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Author: Subject: UNBELIEVABLY CHEAP microscopes
Sulaiman
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[*] posted on 13-6-2019 at 07:39
UNBELIEVABLY CHEAP microscopes


https://www.ebay.com/itm/AmScope-40X-2500X-Binocular-Lab-Com...

Probably a typo or scam.
sometimes one gets lucky ?




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[*] posted on 13-6-2019 at 08:40


If you do buy one don't forget if it does not arrive you have to tell ebay within 3 months or you can not get your money back. That is true for ebay uk probably the same for the ebay.com site.



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[*] posted on 13-6-2019 at 09:21


I ordered one, perfectly fine if doesn't arrive.
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[*] posted on 13-6-2019 at 09:37


Just bought one for $9.99 with free shipping from somebody else.

I reckon maybe some microscope maker went under and these are liquidation items.

The fact that anything that size can be sold in eastern Asia to a buyer in California for that price is shocking, but I could use a microscope for examining fungal spores.





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[*] posted on 13-6-2019 at 09:51


Thanks for the heads-up, Sulaiman! I ordered one, will let y'all know what's up when it arrives.

I love these ebay gambles. Sometimes you win big, but you never lose if you use buyer protection.
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Tsjerk
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[*] posted on 13-6-2019 at 10:00


Quote: Originally posted by SWIM  
Just bought one for $9.99 with free shipping from somebody else.

I reckon maybe some microscope maker went under and these are liquidation items.

The fact that anything that size can be sold in eastern Asia to a buyer in California for that price is shocking, but I could use a microscope for examining fungal spores.



Who is someone else? I tried to order a second one from the first seller but I got the message I could only buy one every ten days.
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[*] posted on 13-6-2019 at 10:07


@Tsjerk: honm58 has it for $9.99. They're new and their feedback looks fake.
There's another seller (from Pakistan) selling the same 'scope for $12, but that's clearly a scam - most of their positive feedback is for $0.01 sales of images sent by email.
This Chinese seller might actually be legit. They also have a very cheap variable power supply, soldering station, vacuum pump and inverter-welder.
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SWIM
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[*] posted on 13-6-2019 at 10:08


https://www.ebay.com/itm/AmScope-40X-2500X-Binocular-Lab-Com...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AmScope-40X-2500X-Binocular-Lab-Com...

I bought from the cheaper of these two.
There were also several people selling the same scope for well over $100



[Edited on 13-6-2019 by SWIM]




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Sulaiman
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[*] posted on 13-6-2019 at 10:33


My house sale hence migration has hit contractual problems so delayed ... indefinitely for now.
So I ordered one of the $9.99 'scopes and offered $11 for one from the other supplier...
if the offer is fake then there will be a few of us disappointed a little,
if its true then there may be many members upset that they missed an
UNBELIEVABLE bargain..

.... I just got SWIMs redP joke :D:D:D:D:D

P.S. my $11 offer was accepted ... now I have two microscopes on order :P
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Update: the $9.99 microscope is now flagged as 'dispatched' :D
... but no tracking :(

[Edited on 14-6-2019 by Sulaiman]




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[*] posted on 13-6-2019 at 10:37


I was reading that sellers feedback a lot of it is negative as in its a scam and all the positive feedback is from accounts with broken English and low feedback counts. I’m almost certain it’s a scam
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[*] posted on 13-6-2019 at 17:43


The usual rule applies - " if it seems too good to be true ...."




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[*] posted on 13-6-2019 at 17:56


for 20 bucks well worth the risk (Canukistanian dollars (Canada))

besides money back guarantee from ebay not even that much of a risk.

Ordered one, see what happens
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[*] posted on 13-6-2019 at 21:10


The asking price is less than what it would cost to ship the thing. Its clearly a scam. I have better things to do than chase Ebay for a refund, while losing money on the currency conversion.



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[*] posted on 13-6-2019 at 22:54


It most likely is too good to be true, but I ordered one. You can never lose more than $13 or so with this.

Sometimes you can get really lucky on eBay. The best thing I had was 200 grams of NH4ReO4 for just GBP 25. At that time I also thought it would be either a scam, or some fake salt, but I received the real thing for that amazing price (did quite some tests on the material I received), so I was lucky.

Another one was less lucky. I found an offer of 5 Raspberry PI 3B's for just EUR 40 for the whole lot. This indeed was fake. After payment, one day later, the offer was gone and the seller had nothing listed anymore. A few days later I received a message from PayPal that my payment was rejected by the recipient and the money was transferred back to my account.




