Go in with me on used Soldapullts

[CalmB4tehPwn]

Wasn't sure where else to put this, but I'm in the market for a soldapullt, and the amazon seller for it doesn't ship to APO. Which left me looking around. shipping tends to be absurd anyplace else, and shipping times waiting on ebay sellers has begun to slowly destroy my soul out here in Korea, but I stumbled on this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-Used-Soldapullt-De-Soldering-Tool-SS750-/261162310537?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cce7c9b89

He's got two sets of 5 used soldapullts at $30, with free shipping. So if someone CONUS wants to pick up one (or both?) and ship them out, it would probably come to about $10 per soldapullt, or like 17 for two. We just need someone in the states, because shipping to me and then back out to people would take an age.

He says they show signs of wear and "may need a tune up" so it'd be nice if who ever is running the GB could check 'em out, make sure they're functional.

In any case, I'm in for 3, if we need the numbers (because that's what I'd be paying to get one anyways) and in for 1 if we have enough interested to fill all the slots.

[ComradeSniper]

I'm in need of a soldapullt for my upcoming poker plate project, so I'm definitely in on this for one. Probably wouldn't mind running it, though I have no experience with soldering tools at all so if something was wrong with one I likely wouldn't have a clue how to fix it.

[SpAmRaY]

You have to watch out for imitations and fakes when buying soldapullts.

Most people recommend calling and buying from edsyn, the manufacturer.

[CalmB4tehPwn]

I feel like the amount of work it would take to recreate that Soldapullt stamp in the third picture (assuming it's accurate) would be equal, if not greater, than the amount of work it would take to create your own product of a similar quality.

[VesperSAINT]

This is rather tempting because I've always wanted to pick one up, and at this price it's pretty hard to beat... However, the risk of it being an imitation scares me.

[SpAmRaY]

I feel like the amount of work it would take to recreate that Soldapullt stamp in the third picture (assuming it's accurate) would be equal, if not greater, than the amount of work it would take to create your own product of a similar quality.

I bought a brand new unit off eBay for $8.99 and I'm 99% sure its a fake but looks very real. Along with all the normal edsyn markings it had a cute little made in China sticker.

I have not used if yet but when I do it will be tried on junk hardware before I use it on a good PCB.

[CalmB4tehPwn]

I just don't get it. Put less money into making a mockery of a great design, and put more money into making a decent design yourself. It's absurd.

[TheQsanity]

Little odd. But by using a name brand people will assume it works. Even if the non name brand works better. Who would guess that.

[SpAmRaY]

I just don't get it. Put less money into making a mockery of a great design, and put more money into making a decent design yourself. It's absurd.

Whats not to get, its no different than "Gucci" handbags being sold on the street corner for $50.

All I'm trying to say is be cautious of the soldapullts on eBay, because there are known fakes.

[CalmB4tehPwn]

What I don't get, Ray, is that mentality. I'm a capitalist at heart, but I guess I'm an idealism capitalist. I don't get the point of putting so much effort into mimicking something else. If you put that same time and effort into your own product, you'd have something you could sell for the same price, without claiming it's worth more, and you wouldn't get shut down when somebody tracked you down.

I want something that lasts. A company that lasts, something I can hang my hat on, so I don't understand the line of thinking that goes into taking advantage of people for a quick buck.

[SpAmRaY]

What I don't get, Ray, is that mentality. I'm a capitalist at heart, but I guess I'm an idealism capitalist. I don't get the point of putting so much effort into mimicking something else. If you put that same time and effort into your own product, you'd have something you could sell for the same price, without claiming it's worth more, and you wouldn't get shut down when somebody tracked you down.

I want something that lasts. A company that lasts, something I can hang my hat on, so I don't understand the line of thinking that goes into taking advantage of people for a quick buck.

Ok I have no idea what you think I've been saying. Let me try one more time.

How do you know what your wanting to buy is genuine? I'm trying to warn you most of the "soldapullts" on eBay are fakes.

If you want something that last spend the $25 and but one directly from edsyn!

If your wanting fakes because they are cheaper then go for it. But don't come crying back to us when you ruin your PCB.

That's all I'm saying but whatever.

[CalmB4tehPwn]

There is obviously a miscommunication here. You're saying these are almost certainly fake. Tracking. Got it. Clear. Moving on.

What I -do not- get, is WHY someone would put so much work into making a cheap knockoff of something. I get that they have made a cheap knock off. I understand that, and I've moved on. I thought it might have been a great deal, and I could get some other people interested, but it is not a great deal. So I've moved on to *****ing about why there are people in the world that want to take advantage of people on this level.

Clear?

[TheQsanity]

People are always trying to maximize profits. It may not be ideal but its just the way it works.

[CalmB4tehPwn]

But it can never last, it's such a short sighted goal, riding the name brand of somebody else. Put some damn effort into your own brand, and you've got it for life.

[ComradeSniper]

So what's the verdict on these? Probably fake and not even worth the price?

[kmiller8]

What I -do not- get, is WHY someone would put so much work into making a cheap knockoff of something. I get that they have made a cheap knock off. I understand that, and I've moved on. I thought it might have been a great deal, and I could get some other people interested, but it is not a great deal. So I've moved on to *****ing about why there are people in the world that want to take advantage of people on this level.

Why would someone put a lot of work into designing something new when there is already a tried and true model that you can reverse engineer in the course of an afternoon, saving you hundreds if not thousands of RND costs. Why go through the hassle of marketing for your own brand when  you can just make something with someone else's logo on it and expect 90%+ of consumers to either not know the difference, or care. It's a great deal because now you can manufacture 1000s of these things for a few $ and still sell them at half to a third the price of the real ones and turn a profit.

People say the word "fakes" like it's a bad thing, it's pretty much going to be the same mechanism and method as the real one, just with inferior materials.