FS (US): Fluke 5440, 5100, etc Rack Mount Kit (M08-205-600 + M00-280-610)

[Rax]

Please see this listed here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/266965859953

Feel free to make offers you feel are reasonable.

Thanks for looking.

[Tony_G]

Full stop problem rears its head again The real URL is:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/266965859953

TonyG

[Rax]

Oh, jeez... I promise, I'll get after the 256th time.

Thanks Tony

[Simon]

I could suggest a solution to your problem. Stop dumping your ebay links on here. This is the trading section, that means you discuss the trade, not just dump links to ebay. Ebay is already a trading platform. Unless it is something real special people would rather browse ebay at their leisure.

One reporter suggested you could put all your links in one thread, that way it's at least contained. If we want a directory of electronic equipment on ebay..... we can go to ebay.

Thank you

[Rax]

I could suggest a solution to your problem. Stop dumping your ebay links on here.

All of the eBay listings I am placing on here are my own. Is there a maximum number of allowed such listings (for instance, per user per month), or are eBay links simply not allowed? I'd be happy to comply with the rules if I know them. For compliance I was going by https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/buy-sell-wanted-rules/, and I didn't think there are limits or interdictions to either the number of listings or whether they're pointing to eBay.

One reporter suggested you could put all your links in one thread, that way it's at least contained. If we want a directory of electronic equipment on ebay..... we can go to ebay.
Thank you

I guess you're recommending I create a thread such as "Rax's listings" and place all of these within that? In my opinion, that would be less helpful to anyone, because people are looking for the equipment model number etc. in the post title (also, per "rule's link" above I thought that's a rule I have to comply with, so I was duly following that). They'd just see this annoying "Rax's listings" thing popping to the top of the channel with no indication what's up for grabs. I think I'd be much more conspicuous, and not for the better.

But again, I'm happy to do whatever's needed within the rules and as conducive and smooth as I can. Thank you for helping clarify what's requested of me, Simon.

[PlainName]

Personally, I skip most Ebay links, like I skip most YouTube links. Like Simon says, if we wanted to see Ebay stuff we would look at Ebay.

But... show us the money (in a manner of speaking). Put the pix up here, and the description, so we can see what it is without following links to elsewhere. Then, the Ebay link is simply a safe way to acquire it and otherwise it's a normal Buy or Sell item. More likely to catch someone's eye or nudge their impulse buying muscle, and it's not that harder for you since you already have the photos and text. Win, win.

[Rax]

Personally, I skip most Ebay links, like I skip most YouTube links. Like Simon says, if we wanted to see Ebay stuff we would look at Ebay.

But... show us the money (in a manner of speaking). Put the pix up here, and the description, so we can see what it is without following links to elsewhere. Then, the Ebay link is simply a safe way to acquire it and otherwise it's a normal Buy or Sell item. More likely to catch someone's eye or nudge their impulse buying muscle, and it's not that harder for you since you already have the photos and text. Win, win.

Thank you very much, this is very helpful. I'll consider your points.
Thank you for taking the time. 

[Rax]

Personally, I skip most Ebay links, like I skip most YouTube links. Like Simon says, if we wanted to see Ebay stuff we would look at Ebay.

I should probably explain more what I'm seeing from my vantage point. It's no question that posting my eBay listings here increases their visibility by orders of magnitude (statistics on eBay point that out). Which I think is mutually beneficial both to me, and to this community. I'm lucky to live in an area with an incredible wealth of used instrumentation around, and so I can play with different things and generally enjoy having these things turning up at my bench. I think then being able to notify here of units I need to let go returns to this community in a positive way. Not to make it sound like it's some sort of altruistic endeavor, but there's positives on each side there.

I'm quite active in some channels here, so I'm definitely not on EEVBlog for just selling and/or buying. I'm right now clearing out my garage as I have so much stuff piled up my bench can't be worked on.

[PlainName]

Yes, Ebay is certainly the sensible place to sell stuff. Viewers are there specifically to buy, and compete to buy whatever it is, whereas they're here to argue the toss about angels on a pin and, oooh look, wonder if I have room for that...

