Keysight U1273A heavily discounted at Fry's

[texaspyro]

The reported issues in another thread were on U1253, which are even earlier designs. Apart from texaspyro's report, I don't recall anybody else with issues on U1273. Besides, if the problem is focused on the color blue these displays are yellow monochrome.

There is a thread on the travails of people trying to replace their failed U1253 displays.   And it's not just power-on hours that is an issue.   There are reports of dim / failed displays on never/seldom used units.  Sounds like the displays were not properly sealed...

[rsjsouza]

The reported issues in another thread were on U1253, which are even earlier designs. Apart from texaspyro's report, I don't recall anybody else with issues on U1273. Besides, if the problem is focused on the color blue these displays are yellow monochrome.

There is a thread on the travails of people trying to replace their failed U1253 displays.   And it's not just power-on hours that is an issue.   There are reports of dim / failed displays on never/seldom used units.  Sounds like the displays were not properly sealed...

Yes, I know that thread and the sealing is certainly the culprit. Unfortunately I don't know if the U1253 is significantly different than the U1273 in terms of display technology. If they used the same (or a similar) display, then a large amount of 1273s will eventually become Flukes 8020A/8050As and their leaky displays in just a few more years. Otherwise, the durability data is still very blurry. 

[wraper]

Yes, I know that thread and the sealing is certainly the culprit. Unfortunately I don't know if the U1253 is significantly different than the U1273 in terms of display technology. If they used the same (or a similar) display, then a large amount of 1273s will eventually become Flukes 8020A/8050As and their leaky displays in just a few more years. Otherwise, the durability data is still very blurry.

I won't check it, but IIRC they have same display.
EDIT: maybe U1253B had the same display and U1253A something different.

[rsjsouza]

Yes, I know that thread and the sealing is certainly the culprit. Unfortunately I don't know if the U1253 is significantly different than the U1273 in terms of display technology. If they used the same (or a similar) display, then a large amount of 1273s will eventually become Flukes 8020A/8050As and their leaky displays in just a few more years. Otherwise, the durability data is still very blurry.

I won't check it, but IIRC they have same display.
EDIT: maybe U1253B had the same display and U1253A something different.

Maybe or maybe not - the U125x is still the old Escort design, while the U127x seems built at Agilent from the ground up. The display itself looks the same across the board. 

If Keysight is to be believed, their OLED replacement part is only applicable to the U1253B - neither U1253A nor U1273A.

[wraper]

Maybe or maybe not - the U125x is still the old Escort design, while the U127x seems built at Agilent from the ground up. The display itself looks the same across the board. 

If Keysight is to be believed, their OLED replacement part is only applicable to the U1253B - neither U1253A nor U1273A.

That's display with a board. Display itself is tab soldered so not supposed to be replaced separately.

[swixo]

Another Warning for you:

Keysight starts the warranty from the date they sold it to Frys.  NOT THE DAY YOU BUY IT.
So this brand new meter has exactly 2 months left on the 3 year warranty.  Keysight confirmed
this on the phone with me today.

Time to switch to Fluke.  This is Sad.

s

[lowimpedance]

Another Warning for you:

Keysight starts the warranty from the date they sold it to Frys.  NOT THE DAY YOU BUY IT.
So this brand new meter has exactly 2 months left on the 3 year warranty.  Keysight confirmed
this on the phone with me today.

Time to switch to Fluke.  This is Sad.

s

Seriously....  , so anyone buying from Frys is effectively getting a second hand meter ?!. That doesn't sound right  .

[wraper]

Another Warning for you:

Keysight starts the warranty from the date they sold it to Frys.  NOT THE DAY YOU BUY IT.
So this brand new meter has exactly 2 months left on the 3 year warranty.  Keysight confirmed
this on the phone with me today.

Time to switch to Fluke.  This is Sad.

s

Dunno what Keysight confirmed to you. But warranty you check on the website by serial number is only for reference. If you have purchase document from distributor, it counts from sale date.

[mrnuke]

Keysight starts the warranty from the date they sold it to Frys.  NOT THE DAY YOU BUY IT.
So this brand new meter has exactly 2 months left on the 3 year warranty.  Keysight confirmed

Dunno what Keysight confirmed to you. But warranty you check on the website by serial number is only for reference. If you have purchase document from distributor, it counts from sale date.

It's quite possible the Keysight rep had no idea. These instruments don't fail on a daily basis.

[swixo]

I didn't believe it either.  But the Keysight support rep AND their manager confirmed this.
And put it into email writing to me with highlighting.

As far as Keysight is concerned, FRYS bought the meter.  The warranty started then.
Legal or not, this is what they say.  Would it hold up in court?  Who knows.

They are repairing the EMC problem reported elsewhere under warranty.  Because
the warranty on this brand new unit still has 2 months on it.

Disappointing

[mrnuke]

I didn't believe it either.  But the Keysight support rep AND their manager confirmed this.
And put it into email writing to me with highlighting.

I'd like to see that email, because I think this is not right. I bought a 1253B display unit from Frys, which was way out of warranty. I sent Keysight the receipt, which even said "open box", and they updated the warranty from the date of the sale.

[mrnuke]

Sorry, It was a U1273A where they did this.

[tooki]

Another Warning for you:

Keysight starts the warranty from the date they sold it to Frys.  NOT THE DAY YOU BUY IT.
So this brand new meter has exactly 2 months left on the 3 year warranty.  Keysight confirmed
this on the phone with me today.

Time to switch to Fluke.  This is Sad.

s

This is one of two options of how companies provide warranties absent a proof of purchase: warrant it from the date it shipped from the manufacturer. (The other option is to provide no warranty whatsoever without a proof of purchase.)

