WMR88 From Amazon appears to be a grey import.

[Flying Eye]

Hi folks,

I finally got a unit delivered this morning, and on opening the box it turns out to have a Euro style (two pin) mains supply.

Now I know there are adapters, that isn't really the issue, but that it has this plug implies that this unit was never destined for sale in the UK and any problems with it would probably not be handled by Oregon Scientific in this country. In short an unsupported product status as I understand is the parlance for this sort of thing.

I'm not really up to speed on grey imports these days as this sort of thing pretty much stopped a very long time ago. And quite rightly too.

Anyone got any thoughts on what I might sensibly do next? I got some ideas, but wanted some more so I can make the best possible decision about it's future.

I've been trying to obtain a fully working weather station since late August and to be honest I'm now becoming discouraged to the point of feeling like giving up entirely. I got the feeling this is just not meant to be. I know that's got to sound irrational, but I can't find anything else to explain the catalogue of disasters that has stood in my way since starting out on this escapade.

[RayProudfoot]

Ian,

Amazon values its reputation so my first action would be to email the company that sold you the unit. This may well be a company who use Amazon as a shop window but Amazon will have sight of your message.

Under distant selling rules you have the right to reject the unit if it's not fit for purpose. They certainly should have provided it with a UK adaptor.

[Flying Eye]

Thanks very for the thought Ray,

sadly this is truly being sold by Amazon.co.uk directly. I have to admit that this fact alone creeps me out more than just a little bit.

There were also one or two other features of this transaction, which I have yet to confirm 100%, (but will shortly), and they suggest some other rather sharper practices than I would really expect from Amazon. If they are 100% the case then it's pretty brazen.

It has to make me wonder about their current reputation and whether it is deserved or not. I would be very saddened to find out they are changing for the very much worse.

I'm trying to figure out if there is anything that could make this not be a grey import. But the few facts we have are there, and it really looks like it has to be a grey import based on them.

Obviously I shall be tied up clarifying things across this weekend, I'd much rather have been able to set up and use this item, but I presently do not feel like I dare. That is a terrible tease in my view.

It's an unusually tough call for sure.

[RayProudfoot]

Ian,

Can you provide me with a link to the unit? I can only find the WMR88 sold by mensgiftshop.

The problem of grey imports isn't really a factor now. Back in the 70s and 80s if you did buy a grey import it didn't come with a UK warranty. As you have bought from amazon.co.uk you will have a minimum 12 month warranty so I wouldn't worry about that aspect.

Am I correct in thinking that if you had a power lead with a UK plug you would be happy? Is it a captive lead or one that can be unplugged from the WMR88?

If it helps I have bought several items from amazon and have yet to have any sort of problem.

[Flying Eye]

Ian, Can you provide me with a link to the unit? I can only find the WMR88 sold by mensgiftshop.

Sure, http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00480MSYE

[steve]

You would need to check on this for yourself, but I am reasonably sure that it is not legal to sell mains-operated equipment in the UK that doesn't come with a fused 3-pin plug to BS. It can be a two-pin plug with a fitted fused 3-pin adaptor, but that adaptor must be securely fastened (i.e. require the use of a tool to remove it).

[Flying Eye]

You would need to check on this for yourself, but I am reasonably sure that it is not legal to sell mains-operated equipment in the UK that doesn't come with a fused 3-pin plug to BS. It can be a two-pin plug with a fitted fused 3-pin adaptor, but that adaptor must be securely fastened (i.e. require the use of a tool to remove it).

I'm so glad you said this, because that was my understanding too, and then I thought, I'm over half a century, that must just be me.

Well, at least I'm not feeling so alone now!

EDIT - this is the second item in 12 months where this has happened! The other was mildly acceptable as it was an electric toothbrush and one could understand it was perhaps destined for a shaver socket. While I was not entirely thrilled I could see some sort of logic that might let it be reasonable in that situation and use scenario. It has a 3 pin plug fitted in the approved manner now anyway, so it's become moot for that one.

This is a wall wart and so is a very different thing indeed.

[RayProudfoot]

Ian,

Reading through the 4 reviews there is a warning that it comes fitted with a Euro plug and despite complaining to Amazon about this the reviewer has not received a reply. Or if he has he hasn't updated his post.

As Steve say's this may not be legal without a UK plug. Send them an email advising them it doesn't come with a UK plug and see what they say. You're within your rights to return it and demand a full refund assuming you haven't had it more than 28 days.

[Flying Eye]

Ian,

Reading through the 4 reviews there is a warning that it comes fitted with a Euro plug and despite complaining to Amazon about this the reviewer has not received a reply. Or if he has he hasn't updated his post.

