eBay's policy for some time now has been, if a seller refunds a buyer in full, then the transaction is canceled, i.e. it did not happen, and so feedback is removed.
I have seen both Ebay and AliExpress delete feedback for fake op-amps and fake transistors.
Some of the worst fake sellers have feedback ratings over 99%.
Due to that, feedback doesn't mean much as far as these fakes are concerned. Also on both Ebay and AliExpress there are *many* suspiciously similar accounts that might be run by the same person or group. Choosing between them seems like just choosing which of the different account names to be ripped off with the same fake stuff from probably the same fake seller. A strange corrupted form of competition.
Some of the worst fake sellers have feedback ratings over 99%.
Due to that, feedback doesn't mean much as far as these fakes are concerned. Also on both Ebay and AliExpress there are *many* suspiciously similar accounts that might be run by the same person or group. Choosing between them seems like just choosing which of the different account names to be ripped off with the same fake stuff from probably the same fake seller. A strange corrupted form of competition.
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Hi Richard
Thanks for the reply. Frankly I never thought that ppl would go out of their way to make fake electronic components cause the quantity sold is so so little as compared to other products. I bought a whole bunch of Nos Buf 03 & they just work .
Cheers
An excellent way to ensure a dedicated seller of fakes maintains a totally pristine reputation.
True. And it makes feedback a less-useful indicator of vendor performance, as it removes most of the negatives. A seller really has to f-up badly in order to receive a negative.
As both a seller and buyer on eBay, I feel both sides of it. And I understand their dilemma. They want to standardize the environment for buyers, but don't want to be in the business of baby-sitting or arbitrating transactions. It's hard line to walk.
Bottom line is: Unscrupulous sellers and buyers can get away with a lot before getting tossed.
Compared to the old days, when total cr@p could be described by a seller as good with zero accountability, the current system is pretty good at protecting the buyer.
It is tough since I have received genuine PCM1798 in the same order from the same supplier where I have received fake op-amps.
And then I have received genuine op-amps from a seller (twice) and then the next order is fake.
It is not as simple as always ordering from Mouser or Digikey if you are on a budget. I have bought genuine PCM1798, PCM1794 and WM8805 for very good prices. That does not surprise me since from work I have done in the past I have bought parts direct from the manufacturers (in production quantities) for 5% to 20% of the distributor prices.
So genuine parts are routinely sold at fractions of the distributor prices. But then the fake sellers really mess things up. If you are rich then go ahead and always buy from distributors to avoid the problem. At this point my "do not buy from Ali or Ebay" list is pretty long. If you only need one or two op-amps and are on a budget then I suggest LM4562 from Digikey or Mouser. If you need to upgrade racks full of op-amps (and you are on a budget) then it can be more complicated... If you want OPA1611 or AD797 then stay away from Ali or Ebay.
But I have notch filters, LNA, etc. So I can measure noise and distortion. 99% of buyers can not so perhaps they should stick with Digikey or Mouser. And if they have the budget then yes, by all means stick with Digikey or Mouser.
And then I have received genuine op-amps from a seller (twice) and then the next order is fake.
It is not as simple as always ordering from Mouser or Digikey if you are on a budget. I have bought genuine PCM1798, PCM1794 and WM8805 for very good prices. That does not surprise me since from work I have done in the past I have bought parts direct from the manufacturers (in production quantities) for 5% to 20% of the distributor prices.
So genuine parts are routinely sold at fractions of the distributor prices. But then the fake sellers really mess things up. If you are rich then go ahead and always buy from distributors to avoid the problem. At this point my "do not buy from Ali or Ebay" list is pretty long. If you only need one or two op-amps and are on a budget then I suggest LM4562 from Digikey or Mouser. If you need to upgrade racks full of op-amps (and you are on a budget) then it can be more complicated... If you want OPA1611 or AD797 then stay away from Ali or Ebay.
But I have notch filters, LNA, etc. So I can measure noise and distortion. 99% of buyers can not so perhaps they should stick with Digikey or Mouser. And if they have the budget then yes, by all means stick with Digikey or Mouser.
Duncan, I was surprised to read this. I had a look on Wikipedia and there is no mention of any takeover or change in ownership structure. There, it appears to be a benign not-for-profit charity.
I never really liked the Consumers' Association because its advice was only available to paid-up subscribers to Which? magazine. To my mind that is contrary to what should be the ethos of a non-profit consumers' association.
Anyway, could you point me in the direction of online information about this. With good quality links I may well edit the Wikipedia page.
Apologies for wandering OT!
Wikipedia is perhaps the last place one should look for valid information.
I don't think Duncan was referring to the ownership of Which, rather to who is running the organisation, which remains a registered charity:
The Which board however are all people appointed within the last 5 years with the CEO being appointed in 2018:
Which? Limited Board
So I think Duncan was referring to who is on the board rather than the ownership.
I don't think Duncan was referring to the ownership of Which, rather to who is running the organisation, which remains a registered charity:
The Which board however are all people appointed within the last 5 years with the CEO being appointed in 2018:
Which? Limited Board
So I think Duncan was referring to who is on the board rather than the ownership.
Sorry taking so long to reply I just got the email.
Your right Ian ,the basis of the organization is not the issue its who is in control of it and their policies which have swung --- shall we say "very liberal " and that the interests of the ordinary UK citizen is not the first choice of the new "dogma " but commercialism .
As you know Which has ( or had ) a high reputation in the UK --that is no longer the case , I still get emails sent to me even though I departed after years as one of the "Regulars " in not so good terms as I refused to be "woke " and the Moderators ( young university students ) aren't keen on the truth even when I dug up real facts that showed many well known UK companies what went on behind the scenes.
It got so bad a UK government bod got involved and my criticisms were pulled .
As of now even the Regulars have complained of the stifling atmosphere of what they can or cannot say --criticism is not allowed , I have known them over the years and got on well with a professor and two others who lamented my departure but as Which has a government association I it doesn't want to upset those in higher places in power.
Its a shame as it was held in high regard but even the testing has been contracted out and is very limited and its obvious that many recommendations are more of a commercial interest than helpful.
I was truly upset at having to leave as I knew I was helping the UK public but I was given an ultimatum-conform to our dogma ---or else ! so I took the or else and left --still miss the website but funnily enough they still email me , I don't mind them making money and all the big US "heavy hitters " are now involved its just the unbearable conformity to a very narrow set of rules of modern dogma.
Your right Ian ,the basis of the organization is not the issue its who is in control of it and their policies which have swung --- shall we say "very liberal " and that the interests of the ordinary UK citizen is not the first choice of the new "dogma " but commercialism .
As you know Which has ( or had ) a high reputation in the UK --that is no longer the case , I still get emails sent to me even though I departed after years as one of the "Regulars " in not so good terms as I refused to be "woke " and the Moderators ( young university students ) aren't keen on the truth even when I dug up real facts that showed many well known UK companies what went on behind the scenes.
It got so bad a UK government bod got involved and my criticisms were pulled .
As of now even the Regulars have complained of the stifling atmosphere of what they can or cannot say --criticism is not allowed , I have known them over the years and got on well with a professor and two others who lamented my departure but as Which has a government association I it doesn't want to upset those in higher places in power.
Its a shame as it was held in high regard but even the testing has been contracted out and is very limited and its obvious that many recommendations are more of a commercial interest than helpful.
I was truly upset at having to leave as I knew I was helping the UK public but I was given an ultimatum-conform to our dogma ---or else ! so I took the or else and left --still miss the website but funnily enough they still email me , I don't mind them making money and all the big US "heavy hitters " are now involved its just the unbearable conformity to a very narrow set of rules of modern dogma.
'Woke' in the modern meaning of the phrase is an absolute joke. All it means is that a person has cottoned on to the fact that governments, mainstream media, big corporations etc. are often economical with the truth, so instead of using this knowledge to develop critical thinking skills they simply turn to so-called 'alternative' media which is nothing more than a bunch of lies cooked up specifically to appeal to these people who have rejected the 'official' lies.
So these 'woke' people are hopelessly misguided because they have simply switched to a different stream of lies to the majority of the public and think this makes them more informed, when in reality, it just means they are every bit as mislead and unawares as the rest of the masses.
God I'm a cyncial sod, aren't I. Back to the topic at hand however...
So these 'woke' people are hopelessly misguided because they have simply switched to a different stream of lies to the majority of the public and think this makes them more informed, when in reality, it just means they are every bit as mislead and unawares as the rest of the masses.
God I'm a cyncial sod, aren't I. Back to the topic at hand however...
What’s amusing is to actually read the “5 star reviews”, often there will be one that slipped past the eyes of the unscrupulous scamazon or whoever folks and describe a true horror story. Not having a low star rating, it was allowed to be seen.
My favorite fake op-amp is advertised as the OPA627 that’s really a relabeled AD744 and are great.
Recycled AD744 is about $0.15 but yeah I admit there are cheaper opamps, even new - like TL071. You can check an AD744 by the extra nodes brought out to the normally 'spare' pins.
@duncan2 - that's all very interesting about Which? going 'woke'. My dad was a subscriber over many many years and it was an excellent resource in those days. I agree with @Ian and @exojam - woke is a joke and going woke makes you broke (eventually).
@duncan2 - that's all very interesting about Which? going 'woke'. My dad was a subscriber over many many years and it was an excellent resource in those days. I agree with @Ian and @exojam - woke is a joke and going woke makes you broke (eventually).
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I'm not sure if it differs any if you request the cancellation as the buyer or not, but that certainly wasn't the case when one of my purchases was cancelled by the seller without me asking.
Either they never had the item or were refusing to let it go for my winning bid of something like $150 less than the buy it now price they had listed. I was greeted with four or five completely contradictory reasons for cancellation on that one. After a cancelled sale and a reported seller, I still had the option to leave feedback. Still mad I didn't get that synthesizer though...
