ChinaBay strikes again....

[nomadradio]

Okay, so I have been snookered by a ChinaBay seller before. Mostly I shrug it off as a cost of doing business.
But this is a first. Best deal I found on a quantity of fifty 4-pin mike plugs. Sure can't complain that these plugs flunk the "as pictured" rule. You wouldn't think they would need to include a ruler in the pic for mike plugs.

Fifty years of experience with CB radios and this is a first.

Does anyone have any idea what the bogus plug fits? First one I have seen. Just goes to show there's always something new to learn.

Maybe it's time I go back to see where we bought the previous batch of fifty? Better do it before I run out.

73

 

[Handy Andy]

Instead of the plug "squared" corner on a circle dimple - is it a tapered? As in two prongs closer together than the other pair, Grainger may have this as a "keyed" power connector 250V rating - but otherwise never had seen this as a Mic connector - but it does resemble it...

If they're selling this as a Microphone connecter - GOOD GAWD - we're all in trouble!

 

[OldTech03]

Okay, so I have been snookered by a ChinaBay seller before. Mostly I shrug it off as a cost of doing business.
But this is a first. Best deal I found on a quantity of fifty 4-pin mike plugs. Sure can't complain that these plugs flunk the "as pictured" rule. You wouldn't think they would need to include a ruler in the pic for mike plugs.

Fifty years of experience with CB radios and this is a first.

Does anyone have any idea what the bogus plug fits? First one I have seen. Just goes to show there's always something new to learn.

Maybe it's time I go back to see where we bought the previous batch of fifty? Better do it before I run out.

73

Well maybe they also have some sockets for the plugs then you can fiqure out a use for them..

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

They are probably for the 1/2 size CB radios. DUH........

 

[nomadradio]

The insulator body is not tapered, it's cylindrical like the 'big brother'. Looks just the same except for the diameter. And the four pin contacts are thinner, but arranged just like they are on the real plug. Numbering molded into the end is the same, as well.

Definitely qualifies as the bafflement of the week, if not for the year.

73

 

[Handy Andy]

Wow...

 

[sonoma]

thats a new one for sure.

 

[Robb]

Recently, I've had to undertake rebuilding the computer(s) in my home. New processors, mobos, ram, and video cards, since the power supplies, optical drive, and SSD are up to snuff still.

Bought two GTX-960 video cards. Problem is - they aren't really 960's. They still sell them on Ebay, and Ebay has not stopped these from being sold. So BEWARE.

They are actually the GeForce GTS-450 v2. The scammers went as far to change the heatsink & cover. Worse than that, the re-biosed the video bios chip so that the computer OS recognized as a 960 with 4gb of GDDR5 vram. Problem with that is, it only has 1gb. So when the computer is supposed to call upon the card to act upon that supposed 4gb of vram; the computer will BSOD.

I got my money back from Ebay and got to keep the cards. Which is OK I guess; but the cards are virtually useless. Unless I get the eeprom chips on them reflashed. This cannot be done in software, and MUST be done manually upon the chip.

 

[Onelasttime]

Recently, I've had to undertake rebuilding the computer(s) in my home. New processors, mobos, ram, and video cards, since the power supplies, optical drive, and SSD are up to snuff still.

Bought two GTX-960 video cards. Problem is - they aren't really 960's. They still sell them on Ebay, and Ebay has not stopped these from being sold. So BEWARE.

They are actually the GeForce GTS-450 v2. The scammers went as far to change the heatsink & cover. Worse than that, the re-biosed the video bios chip so that the computer OS recognized as a 960 with 4gb of GDDR5 vram. Problem with that is, it only has 1gb. So when the computer is supposed to call upon the card to act upon that supposed 4gb of vram; the computer will BSOD.

I got my money back from Ebay and got to keep the cards. Which is OK I guess; but the cards are virtually useless. Unless I get the eeprom chips on them reflashed. This cannot be done in software, and MUST be done manually upon the chip.

Wow! Just Wow!

 

[kaos513]

So they fooled you on the listing pictures?

 

[Robb]

So they fooled you on the listing pictures?

Yup.
A real con job.

Thing is, if they hadn't modded it with the better heat sink and spoofed the vid bios, it would still be worth the same price as a GTS-450 that it is. So, the dummies scammers that thought up that scam only hurt Ebay's reputation and caused PayPal to PayBack. Not to mention damaging their own credibility and their own time/expense to spoof these cards. My cost was ~$45/ea shipping included. Thought they were just clearing excess stock since there is a new crop of video cards on the market now.

So long as Ebay continues to let them sell their scam video cards (or other things), it means they are asleep at the wheel or they just don't care.

 

[StrangeBrew]

Does this remind anyone else of Stonehenge in Spinal Tap?

 

[kaos513]

Yup.
A real con job.

Thing is, if they hadn't modded it with the better heat sink and spoofed the vid bios, it would still be worth the same price as a GTS-450 that it is. So, the dummies scammers that thought up that scam only hurt Ebay's reputation and caused PayPal to PayBack. Not to mention damaging their own credibility and their own time/expense to spoof these cards. My cost was ~$45/ea shipping included. Thought they were just clearing excess stock since there is a new crop of video cards on the market now.

So long as Ebay continues to let them sell their scam video cards (or other things), it means they are asleep at the wheel or they just don't care.

i stopped buying from china, i buy in usa or canada or sometimes ill wait till the product has a usa seller.

 

[Handy Andy]

And then there are us that read these reviews before we even buy...

Man - hate to had to be the one to have said that, (it has to though for understanding the sting) But, if this thread has offered any consolation Nomad, you are being heard - loud and clear!

:+> Andy <+:

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

i stopped buying from china, i buy in usa or canada or sometimes ill wait till the product has a usa seller.

I have bought many things directly from China on Ebay and no problems. I research the seller as best I can and just don't order something high end from them. It is usually a case of needing something but not needed the best of the best and the prices for something that is quite applicable versus what other's want is huge. I needed matching 50 volt and 50 amp DC meters. Cheapest decent meters I could find in North America were $22 for the voltmeter and $64 for the ammeter with the 50 amp shunt. I got decent matching meters from a seller on Ebay from China for $22 including free shipping and delivered to my P.O. Box.