Greetings from New York, folks!!
For a long time, since I remember, I always dream to own a measuring tool (caliper) associated with quality and precisions. All the researchers lead to the somewhat pricy Japanese brand Mitutoyo, which always (and still) was hard to justify for the purchase.
My main caliper 'made the dust' and I was on the hunt for another one. Various searches brought me to eBay, and I was looking into buying a Mitutoyo Digimatic (ABS) caliper and in my research, I found out that I actually, today can afford one, hence a merchant offered free shipping (shipped from another state in the USA) So I bought one...
In about a week, the postman rings the doorbell and brought the small package. Wow, I am the official owner of the best of the best measuring tools in the world! My dream comes true! Really????
The packaging tells me it is Mitutoyo, and the side panel label matches the product number I ordered, and of cause - Made in Japan! Yay!
I rushed to open the box to witness the quality and of cause - precision. The caliper come in a sealed plastic bag packed with a bit of Ferobrite anti-corrosion paper and a yellow tag on the locking knob telling you the important information about installing the battery and set the 'origin'. Furthermore, I found the Ferobrite paper inside the bag, the yellow tag, but where is the battery to install? I found only one, spare. I opened the battery compartment and found it. My caliper came with a preinstalled battery, Dah!!!! So what is the big deal? I scratch my head...once...
Further observing the caliper, I couldn't find the feel of quality I was looking for (if you know what I mean). I turned the caliper upside-down and what a release...I found Made in Japan, the serial number, model (code), even battery type. Really? Why? Wait... the label says SR44, and the spare battery packaging says SR44. But the installed battery is LR44!!!!!!!!! What? Why?
I scratched the head for the second time and check the spare battery, and S***********t it is the same reading LR44, but the paper packaging says SR44. What the heck!
No, I didn't scream, I was still calm but now I have doubts about the authenticity of this product. I went online specifically to Mitutoyo's website and found all information about my doubts.
Further online searching, brought several articles about steps to perform and find out if your product is a counterfeit and not authentic Mitutoyo caliper. Sure enough, the articles mentioned the wrong type of batteries to dispel the mystery. The display of these calipers should read, "0.0000" when zeroed out in the "inches" mode - counterfeits might read, "0.000" and might have a smaller 0/5 digit on the far right. here are my readings
Crap, they got me!!! I look for other evidence, another discrepancy the serial number on the device doesn't match the serial on the Certificate of Inspection.
At this point, there was no doubt I bought a counterfeit. I emailed eBay and dispute the purchase. I got lucky and have a full refund, and BTW, keep this caliper crap.
At the first, it looks legit and made somewhat identical, but once you take it in your hand you will have some doubts, it doesn't feel like a precision tool, even without all those gotchas (below)/.
Before buying any products educate yourself, there so much information to understand. Buy only from Mitutoyo distributors (they listed on their website). I am disappointed with my purchase, but in the same token, I am glad to share with you my experience and hope you will avoid such in the future. Below is the list to check your Mitutoyo caliper and validate its authentication.
(1) The battery should read “SR44” and “Japan” on the battery itself (not just on the packaging), and there should be no battery already installed in the calipers.
(2) The calipers should come in a sealed plastic bag packed with a bit of Ferobrite anti-corrosion paper and a yellow tag on the locking knob telling how to install the battery and such.
(3) The display of these calipers should read, "0.0000" when zeroed out in the "inches" mode - counterfeits might read, "0.000" and might have a smaller 0/5 digit on the far right.
(4) The locking knob on the top should be the same shape snd size as the original
(5) The "ORIGIN" button should be recessed
(6) The serial number on the caliper should match the serial number listed on the Certificate of Inspection.
(7) The calipers and packaging should not mention China - anywhere - especially not on the box/envelope in which they were shipped.
(8) According to Mitutoyo, it is actually okay if the signature is printed on the calibration certificate, which is a little disappointing, as I have always wanted Mr. T. Suzuki's autograph.
After I checked for these dead giveaways, I emailed Mitutoyo at their tech support page and I asked if they would please verify my calipers' authenticity. They replied quickly and asked for the pictures, so I sent them pictures of all of the components, packaging, and documentation making sure the image quality was good enough that they could make an informed decision. The next day, they got back to me saying that they had confirmed my calipers' counterfeit.
Happy Mitutoing, you have been warned!
