I Know I Shouldn't Do This But I Don't Know Why

Community Laser Talk
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I’m in the market for an Omtech 60w 1624 manual focus machine. I was looking on eBay and saw that Orion Motor Tech (Omtech) is selling this spec a few hundred dollars less than the official Omtech Laser site. The machine on eBay is red/black and uses a control panel that is not Ruida. The machine on the official site is blue/gray and has a Ruida control panel. The eBay unit has a two-year warranty just like the unit from the official site. Both have free shipping.

I’ve heard one should not buy an Omtech off eBay. But if it is Omtech selling it, why not and save a few bills? Thanks for your input.

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The problem is (may be) that you get “sorted out” goods that other companies in China have acquired for the sake of spare parts, or resale.
The second problem is that in China there is also internally plenty of copy products … If they have to make money then they must also save on the machine parts. The tube is typical C item and should not be sold at all. If you do not get a Ruida Controller it is not given that you can use the machine with lightburn … 2 year warranty - does not exist - guaranteed!
See how long the dealers have been active on eBay or Amazon, typically they only exist a few years or months and start up as a new business.
There are exceptions, but how to find them I do not know.
In principle, it is as if you are buying a used machine from a person without address, the risk must be carefully considered.
That said, you can get almost the same problems with some of the “Reputed” companies from China that know nothing about customer service or responsibility.

3

I believe OMtech themselves state that any machine ordered from any site other than theirs forfeits OMtech warranty and support, meaning that any support request must be handled by the alternate seller. Ie, the 2 year warranty advertised by the seller must also be honored by the seller. You may be OK or you may be left without any meaningful support. It may be worth contacting the seller directly in several ways before purchase to get a feel for their customer service.

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1 Like
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I’ve purchased two CO2 lasers from OMTECH’s eBay store, a 50W MF1220 in 2021 and a 60W ZF2028 last summer. The stated warranty was six months on the tube and two years overall. My interaction with their customer service has been through email, and in my opinion, they have provided excellent service (for the few minor issues that I have had). I paid $2100 for the 60W last June, and I absolutely love it. If you can get the ZF (electric focus i.e. buttons on the front panel to raise the bed up & down) I would go with that, as twisting the knob to raise the bed is a pain. I’m also glad that I went with the bigger bed (20" by 28"), the extra space has been a god send. Just my two cents worth. (BTW, I also bought my 5200 chiller from OMTECH’s eBay store as well)

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Was this from the ebay vendor site support or OMTech?

Both OMTech and Cloud Ray state they don’t warrant labeled products sold by alternate sites such as ebay and Amazon… they route you back to the vendor for anything.

This is from Cloud Ray…

image

Yes, they are different. Official website and Cloudray stores on shopping platforms(Amazon/Ebay etc.) are different teams with different machine configurations and offers.

1. We are the Official website, and different from cloudray stores on platforms, we don’t need to pay extra transaction fees and commissions to shopping platforms, that’s why our offer is more affordable even with higher configurations.
And We only offer lifetime tech support and marking/engraving parameters, free materials for orders directly on www.cloudraylaser.com, not adapted to any orders from other sales channels.

2. Different Machine Types and Configurations. The laser machines will be equipped with unique configurations (only for machines on www.cloudraylaser.com) which have high stability and marking efficiency. Support Customization of your laser machine and upgrading solutions if needed.

3. Customer Service Support We can only offer after-sale service for customers ordered on www.cloudraylaser.com, not responsible for orders from shopping platforms as we don’t have your order information in our system. Please contact the store on platforms to get related support in time.

4. Official Loyal Customers Benefits We will run the free trial campaign from time to time for loyal customers who directly ordered on www.cloudraylser.com, not adapted to customers from other sales channels. Also, we offer free gifts for customers who ordered during grand festivals.

All product information, policies, and extra offers published on the website are only adapted to orders on www.cloudraylaser.com, and not adapted to stores on shopping platforms.

The OMTech warning is similar…

I’ve purchased a machine from OMTech and Cloud Ray. Both seem to be about the same as far as technical operations. I’ve seen them replace stuff. then I’ve seen them deny stuff they should replace… I think you pays your money and takes your chances.

I did email Cloud Ray and ask about a machine… in their response they gave me a $200 US credit off the price.

Good luck

:smile_cat:

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Are the machines sold not directly from Cloudray and Omtech Plagiats or “discarded” machines from these two companies’ QC ???

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I doubt the machines are made in the same place… but I don’t know… The Cloud Ray site claims they don’t have the same data on the users, but I have my doubts about that also…

For items like my fiber, the only name on it is on the top cover that holds the galvo… they could buy just that for all I know.

They definitely separate them somehow and for some reason…

Good luck prying that out of whomever makes these decisions in China … half the battle is just getting them to understand the problem, after that, a crap shoot. Their English is much better than my Chinese.

I emailed Russ Sadler when I wanted a fiber machine, he recommended Cloud Ray…

:smile_cat:

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Here is what got from the official web site help person……

Jhonalyn Punzalan says: Hello! Welcome to OMTech Laser! How can I assist you?

says: What is the difference between buying from this site and buying from the Orion Motor Tech site on eBay?

Jhonalyn Punzalan says: Purchasing from our website has a different warranty policy from our 3rd party. Also, if you purchase on our website, you are eligible to receive points to your account after 30 days of purchasing.

Jhonalyn Punzalan says: They also have a different pricing and offers for the machine

says: Are both sites run by the same company?

Jhonalyn Punzalan says: They are our 3rd party sellers that sell our product also. They are not the same company.

says: ok, thank you

So there you have it straight from the horse’s mouth. I think I’ll buy from the official store.

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Horses mouth or not … I’d stick with the manufacturers written warranty contract.

I went with the official site… I’d suggest to you email them and ask about the machine you’re interested in … They might cut you a break in price like they did for me … that’s always nice.

Good luck

:smile_cat:

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I personally also have good experiences with both companies. It is the sales policy of the Chinese companies that is mysterious to us in the West. The best example is the production and sale of CO2 tubes. 1st quality goes for export and is sold under the name that the western customer wants/has. 2nd quality is sold to the west under their own name and 3rd sorting is for all other no name buyers.
If it was not an agreed game, the companies, also in China, will go to court and ban it. But the business with the products of lesser quality, bypassing the official market, is just too profitable. And, we know that, but we still buy the cheapest and hope for the best.

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Who have no qualms about advertising their junk using the Official Brand Name as though it had first-cut quality.

Protip: Beware any laser tube seller who also offers high-fashion beach swimsuits. :grin: