and innovative low cost IC's. And they are much better in terms of reliable supply, product life and customer service, compared to Atmel - from first hand experience.
 

Offline mikeselectricstuff

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Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #97 on: December 23, 2013, 12:00:05 am »
I hate using diskettes to save traces - how bloody archaic and annoying. We have to keep an old IBM clone to copy the images.
You do know you can get USB floppy drives very cheap don't you....?
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alm

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Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #98 on: December 23, 2013, 12:15:28 am »
It is a not a very good CRO and I am looking to replace it with something better.
I agree, it's a bad cathode ray oscilloscope. The cathode ray tube sucks (due to being absent), only the oscilloscope part works. This makes it only a 33% working CRO. A Tek 465 would make a much better CRO.

You do know you can get USB floppy drives very cheap don't you....?
Or use the GPIB or RS-232 port included in the various optional I/O modules. Just pressing a button to transfer results to your computer is much more convenient than playing sneakernet with either floppies or thumb drives. Both GPIB and RS-232 are still common in electronics labs and easy to get interfaces for.
 

Offline VK3DRB

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Re: EEVblog #559 - Auction Score
« Reply #99 on: December 23, 2013, 02:28:21 am »
It is a not a very good CRO and I am looking to replace it with something better.
I agree, it's a bad cathode ray oscilloscope. The cathode ray tube sucks (due to being absent), only the oscilloscope part works. This makes it only a 33% working CRO. A Tek 465 would make a much better CRO.

Here is Australia, electronics people tend to call an oscilloscope a "CRO", pronounced "crow". It is a generic acronym for Cathode Ray Oscilloscope. Not sure if youngsters call them CROs, but seasoned engineers, technicians and hobbyists in Australia tend to call them that even if they have an LCD display. I heard that Australia is the only country that uses the term CRO rather than oscilloscope. A bit like the Poms calling any vacuum cleaner a Hoover.

So CRO is theoretically an incorrect term, but so is calling your iPhone or Samsung S3 a mobile phone or cell phone, when it is more a portable personal wireless data communications and processing centre.

cheers,
another Dave.



« Last Edit: December 23, 2013, 02:50:32 am by VK3DRB »
 


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