"Free" multimeter ($5 shipping) what's the catch?

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Forums › Bargains and Deals › "Free" multimeter ($5 shipping) what's the catch?

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#2063661 27-Jul-2018 14:07

Rikkitic:

They use the popover to hide the actual information. They also block disabling javascript. I have a very handy Chrome extension that lets me remove selected screen elements so I was able to view the site without obstruction. Surely this kind of thing can't be legal? It is out and out fraud.

Yeah seems like it. But based offshore so probably above the law.

Buyer beware!

Rikkitic

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#2063668 27-Jul-2018 14:13

On the bright side, you will have a shiny new probe for your old battered multimeter.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

kryptonjohn

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#2063669 27-Jul-2018 14:16

Rikkitic:

On the bright side, you will have a shiny new probe for your old battered multimeter.

What I actually need is some alligator clip probes for hands free!

Stu

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#2063670 27-Jul-2018 14:16

My rather old DMM has recently given up the ghost. I wouldn't even buy leads from a place like that!

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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tripper1000

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#2063707 27-Jul-2018 15:32

I have a mate who, with very low expectations, ordered a $5 laptop of impressive specs, just to see what showed up.

It was a strip of rubber with double sided tape on it designed to tidy up electrical wires on your desk. It took a couple of months to arrive. We had a bit of a chuckle about it.

If it's too good to be true.........

richms

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#2063805 27-Jul-2018 19:25

Stu:

My rather old DMM has recently given up the ghost. I wouldn't even buy leads from a place like that!

Grab one of the Chinese market fluke ones - theyre great.

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Stu

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#2063819 27-Jul-2018 19:51

@richms really? Aliexpress? Wasn't my first thought, although I guess China probably manufacturer almost everything these days.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

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richms

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#2063821 27-Jul-2018 19:56

Yeah, the 15b or 17b - it lacks the labeling that makes the safety nutter types happy for workplace use but even AvE was ok with one when he pulled it apart and hes the most xenophobic anti foregin tool review youtube channel I have wateched in the past.

Richard rich.ms

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#2063837 27-Jul-2018 20:28

Thanks @richms. Might just do the trick. I'll go and have a look.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

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#2063880 27-Jul-2018 23:16

richms:

Yeah, the 15b or 17b - it lacks the labeling that makes the safety nutter types happy for workplace use but even AvE was ok with one when he pulled it apart and hes the most xenophobic anti foregin tool review youtube channel I have wateched in the past.

Do mean this one? https://www.aliexpress.com/item/RICHMETES-17B-6000-counts-Digital-Multimeter-DMM-with-NCV-Detector-DC-AC-Voltage-Current-Meter-Resistance/32810590255.html?spm=2114.search0204.3.8.2a9d4121og8BJP&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_2_10152_10151_10065_10344_10068_10547_10342_10343_10340_10548_10341_10696_10084_10083_10618_10307_10869_10868_10059_100031_10103_10624_10623_10622_10621_10620,searchweb201603_45,ppcSwitch_5_ppcChannel&algo_expid=e1dcd630-dbc9-4bf1-b866-81a6a4ed433b-1&algo_pvid=e1dcd630-dbc9-4bf1-b866-81a6a4ed433b&priceBeautifyAB=0

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#2063889 28-Jul-2018 00:56

No the fluke 15b or 17b.

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#2063937 28-Jul-2018 10:24

These places are just after your information, and will happily pay money for it. It's like the incredibly dodgy competition Domino's have at the end of their pizza ordering process where you can win money and many people would think you're entering a Domino's competition - but you're actually providing a 3rd party with all of your information, and Domino's get money for every person who provides their details.

MichaelNZ

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#2064511 29-Jul-2018 12:25

It will be drop shipped from China and you and your fellow countrymen will pay by way of New Zealand post jacking up prices and reducing services to compensate for all that cheap crap coming in, which they are loosing money on delivering.

Additionally, coming from China, there is a 50% chance it won't be what they claim it is. Keep in mind that stuff bought in China is their domestic market rubbish, not the (higher grade) export stuff bought in NZ.

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#2064517 29-Jul-2018 12:39

MichaelNZ:

Additionally, coming from China, there is a 50% chance it won't be what they claim it is. Keep in mind that stuff bought in China is their domestic market rubbish, not the (higher grade) export stuff bought in NZ.

Out of the hundreds of packages I've had from China I've never had a single product that was never what it claimed to be. I've also only had 1 product (a $2 cable) that was faulty.

I'm not sure what sort of dodgy places you're buying products from if you're not getting what you paid for you should be looking for more reputable retailers or online stores.

MichaelNZ

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#2064521 29-Jul-2018 12:45

sbiddle:

Out of the hundreds of packages I've had from China I've never had a single product that was never what it claimed to be. I've also only had 1 product (a $2 cable) that was faulty.

I'm not sure what sort of dodgy places you're buying products from if you're not getting what you paid for you should be looking for more reputable retailers or online stores.

It's most commonly an issue with custom products or products which have to conform to a particular specification. These are utterly fraught. If they can find a way to nickle and dime the customer, they will send anything they think they can get away with.

When confronted with the deceit, bluffing, totally-nonsensical excuses and silence are the inevitable responses.

I, and many others, could have told the muppets who imported Chinese building materials into NZ they were making a huge mistake.

Furthermore, the concept of an ongoing business relationship is not a commercial-culture thing there. As long as they made a profit on the last trade, they don't give a stuff if there is no further business.

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