Products > Test Equipment
LCR200 does NOT have RS232 but can't return it
bronson:
Hi, I could use some perspective... Long story short: :-BROKE
In Sept I bought an LCR200 from a very popular distributor. Big reason for selecting it was the RS232 port prominently mentioned on the product page.
Two weeks ago I tried actually using the RS 232 port to bin some caps... Turns out it doesn't exist. When I asked the distributor, they verified with Extech, immediately fixed their site (Jan 31), and said thanks.
Great, but I still can't use this meter. I asked about returning or exchanging it. The distributor said it's been more than 30 days so I need to contact Extech. Past experience suggests that would take more time than the $200 meter merits. Back and forth once or twice, zero progress.
So, how should I proceed?
- do as I'm told and start hassling Extech myself?
- get more stern with the distributor using lawyer words like "misrepresentation" and "obligation"?
- chuck the LCR200 in the garbage, buy a DE 5000 with USB cable, and get back to work?
I've got other stuff I'd rather work on so I'm inclined to go with #3. But damn do I feel burned. Would like to hear opinions unclouded by my own frustration...
Jon86:
Send the seller a nasty email with some fancy legal terms in it, eventually they'll give in. If I was you I'd want my $200 back.
Psi:
na, don't get nasty.. True, it may work, but your not at that point yet.
Send Extech a polite email telling them about how you bought the meter from distributor X because it had rs232 and explain that you're the one who brought this misadvertisng issue to the attention of the distributor who then told extech.
Say you're having difficulty getting the distributor to fix the situation, (you have a meter you cant use for what you intended). Ask Extech if they could talk to the distributor and convince them to accept your return.
A key bit here is you asking extech to 'talk to the distributor and make them do the right thing'.
It's an important part of the email because Extech won't like that one of their distributor is being a dick.
They may call the distributor and complain which will most likely get you your refund.
Or Extech may just feel bad and post you the next model up which has rs232 for free.
(If you're lucky, both will happen)
Asking Extech to contact the distributor kinda puts a bit of social engineering into play and slants the outcome more towards getting free stuff because A) your not asking for free stuff) and B) it's easier for the person at Extech to send you something for free than have to go deal with a distributor and play phone tag with them for 30 min.
Also, telling them that you're "the one who found the adverting issue and had it brought to their attention" shows you have knowledge of a recent error on their part and proves you to be legit and not some random person trying to get free stuff.
Its really a win win
electronics man:
go for number 2 or sell it on ebay and buy the other one
dc101:
I'll admit I don't know a thing about this meter, but I took a quick look at the manual. It says the rs-232 port is not active, which makes me think it's physically there but is simply not enabled? Wonder if it's one of those Rigol/Agilentisms where a firmware hack will enable the port, assuming it actually is on the unit to begin with? Depending on how much money you have, there's some nice used Agilents floating around Ebay as well.
If the rs-232 port doesn't exist, then I would say your best bet is to forward the original correspondence from the seller to Extech and request that they upgrade your meter to one that includes the RS-232 functionality that you originally thought you had. If that doesn't work then I would go the Ebay route and look at buying either a BK or Agilent.
Cheers,
-Tim
--- Quote from: bronson on February 12, 2014, 09:37:27 pm ---Hi, I could use some perspective... Long story short: :-BROKE
In Sept I bought an LCR200 from a very popular distributor. Big reason for selecting it was the RS232 port prominently mentioned on the product page.
Two weeks ago I tried actually using the RS 232 port to bin some caps... Turns out it doesn't exist. When I asked the distributor, they verified with Extech, immediately fixed their site (Jan 31), and said thanks.
Great, but I still can't use this meter. I asked about returning or exchanging it. The distributor said it's been more than 30 days so I need to contact Extech. Past experience suggests that would take more time than the $200 meter merits. Back and forth once or twice, zero progress.
So, how should I proceed?
- do as I'm told and start hassling Extech myself?
- get more stern with the distributor using lawyer words like "misrepresentation" and "obligation"?
- chuck the LCR200 in the garbage, buy a DE 5000 with USB cable, and get back to work?
I've got other stuff I'd rather work on so I'm inclined to go with #3. But damn do I feel burned. Would like to hear opinions unclouded by my own frustration...
--- End quote ---
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