The joys of shopping online!

[MattBLancs]

A blown fuse on the C5 prompted me to seek out a fuse kit - as I have plenty of "full size" blade fuses but none of the new smaller "mini" variety.

Off to eBay. Best price seemed to be a 344 item selection box, so add to basket and problem solved.

Next morning a message:

Emergency not available blah blah (1)

Oh well, these things happen. Refund please, I'll shop elsewhere.

Tried another 344 item seller and, perhaps not that surprisingly the following day:

Emergency blah blah (2)

At this point I realise the 344 fuse pack factory has clearly gone up in smoke...

So I found a 300 fuses seller and again clicked buy it now.

Almost immediately I received a message and my heart sunk, but hurray! It was just thank you for buying blah blah pleasantries.


Then this morning:

Nope, we're selling items that don't exist either.

Incidentally, all three listings are still present on eBay today, so if you have time you didn't know you wanted wasting, then opportunity remains available!

[mickthemaverick]

I use ebay a lot and apply one simple rule which so far has avoided any issues like this. When searching I use the advanced search facility and select UK suppliers only!! Seems to work for me!

[MattBLancs]

I've tried that, but have bought a few items listed as located "Birmingham, UK", "London, UK" or something meaningless like "UK, UK" that then took a long time to arrive in the usual China post packaging! So they have ways of circumnavigating such strategies too!

[MattBLancs]

First one purchased

Location: Gateshead

Actually, second one also Gateshead, despite different eBay seller ID - didn't spot that when buying.

Third one claims Dunstable

[mickthemaverick]

Indeed they do Matt but you can only do your best. Obviously the language in those replies gives them away so you can try asking a question before buying and assess the reply for authenticity. If they don't reply quickly discard and move on

[Hell Razor5543]

Might these be of use:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314280291529 ... BMss_nk7Bh

[mickthemaverick]

Did you lnow there are two filters to set to Uk in the ebay search.? Item location and Country/region as you can see below. I always set both to uk.

Screenshot

[MattBLancs]

Did you lnow there are two filters to set to Uk in the ebay search.? Item location and Country/region as you can see below. I always set both to uk.

Ah, no I'd not spotted that. Will think on for next time.

To be honest I would be happy with a wait for some from China for these, am in no rush - just seem to be struggling to find some that really exist

Might these be of use:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314280291529 ... BMss_nk7Bh

Yes, looking very much like the ones I purchased twice - might ask seller a question and see if they can confirm they're actually able to supply some! Thanks

[MattBLancs]

Browsing Autodoc for fuses, thought "I've never seen one of those before!"

Three legged

Even the bigger picture didn't quite give the game away

Zoomed in

Spoiler: show

It's not actually one fuse!

[bobins]

I think you'll find an awful lot - and I mean truly, a large number of the cheaper tools and consumables - are actually stocked by a single warehouse and different sellers of questionable authenticity all list items for sale that are despatched from there. The sellers stated location can vary a bit around the country but they all come from the same place. I did track down the warehouse once, think of it a bit like a Chinese knock-off version of an Amazon warehouse

[MattBLancs]

Yes, it's really needs a "filter by supplier" rather than by seller - that's why I jumped from the 344 to 300 pack on my third attempt in the hope of landing with a different big warehouse somewhere. No such luck!

(Just for future reference, no spare fuses in the under bonnet fuse box, but is some in the box on the lid in the fuse box cover in the C5 glovebox - including some mini ones)

[GiveMeABreak]

Personally I wouldn't buy anything like this from potentially dodgy sellers on the bay of evil Matt, especially where electronics are concerned - no doubt the fuses offered were of a safety concern for a recall (and fair play they did recall them). I'm speculating they may not have blown over the specified amps - but it must have been potentially serious for them to stop selling them - what about those who have already bought them though?

For the sake of a few £ I'd get them from a more reputable UK source. I know Citroen sell the mini fuses for about £1 each (item 20) in 5, 10, 15, 20 & 30A.

[Ross_K]

Yeah I gave up using eBay for stuff like this due to the huge number of sellers who seem to be in China, but list their location as 'UK'. Use Amazon instead, and sort by items fulfilled by Amazon (that means they have the item in stock and ready to go).

Nothing against China by the way...I don't mind buying from China on a site like AliExpress because I'm mentally prepared for a two-month wait

[GiveMeABreak]

Unfortunately the more 'entrepreneurial' shall we say in China are renowned for copying and making cheaper versions with sub-standard components. Even stuff from Amazon which is just stored in their UK warehouses. As I type this, I'm holding an LED cooker hood lamp where the cover has just come away from the base exposing bare wires. These are the same design as many from the orient under different seller names. Suffice it to say I've now eliminated all these same design from replacements.

[Gibbo2286]

Got this lot on my shelf and a similar box of wiring connectors.