For a long time, since I remember, I always dream to own a measuring tool (caliper) associated with quality and precisions. All the researchers lead to the somewhat pricy Japanese brand Mitutoyo, which always (and still) was hard to justify for the purchase.
My main caliper 'made the dust' and I was on the hunt for another one. Various searches brought me to eBay, and I was looking into buying a Mitutoyo Digimatic (ABS) caliper and in my research, I found out that I actually, today can afford one, hence a merchant offered free shipping (shipped from another state in the USA) So I bought one...
In about a week, the postman rings the doorbell and brought the small package. Wow, I am the official owner of the best of the best measuring tools in the world! My dream comes true! Really????The packaging tells me it is Mitutoyo, and the side panel label matches the product number I ordered, and of cause - Made in Japan! Yay!
I rushed to open the box to witness the quality and of cause - precision. The caliper come in a sealed plastic bag packed with a bit of Ferobrite anti-corrosion paper and a yellow tag on the locking knob telling you the important information about installing the battery and set the 'origin'. Furthermore, I found the Ferobrite paper inside the bag, the yellow tag, but where is the battery to install? I found only one, spare. I opened the battery compartment and found it. My caliper came with a preinstalled battery, Dah!!!! So what is the big deal? I scratch my head...once...
Further observing the caliper, I couldn't find the feel of quality I was looking for (if you know what I mean). I turned the caliper upside-down and what a release...I found Made in Japan, the serial number, model (code), even battery type. Really? Why? Wait... the label says SR44, and the spare battery packaging says SR44. But the installed battery is LR44!!!!!!!!! What? Why?
I scratched the head for the second time and check the spare battery, and S***********t it is the same reading LR44, but the paper packaging says SR44. What the heck!
No, I didn't scream, I was still calm but now I have doubts about the authenticity of this product. I went online specifically to Mitutoyo's website and found all information about my doubts.Further online searching, brought several articles about steps to perform and find out if your product is a counterfeit and not authentic Mitutoyo caliper. Sure enough, the articles mentioned the wrong type of batteries to dispel the mystery. The display of these calipers should read, "0.0000" when zeroed out in the "inches" mode - counterfeits might read, "0.000" and might have a smaller 0/5 digit on the far right. here are my readings
Crap, they got me!!! I look for other evidence, another discrepancy the serial number on the device doesn't match the serial on the Certificate of Inspection.
At this point, there was no doubt I bought a counterfeit. I emailed eBay and dispute the purchase. I got lucky and have a full refund, and BTW, keep this caliper crap.
At the first, it looks legit and made somewhat identical, but once you take it in your hand you will have some doubts, it doesn't feel like a precision tool, even without all those gotchas (below)/.
Before buying any products educate yourself, there so much information to understand. Buy only from Mitutoyo distributors (they listed on their website). I am disappointed with my purchase, but in the same token, I am glad to share with you my experience and hope you will avoid such in the future. Below is the list to check your Mitutoyo caliper and validate its authentication.
(1) The battery should read “SR44” and “Japan” on the battery itself (not just on the packaging), and there should be no battery already installed in the calipers.
(2) The calipers should come in a sealed plastic bag packed with a bit of Ferobrite anti-corrosion paper and a yellow tag on the locking knob telling how to install the battery and such.
(3) The display of these calipers should read, "0.0000" when zeroed out in the "inches" mode - counterfeits might read, "0.000" and might have a smaller 0/5 digit on the far right.
(4) The locking knob on the top should be the same shape snd size as the original
(5) The "ORIGIN" button should be recessed
(6) The serial number on the caliper should match the serial number listed on the Certificate of Inspection.
(7) The calipers and packaging should not mention China - anywhere - especially not on the box/envelope in which they were shipped.
(8) According to Mitutoyo, it is actually okay if the signature is printed on the calibration certificate, which is a little disappointing, as I have always wanted Mr. T. Suzuki's autograph.
After I checked for these dead giveaways, I emailed Mitutoyo at their tech support page and I asked if they would please verify my calipers' authenticity. They replied quickly and asked for the pictures, so I sent them pictures of all of the components, packaging, and documentation making sure the image quality was good enough that they could make an informed decision. The next day, they got back to me saying that they had confirmed my calipers' counterfeit.
Happy Mitutoing, you have been warned!
