What china tools at ebay worth the money?

[rsjsouza]

A very similar story can be found on this forum in the thread on the under $10 DMM.  The same DMM has been sold under a small number of model names for several years now.  Originally it was a very basic, but basically acceptable DMM.  But over the years the thread has document steady drops in the quality of the device, until the current version is in many ways not useful.  The nanoVNA shows the same pattern as does the "Under $20 component tester".

Is this the one you are referring to?
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/harbor-freight-cen-tech-90899-small-teardown/

[_Wim_]

Those wire cutters seem to be identical to the Plato 170, which is actually cheaper on Digi-Key ... or they offer the slightly more expensive extra strong Plato 170S.

I do not know if these are a clone of the plato or the same thing, but I have these (the dark bleu "plato 170" type) and also very satisfied by them. And for 2.5€ including shipping you can also by a couple to "abuse" 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32858965448.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dUvO44c

[SL4P]

After 50 years buying, selling,installing and repairing high-end systems… and watching the rise and fall of the chinese electronics manufacturing industry, I’d say that about 30% of chinese designed and manufactured products are at or above average quality and safety… often a direct copy of other products.

In real terms, a large part of the better products they make are designed and quality specified by overseas manufacturers… china provides a competent factory.

About 10-20% of other country products are built down to a price - and if you go there, at least it’s probably safe because of the origin country electrical or consumer warranty laws.

The remaining top-end products are generally pretty good, but you pay for that consistency, reliability and warranty / life.

[hulk69]

To me that is exactly why aliexpress is full of different seller selling the exact same shit!

[sn4k3]

I buy a lot of stuff from China, but EE related this was my best buy so far: Vichy VC8145