Avoiding Mastech MS8218 knockoffs

[ziplock9000]

I'm looking to buy a Mastech MS8218 in the UK. While looking on eBay and Amazon, the prices vary from £111 to £150.. But some of them have the "Mastech" label in red in the top left of the DMM, while others are in white for the exact same model :/
Alarm bells went off instantly.

Red - £111 - China
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MASTECH-MS8218-USB-DMM-Digital-Multimeter-True-RMS-dB-Meter-50000-Counts-F3H1-/222237368039?hash=item33be611ee7:g:x5YAAOSwknJXyBHM

White - £145 - China
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Newest-Mastech-Ms8218-Pc-Auto-Range-Multimeter-True-Rms-Rs232-50000-Counts-Dmm-K-/131793025078?hash=item1eaf79f836:g:v04AAOSwKOJYHYqQ

I don't mind products from China or even knockoffs as long as the quality and specs are as good.
Are the red ones just bad?

[ProBang2]

The "red one" seems to be the better choice.
At least it offers (and shows in the pics) an USB connection.
The "white one" mentions only a RS232 cable...

[ziplock9000]

The "red one" seems to be the better choice.
At least it offers (and shows in the pics) an USB connection.
The "white one" mentions only a RS232 cable...

So they are both knock offs then and can't be trusted?
Where can I reliably get one for a good price?

[ProBang2]

Don´t panic.

The "white one" is simply an overpriced old device.
Mastech changed the colour of their label on newer ones to red.
Today both colours are in use.
The "red one" is newer but outdated too. The MS8218 is out of production.
It was never a bestseller. Hence there is no one who wants to copy it...

My recommendation would be:

Take instead a Brymen BM857s (maybe even a BM859s).
* 50 000 Counts (500 000 Counts at Volt DC)
* Faster display and bargraph
* Much safer (independent tested), much better build quality
* more reliably
* You have a usable warranty

Where? Look here: TME Europe  _{(<-- Click me, I´m a link...)}

Disadvantage: The USB connection cable is not included... (BTW: The cable for the BM867/BM869 works too.)
 

[ziplock9000]

Don´t panic.

The "white one" is simply an overpriced old device.
Mastech changed the colour of their label on newer ones to red.
Today both colours are in use.
The "white one" is newer but outdated too. The MS8218 is out of production.
It was never a bestseller. Hence there is no one who wants to copy it...

My recommendation would be:

Take instead a Brymen BM857s (maybe even a BM859s).
* 50 000 Counts (500 000 Counts at Volt DC)
* Faster display and bargraph
* Much safer (independent tested), much better build quality
* more reliably
* You have a usable warranty

Where? Look here: TME Europe

Disadvantage: The USB connection cable is not included... (BTW: The cable for the BM867/BM869 works too.)

Thanks mate. I'll take a look. Are Brymen a German company? (As you know in Europe we pay more for US made goods)

[wraper]

Thanks mate. I'll take a look. Are Brymen a German company? (As you know in Europe we pay more for US made goods)

Brymen is a Taiwanese company which makes high quality test equipment. Mastech is a Chinese company which makes meters of medium crappiness.

[crazyguy]

red one is new design
white one is old

http://www.crystalradio.cn/thread-512817-1-20.html