Re: eBay buyer protections are poor
On Thu, 18 Feb 2016 16:54:26 -0500, you wrote: On Thu, Feb 18, 2016 at 12:36:54PM -0500, Peter Gottlieb hpnpilot@... [hp_agilent_equipment] wrote:
Hamfests and these groups are looking better all the time. But the chance that one might find something relatively rarely
sold that one really wants or needs at the hamfests one can find a way
to actually get oneself to is close to zero, while if it is on Ebay you
do have a chance of spotting and landing it even if the prices are much
higher and sometimes there are problems with the transaction. You do have to have good hamfests. It also depends on what you want to buy and whether or not the market it there for such things. For a "relatively zero" probability event, I've managed to do fairly well, although one could always do worse, or better.
And at its best, ebay is reasonably fair... hamfests and private
sales favor those who are good at playing the required games... the
"insiders" who know in advance who is selling what and where and how to
get them to give you first dibs ... and who to trust and who is trying
to cheat you in an anonymous cash only transaction where recourse may be
difficult..
And required games and who to trust and who is trying to cheat you also applies on ebay. The feedback rating has become, apparently lately, less than reliable. You can at least examine the purchase carefully, may be able to plug it in, and can decide to buy or not. If it looks like junk or is in need of repair, you offer accordingly. You can always walk away.
I have many many many items bought from Ebay I have NEVER seen
at any hamfest I attended, and they were bought from the comfort of my
living room with a laptop and not after a 10 hour drive in frightening
traffic and a morning of wandering around in scorching heat and hot sun
or cold wet rain or other adverse conditions.
You're going to hamfests that are too far away, for one. There are always things on ebay that you will not see at hamfests, and you will also find things at hamfests that are wildly over-priced on ebay. Ideally, you'd make use of both.
Remember a fundamental principle of economics... that absolutely
pertains to Ebay...
Risk and uncertainly reduces market price... more perfect the
information, the higher the selling price.
Same at a hamfest.
The way I see Ebay is much greater risk of problems results
(sometimes) in much lower prices - if one wants, needs or expects hard
guarantees and perfect luck with each and every transaction than buy
from traditional sales channels and expect to pay 10 times as much or
more.
But for a lot of us we simply cannot justify spending that kind
of MSRP full price bux for hobby or small business related items...
and it is nice to have an alternative.
As I said, use both. Harvey
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Re: eBay buyer protections are poor
I've been using Ebay since 1996 (when it was called "AuctionWeb") and have a 100% rating.? I don't use it that much any more, but it's invaluable for some small and/or hard-to-find things, especially on the used market.? You can get much better deals there than on Amazon, depending on what it is (esp. if it's used or closeout).
Here's a few pieces of advice:
- look at where your seller is located.? If they're in China, only buy from them if you're willing to eat the cost if it either never shows up or is a piece of junk.? I wouldn't buy anything shipped from China unless it's under $10.? Buyer protection may save you, but is it really worth the bother?? Just buy from a US seller and avoid all the hassle.
-? Look at the seller's feedback rating.? Look more carefully if you're buying something valuable, look at the negatives and see what they say.? If someone's been on there for years and has a 100% feedback rating, they're probably very safe to buy from.? Otherwise, take into account how much volume they do (I have a perfect feedback rating as I said, but my volume is very low because I've never sold that much stuff on there, just some secondhand things mainly).? It's probably impossible to sell 10,000 items without getting a few disgruntled customers here and there.? Some people are just weird.
- Comparison shop on Amazon and other places.? Ebay has high fees (esp. for low-volume sellers), so you might get a better deal elsewhere.? Try Craigslist if it's something that makes more sense to sell locally.? Personally if I'm buying something new, I go to Amazon first, as they usually have the best prices, free shipping, and an easy return policy and system.? If it's expensive, I'll check around, but if it's something Amazon is selling directly, the price is usually very good, but if it's an affiliate, not necessarily.? Ebay is my go-to place for weird small stuff.? So when I wanted to buy some 6x6" aluminum plates, for instance, instead of getting reamed at McMaster-Carr, I went to Ebay and got them dirt cheap from some small (US) seller.? When I wanted a used cellphone, and an Otterbox for it, I went to Ebay (the Otterbox was new, but since it was for a 2-year-old model, it was $12).? If I want to buy a used off-lease office laser printer, Ebay is where I go for that.? Ebay is simply the best place for secondhand and closed stuff like that; there's tons of high-volume liquidation sellers who use it for that.? Another thing I've found that's great to buy on Ebay: batteries.? I needed some CR2012 batteries, which you can easily pay $3 each for in a retail store.? There's sellers selling these things for 10/$5 or something like that; they ship them to you in a letter-size envelope, taped to a piece of paper! Obviously they buy them in huge quantities and sell them sans packaging at a profit; at Walmart you're paying for fancy packaging and retail overhead.
