Stickweld 250 is back. Few minor issues

deereman75 · Jun 18, 2013

Well my stickweld 250 is back. They ended up sending me a brand new one. They also included a tig torch and argon regulator! :thumbsup:
Now for the not so good part. Just a few little issues. #1, The electrode holder had a chunk of insulation missing. Not an issue for me, because I put a new Bernard shortstub on right away, but it still shouldn't have happened. Second, My old machine I sent in had a plug on it (that I installed) and the replacement came without MY plug. Only $15, but again, shouldn't have happened. Finally, (and this isn't really anyone's fault, just thought I would mention it) The tig torch came with 1 foot of gas hose, that was a different size than the barb the regulator came with. No biggie, I would have needed to add an extension anyways. Seems odd they would use multiple sizes? A few pictures will follow.

Shield Arc · Jun 18, 2013

I think UPS, FED-Ex, and the USPS could break a cannon ball!:hissyfit:

deereman75 · Jun 18, 2013

I would have guessed that, but there wasn't a piece in the box! It had to be shipped with that chunk missing. And the box was hand packed, the tig torch and regulator were in the box the leads normally came in. Also, none of it was in the standard plastic bags. (except the regulator) Someone had to physically pack and ship out a broken stinger, and I can't see any way they could possibly miss it!

Shield Arc · Jun 18, 2013

I don't know how it is in Canada, but here in the states people just don't care! When I was running work, majority of the guys I could not trust to do basic layout, almost to the point where I wanted to take their tape measures away from them. But come Friday if their pay check was short 30-cents, now all of a sudden they were mathematicians!:banghead:

Arc weld · Jun 19, 2013

I'd get a better 1/4" hose and you already got a better stinger but it really sounds like Longevity needs to do a serious overhaul of their quality control if they want to sell welders! I'm sure your machine should be good now but remember that one bad review does more to damage a reputation than 100 good reviews do to get a good reputation. Hopefully they learn from their mistakes. I'd get them to send you a new plug or reimburse you ASAP.

Furu · Jun 19, 2013

I know that when Longevity replaced my 250 they took the replacement unit out of its box and put it into my old box. What I got back from them were my old leads, in the original box with a new unit. It had to take them more effort to remove the new unit from its box and repack it in the old box than it would to just ship the new unit in its box with the leads from that box. What they did with the leads from the new unit and the box who knows as they did not have a unit to go with it and the serial numbers no longer matched.

I did not have the plug issue as I removed my plug before I shipped it to them fearing just what happened to you. I shipped it back exactly like I got it, with exactly what it came with in the original packing carton.

My replacement unit has worked really well. Hopefully you will be happy with yours as well.

deereman75 · Jun 19, 2013

These were new leads... Just that they were new broken leads. Let's see how they handle the plug issue.
The tig torch seems to be used as well?

I really can't see me buying anything except used Lincoln, miller, and hobart in the future. This will be my last import inverter (and possibly last inverter period). You never have these issues with an idealarc... And if you did, lincoln wouldn't send out broken parts...

Scooby074 · Jun 19, 2013

deereman75 said:
These were new leads... Just that they were new broken leads. Let's see how they handle the plug issue.
The tig torch seems to be used as well?

I really can't see me buying anything except used Lincoln, miller, and hobart in the future. This will be my last import inverter (and possibly last inverter period). You never have these issues with an idealarc... And if you did, lincoln wouldn't send out broken parts...

Good point on buying the big 3. I have a leaky gas solenoid on my 252. Ive been in contact with somebody at miller and my lws. Part's on its way, no muss no fuss. Miller was going to courier it, even before we finished troubleshooting (I had to take the machine apart). To quote them " Its only a solenoid, were not worried about the cost, we just want to get you up and running again". I told them not to panic, the machine still welded, just wasted gas. Great customer service as always from miller and Air Liquide.

Sadly I dont think your the only one who got a defective or partially defective machine either new or warranty. Remember these companies (everlast, longevity etc) really control the message that we see. Look no further than the Lanse/Longevity fiasco over on WeldingWeb. I put zero faith in "online reviews" or even the comments of youtube users of their products as a result of that incident. It was an eye opener for sure, but reenforced what I thought happened behind the scenes.The Great "Longevity VS ChuckE2009" Showdown of 2013, What Really Happened - WeldingWeb - Welding forum for pros and enthusiasts. Lanse had the guts to give an honest review that time.. although I think it cost him a sponsor. Hopefully he'll have the guts to do it again.. unfortunately I think he's learned to not bite the hand that feeds but I hope not!

"I felt as though some people made this out to be MY fault, when in reality, I just took something I received and made the video about it that I had said I would, and as I always do. At the end of the day, its NOT my fault that the machine arrived with missing parts. I wasn't the one who failed to put a manual in with the machine. I wasn't the one who dropped the drive rolls for another machine in that box. I know I sure didn't short anyone out of a gas fitting or decided not to include a gas hose. Ya know, "Dont Shoot the Messanger" kind of applies here."

deereman75 · Jun 19, 2013

I am planning on keeping my eye out for a roundtop idealarc 250. The longevity welds well, I am just not that impressed with the company right now. After this, I am not able to recomend them to people. The machine its self is great, the company needs some improvement. I mean come on, not returning my plug, sending me a broken stinger, and a used tig torch? I expected better.... Now I have to go buy ANOTHER plug before I can test it..... No more chinese tools aloud in my shop ever again. I think this welder might be one of the last ones I have left? I have been replacing most of my import mechanics tools with used snapon and MAC.

Mark @ Everlast · Jun 19, 2013

Deereman,
A couple points.
Unfortunately, you've still got a lot of life lessons ahead of you about what you will and won't buy.
My grandfather was a Mechanic for nearly 50 years before he died. He had spent most of his life buying tools from Snapon and Mac. In the last 15 years or so, he discovered his error and SEVERELY regretted wasting all his money. He could do math in his head, and was a smart man, with limited education though. People had told him that the only way to go was Snap on or Mac. He lived and believed it, until one day the "truck" didn't have what he needed to do a job, and had to go down to sears to buy their "cheap" version to get him by. To his surprise, it did the job well, and did it repeatedly. Only difference was several hundred dollars. After that, he shopped smarter, and had more money in his pocket. He went back and estimated the money he had wasted in his life time on tools that he did not have to pay so much for...It would have made a nice retirement package for him. Instead, he worked up to the week he died because of EXACTLY what you just said.