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[*] posted on 13-6-2019 at 22:55


Quote: Originally posted by Twospoons  
The asking price is less than what it would cost to ship the thing. Its clearly a scam. I have better things to do than chase Ebay for a refund, while losing money on the currency conversion.


Getting a paypal (not eBay) refund on a bunk product takes about a minute. Never had a problem, never had a question asked, never had to send a picture, never had to send anything back.

Like was mentioned, the fact that many of these same models went up around the same time likely indicates liquidation. I have many times gotten nice things from China for about the cost of shipping.

Edit:
Also, what kind of scammer limits themselves to 1 scam per customer every ten days?

Quote: Originally posted by Tsjerk  
I tried to order a second one from the first seller but I got the message I could only buy one every ten days.


[Edited on 6-14-2019 by happyfooddance]
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[*] posted on 14-6-2019 at 02:15


I’ve ordered one, Now we wait
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[*] posted on 14-6-2019 at 02:46


Ignoring for now the distinct probability that this is an eBay scam;
the microscope has a x100 1.25 N.A. objective, and 25x eyepieces, for a maximum magnification of 2500x !

A question for microscopists :
assuming that the lenses (objective and eyepiece) are what is specified,
(magnification factor and N.A.) and diffraction limited,
what would be the highest usable magnification ?
(I don't have a 'feel' for microscopes, e.g. for telescopes I consider x50 magnification per inch of objective aperture the point where more magnification just increaseses the fuzziness)




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[*] posted on 14-6-2019 at 03:16


Quote: Originally posted by Sulaiman  
Ignoring for now the distinct probability that this is an eBay scam;
the microscope has a x100 1.25 N.A. objective, and 25x eyepieces, for a maximum magnification of 2500x !

A question for microscopists :
assuming that the lenses (objective and eyepiece) are what is specified,
(magnification factor and N.A.) and diffraction limited,
what would be the highest usable magnification ?
(I don't have a 'feel' for microscopes, e.g. for telescopes I consider x50 magnification per inch of objective aperture the point where more magnification just increaseses the fuzziness)


my best friend got a €500 microscope a while back, and we used it quite a lot.
when sellers advertise for huge magnifications (ex x2500) it's just words, huge magnification but without any quality. at x1000 you already need oil immersion, 2500 is not realistic.
one could get higher magnification by just combining the right eyepiece and lens, but the image quality is another story.





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[*] posted on 14-6-2019 at 03:53


Quote: Originally posted by Sulaiman  
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AmScope-40X-2500X-Binocular-Lab-Com...

Probably a typo or scam.
sometimes one gets lucky ?


I was looking at the other items for sale from that seller. Give that a look and what impression do you come away with?
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[*] posted on 14-6-2019 at 04:37


Quote: Originally posted by Morgan  
Quote: Originally posted by Sulaiman  
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AmScope-40X-2500X-Binocular-Lab-Com...

Probably a typo or scam.
sometimes one gets lucky ?


I was looking at the other items for sale from that seller. Give that a look and what impression do you come away with?


Gives me an impression of a liquidated Chinese assembly barn

[Edited on 14-6-2019 by XeonTheMGPony]
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[*] posted on 14-6-2019 at 05:00


Yes, indeed, the highest reasonable and usable microscopic magnification is around 1000x, though however, 1250x have been used as well. Beyond that, light diffracts so much that the image is too distorted, or any further details aren’t resolved further, and requires something like oil immersion, like Ubya mentioned.



[Edited on 6/14/2019 by Velzee]




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[*] posted on 14-6-2019 at 06:55


I would say anything above 600x (10x eye piece / 60x objective) needs oil immersion, usually these objectives are 100x, as this is the maximum realistic magnification even with oil immersion. The wavelength of light that does not destroy your samples just doesn't allow magnification behond 1000x, 1250x is already a stretch.

There are some tricks to gain resolution beyond the diffraction limit, like PALM and STORM, but none of them uses lenses to magnify beyond 1000x, just because it doesn't make sense. The PALM microscope I used actually only used lenses up to 100x (10x times 10x) as those lenses are easier to make with a N.A. close to 1.50 (theoretical maximum quality), the super resolution is obtained mathematically.

Edit: when you want quality images you don't go for the highest magnification, you go for the highest N.A. Doing differently is like converting a Chinese cinema camera recording of a movie to 4K quality... yes it has a lot of pixels, but they are a lot of pixels of fuzz. Magnification can be done later on your computer.