- Research your product and know what you're buying.? Sellers don't always know exactly what they're selling.? It's better to ask a question, or skip the sale, than get into an argument over the specs of an item.
- Don't get emotional about Ebay's customer service.? Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.? It's a big corporation, and they're not going to do everything right.? Refusing to use them out of spite will cut you off from a lot of good deals. Remember, caveat emptor.? If you want a no-questions-asked return policy, go to Walmart.? Ebay is not a replacement for Walmart, nor vice versa.? My phone's Otterbox is on sale at Walmart for $45, full price, and not discounted, but Ebay had it for $12.? From a high-volume seller with a good record, that's worth the risk to me.
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Re: eBay buyer protections are poor
I've had several ebay transactions that didn't turn out well (bootleg SW, counterfeit SW, previously used serial numbers, etc.)? In all cases the claims with ebay went smoothly and easily and I was protected.
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Re: Test Equipment where battery failure causes SERIOUS problems
This may not be the best place to mention this but I have an Advantest R3131 spectrum analyzer that had its battery fail and as a result "forgot" that it has a tracking generator installed.?
I have reviewed the documentation manuals, I have searched high and low on the internet for information on how to restore the tracking generator installed option bits but have had no success.?
I have asked on the Yahoo Advantest instrument forum.?I have checked with several instrument repair groups and they are all clueless. I even checked with Microlease, the official designated repair group for Advantest in the US. They want to charge me $4k for fixing the issue, which is completely ridiculous and way outside my retiree amateur radio budget.?
Does anyone here in the HP instrument forum have any experience fixing this issue with the Advantest R3131 analyzer or perhaps knows someone familiar with this analyzer? Perhaps a former instrument repair tech that might have knowledge that will help me solve this issue??
I would appreciate any help you can give me. I'm desperate. That's why I'm lurking here in this HP forum. :)
Thanks, Leland K9SDR
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Re: eBay buyer protections are poor
I agree with what you're saying. Along economic lines, my point would be to not count the ebay protections as worth much. The two times previously that I've tried to invoke them, neither time did I get anything but a big waste of my time. Both cases involved non-shipment and then a seller who disappeared. Ebay told me in each case that since they couldn't get the money back from the seller there was nothing they could do. That was about 5 years ago, perhaps they've changed, but my very recent experience does not look promising so far. Fortunately (at least for the items I buy) it seems the majority of sellers there are honest but I'd be careful with any expensive item.
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On 2/18/2016 4:54 PM, 'David I. Emery' die@... [hp_agilent_equipment] wrote:
On Thu, Feb 18, 2016 at 12:36:54PM -0500, Peter Gottlieb hpnpilot@... [hp_agilent_equipment] wrote:
Hamfests and these groups are looking better all the time. But the chance that one might find something relatively rarely
sold that one really wants or needs at the hamfests one can find a way
to actually get oneself to is close to zero, while if it is on Ebay you
do have a chance of spotting and landing it even if the prices are much
higher and sometimes there are problems with the transaction.
And at its best, ebay is reasonably fair... hamfests and private
sales favor those who are good at playing the required games... the
"insiders" who know in advance who is selling what and where and how to
get them to give you first dibs ... and who to trust and who is trying
to cheat you in an anonymous cash only transaction where recourse may be
difficult..
I have many many many items bought from Ebay I have NEVER seen
at any hamfest I attended, and they were bought from the comfort of my
living room with a laptop and not after a 10 hour drive in frightening
traffic and a morning of wandering around in scorching heat and hot sun
or cold wet rain or other adverse conditions.
