Good deal or No?

Alright I bought a diode for my first laser, a PHR-803T Blu-Ray. I spent 23ish on the diode (from hightechdealz) and I also bought an Aixiz module along with it, so the total came out to around $26.00. My question, after seeing threads on this forum about the same diode selling for 12$, is did I get ripped-off? Not to point fingers or give hightechdealz a bad name but, what is the difference in these diodes besides the price?

Your help is appreciated : )

Oh, and Merry Christmas.

Edit- I would post the link to exactly where I bought it but I can't post links yet :'(

You didn't get ripped off IMO, you just didn't shop around as much as you could have done. The prices on these diodes vary from $12.00 all the way up to $25.00 I think was the highest I've seen recently. It wasn't TOO long ago that these same diodes were going for almost $50.00. Availability plays a BIG part on what you can expect to pay. Another factor is, how long the item has been on the market, generally the longer an item has been around the lower the price goes. Now the 4X & 6X diodes are coming out & they are selling for over $50.00 IIRC But that price will drop soon too as time marches on & something else comes out to take its place. When shopping for laser parts, in this case, diodes, usually there is a GB (GROUP BUY) going on SOMEWHERE, where you can get about the lowest price you'll find, give or take a dollar or two. In a nutshell, it pays to shop around, 'cause there are also other factors at work here too, like HOW the diode was extracted, was it subjected to high heat for too long, were the diodes new originally or damaged in some way, etc, etc. I'll shut up now, I think you get the picture :-X

Haha thanks for the help. Yeah from what I understand the 12$ ones are "used" and the one that I ordered is "brand new" and it's free shipping with, and will "package the laser diode wrapped in aluminum foil to short out the pins to avoid any ESD, then place that in an anti-static bag as to protect it from static electricity, place that bag a small plastic box to prevent damage during shipment and put that in another zip lock bag to prevent any possible weather damage and ship it in a protected bubble wrap mailer. "


Even after shopping around I guess I still might have chosen the same one I bought, depending what "used" means with the 12$ ones.

the 12 ones arnt "used" just look at all the c-mas specials.

It's also not so much about the "used" aspect as it is the "in stock" price. From what I have seen in my time on these forums, the shops usually buy 100+ sleds from the GBs. HTD is definently a good place to get your diodes and the container they're shipped in is pretty much indestructible. I got one of my first blurays from HTD... it's actually the only one out of my first three that's still alive.

Also, HTD and other stores are usually within the U.S. whereas BluRay is in austrailia, not sure where scopeguy's from, jake's also in the U.S. but loves his holiday vacations --- it just shortens the amount of time you have to wait on shipping.

I know that BluRay's 803T sleds are supposed to be brand new [the ones I received are in prinstine condition]
Last I saw jake had "broken" sleds which is usually the optics are off or a lens is cracked or something, but the bluray diodes do work.

I would definitely say you were ripped off, has anyone bought a diode on the forums (from one of the reputable members) that arrived broken and didn't get it replaced? I don't think so... I'd say 2 diodes for $24 is a better deal than 1 for $23.

Ahh. Thanks for the info Treb. Out of curiosity, how much mA are you running on the laser in your sig that has 120mW output? / What driver is it ?

I was going to have a lava drive preset at 130 mA, would that be too much?

130 mA is on the dangerous end of the spectrum... not gonna kill it instantly, but I wouldn't say it's at the happy medium between longevity and power. I would rather run it at 120mA, you won't even notice the difference except it'll last longer.

thebucketmouse said:

I would definitely say you were ripped off, has anyone bought a diode on the forums (from one of the reputable members) that arrived broken and didn't get it replaced? I don't think so... I'd say 2 diodes for $24 is a better deal than 1 for $23.

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Ya know, people have stores to make money. He's providing ya a service and he gets things done quick. Other people buy a hundred, provide the service, and just quit but kendall keeps these in stock all the time. They used to be more expensive, so I guess he hasn't lowered the price just yet, but he does have to make some profit too :

thebucketmouse said:

I would definitely say you were ripped off, has anyone bought a diode on the forums (from one of the reputable members) that arrived broken and didn't get it replaced? I don't think so... I'd say 2 diodes for $24 is a better deal than 1 for $23.

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:'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

Haha I mean it's not a big deal, definitely could've been a worse ripoff. It was only $10. Just in the future you know where you can get them for cheaper.

potatorage said:

Ya know, people have stores to make money. He's providing ya a service and he gets things done quick. Other people buy a hundred, provide the service, and just quit but kendall keeps these in stock all the time. They used to be more expensive, so I guess he hasn't lowered the price just yet, but he does have to make some profit too  :

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I understand the costs of running a business, but if it's 50% cheaper to get the same product elsewhere, I'd rather do that.

Yeah I guess, I mean I am not saying Kendall is trying to rip people off. He seems like a really cool guy, and he just needs to make profit too I guess. I was just mainly wondering if there was a difference in the diodes.

Nah man, a PHR is a PHR

PHR = ? ;D


I is new to lazors. :-[

thebucketmouse said:

I would definitely say you were ripped off, has anyone bought a diode on the forums (from one of the reputable members) that arrived broken and didn't get it replaced? I don't think so... I'd say 2 diodes for $24 is a better deal than 1 for $23.

Click to expand...

People need to remember that LPF is a laser community and therefore we stick up and help one another...
We are not in a mindset to gouge other members or over inflate prices of Laser Diodes and parts sold
here.
A Store that is selling the same LD at a higher price also needs to pay utilities, websites severs, and the
stocking of the item and maybe a phone line.... not to mention... Employees and a Home Base..
A Store is a business with business expenses and they would have great difficulties competing with our
laser community prices.

"Elyk456" paid a fair commercial price... we on LPF are spoiled by the low prices of LDs for our builds
and sometimes forget that businesses need to make a profit to stay alive.

Jerry