How does this scam work

[Tony_G]

I'm trying to work out what the scam is here. Check out the images on these listings, both Fluke 5200A

599 - http://www.ebay.com/itm/FLUKE-5200A-AC-VOLTAGE-CALIBRATOR-PROGRAMMABLE/361598655014

And

80 - http://www.ebay.com/itm/FLUKE-5200A-AC-VOLTAGE-CALIBRATOR-PROGRAMMABLE/152185245502

Then

499 - http://www.ebay.com/itm/FLUKE-5200A-AC-VOLTAGE-CALIBRATOR-PROGRAMMABLE-10Hz-to-1MHz-0-1mV-to-1199V/262545406962

And

60 - http://www.ebay.com/itm/FLUKE-5200A-AC-VOLTAGE-CALIBRATOR-PROGRAMMABLE-10Hz-to-1MHz-0-1mV-to-1199V/152185376135

Same guy on each cheap one, different accounts on the expensive ones.

Just can't work out what the angle is and how they're planning on profiting.

TonyG

[retiredcaps]

Just can't work out what the angle is and how they're planning on profiting.

Like anything on ebay, or in real life, you have to some homework to see what fair market value is. With the $499 BIN, there is a make offer.  The seller probably hopes someone offers $400 and that the buyer doesn't see the $60 BIN.

Same can be said for people who buy stocks.  You have to know fair market value, have patience and discipline to buy when it is below market value.

[Tony_G]

I could buy that except that the locations are very far apart - Oregon and California are a long way front Tennessee, and that if you look at the sold units he's selling the same unit every 30 mins or so. It's the exact same listing. Normally sellers with multiple units either sell the with the one listing or they indicate that they image is 'representative only'

Also historically the 5200A sells in the $300-$400 range.

That said I think the 5200A at  $60-80 is very popular...

[mtdoc]

Tested and working, $60 and free shipping?    Shipping alone on that boat anchor would be close to that.

[Tony_G]

EBay has apparently caught on, or someone complained because all of the listings have now been removed (including the already sold ones). I just can't see how he expected to make money on this.

[wn1fju]

I fell victim to this "too good be to true" Fluke 5200A.  So did a pal of mine at work.  What was funny was that every time one of these was "sold" as a buy-it-now, another one popped up for sale in about an hour.  I think I lost count at about 20 of them.  I should have checked the completed listings before I bought, because seeing a bunch of them like that would have set off my alarm bells.

Anyway, less than 24 hours later, eBay sent me a notice saying, "We’re writing to let you know that an unauthorized third party may have accessed the seller’s account to list this item. The item has been removed from the site, and the transaction was cancelled."

Unfortunately, I had already paid and now have to go through the eBay/PayPal refund process.  Not particularly worried, because I will get my money back in a couple of weeks.  I'm more annoyed that I couldn't actually get one of these 5200As.