Remember a fundamental principle of economics... that absolutely
pertains to Ebay...
Risk and uncertainly reduces market price... more perfect the
information, the higher the selling price.
The way I see Ebay is much greater risk of problems results
(sometimes) in much lower prices - if one wants, needs or expects hard
guarantees and perfect luck with each and every transaction than buy
from traditional sales channels and expect to pay 10 times as much or
more.
But for a lot of us we simply cannot justify spending that kind
of MSRP full price bux for hobby or small business related items...
and it is nice to have an alternative.
--
Dave Emery N1PRE/AE, die@... DIE Consulting, Weston, Mass 02493
"An empty zombie mind with a forlorn barely readable weatherbeaten
'For Rent' sign still vainly flapping outside on the weed encrusted pole - in
celebration of what could have been, but wasn't and is not to be now either."
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Recommendations for a synthesized 20GHz+ RF gen
Hey y'all,
I'm still noodling at my lovely 8566B, but slowly (skiing is the curse of the RF-curious hobbyist :). I feel I have a decent handle on the IF unit and its issues now. At some point in the future I'll be turning toward the RF unit, and in particular the band gain adjustments. Those call for a synthesized RF gen that goes to 20GHz as well as a power meter. I figure a synthesized RF gen is a useful instrument for spelunking and general goofing around, so I'm likely to try and buy one - perhaps one that needs a fair amount of TLC. I suspect that once I get past the 8566B repair & aligment/calibration, my so-called-needs will be fairly modest. I do have some designs on playing with down-mixing and demodulation from e.g. 2.4/5GHz, as well as e.g. playing around ~100 and 900MHz. I don't feel like I - yet - have even a hint of a shadow of a clue, so these are more perhaps aspirations than plans, but that's part of the fun.
The question is what too look for - it looks like there's quite the bewildering amount of choice in the category in HP instruments alone. I'd be looking for one that I can service myself, so full service manuals must be available (though not necessarily free).
It looks like the microwave generators generally have more trouble reaching down below 2GHz towards DC, and so there's a class of instrument that goes from DC-ish toward 2GHz. Is there an advantage to this class of instrument over a down-mixing microwave gen?
Any hints, tips or suggestions on either specific instruments to look out for or avoid, or for important specs to consider?
Siggi
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Re: 16700B mouse and keyboard compatibility
---------------------
It appears that all that is wrong with these units is that they are
missing pull-up resistors on the PS/2 ports. There are even unpopulated
pads for them directly behind the connectors. (see image) All that I had
to do was add 1k resistors in the four locations and the unit recognized
an old el-cheapo PS/2 mouse and keyboard. (As expected, a USB mouse or
KB thru a PS/2 adapter did not work.)
---------------------
Good to know.? I hunted through my box of old keyboards until I found on that worked, but someday I might still need this.
Now id someone could just solve the recent JAVA security update incompatibility that would be great (recent JAVA does not work with the remote browser interface, refuses to connect to the analyzer).
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Re: Test Equipment where battery failure causes SERIOUS problems
Not 100% sure yet but I have an E4445A spectrum analyzer with a dead battery, it thinks it is an E4440A, has lost all options, and can't even run self cal because it doesn't know it has a preamp in it.? Per-incident service charge is $7500 with Keysight.? I haven't determined if all of this information was retained by the battery, but it appears this may be the case.
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Re: 16700B mouse and keyboard compatibility
As I remember there is a specific manufacture of keyboard and mouse that the 1600 wants. The rest of the world'ss key/mice are??not recognized.
Jack KG6INX
-----Original Message-----
From: sreeb sreeb@... [hp_agilent_equipment]
To: hp_agilent_equipment
Sent: Thu, Feb 18, 2016 12:30 pm
Subject: [hp_agilent_equipment] 16700B mouse and keyboard compatibility
?
I just tried to update from an ancient logitech ps/2 mouse with ball to
a new ps/2 laser mouse. My 16700B didn't recognize it.
Same result with a new compact keyboard. My old one, that dates from
around 1990, works fine.
Both are native ps/2 devices and work on windows machines with ps/2
interfaces.
Has anyone else encountered this problem?
