hongkongsuperseller ....

Toney · April 09, 2006, 07:58:03 AM

A recent thread reminded me of this guy.
Reports have been good/bad/ugly

Still those prices are tempting.
Any recent experiences?

And particularly, has anyone tried his panelmount jacks?? Not sure what approx 50c a piece actually gets you, but I build a lot of "maybe" circuits that warrant keeping, but not boxing up.

How crappola/decent are they?

hank reynolds 3rd · April 09, 2006, 08:24:46 AM

I've heard okay reports recently...
Hope so anyways, just ordered a loads of dpdt/spdt switches and a bunch of mn3007's, due sometime near the end of this coming week,if the week and a half delivery time is true.Some other sites (circuit bending etc) seem aware of this guy,and no bad reports from that end...
I think the guy had a few problems a while back,but everything seems okay now

Will keep you posted

Sam

soundcollage · April 09, 2006, 09:57:23 AM

NO NO NO!!!
I bought $200 of stuff that was absolute junk mailed it back and never got a refund now i'm out $230 and have nothing to show for it.

Toney · April 09, 2006, 10:00:15 AM

Yeow!
Surely you contacted Paypal?

This guy is bizarre... seems to have the same stuff listed over and over for a variety of different prices !?!?

hank reynolds 3rd · April 09, 2006, 10:08:56 AM

soundcollage,
What did you order btw??? just preparing myself for the worst...maybe throw a paddywack too !!!

Ta
Sam

hank reynolds 3rd · April 09, 2006, 10:13:54 AM

http://www.getlofi.com/2006_02_01_archive.html
(about 1/2 way down)

http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7767266&postID=114015602182724200

Supposedly the quality of the switches are better now...please,please be true !!!

skiraly017 · April 09, 2006, 10:18:50 AM

I've ordered from him a few times with no problem, however I only ordered heavy duty battery snaps.

nelson · April 09, 2006, 10:54:45 AM

I have bought lots of BBD's off him.

Delivered within the timeframe and as described each time.

You get everything you deserve if you think that the switches and jacks are going to be great quality.

Be a sensible consumer people.

soundcollage · April 09, 2006, 11:13:09 AM

Yes I contacted paypal, but because I did not want to get soaked for more than $35 for return shipping and did not get a tracking number (although I have the shipping customs statement and insurance claim number from the post office) I am ineligible for help from paypal. The items I ordered were 1/4" jacks with nc switch, stereo 1/4"jacks, dpdt switches, and 1/4" chicken heads. Seller provided links to StewMAC sight pointing to switchcraft jacks, quality switches and ebay auction had Switch-craft in the description. I received only one kind of jack stereo with two nc switches definitely not switchcraft, the insulators spin so you cant properly tighten it and with five tabs would not fit in tight builds. The chickenheads would not fit on a 1/4" shaft as stated and the dpdt switches were junk-- jiggly and intermittent.

Toney · April 09, 2006, 11:18:29 AM

Hmm, so those jacks were total rubbish huh?
Oh well, perhaps to be expected..

hairyandy · April 09, 2006, 03:08:19 PM

I had almost the same experience as Soundcollage. I ordered stereo and mono jacks, spdt and dpdt switches, battery snaps and chickenhead knobs. The only thing that was of decent quality were the battery snaps. I received the right amount of switches but they were all dpdt, no spdt. The chickenhead knobs will NOT fit on a western 1/4" shaft and the jacks are complete shit. I will not order anything from him again I don't think. To be fair, when contacted he seemed willing to work with me, he said that he must have sent me the wrong knobs and he sent me some that were supposed to be different. They came within a week and were exactly the same as the first batch so now I have a shitload of chickenhead knobs that won't fit any of my pots.

The only thing that I would consider ordering from him would be the BBDs. I think they're the only things on his list that are cost effective considering his exorbitant shipping costs. His jacks and switches are most certainly NOT switchcraft even though he does reference Stew-Mac's website as descriptions of his stuff. In my mind that's almost criminal, but then that's the chance you take when you order from overseas...

Unbeliever · April 09, 2006, 04:09:53 PM

Quote from: hairyandy on April 09, 2006, 03:08:19 PM
In my mind that's almost criminal, but then that's the chance you take when you order from overseas...

Yes, I'm sure there are no criminals in your own country.

If you stuck to components that were made in the USA (I'm assuming you live there), then you wouldn't be buildiing anything.

