“... pulled from a working environment ...”

[simpson]

I see that phrase a lot on eBay auctions for used test equipment. It seems to imply that the item is working but, then again, it's also without any real commitment that it does work. I mean, it could have been pulled from the trash of a “working environment” so the phrase is actually meaningless and it makes me laugh.

It's like buying a used car that the seller says was “pulled from a working fleet.” Yeah, the fleet was working but what about this particular car? 

Comments welcome.

[JohnWard]

The item was working perfectly and being used by someone while working. Then smoke billowed from inside so it was immediately 'pulled' and shoved on eBay.

[dannyf]

That's why ebay stuff is cheap.

[HiTech]

I bought a Datron laboratory DMM off eBay listed as "pulled from a working environment" and it has worked just fine to this day. So not all of those labeled as such are bad deals to avoid. In fact my employer has pulled plenty of equipment that was working, and sent it to a recycler to get placed on ebay or community auction event.

[skipjackrc4]

Yeah, if a place gets shut down or they buy a lot of new equipment, it often gets auctioned off without being tested.  In this case, it most likely does work because it was kept around until they closed.

[TiN]

Bought multiple TE gear with "pulled from a working environment", all was fine.
But it's common and sensible rule that anything second-hand is sold AS IS without any warranty, so there should be no complains, unless item received is not what is listed/exactly shown on item sale photos.

More to that, some sellers just don't know what's the real value of item, nor have any will to "test" anything, that could be a good chance to get decent stuff for good price

[macboy]

On the other end of the spectrum, I have bought gear marked as "for parts, not working". It turns out that the seller didn't know how to make it work, but it worked perfectly for me.

[EEVblog]

I've yet to have a "pulled from a working environment" that doesn't work.
But as always YMMV.
And I've just jinxed myself...

[idpromnut]

I've yet to have a "pulled from a working environment" that doesn't work.
But as always YMMV.
And I've just jinxed myself...

The equivalent of breaking a mirror… 7 years bad luck in Ebaying!   

[Rigby]

I've yet to have a "pulled from a working environment" that doesn't work.
But as always YMMV.
And I've just jinxed myself...

I've bought I think 8 items that were "pulled from a working environment" or "working when we bought it" status, one of which wasn't fully functional, merely mostly functional.  A tiny adjustment knob didn't turn.

I find the much more common plague among eBay purchases is that the sellers don't give a damn about packing the thing up properly.  The common packing technique seems to be "put it in a box, pour coffee on it, drop it down some stairs and call UPS."

[mrflibble]

The equivalent of breaking a mirror… 7 years bad luck in Ebaying!   

Yup. And if that wasn't bad enough, those are 7 internet years so that's practically an eternity.

As for packing, yeah that tends to be a bit of a mixed bag. I've received ebay goodies packed up really well, and other times it's been    (yes double wtf) was this person thinking. Stuff a measurement instrument of size "small" in a LARGE box, and then don't put in adequate packing material so it can bounce every which way... WTF. (okay, so triple wtf. Because no packing material? Really? How about that newspaper on the table? Anything really, just no coffee please.).

[Wh1sper]

Me for my part had some bad experience with this, so I avoid it in the future.
When I sell something meaningful Test equipment I always give a 14 Days Money back Guarantee for for Thing are as described.
I find this fair

[leppie]

Last time I did this, I bargained them to repay return shipping if faulty as they could provide me no proof.

Good for everyone, the part (TDS360 aquisistion board) worked 

[xwarp]

I bought a piece of equipment about a month ago. Seller made the claim in the description that the item "worked when used by previous owner" and then also selected the "used" option which specifically states: "fully functional".

Received item and found the power supply was stripped from the unit. 

Tried to work with seller  to come up with a reasonable solution, but that was fruitless and had to make a "not as described" claim with ebay.

I was given the option of a full refund, but I have to eat the shipping cost back.

Strangely, for what I would be refunded, I could make more money parting the unit out......

[PlainName]

After a few years of zero real problems I've had to make a number of 'not as described' claims in the past few months. Perhaps I'm just buying more now...

I was given the option of a full refund, but I have to eat the shipping cost back.

I've won all of mine (sometimes the vendor just can't be arsed to respond so loses automatically, whereas even just an apology might swing it for them). And I've always got my shipping cost back, plus if the vendor wants the kit back he's had to pay shipping. Maybe things work differently here in the UK.

[Corporate666]

The one that gets me is when they sell it "as is" and then say it was working when last used, but they don't have the equipment to test it and then list a starting price of a good condition used working unit.

The thing about eBay is that whether the seller likes it or not, they ARE offering to take it back if it doesn't work - you can dispute as "not as described".  But it's misleading to suggest it works fine, but then say "no guarantees, sold as-is"

[simpson]

The one that gets me is when they sell it "as is" and then say it was working when last used, but they don't have the equipment to test it and then list a starting price of a good condition used working unit.

The thing about eBay is that whether the seller likes it or not, they ARE offering to take it back if it doesn't work - you can dispute as "not as described".  But it's misleading to suggest it works fine, but then say "no guarantees, sold as-is"

Yes, that's my beef too.

[grumpydoc]

Yes, that's my beef too.

+1

Especially when they list it as "parts of not working" and then go on to imply, or even state that the item works in the description. In the UK legislation now applies to all sales giving the right to return to buyers but you just know with that sort of description that it's going to be a fight.

The result is that I only buy such items if the price means I don't care what state it arrives in.

[PlainName]

It's a tricky one. You might have some kit that you either can't be arsed to test fully or don't have the other kit to do so. Or maybe it really does work perfectly, but you don't want to run the risk of it going wrong in the post (or the buyer breaking it because he didn't like it, and that's a cheap way to get his money back).

So you sell it as parts because there is no return. It is clearly not 'parts' in the sense that it is known not to work. You have all the info, and it's entirely up to you if you bid or not - no-one is forcing you to bid, and if world+dog think the starting price is too high then it won't sell.

The one that gets me is when it's listed as new, and the comment is "only used a couple of times". Even better when it's "still has screen protector on!!1!" and the bubbles clearly indicate it's been stuck back on after a fair amount of use. To me, those are the scammy ones.

[nowlan]

I recently bought a power meter, described as 'pulled from working environment', looks brand new, etc.
Pics showed device powered up, showing 0.0. with no leads plugged in.

Finally in my hands, testing it I am  getting screwing numbers. Eventually find out there are 2 hidden (behind warranty stickers to boot) HRC fuses inside, one of which was blown. I'm now out of pocket $20 + time troubleshooting.

Of two minds about what to leave feedback as. /gripe.