| Store Name: | Outback Equipment Company |
| Address: |
Morgan Hill, CA 95037 |
| Phone: | (408) 779-9116 |
| Hours: | 09:00 - 17:00, Mon-Fri. |
| Web Site? | |
| Primary Line: | Semiconductor Fab and Electronics Manufacturing Equipment |
| Secondary Line: | Electronics Test & Measurement Equipment, computer hardware & software, documentation, etc. |
| Pricing (Primary Line): | ? (Not enough knowledge to judge) |
| Pricing (Secondary Line): | C - |
| Variety Grade, Primary Line: | ? (Again, not enough knowledge to judge) |
| Customer Service Grade: | B |
| Variety Grade, Secondary Line: | C - |
| Overall Grade: | C - |
LAST UPDATE: 12-Sep-06
Appointment Required for warehouse visits. Call first!
I'm sorry to say that Outback Equipment did not live up to my pre-visit expectations. Although their customer service is very good (they're friendly folk), they are 'Ebay Crazy' in the worst sense of the word. Although they do direct sales, they've really only got two kinds of inventory: Stuff they've sold (or are selling) on Ebay, and stuff they haven't gotten around to putting up on Ebay.
Example of craziness: I found a small Compaq server that I needed for spare parts. It had originally been up for auction in December of 2004, with a 'Buy it Now' price of $100, but had gone unsold. It had not been back up for auction since. It had, instead, been left in the warehouse to gather dust.
I offered to buy the unit, but Outback insisted on getting the full auction price for it DESPITE THE FACT that it had been offered (and ignored, obviously) nearly two years ago. I grudgingly consented, because I needed the parts, but I find their practices along these lines distasteful at best. Had the positions been reversed, I would have gladly offered the buyer at least 25% off the original asking price.
Worse, their prices and value-for-the-dollar, at least where small electronics and test gear are concerned, are deteriorating as is their variety of such. They seem primarily concerned with semiconductor fab and manufacturing equipment, and I get the impression (though I cannot confirm it) that test gear and other such goodies are treated merely as afterthoughts. They rarely do any testing or evaluation, and I don't think they have anyone there that really knows the used test gear market.
In summary: Definitely stop by Outback if you're just picking up something you bought from them on Ebay, or if you have other things to do in the Morgan Hill area, but don't make a special trip just for them. You'll likely be disappointed if you do.