AM-270 pricing -- why was it $70 in 2012 and over $100 now??

[andersoj68]

Hi All.

I'm looking for a replacement multimeter for home use, which covers a pretty wide range of applications since I do medical device design.  I don't want to get into all the specifics of my needs, and I know that opinions on meters are all over the forums.  However, one item I can't seem to get my head around is that the price of the Amprobe AM-270 has seemingly increased significantly in the last few years.

Given that the price is twice that of a UNI-T UT61E or a AM-530, as well as about a dozen other meters right at that $50 price point.  I can't see the benefit of spending 2x, especially knowing that the meter was significantly cheaper in the past.  Does anyone have some insight as to why the price has increased so much, and is it really worth the extra cost over the UNI-T or AM-530?  I would say at $75 the AM-270 would be the meter I want, but when I'm looking over $100 it makes much less sense.

I would welcome thoughts on other meters as well, but I seem to keep circling back the AM-270. 

Thanks!

[Halvmand]

I have to make a shout out for the Amprobe.

I've got the 520-eur which equals the 530 but without the true rms capability.
I've seen the ut-61e taken apart, and it does not compare to the build quality of the amprobe.

Only complaints so far has been the default ac voltage measurement when selecting volts.

[Lightages]

Yes, I have been surprised at the price hikes on the AM-270. I really think it a mistake as you can get the BM-257 for only $135 shipped to your door, and to me it is a better meter.

[jhufford]

I'm considering this meter too. I wonder if the price increase has to do with that it seems like there was the original am-270 with 4 buttons across the top and now the am-270 has 8 buttons across the top.. Could they have found an error and when fixing it, they upgraded some stuff and came out with the 8 button version and increased the price?