Ed
---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
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Re: eBay buyer protections are poor
If your gonna sell, that's how I??do it. Now I've had one dead beat which didn't really stop me from selling it. After 3 days of no response or payment from a zero feedback buyer, I just relisted it and cancelled the dead beats bid getting the fees reversed.
-----Original Message-----
From: wb6dgn_tom@... [hp_agilent_equipment]
To: hp_agilent_equipment
Sent: Thu, Feb 18, 2016 12:01 pm
Subject: Re: [hp_agilent_equipment] Re: eBay buyer protections are poor
?
Jack,
Had I encountered sellers (two) such as you, I would be singing ebay's praises.? Both sellers treated me as though I didn't exist after they collected my money!?
Bob,
I'm happy for your success with the program but keep your eyes peeled!? I, also, had enough good experiences to, I guess, get a bit "overconfident".? Well...never again!
Tom
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Re: Test Equipment where battery failure causes SERIOUS problems
My 8590B battery died one day while I was using it, and it may be cheaper to buy one that hasn't lost its cal factors than get this one recalibrated. I have meanwhile switched to an Avantek 3261A, which while less portable (the 8555/844552/141T came with a free double hernia) IS a later piece of gear and drifts less during a scan.
Cortland Richmond
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Re: eBay buyer protections are poor
On Thu, Feb 18, 2016 at 12:36:54PM -0500, Peter Gottlieb hpnpilot@... [hp_agilent_equipment] wrote: Hamfests and these groups are looking better all the time. But the chance that one might find something relatively rarely sold that one really wants or needs at the hamfests one can find a way to actually get oneself to is close to zero, while if it is on Ebay you do have a chance of spotting and landing it even if the prices are much higher and sometimes there are problems with the transaction. And at its best, ebay is reasonably fair... hamfests and private sales favor those who are good at playing the required games... the "insiders" who know in advance who is selling what and where and how to get them to give you first dibs ... and who to trust and who is trying to cheat you in an anonymous cash only transaction where recourse may be difficult.. I have many many many items bought from Ebay I have NEVER seen at any hamfest I attended, and they were bought from the comfort of my living room with a laptop and not after a 10 hour drive in frightening traffic and a morning of wandering around in scorching heat and hot sun or cold wet rain or other adverse conditions. Remember a fundamental principle of economics... that absolutely pertains to Ebay... Risk and uncertainly reduces market price... more perfect the information, the higher the selling price. The way I see Ebay is much greater risk of problems results (sometimes) in much lower prices - if one wants, needs or expects hard guarantees and perfect luck with each and every transaction than buy from traditional sales channels and expect to pay 10 times as much or more. But for a lot of us we simply cannot justify spending that kind of MSRP full price bux for hobby or small business related items... and it is nice to have an alternative. -- Dave Emery N1PRE/AE, die@... DIE Consulting, Weston, Mass 02493 "An empty zombie mind with a forlorn barely readable weatherbeaten 'For Rent' sign still vainly flapping outside on the weed encrusted pole - in celebration of what could have been, but wasn't and is not to be now either."
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Re: eBay buyer protections are poor
Dr. David Kirkby (Kirkby Microwave Ltd)
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Re: eBay buyer protections are poor
Start with making the system easy to use.?
Make the rules simple and clear.?
Rules which do not favor buyer or seller in a dispute.?
Have actual humans review disputes.?
Have one more level, for appeal.?
TOS that allow courts, not arbitration.?
This has all been figured out already by honest marketplaces. ?eBay is trying to build their own environment to manipulate to maximize their profit and it causes both their sellers and buyers grief.?
Peter
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On Feb 18, 2016, at 3:44 PM, 'John Miles' john@... [hp_agilent_equipment] < hp_agilent_equipment@...> wrote:
?
You'd need a PhD in game theory to figure out how to do that.? Most likely, you'd end up proving that it's impossible. ? Think of all the "problem child" users a business like eBay has to deal with, on both sides of the transaction. ? -- john, KE5FX ? ? ? It needs to be fair to both.?
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Re: eBay buyer protections are poor
John,
It has never been that difficult to know how to deal with integrity.? The WILLINGNESS to do so is where the problems begin!
