Mine was $40 I stated in the OP it was an amp probe meter. Another electrician stated the same problem after trying it out AND used another C.E. meter. I would suspect operator error as well but I still maintain that myself and another very experienced electrician could not get 208v off the terminals.
Is this the meter?
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Electric-LCD-Digital-Clamp-Meter-MS2033C/206288136
To measure AC voltage set the selector switch to position #5. Note the ~ symbol on selector switch position #5.
The meter will read 60HZ AC voltage up to 600Vac.
Here is the owners manual.
https://www.homedepot.com/catalog/pdfImages/f0/f07fd232-e6f1-49d3-98f4-b00a097f0610.pdf
NOTE: The meter does NOT have internal fuse protection for user error.