But with the proof of purchase, that date is what matters.

[Keysight Technologies Rep]

Keysight's warranty process for products purchased from a Keysight distributor or retailer is to reset the warranty period to begin on the date the product is purchased from the distributor or retailer.  You can proactively contact Keysight with the proof of purchase receipt and we can reset the warranty period to begin on the purchase date. 

If you purchased a Keysight product  from Fry's and is having a warranty issue please contact social.media@keysight.com and we will get the warranty reset based on your purchase receipt.  Keysight apologizes for the miscommunication about our warranty policy.

[rsjsouza]

Thank you for this. I will go ahead and provide the necessary info for my U1273A purchased last year from Fry's. 

[TheSteve]

Keysight's warranty process for products purchased from a Keysight distributor or retailer is to reset the warranty period to begin on the date the product is purchased from the distributor or retailer.  You can proactively contact Keysight with the proof of purchase receipt and we can reset the warranty period to begin on the purchase date. 

If you purchased a Keysight product  from Fry's and is having a warranty issue please contact social.media@keysight.com and we will get the warranty reset based on your purchase receipt.  Keysight apologizes for the miscommunication about our warranty policy.

When did this policy change? It was made pretty clear by many different Keysight reps the warranty started when the product was manufactured.

[swixo]

Keysight's warranty process for products purchased from a Keysight distributor or retailer is to reset the warranty period to begin on the date the product is purchased from the distributor or retailer.  You can proactively contact Keysight with the proof of purchase receipt and we can reset the warranty period to begin on the purchase date. 

If you purchased a Keysight product  from Fry's and is having a warranty issue please contact social.media@keysight.com and we will get the warranty reset based on your purchase receipt.  Keysight apologizes for the miscommunication about our warranty policy.

According to Keysight - Frys is not an authorized dealer - so no dice.  I am OK on the issue
today because the warranty has as of now 4 weeks left.  But they made it very clear -> Come May 2018,
the warranty is over - after having bought it 2 weeks ago.

Argue with me all you want - this is what they said in more than one email.  It's a disgrace.

[tridentsx]

FRY's used to be authorized.
I bought a store demo Agilent scope for $450 about a year ago. This was when Fry's still was authorized dealer but they were getting out of reselling Agilent/keysight equipment. My scope already had been registered and warranty was only 3 years left. I showed the receipt and Agilent changed the warranty to start at my purchase date.

[bson]

You still have a statutory 90 day warranty from Fry's though.

[rsjsouza]

I just had my warranty reset to the date of purchase of my Fry's store bought U1273A - I sent them a copy of my receipt (dated back to March 2017), the serial number of my product and a link to the rep post above. No questions asked.

[Keysight Technologies Rep]

Keysight's warranty process for products purchased from a Keysight distributor or retailer is to reset the warranty period to begin on the date the product is purchased from the distributor or retailer.  You can proactively contact Keysight with the proof of purchase receipt and we can reset the warranty period to begin on the purchase date. 

If you purchased a Keysight product  from Fry's and is having a warranty issue please contact social.media@keysight.com and we will get the warranty reset based on your purchase receipt.  Keysight apologizes for the miscommunication about our warranty policy.

According to Keysight - Frys is not an authorized dealer - so no dice.  I am OK on the issue
today because the warranty has as of now 4 weeks left.  But they made it very clear -> Come May 2018,
the warranty is over - after having bought it 2 weeks ago.

Argue with me all you want - this is what they said in more than one email.  It's a disgrace.

Hi Swixo, Keysight is sorry that you have received incorrect warranty information from Keysight. While it is true that Fry’s is no longer an authorized Keysight retailer, Keysight still provides full warranty based on purchase date as Fry’s liquidates their Keysight inventory. We want you to receive the warranty period you are entitled to receive so please contact us at social.media@keysight.com.

[Berni]

I have a U1273A for i think over 5 years and i used it a decent amount. No burn in is visible on it, tho i do have the display brightness set lower as indoors its still very perfectly visible on lower settings and it brings the battery life past what some LCD DMMs get on 9V batteries.

Yes i would expect the display to deteriorate somewhat in the span of 25 years, but even LCDs sometimes start failing after such a long time. Out of all the DMMs(Like 5 of them, not counting benchtop ones) i have i keep using my U1273 the most because i really got used to how well readable the display is compared to LCD. Yes outdoors its not so great but i can just use one of my other 4 DMMs for the rare occasion i might need to measure something outdoors, this is a meter that excels on the electronics workbench.

The meter is still holding its calibration down to +/- 1 count of the last digit on DCV, DCA and Ohms after all these years.

[swixo]

Hi Swixo, Keysight is sorry that you have received incorrect warranty information from Keysight. While it is true that Fry’s is no longer an authorized Keysight retailer, Keysight still provides full warranty based on purchase date as Fry’s liquidates their Keysight inventory. We want you to receive the warranty period you are entitled to receive so please contact us at social.media@keysight.com.

Thank You!

[electrolust]

I would avoid the OLED display models like the plague.   The OLEDs deteriorate over time and become unusable... even if the meter is not used.   Plus they are not visible outdoors.  HP does not sell replacements. 

There is a thread on the forum about finding a replacement OLED module, but so far no joy.  The closest replacement found so far displays the image reversed right-to-left.

Nonsense. I even provided a link to a supplier of a known-compatible replacement. The mirrored text is in someone’s attempt to use an (incompatible) LCD instead.

Would you repost / link directly to that thread? I can't find it.