Fluke Multimeters Real or Counterfeit?

[woody 73]

First off again let me say any Fluke would be way overkill for me, a non-electrical person. My expertise lies in older USA made tools, not electrical multimeters. You know word gets out sooner or later that Fluke is De-bomb, the tool to buy, unless you were living under a rock. I know buy only from a tool source that only deals in fluke and you can be guaranteed the real deal, along with sending it back should the need ever arise.

So, if some of you are like me and you see a good deal, at least I think it sounds like a good deal, not the kind that's too good to be true. Do you guys jump on it? Assuming it did not fall off a truck, they did not belong to some kind of ring, and they did not smash and grab whiling running out the store, how do you tell if it is real or counterfeit?

I mean knock on their door and carry in your own testing equipment in order to test things out; I can see that one going over like a lead balloon. So, what say some of you electrical knowing members on the GJ, do you walk away or take the bait and buy the tool assuming it is not a fake? I for one would hate to buy some cheap fake and spend a lot of money only to find out the tool could pose some problems while under load.

The CL ad in question: (listed for at least $300.00 dollars saving $100.00 seems like a good deal).

NEW Fluke 77-IV Multimeter - tools - by owner - sale - craigslist

Brand new in box Fluke 77-IV Multimeter. Comes with original leads. $200 OBO

columbus.craigslist.org

 

[cybrdyke]

ask the seller for a picture of the serial number and then call fluke to verify it.
CD

 

[woody 73]

I found this just now.

Genuine Fluke | Counterfeit Awareness | Fluke

How to protect yourself from the dangers of counterfeit Fluke products. How to ensure that you purchase genuine Fluke items and what to do if you believe you have.

www.fluke.com

I like that idea cybrdyke

 

[cgrutt]

Looks like Fluke packaging I'd be more concerned that it was stolen with everything going on these days.

 

[woody 73]

I am also afraid to ask to many questions, yes, I am also thinking about it being stolen also. I thought the price seemed like a good deal; not the too good to be true deal.

 

[woody 73]

I sent the person a request for a picture of the Serial #, so we will wait and see what happens next?

 

[woody 73]

This is the GJ and I know some of might like the following write-up.

I just got off the phone with a very nice woman at the Fluke Company, (by the way the wait for her was less than two minutes very impressive). long story short version the CL person sent me the Serial # but the lady on the phone reports that unless someone has sent in the fluke for repair; they will have that record and not have any records on any units that have never been sent in. So, strike one.

Is it real or fake, and again you might have guessed her answer only buy from a recognized source plus if I buy that Fluke all bets are off for any warranty claim, in other words I would pay the full bill for any repairs. Strike two.

So that is the story in a nutshell, believe me, if it is a fake then someone in China did a fantastic job. It sure looks like the real thing, but I would need to see other labels to compare them against.

This one is killing me because it sure looks like a good deal, but alas I do not know if it fell off a truck. I sure hope this post will help others out.

Woody

 

[cgrutt]

If you buy a genuine Fluke and don't abuse it chances are pretty good you won't need warranty service barring some catastrophic event. I bought my Fluke DMM sometime around 1985 and it's still running strong! I do agree it's best to buy from authorized retailer though if you're going to buy new. Something about that CL ad doesn't seem right to me.

 

[b-boy]

So that is the story in a nutshell, believe me, if it is a fake then someone in China did a fantastic job. It sure looks like the real thing, but I would need to see other labels to compare them against.

Woody

I worked for an engineering firm that made electronic actuators.

They used to get warranty work in all the time for stuff that they did not manufacture. Even the technicians couldn't tell whether it was fake until they opened it up.

To try to put a lid on it, they opened an office in China. They wanted to at least have a presence there so they could put pressure on the government to stop the counterfeiting. A buddy of mine had to go over there for several years to run the place.

 

[b-boy]

I worked for an engineering firm that made electronic actuators.

They used to get warranty work in all the time for stuff that they did not manufacture. Even the technicians couldn't tell whether it was fake until they opened it up.

To try to put a lid on it, they opened an office in China. They wanted to at least have a presence there so they could put pressure on the government to stop the counterfeiting. A buddy of mine had to go over there for several years to run the place. I don't think it made any difference.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I suspect that if you responded, the meter doesn't exist. They'd take your money and disappear without you ever getting anything.

 

[woody 73]

Stuart Hi, you might be right, at least twice in my life I got taken on CL, the first time I shook hands with the seller as we agreed on a price for his snap on toolbox, I made an appt to bring the cash for the next day, I rented a truck to pick up his box at his work place, and sure enough he was gone, toolbox was gone and all you could hear was crickets.

on the second CL deal I drove out to the far reaches of this earth to buy some old vintage tools that I saw just from a picture, (foolish me I did noy copy that picture, stupid woody stupid); As I gave him the money, I noticed a bait and switch, going on as several of the tools were missing, but I could not prove it without the picture in the first place. A valuable lesson learned that day.

Sigh **** happens.

 

[fitter30]

Let me say about Fluke meters. Drop them ten foot, carried them in a 5 gallon bucket used them 50 times a day. Bullet proof petty close. Always carried two with extra leads and fuses. 480/3 phase 96% of my work. Controls 3% 1% 4160vac.

 

[infinkc]

Looks legit to me. I have a few flukes I use

 

[Norcal]

Another thing to consider is if they are hotter then a 10 dollar pistol, once they steal tools, they need to turn it into cash, for that reason there are some people who won't buy used tools, they are not part of the problem then.

 

[Zeke]

How does he get it to show 1000v AC with no leads? If that is a packaging peel off label, I'd be looking hard at that. No display in the first pic.

Edit: the Fluke website shows the meter registering 1000v AC.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

How does he get it to show 1000v AC with no leads? If that is a packaging peel off label, I'd be looking hard at that. No display in the first pic.

Edit: the Fluke website shows the meter registering 1000v AC.

That is a picture of the BOX… not the meter

 

[Zeke]

That is a picture of the BOX… not the meter

Well, I didn't see that. Looks pretty 3D to me but no shadow. Speaking of Fluke boxes, mine has a gold sticker on it that changes colors as you move it around in the light. I don't know what that is called but you've all seen them. Not that model though.