Ebay refractometer curse

[Fish]

In five years of buying and selling on Ebay I have never had a problem - until I go to buy a refractometer.

The first one I bought an expensive "heavy duty" model, the kind made out of a solid piece of aluminum. When it arrived, I found that it did not have a scale at all, and the view was partially obscurred. The seller in the States was awesome and instantly refunded my entire payment + 25%. I sent the defective unit back to him but didn't order from him again because I was a little leary and just wanted a good old blue refractometer like the one I used to have (just because I knew it worked). I found and bought one from China, and after three weeks of waiting, I open the mail to find my new black "Brix meter" (for measuring sugar) instead of the blue "salinity refractometer" that I bid on. Arrrrrgh! This new seller apologized on behalf of their logistics department, then instruted me to mail the brix meter back to them (three weeks). They said that when they receive it, they will send me the correct item (another three weeks). I am tearing my hair out here.

So, as happy as I have been with shopping on Ebay... if you need a refractometer... buy local.

- Chad