Unbelievably cheap Fluke 17Bs on eBay?

[armandas]

Just check these out: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180669801802

Yeah, the seller has 0 feedback, but hopefully paypal would sort it out in case of a problem. Just picked up three.

[metalphreak]

$8 for UPS Express shipping from the UK to Australia...

He's also listed 100 for sale (97 left).

Smells a bit too fishy to me.

[armandas]

It does indeed. I just emailed him asking about the shipping. But as I said, I'm willing to take chances, just because it's covered by paypal.

Not even sure how efficient scammining on ebay is nowadays.

[metalphreak]

Shipping could just be him being new to ebay? Maybe he just happened to come across a free box of meters and wants to flog them off 

Paypal protection is a bit of a joke, but if its a pretty clear cut case you should get your money back eventually.

Let us know if it all goes well

[torch]

Free shipping to Canada.

Oh heck, I may regret this -- it sounds too good to be true -- but I suppose I can afford a $17 lesson if it comes to that.

[Simon]

hm strange, he is in the UK but listing on the .co.uk website in dollars. hm very tempting

[Simon]

Well I bought 2, maybe Dave would like to get one and do a tear down to check that is is genuine.

If I was certain they are pukka I'd be doing some wheeling and dealing with all of my spare ebay cash right now but I'm not putting any stakes on that. Could be they are cheap replica's.

[Kiriakos-GR]

Paypal protection is a bit of a joke, but if its a pretty clear cut case you should get your money back eventually.

I will totally agree....  it would take more than 40 days to clear the case.

[Simon]

well I run a separate account for eBay so I can take the little hurt of a wait, it won't impact my main finances

[Mechatrommer]

paypal protection is not a joke, in my case. but i suggest you read the protection t&c carefully, otherwise you'll end up with such a joke claim.

[Zero999]

I'm tempted, there's safety in numbers, if we're all scammed they'll find it hard to ignore several complaints, a thread about it on a forum and possibly a video by Dave.

I've not heard of the Fluke 17B F17B before. I wouldn't be surprised if Dave's done a review but I wasn't going to mess around searching so I did a Google.

It appears to be a Chinese Fluke which explains the lower price but none as low as this seller, perhaps he's selling them direct from China?

I'm a bit confused about the specification.

http://www.aliexpress.com/product-gs/271095358-FLUKE-17B-F17B-Digital-Multimeter-Meter-NEW-6013-wholesalers.html
General Features :
 Multiple  functions with Auto / Manal  ranges.
 Large LCD display, 4,000 Counts update 3/sec
 Main Measurements : Frequency, Temperature, AC/DC A-V-Ohm , capacitance, Diode & Continuity , duty cycle
Frequency : 50Hz to 100Khz
 Temperature : -55C to 400C  
Capacitance : 0.01nF to 100uF
 AC Volts : 0.1mV to 1,000V
DC Volts : 0.1mV to 1,000V
AC Current : 0.1uA to 10A
DC Current : 0.1UA to 10A
Resistance : 0.1 ohm to 40Mohm
Duty Cycle : 0.1% to 99.9%
 Data Hold  Function  
Both Auto range and Manual range  Selectable
Overrange protection for all ranges
 Polarity Indication : Indicates negative polarity
Overflow Indication
 Sleep Mode / Auto Power off / Low Battery Indication

Major Specifications :
 Frequency : 50 / 500 / 5K /50K / 100KHz , +/- 0.1% + 3
Temperature : -55C to 400C ,  2% to 9 % +/- 2C
 Capacitance : 50nF / 200nF / 2uF / 20uF / 200uF / 20mF ,  +/-2% +5
 DC Volt : 400mV / 4V / 40V / 400V / 1000V , +/-1.0% + 10
 AC Volt : 400mV / 4V / 40V / 400V / 1000V, +/- 3.0% + 3
 DC Current : 400uA / 4,000uA / 40mA  / 400mA / 4A / 10A , +/- 1.5% + 3
 AC Current : 400uA / 4,000uA / 40mA / 400mA  / 4A / 10A , +/- 1.5% + 3
 Resistance : 400 / 4K / 40K / 400K / 4M / 40M Ohm , +/- 0.5% + 3
Duty Cycle : 0.1% to 99.9% , +/-1%
 Continuity Test with Alert
 Diode Test
Power Supply : 2 x AA 1.5V Battery
Dimension : 180 x 89 x 51.5mm
 Accessories : Test leads ,   Operation Manual

What's the difference between the general features and major specifications?

For example, the latter says capacitance up to 20mF and the former says capacitance to only 100uF.

[Kiriakos-GR]

I'm tempted, there's safety in numbers, if we're all scammed they'll find it hard to ignore several complaints, a thread about it on a forum and possibly a video by Dave.

Interesting theory at list ,  but if you have the energy, to start an private court house in the forum,
for every seller who does a scam on eBay... it would be an true full time job..   

[Simon]

I'm tempted, there's safety in numbers, if we're all scammed they'll find it hard to ignore several complaints, a thread about it on a forum and possibly a video by Dave.

my thoughts also. Maybe he is trying to get a good feedback score fast but he clearly is not up to scratch on how to list if he is in the UK but selling in dollars.