A lot of the parts he listed look exactly the same as the one's I can get locally (Australia), but the prices aren't any better. He seems to be sourcing a lot of 'common' parts and also a bunch of knock-offs of better quality parts. Unfortunately it often takes first-hand experience before you can determine whether a particular part's quality is 'ok' for you. If in doubt, buy from a distributor locally, and buy quality parts.

hairyandy · April 09, 2006, 04:15:42 PM

Quote from: Unbeliever on April 09, 2006, 04:09:53 PM
Quote from: hairyandy on April 09, 2006, 03:08:19 PM
In my mind that's almost criminal, but then that's the chance you take when you order from overseas...

Yes, I'm sure there are no criminals in your own country. If you stuck to components that were made in the USA (I'm assuming you live there), then you wouldn't be buildiing anything.

A lot of the parts he listed look exactly the same as the one's I can get locally (Australia), but the prices aren't any better. He seems to be sourcing a lot of 'common' parts and also a bunch of knock-offs of better quality parts. Unfortunately it often takes first-hand experience before you can determine whether a particular part's quality is 'ok' for you. If in doubt, buy from a distributor locally, and buy quality parts.

Yeah, I wasn't slagging China per se, just this one guy who continues to misrepresent his products. And you're completely right, sometimes you take chances when you order non-local parts. I did and I lost, as did many others by the sound of it. My whole point was to offer my experience for the benefit of others here. It's been posted that his BBD's are good and I trust guys like Nelson and AnalogMike who have said that. I just would not trust him any longer when he says a particular component is what it is...

Peter Snowberg · April 09, 2006, 04:24:41 PM

If you want good parts, order from known businesses like SmallBear, Mouser, and DigiKey. If you don't order from a real supplier you can expect to get junk some amount of the time. Don't be surprised or upset when it happens, be thankful if you don't get junk from the gamble. It's a lottery.

Sorry to hear of everyone's difficulties in getting components. I've had my share too.

JimRayden · April 09, 2006, 05:40:06 PM

What puzzles me is his quite high feedback rate, it was 98 something percent.

-----------
Jimbo

nelson · April 09, 2006, 06:02:34 PM

The guy misrepresents his products. But he does it in obvious way "switch craft" as opposed to "switchcraft" jacks etc.

It seemed obvious to me that the jacks were bad quality. His knobs are good, although I know they are for 6mm shafts. I buy from him as I get most of my pots from futurlec, which have knurled 6mm shafts.

Its a simple case of buyer beware. Some consumer savvy goes a long way.

The reason he has a feedback rating of 98% is because most of his customers are happy. I imagine because most people know what to expect. You get what you pay for.

Unbeliever · April 09, 2006, 07:08:57 PM

Quote from: hairyandy on April 09, 2006, 04:15:42 PM
It's been posted that his BBD's are good and I trust guys like Nelson and AnalogMike who have said that. I just would not trust him any longer when he says a particular component is what it is...

Yeah ... well, you can't go too far wrong with BBDs! If they are NOS or newly-remade, there's generally only one source of them. However, hardware all 'looks alike' but could be made with poor quality materials or very cheaply in a knock-off factory; this risk of buying crappy hardware is much greater than 'crappy' ICs. I don't think people ever regret getting good quality hardware - taken care of, it can last forever (where forever <= lifespan of builder

)!

cd · April 09, 2006, 07:19:33 PM

Quote from: Unbeliever on April 09, 2006, 07:08:57 PM
Quote from: hairyandy on April 09, 2006, 04:15:42 PM
It's been posted that his BBD's are good and I trust guys like Nelson and AnalogMike who have said that. I just would not trust him any longer when he says a particular component is what it is...

Yeah ... well, you can't go too far wrong with BBDs!

Actually you can - a while back some folks got a bunch of fake ones. Supposedly 4096 stage MN3005s, but really 2048 stage chips. Can't remember the seller or circumstance, but a search of the archives should bring it up.

chunks717 · April 10, 2006, 01:06:10 PM

just got 100 dpdt switches for like $31 i think......detent positions are firm, control has less play that many i have used (that may be a bad thing for longevity?).........have not tested one "electronicly"........for the price, i can find a place for them. by the way, they are blue base, i got some cheap-o brown base from some ebayer that are HORRIFICLY unreliable.........................

soundcollage · April 11, 2006, 11:27:29 AM

His ebay account was suspended after I recieved the items, and I was unable to leave feedback.

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