As Steve say's this may not be legal without a UK plug. Send them an email advising them it doesn't come with a UK plug and see what they say. You're within your rights to return it and demand a full refund assuming you haven't had it more than 28 days.

I agree, about the warning in the review, and with that in mind I used their "call me" service to try and find out what exactly they were offering for sale. Sadly the person taking the call took 20 minutes to understand the item number correctly, and at that point I knew there was little or no chance of me being able to find out. I'd almost lost the will to live by then too.

I'm thinking the legality is probably a major issue here - I know one should not believe everything one reads on the internet, but I am presntly wading through this one http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BS_1363 just in case. I'll see what else I can discover of course.

After the call with Amazon (Thursday 20th), they were offering next day by 13:00 if I ordered in the next 23 minutes and selected Express. I did that and it failed to arrive on Friday, so I've had it about 2.25 hours so far.


EDIT: an additional thought about the poster mentioning the Euro plug; when I looked that poster also had the word Germany next to their name. I felt at the time it may be that Amazon were perhaps just being sensible if they shipped one like this to some one in Germany. The other three posters never mentioned it, 2 posters reported vista trouble. The box I have here says it's OK for windows 7 though, which was my other main concern at the time.

[mcrossley]

Having just dug out the regulations, the only possibly relevant exceptions to having a 3 pin UK plug fitted are...

4. Any non–UK plug supplied loose which is manufactured to comply with the safety provisions of IEC 884–1 and which is marked with or accompanied by a warning that it is not suitable for connection to a mains socket in the United Kingdom.

5. Any non–rewirable or any moulded–on Europlug (that is to say any plug conforming with BS EN 50075) which is designed for the purpose of connecting to a shaver supply unit conforming to BS 3535: Part 1 any electrical shaver, toothbrush or similar appliance; and for the purposes of this paragraph the expression “shaver supply unit” shall have the meaning given to it in BS 3535: Part 1.

So exception 5. does cover toothbrush chargers (good to know as the Philips devices all come with a shaver plug!)
And unless the device comes with a written warning that it is not suitable for use in the UK, then Amazon are selling these devices illegally.

[RayProudfoot]

Ian,

I would put everything in writing from now on. Write to Amazon via their link for that item and complain that the item does not meet the terms of the Sale of Goods Act 1979 where "goods have to be of merchantable quality and fit for purpose".

As you are unable to plug this unit into a UK power socket that would do it for me. They either supply an alternative power lead or refund your money.

[Flying Eye]

Ian,

I would put everything in writing from now on. Write to Amazon via their link for that item and complain that the item does not meet the terms of the Sale of Goods Act 1979 where "goods have to be of merchantable quality and fit for purpose".

As you are unable to plug this unit into a UK power socket that would do it for me. They either supply an alternative power lead or refund your money.

Yes, it's how I was seeing it. I thought I'd got them on the fuse regs too, but having double checked it does not have a fuse anyway!

I can see me having a "pack shot" photo call later too!

I suppose you can now see why it was starting to creep me out that Amazon would do this at all, and then so blatantly. It includes a warranty card purporting to come from Oregon UK too. Has their address at Gardner road on it. This is becoming quite complex, as that, if genuine, seems to condone it, wittingly or not.

[Flying Eye]

Having just dug out the regulations, the only possibly relevant exceptions to having a 3 pin UK plug fitted are...

4. Any non–UK plug supplied loose which is manufactured to comply with the safety provisions of IEC 884–1 and which is marked with or accompanied by a warning that it is not suitable for connection to a mains socket in the United Kingdom.

5. Any non–rewirable or any moulded–on Europlug (that is to say any plug conforming with BS EN 50075) which is designed for the purpose of connecting to a shaver supply unit conforming to BS 3535: Part 1 any electrical shaver, toothbrush or similar appliance; and for the purposes of this paragraph the expression “shaver supply unit” shall have the meaning given to it in BS 3535: Part 1.

So exception 5. does cover toothbrush chargers (good to know as the Philips devices all come with a shaver plug!)
And unless the device comes with a written warning that it is not suitable for use in the UK, then Amazon are selling these devices illegally.

Thanks very much indeed for that! Small caveat, it says the site does not carry any amendments, it is just presenting the original, I don't know how one might check for amendments yet. Looks like this is possibly enough so far though. Surely an amendment would not seek to make it less safe or allow/encourage it to be more marginally designed from a safety point of view?

[Flying Eye]

OK, so here is the offending item in question.





Ugly little blighter.

[6719jason]

That is almost identical to my supplied Power Adapter!

See Below:

SN150106.JPG