[Simon]

I'm tempted, there's safety in numbers, if we're all scammed they'll find it hard to ignore several complaints, a thread about it on a forum and possibly a video by Dave.

Interesting theory at list ,  but if you have the energy, to start an private court house in the forum,
for every seller who does a scam on eBay... it would be an true full time job..   

Hero's point is valid. Ebay / Paypal are independant while within the law. If a lot of people are complaining about a single listing they will bow to mass pressure, after all it is the seller that will have to pay up in the end. I got out of paying up when some idiot said he did not receive my item and started an eBay case. I curtly pointed out to them that he had a different paypal address to his ebay address and that his english was pretty bad so he best figure out what he was doing before buying. While I didn't win it went down as nobody's fault and for the sake of £2 ebay refunded him and left me alone

[Kiriakos-GR]

paypal protection is not a joke, in my case.

I had many cases ...  
In one of them I lost 150$
In another , I had to pay registered shipping so to return the bad item and get refund.
And because of that I lost the 40% from the total of the transaction.

To all..
If you got scammed , you need to pay registered shipping ,so to return the item.
Have this in mind when you buy cheaply.  

[Simon]

if it is a scam he will be refunding and paying for shipping if he wants it back, thats how it should work

[Kiriakos-GR]

if it is a scam he will be refunding and paying for shipping if he wants it back, thats how it should work

You have my vote if you go for president, because today thinks works out the other way around,
and we need some one with your ideas , so to change them back. 

 

[saturation]

There are many reviews of the 17b on eevblog, just search for them.  Its a Fluke for Chinese consumption, there is also a 15 and 18b.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=896.60

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonnobleuk/4417428149/#in/set-72157623456697907/

The sell price for most eBay vendors is near $100, delivered.  For this quoted on the OP price I would worry;

They are stolen products
They are counterfeit
Scam

But, for those looking for a low cost DMM with 1% DC accuracy and can risk it, please report back to us, and good luck!

I've not heard of the Fluke 17B F17B before. I wouldn't be surprised if Dave's done a review but I wasn't going to mess around searching so I did a Google.

It appears to be a Chinese Fluke which explains the lower price but none as low as this seller, perhaps he's selling them direct from China?

[Simon]

will let you know. If they are "copies" any way of telling ?

While we are on the subject of scammy meters please nobody buy a VC99, they are dreadful. Mine is temperamental to say the least and I cannot rely on the ohms function. If you must spend £30 on a meter get the AM220

[Simon]

if it is a scam he will be refunding and paying for shipping if he wants it back, thats how it should work

You have my vote if you go for president, because today thinks works out the other way around,
and we need some one with your ideas , so to change them back. 

 

Humbly at you service sir 

Well I just returned an item to a seller and he refunded my return postage without me asking. Obviously he was a good seller though and cared. I have paid for people to return items to me or told them to keep/them (applied to a couple of used items that I thought worked but apparently not)

[Kiriakos-GR]

From the bottom of my hart , I wish you to get those HH , and everything to be as expected.

I am aware that you are an honest person. 

[Mechatrommer]

To all..
If you got scammed , you need to pay registered shipping ,so to return the item.
Have this in mind when you buy cheaply. 

yes. the shipping is at your own cost, thats the devil of online business. thats why i dont trust too good to be true item, gotta be very carefull, esp with the seller's reputation. you may get your money back, but the time wasted and frustration is unspeakable. + the shipping loss as kiri said.

[saturation]

Hi Simon,

I personally have no experience or have seen outright fake Fluke DMM; but the Flikr post has tear downs of the DMM, so you may be able to compare the guts when you get it.  If they look identical, test it thoroughly to insure it lives up to its spec sheet.  You'd have to make an educated guess to know whether it has any safety rating that you'd be able to risk or live with.

Its common to outsource design and manufacture to many factories in China, with little regulation.

Just as example, if a model or brand name is popular, dishonest folks can make excess numbers of a product beyond the original client order or take quality control rejects, then sell these excesses without the client knowing.  So, for most purposes, these can be identical to the real thing just not authorized by the client.   These are the worse case types of counterfeit because they are essentially identical; the only way to know is the serial numbers are not authorized; the only pitfall of these products is that they don't get any quality control or inspection that is typical of Fluke or any client's procedures.

will let you know. If they are "copies" any way of telling ?

While we are on the subject of scammy meters please nobody buy a VC99, they are dreadful. Mine is temperamental to say the least and I cannot rely on the ohms function. If you must spend £30 on a meter get the AM220

[armandas]

PayPal shows the payment as unclaimed and says:

paskorug@hotmail.com    (The recipient of this payment is Unregistered)

I guess the saying "If it looks too good to be true, then it probably is" stands unmoved yet again I feel like cancelling the payment and not wasting any more time with this.

[Kiriakos-GR]

PayPal shows the payment as unclaimed and says:

paskorug@hotmail.com    (The recipient of this payment is Unregistered)

I guess the saying "If it looks too good to be true, then it probably is" stands unmoved yet again I feel like cancelling the payment and not wasting any more time with this.

It could be that way, but you had helped all ready one unreliable source to do 18 sales .
Its more wise to inform the others only when you have do first an complete and successful transaction.   (getting the item in your hands )