Tom
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Re: 16700B mouse and keyboard compatibility
On 02/18/2016 03:30 PM, sreeb sreeb@... [hp_agilent_equipment] wrote: I just tried to update from an ancient logitech ps/2 mouse with ball to
a new ps/2 laser mouse. My 16700B didn't recognize it.
Same result with a new compact keyboard. My old one, that dates from
around 1990, works fine.
Both are native ps/2 devices and work on windows machines with ps/2
interfaces.
Has anyone else encountered this problem? From my archives, a post by Martin Hodge on the eevblog forum in 2014: --------------------- It appears that all that is wrong with these units is that they are missing pull-up resistors on the PS/2 ports. There are even unpopulated pads for them directly behind the connectors. (see image) All that I had to do was add 1k resistors in the four locations and the unit recognized an old el-cheapo PS/2 mouse and keyboard. (As expected, a USB mouse or KB thru a PS/2 adapter did not work.) --------------------- -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA
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Re: eBay buyer protections are poor
You'd need a PhD in game theory to figure out how to do that.? Most likely, you'd end up proving that it's impossible. ? Think of all the "problem child" users a business like eBay has to deal with, on both sides of the transaction. ? -- john, KE5FX ?
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From: hp_agilent_equipment@... [mailto:hp_agilent_equipment@...]
Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2016 10:25 AM
To: hp_agilent_equipment@...
Subject: Re: [hp_agilent_equipment] eBay buyer protections are poor? ? It needs to be fair to both.?
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Re: 16700B mouse and keyboard compatibility
On 2016-02-18 4:30 PM, sreeb
sreeb@... [hp_agilent_equipment] wrote:
?
I just tried to update from an ancient logitech ps/2
mouse with ball to
a new ps/2 laser mouse. My 16700B didn't recognize it.
Same result with a new compact keyboard. My old one, that
dates from
around 1990, works fine.
Both are native ps/2 devices and work on windows machines
with ps/2
interfaces.
Has anyone else encountered this problem?
Ed
---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus
software.
I use a Logitech M-BD58 mouse on my 16700A without any problems.?
This is an older optical mouse with a USB-PS/2 adapter on the end.?
I do recall reading that some keyboards and mice did not work do to
the absence of some pullups on the 16700 PS/2 ports, but I am no
longer sure where I saw that.? My keyboard is an ancient compact
keyboard from a Compaq portable 486.
Paul.
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16700B mouse and keyboard compatibility
I just tried to update from an ancient logitech ps/2 mouse with ball to a new ps/2 laser mouse. My 16700B didn't recognize it.
Same result with a new compact keyboard. My old one, that dates from around 1990, works fine.
Both are native ps/2 devices and work on windows machines with ps/2 interfaces.
Has anyone else encountered this problem?
Ed
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Re: Free for shipping: HP 412A
Hello,
The insides look pristine. There is one gentleman who claims to want this, but if I don't hear from him today or tomorrow, you can certainly have it.
Thanks
Ashley
Thank You
Kiss-Electronics
Ms Ashley Hall
183 N 5th Avenue
Cornelius, Oregon
97113
W7DUZ
www.kiss-electronics.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Albert bob91343@... [hp_agilent_equipment] <hp_agilent_equipment@...>
To: hp_agilent_equipment <hp_agilent_equipment@...>
Sent: Thu, Feb 18, 2016 12:22 pm
Subject: Re: [hp_agilent_equipment] Free for shipping: HP 412A
Does this unit have a good range switch? I have one I got from you but its range switch is bad and if I can get a good switch (with attached components) from you, I'd be happy to take that off your hands.
Bob K6DDX
On Tuesday, February 16, 2016 2:59 PM, "Ashley40@... [hp_agilent_equipment]" <hp_agilent_equipment@...> wrote:
Free for shipping ( We believe this thing will fit into a USPS large flat rate box ($26) to the lower 48:
All electronic innards are there, including panel and meter and all panel switches. Outer case and carry handle in good condition . No tubes or test leads or front bezel.
AC cord has been snipped off.
Thank You
Kiss Electronics
Cornelius, Oregon
Ms Ashley Hall
W7DUZ
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Dave McGuire