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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2014 9:53:26 GMT 10
So this is my first thread I've started here other than my intro post, so... eep! I'm still pretty new to prepping, and have been trying to balance how much I'm spending with also getting decent quality things. Still, every now and then I can't resist what looks like a bargain, knowing that "bargain" could easily be a dud. Gotta take a risk sometimes! I thought we could all share items we've bought that turned out to be duds (to warn others not to try the same thing!), or really good budget scores that turned out to be great! My most recent dud was this grain mill- www.ebay.com.au/itm/500gm-CAST-IRON-HAND-OPERATED-CORN-GRAIN-WHEAT-SPICE-GRINDER-CRUSHER-MILL-/271593760406?For $25 including postage, I wasn't expecting great things! But the mill is a complete dud. Yes, it does very roughly grind grains (no way close to a flour mill, just crushing roughly), but as it grinds the grains, it's also grinding off it's lovely shiny silver metal coating into your food. YUM! Then there are the other issues, like a very narrow and mostly useless clamp, and the bowl on top not fitting on neatly so the grains fall out between it and the grinder. Big dud there. I haven't had any very exciting scores recently, but these solar lights were cheap and work well- www.ebay.com.au/itm/201073159261?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 I just wanted to get something lighting in an mid-length power out situation, that I can set out during the day, then bring in at night for lighting. These seem to charge easily and last a long time- my yard is shady but they still charged enough to last turned on until into the next morning. Not bad. Also, does anyone know if you can switch out the batteries in these and use them like battery chargers (they look like normal AA rechargables inside but I'm pretty clueless on electronics stuff)? Anybody else have some great budget scores or duds recently? |
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Post by StepfordRenegade on Oct 13, 2014 9:59:00 GMT 10
What a great thread idea!
Such a shame about the grinder though, I hope you can get your money back through paypal.
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Frank
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Post by Frank on Oct 13, 2014 10:08:23 GMT 10
Bugger about the grinder Lina.
Haven't come across many duds as yet, not a big ebay buyer in general.
Biggest disappointment I have found was "Jump Starter" I got cheap one day. Bought the biggest they had and found that it wouldn't start the 'Cruiser and after a few months wouldn't hold a charge. Lesson learnt
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krull68
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Post by krull68 on Oct 13, 2014 10:41:36 GMT 10
Very good post this one, my suggestion which I got off my wife (she is uber awesome) any time you look at an item, do a google search on reviews for any item. Look at different ones, blogs, professional reviews, the lot. You will get your answer as to if it is a bargain or a dud just on the first page.
The trick is, research, research, research. Never buy on a whim.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2014 10:54:25 GMT 10
I tend to research a lot when I can, but sometimes when products don't have any brand name or easily identifiable labeling, it's hard to search for reviews. I buy on ebay a bit because I don't get out of the house often, but sometimes I'll also use it to search options then research further and find original sites to order from. Although I linked to ebay on the solar lights as an example, I picked mine up at a dollar store for cheaper. I remembered one other ebay score I got a while ago. Bulk honey- www.ebay.com.au/itm/Ballina-Honey-14-kg-Pure-Raw-Unprocessed-Honey-Bulk-Buy-Pack-/201190356840?pt=AU_Food&hash=item2ed7e13768My daughter eats SO MUCH honey I was sick of always buying more (even buying 1kg jars), not to mention for prepping. So I took a chance on this one and it's been great. Tastes fantastic, and we've already gone through an entire jerry can and into the second one (past time to stock up again, but I've been trying to find a local apiary to cut costs a bit more). Still, this works out about $9 per KG, just a couple dollars cheaper per KG than in the shops. |
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Post by You Must Enter A Name on Oct 13, 2014 11:47:15 GMT 10
Great thread. Honey can be pricey so good score.
I like you try to do allot of research before I jump in and buy anything so I will try to remember to share some my duds and scores with you guys here.