There have been some items I've seen here and thought they looked 'interesting' and then realised I really, really need one. So what I would suggest is a photo (doesn't need to be the full album - just one would do to show what the kit is, since not everyone is au fait with obscure HP model numbering) and a bit of blurb to say if it works or not. Minimal effort but does stop the place looking like a link directory, which is what Simon is getting upset about.

[Rax]

Yes, Ebay is certainly the sensible place to sell stuff. Viewers are there specifically to buy, and compete to buy whatever it is, whereas they're here to argue the toss about angels on a pin and, oooh look, wonder if I have room for that...

Yes, I definitely like the structure, logistics, and process eBay offers. I don't like the fees a whole lot, but everywhere else, it's very difficult to complete a sale. I've responded to questions to never hear back again (though the "buyer" seems to express pretty good "decision level") - or even negotiated a price that was never then paid - much more times than I care to admit. On eBay, they just commit to purchasing it, pay, you can create a shipping label, escalate if something goes off, etc. There's tremendous benefit to that.

what I would suggest is a photo (doesn't need to be the full album - just one would do to show what the kit is, since not everyone is au fait with obscure HP model numbering) and a bit of blurb to say if it works or not. Minimal effort but does stop the place looking like a link directory, which is what Simon is getting upset about.

I can work with that and I do understand your point with it. I appreciate you making it.

[Simon]

You describe above the difference between ebay and here. On ebay you have all of that. Here you have to do it all yourself. The seller and buyer have to trust each other. On ebay you pay them to handle it. I also hate the fees, I also dislike their arbitrary resolution decisions that favor the buyer and I have lost on there. Which is why I don't put much on ebay professionally as it's a waste of time even if I do charge the customer the fees as they often equate to the profit margin.

[tatel]

Yes, I definitely like the structure, logistics, and process eBay offers. I don't like the fees a whole lot, but everywhere else, it's very difficult to complete a sale. I've responded to questions to never hear back again (though the "buyer" seems to express pretty good "decision level") - or even negotiated a price that was never then paid - much more times than I care to admit. On eBay, they just commit to purchasing it, pay, you can create a shipping label, escalate if something goes off, etc. There's tremendous benefit to that.

I just purchased F720A here, and would have purchased your F343A too, but it was on EBay and didn't have EIS. "May not ship to Spain" instead. Experience has show me buying from the US -or anywhere where the shipping is from FedEx, UPS, DHL and even USPS- is a very bad gamble. Unless it gets under EBay EIS. Which is not exactly cheap, but at least is good: saves me quite a few bucks and a ton of hassle.

There will be big mouths everywhere anyway, and I understand why you use EBay. But you are limiting yourself to US buyers it seems. Well, it's your business.  I got F335A from another EBay seller under EIS. But I would rather prefer to buy that F343A from you. Just saying.

[Rax]

But I would rather prefer to buy that F343A from you. Just saying.

EBay Global Shipping Program is a very convenient way to sell internationally. Unfortunately, they "broke" it recently (it became a mess, as I realized trying to sort out a potential international deal. EBay support agents were just as mystified as I was, if not more than yours truly). It's possible they may have fixed it, but I'm still working to cure my PTSD after that experience.

Trying to sell internationally independently is even more problematic. One exposes themselves to the intricate and mysterious ways of local customs, which are wildly diverse country to country, probably office to office, and even customs officer to customs officer. The item, if by some miracle survives the "feetlong drops" implicit to air transit (and understand, I've successfully shipped instrumentation to Europe or Asia, glass-faced or aluminum-faced McIntosh audio components to Europe, Japan and so on, so it's not for lack of gusto or skill), can then be charged a customs amount difficult/impossible to estimate before the item is sent, and may be sent back if things don't align properly. I wish it'd be easier, but all of this is mostly outside of the control of the seller (and the buyer, for that matter...). So international selling of instrumentation or, really, any sensitive electronics is not an easy endeavor. Under eBay's GSP it used to be easy, and one hopes they figure it again and fix it, so it'd be a solution again.

I am not opposed to trying international transactions, but they are an entirely different ball game than the domestic ones.

[tatel]

EBay Global Shipping Program is a very convenient way to sell internationally. Unfortunately, they "broke" it recently (it became a mess, as I realized trying to sort out a potential international deal. EBay support agents were just as mystified as I was, if not more than yours truly). It's possible they may have fixed it, but I'm still working to cure my PTSD after that experience.

