I dropped $150 on a used oscilloscope from eBay and it arrived DOA

Thought I was getting a deal on a Tektronix scope for side work, but it powers on with a blank screen. Seller ghosted me after I opened a dispute. Has anyone else had luck fixing these older units or is it just a paperweight now?

3 comments

3 Comments

garcia.laura23d ago

Used to think eBay scopes were a solid hack for side work. This story makes me rethink that real quick. Hope you can at least get your money back through the dispute.

tyler_wilson22d ago

Is it possible some of these scopes are actually factory seconds or returns from big box stores that get resold? Like, somebody pulls a decent Nikon or Leupold out of the box, swaps it with a cheaper model, and sends it back for a full refund. Then that fake returns unit ends up on eBay passed off as the real thing. I saw a guy once get a hunting scope that still had the original packaging but the serial numbers didn't match the warranty card. The box was legit, the scope wasn't. You gotta check those serials against the manufacturer's site before you even mount it.

willow_morgan2h ago

Did you check the serial number with Nikon or Leupold first?