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Post by pheniox17 on Oct 13, 2014 11:52:19 GMT 10
You know something Audi is quickly becoming a prepper Paradise Bulk water is well priced Their little "specials" ($40 for a air dehydrator that I'm going to test out today or tomorrow) And they have $1 easy pasta meals  So for bargain "quality" (I use that loosely) they are quite good Other bargains is bcf (if you get their club card) $60 sleeping bags for $20... EBay is a simple get what you pay for, some items I'm happy with (most of my edc is eBay) but its flip a coin, eBay is useful but other places are better |
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Post by Ausprep on Oct 13, 2014 19:03:53 GMT 10
Great thread!
I cant really say ive found any "duds" i tend to research twice, purchase once so pretty much always know what im getting.
Great idea for a thread though. Be great to spread the info about good and bad buys.
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Post by You Must Enter A Name on Oct 13, 2014 19:46:36 GMT 10
I have to admit I have bought a few dud things over the years. All have long since been binned Basically ANY one of those wind up torches that comes from a discount store is in my opinion a DUD! go find one that uses a capacitor to hold the charge instead of a battery those are the units you want to have tucked away for that even that occurs ten years down the track. |
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Post by Peter on Oct 21, 2014 17:57:38 GMT 10
Yep, I've bought a total of three wind up torches, all of which were rubbish. Speaking of which, can anyone recommend a decent wind up radio? I have need of such an animal...
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Post by Ausprep on Oct 21, 2014 18:00:35 GMT 10
Yep, I've bought a total of three wind up torches, all of which were rubbish. Speaking of which, can anyone recommend a decent wind up radio? I have need of such an animal... Without looking it up online, i was in Jaycar a week or so ago and noticed they had a few. Looked pretty decent too. |
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Post by Peter on Oct 21, 2014 18:13:35 GMT 10
Thanks Aus. They have a branch not far from my work.
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Post by You Must Enter A Name on Oct 22, 2014 13:47:43 GMT 10
no, no, no my point was that a very few rare wind up torches are excellent, they contain a capacitor instead of a battery and so you get hundreds of thousands of recharge cycles without defect.
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Post by agriculturalprep on Oct 22, 2014 21:51:32 GMT 10
I have bought a few duds, because I'm on a budget i bought some cheap "tactical" backpacks just to start bob for my brothers, but they were cheap and weren't worth it, flogged them off. Any tactical or bags coming out of china is so hard to tell the quality. I did just buy a biolite campstove www.biolitestove.com/products/campstove/ and grill for 170 dollars brand new on gumtree that is a bit of save and I'm actually really impressed with it, great for my overnight hikes too. I am pretty big into my knives and have been ripped off with cheap fake spyderco knives on ebay, but i recently found cuttingedgeknives.com.au and they sell all types of blades and gear, its not all cheap but it is all cheaper than ebay and got some good deals there after much research. Hope that helps |
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Post by SA Hunter on Oct 22, 2014 22:49:33 GMT 10
I have bought a few duds, because I'm on a budget i bought some cheap "tactical" backpacks just to start bob for my brothers, but they were cheap and weren't worth it, flogged them off. Any tactical or bags coming out of china is so hard to tell the quality. I did just buy a biolite campstove www.biolitestove.com/products/campstove/ and grill for 170 dollars brand new on gumtree that is a bit of save and I'm actually really impressed with it, great for my overnight hikes too. I am pretty big into my knives and have been ripped off with cheap fake spyderco knives on ebay, but i recently found cuttingedgeknives.com.au and they sell all types of blades and gear, its not all cheap but it is all cheaper than ebay and got some good deals there after much research. Hope that helps Like yourself, I am into the knives, and have bought a LOT off Ebay, and have never been disappointed - the best ones were a 5 piece butchers set with a steel, from Tasmania. i paid about $27 incl postage - I was really impressed with the quality, and was locally made. I've also bought a lot of hunting knives, and they were all ok. |
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