Yes it's a mess. One example: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/exporting-esi-rv722-dekavider-from-the-us/msg5561345/#msg5561345

However in the last months I got, say half a dozen items from the US that did ship under EIS and it has been almost trouble-free. Just the price is very variable, ranging from say $60 to $110 on items that would be the same weight/volume, fluke differential voltmeters mostly. Most sellers say they don't have anything to do with EIS shipping price, but these variations make it difficult to believe.

Right now I have a F721A on the way, EIS was just $18. I couldn't quite understand, but, hey, I'll take that any day of the week.

So perhaps it would be worth to have a look at it again?

My PTSD comes from dealing with western couriers. I already got two very bad experiences. Never more. Here's the funniest: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/paypal-ebay-fraud-item-not-received-and-no-refund-please-help!/msg3577282/#msg3577282

The replies are also worth a look. It turns out, one could back then (2021) ship a 20-feet container from New York to Bilbo, for $700 https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/paypal-ebay-fraud-item-not-received-and-no-refund-please-help!/msg3577282/#msg3577282

I recently got a planet express reshipping account, but this isn't any better. It's supposed to be cheaper than dealing directly with any courier, but I tried to get a Systron Donner M107 from a fellow forum member in California, and a $175 seller price would become >$800 delivered. Just about 21% of that markup was spanish VAT. So I can't see any advantage.

It's true that M107 is a boat anchor, but there is a F335A -another boat anchor- on ebay that would ship to spain under EIS for $76-92?  Please see https://www.ebay.com/itm/143629333964 and https://www.ebay.es/itm/143629333964

So yes, EIS isn't perfect but when it is possible to use it, is much better than anything else.

Good night.

[factory]

EBay Global Shipping Program is a very convenient way to sell internationally. Unfortunately, they "broke" it recently (it became a mess, as I realized trying to sort out a potential international deal. EBay support agents were just as mystified as I was, if not more than yours truly). It's possible they may have fixed it, but I'm still working to cure my PTSD after that experience.

Trying to sell internationally independently is even more problematic. One exposes themselves to the intricate and mysterious ways of local customs, which are wildly diverse country to country, probably office to office, and even customs officer to customs officer. The item, if by some miracle survives the "feetlong drops" implicit to air transit (and understand, I've successfully shipped instrumentation to Europe or Asia, glass-faced or aluminum-faced McIntosh audio components to Europe, Japan and so on, so it's not for lack of gusto or skill), can then be charged a customs amount difficult/impossible to estimate before the item is sent, and may be sent back if things don't align properly. I wish it'd be easier, but all of this is mostly outside of the control of the seller (and the buyer, for that matter...). So international selling of instrumentation or, really, any sensitive electronics is not an easy endeavor. Under eBay's GSP it used to be easy, and one hopes they figure it again and fix it, so it'd be a solution again.

I am not opposed to trying international transactions, but they are an entirely different ball game than the domestic ones.

Ebay will not fix GSP (Global Shipping Program) as it was a service provided by an external company, they have got rid of it in the USA at least, in other places it may still exist ATM.
The replacement in the USA is EIS (Ebay International Shipping), which is supposed to be internal to ebay, EIS dislikes TE & some other categories of items.

As for the different shipping quotes, this will be partly down to the seller, some of the price will be the normal cost charged by the seller, for domestic shipping to the reshipping warehouse (this may also be part of the item price if they include it that way). When listing the seller get a choice of weights/package size, this will be used to determine the international part, the seller may have clicked the wrong weight choice, which is a reason why they can differ a lot.

For the strangely cheap quotes, this may be due to seller listing in wrong category, e.g. TE books, the price may or may not have a maximum limit for categories like this, ebay can suggest an incorrect category when listing.

Or the seller just selected whatever weight/price the ebay algorithm suggested, of course the useless ebay algorithm can't tell the difference between a handheld TE and heavy rack TE from the same make. Same as the flawed algorithm can't tell the difference between low end TE and high spec TE from the same make and gives incorrect suggested values. Same as the algorithm giving gibberish nonsense instead of well written descriptions.
These algorithms will be used by sellers with no knowledge of what they are selling, or lazy sellers/flippers.

David