Edit2: on the PALM we would look for nice cells and a visual reference picture at 600x and then switch to 100x for the actual PALM.

[Edited on 14-6-2019 by Tsjerk]

[Edited on 14-6-2019 by Tsjerk]
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[*] posted on 14-6-2019 at 07:30


Quote: Originally posted by XeonTheMGPony  
Quote: Originally posted by Morgan  
Quote: Originally posted by Sulaiman  
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AmScope-40X-2500X-Binocular-Lab-Com...

Probably a typo or scam.
sometimes one gets lucky ?


I was looking at the other items for sale from that seller. Give that a look and what impression do you come away with?


Gives me an impression of a liquidated Chinese assembly barn

[Edited on 14-6-2019 by XeonTheMGPony]


I guess it could be legit but take the first other items offered for example,
NOTICE: THIS PRODUCT IS SOLD BY WEIGHT - NOT BY VOLUME. YOU WILL RECEIVE 16 POUNDS OF TOTAL RAW MATERIAL. THE RESIN, NOR THE HARDENER IS FILLED TO THE TOP OF THE BOTTLES
EPOXY RESIN 5-2 Gallon kits Clear Gloss Coating for Crafts & Table Tops
It's $2.89 and free shipping. How much profit would they make shipping that?

Some of the items like mannequins and gaming chairs seem kind of bulky items to ship even when broken down. 5 bucks total for the 6 foot male mannequin and gaming chair $6.48 and free shipping as well.

The microscope for $13.66 has a shipping weight of 13 pounds.

799 pcs Tool Set Standard Metric Mechanics Kit with Trolley Case Box
This one all for ten dollars. You get a bunch of small items but a lot of screwdrivers, ratchet and wrench set as well if true. Kind of beats Harbor Freight prices.

Contents:
Tray A:
1 x Installation Screwdriver 6*125-
2 x insulation screwdriver 4*100±
2 x screwdrivers 6*38±
2 x screwdrivers 3*75±
2 x screwdrivers 4*100±
2 x screwdrivers 5*75±
2 x screwdrivers 6*100±
1 x screwdriver 8*150+
1 x ratchet wrench
6 x precision screwdrivers
48 x bits
1 x Pressure Gauge
16 x Hex Key
1 x Tester
1 x Extension Bar

Tray B:
1 x Installation Tape
1 x 8’’stripping wire plier
1 x scissors
1 x glue gun
2 x glue
1 x measuring tape
1 x utility knife
1 x claw hammer
2 x nylon clamp
1 x level
136 x hardware box

Tray C:
1 x ratchet wrench 1/4’’
1 x ratchet wrench 1/2’’
1 x sockets holder
1 x 1/4’’ flexible extension bar 6’’
1 x 1/4’’ extension bar 4’’
1 x 1/4’’ extension bar 2’’
1 x 1/4 universal joint
1 x 1/4 slipping bar 4.5’’ with head
15 x 1/4"sockets:4-4.5-5-5.5-6-6.5-7-7.5-8-9-10-11-12-13-14mm
2 x 1/2"plug spark socket 16-21mm
1 x 1/2"universal joint
1 x 1/2"extension bar 10"with head
1 x 1/2"extension bar 5“
14 x 1/2”sockets: 8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-30mm

Tray D:
9 x combination wrench: 8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-17mm
1 x 6"side cutting plier
1 x 6"long nose plier
1 x 9"water pump plier
1 x 6"adjustable wrench
1 x 6"joint plier
1 x aluminum case
4 x blow case with Shrink Wrapping
500 x cable ties 2.5*100mm
2 x gloves

Features:
Premium quality of 799 pieces mechanic kit box case trolley
Useful and helpful tool set at hands
Tools are made of premium carbon steel
2 pair of gloves as a gift
Specification:
SKU: 3040600100
Color: Silver
Tools Material: Carbon Steel
Trolley Material: Aluminum
Overall Dimension: 15"*8.7"*20"(38*22*52cm)

[Edited on 14-6-2019 by Morgan]
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[*] posted on 14-6-2019 at 16:24


Look at the feedback. It's clearly a scam :(
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[*] posted on 14-6-2019 at 22:16


Quote: Originally posted by Herr Haber  
Look at the feedback. It's clearly a scam :(


well, ebay is going to refund a few peoples :')





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