开云体育

Hello Reg,

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I have set up a folder where I put AliExpress misleadingadvertising; recent cases include:

·????????several Chinese vendors appear to be offering copies of NeumannU-87 and AKG C-414 condenser microphones for between AU$13 and AU$28; but whenI try to order, I find it’s just for the shock-mount that doesn’t appear in theadvertising image.

·????????when I tried to buy a multi-way military circular connector, oran assembled amplifier, I discovered that the advertised unit price onlyapplies if I order 5000.

·????????a worse example was when I paid AU$350 for a Canon lens andreceived a very cheap copy of a Rolex watch; the vendor wouldn’t accept areturn for a refund. And of course, the watch didn’t have a provenancecertificate – so, it was effectively worthless except as wrist bling.

Telling AliExpress of these marketing tricks gets fat nowhere.So, caveat emptor, eh?

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Don’t get me onto eBay. Its business model is to encouragebuyers; eBay only earns its Shylockian commission when a buyer pays. Vendorsare there under sufferance to entice buyers. Each time I seek help from eBay asa vendor where a buyer has claimed damage or non-delivery, I get nowhere. Inotice now that eBay demands a fee upfront when you attempt to correspond witha call centre monkey whose native language is Spanish or Mongolian.

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I agree that a vernier drive for US$5 is a bargain, even when it’sonly for 300 degrees; it’s a lesser copy of a Japanese original that did 360degrees and came with several replaceable dials – I used a couple with 180degrees dials on a HB antenna coupling unit. I have a HB linear PSU where Iused a 10 k pot for coarse setting of output Voltage and a 100 Ohm pot for fineadjustment. That 300 degrees vernier drive on the 10 k pot on its own would besimpler. But then I’ld need to redesign the front panel – perhaps about time –there are controls on the back that could benefit from being at the front.

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Cheers, Brian

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From:[email protected][mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of ReginaldBeardsley via groups.io
Sent: Saturday, 6 January 2024 2:18 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Test Equipment Design & Construction] [qrptech] FYICheap ($2!) vernier dials from Aliexpress

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I see that a lot (in cases 2x more) . I don't know if theyare hoping you will reorder without checking the new price, exchange ratechanged or something else. The working search key is the part number and thereare lots of sellers. I put all examples of a potentially low price option Ifind in my cart and then delete all but the cheapest as there is no way to finda listing again unless you've bought it before that I can find.

Knowing that there *are* low cost, well made dials is a huge boon. Can't look forwhat you don't know to look for. Ebay paints a very pessimistic picture ofpricing. I wasn't looking for these. They just showed up on the Aliexpress pageso I searched on the part number and picked the cheapest option at the time.

At $5 US they are still a great deal in my book. I'm going to mount one minusthe ugly black plastic on a black anodized front panel for a QRP rig.

Have Fun!
Reg