What is a warranty worth?

[Mark @ Everlast]

^^ If you buy a product that has to be shipped (you cannot buy it in a local store) that fails during the warranty period, why should you be out shipping to return it for repair and shipping back to you after repair? I can see paying initially for return shipping. But if it turns out to be defective requiring repair under warranty, they should at least ship it back to you for free. Refunding shipping you paid to get it to them should also be done.

If they determine user error and not a defect, that's different.


I see something else in their warranty that bothers me.

Everlast will warranty all non-inverter diesel and gasoline power generators for a period not to exceed 1 year or 1000 hours whichever occurs first. This warranty covers parts only and excludes service and labor. In no way will Everlast be responsible for repair charges for any repair or service. Repairs, service and proper maintenance is the responsibility of the customer.


Everlast will warranty all "clean power" inverter (Identified typically as "Electra wave") gasoline and diesel powergenerators for a period not to exceed 1 year or 1500 hours, whichever comes first. This warranty covers parts only and excludes service and labor. In no way will Everlast be responsible for repair charges for any repair or service. Repairs, service and proper maintenance is responsiblity of the customer.

What if you're not qualified or physically able to swap parts?

Then, well, obviously, you take that into your purchase consideration, don't you? I don't mean to be smart, but to be presidential sounding "C'mon man!" "Everyone is really very very able to read the quite excellent terms of the warranty."

As far as a further bit of information, our generator line was discontinued at the end of last year. Actually earlier than that, but official decision was made, in large because of the logistics involved in supporting those units at a distance. Plus everyone is in the business, selling out of the back of pickups off, with a semi truck full of them loaded down the street, advertising "last one " specials several hundred times to different customers.

We do not hide or bury our warranty in the depths of the site. No, we put it out there at the top for everyone to investigate. But a lot of generator companies with online presence offer the same type of warranty. Labor is almost always on you if you order a generator online.

Troubling? I guess, if you make an impulse purchase and don't read anything before you click "buy". But we really do go out of way to help customers with this in the past. But no, if you can't fix it, or can't afford to, you should figure that into your equation.

We cover all our welders with a 30 day satisfaction policy, where we cover shipping both ways if there is a trouble. We tell and encourage our customers to have things ready to test out and fully vet each unit during those thirty days. If you wait 2 or 3 months to even plug it in, that is up to you. I'm not saying it makes everyone happy, but customers that understand and have experience with electronics know that I am telling you the truth: Most of our warranty issues occur during the first 30 days because of "infant death" of electronics. That is why we put this additional rider in the warranty policy.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Now I want people to compare.

Read this carefully if you think Everlast is unfair in its warranty, or is doing anything different than Miller or Lincoln.

Read through, but Pay attention last section and to the repair being F.O.B. factory or repair center. That means shipping is on you.
But if you read all of it, your warranty may actually start before you buy your unit.

Troubling?

Read the part where Miller makes a disclaimer about their intended use of their machines and who should operate them.

https://www.millerwelds.com/-/media/miller-electric/files/pdf/warranty/warranty.pdf?la=en

For fun, read Lincoln's "second line" warranty statement.
https://www.lincolnelectric.com/assets/ServiceNavigator-public/LINCOLN3/WCTAWS1.pdf

And Lincolns "industrial" line warranty.
https://www.lincolnelectric.com/assets/ServiceNavigator-public/LINCOLN3/IMWS1.pdf

Anyone see 30 days free shipping back and forth included?

I guess, now more Monday morning armchair quarterbacks than ever will pop up since they now are likely disgusted with the state of pro and college sports in our country right now and still have a need to inject their assessment.

I hate Gary had an issue, to be clear. But to be blunt, all things can tear up. And if you guys went and read what I asked you on Miller's site, looking at the 1 star and 2 star and even a few of the other comments, you'll see things happen to even bigger companies than us.

 

[Diggin It]

Watching intently.

Did Dude really put it all totally on the buyer?

 

[Diggin It]

Pre-sale conversations and/or recommendations against buying are irrelevant. If the product failed through no fault of the buyer, the manufacturer needs to make the buyer whole. Smaller companies can make their mark in the field by going above and beyond what larger companies might do. Be different. Be better.

 

[fried1765]

Then, well, obviously, you take that into your purchase consideration, don't you? I don't mean to be smart, but to be presidential sounding "C'mon man!" "Everyone is really very very able to read the quite excellent terms of the warranty."

As far as a further bit of information, our generator line was discontinued at the end of last year. Actually earlier than that, but official decision was made, in large because of the logistics involved in supporting those units at a distance. Plus everyone is in the business, selling out of the back of pickups off, with a semi truck full of them loaded down the street, advertising "last one " specials several hundred times to different customers.

We do not hide or bury our warranty in the depths of the site. No, we put it out there at the top for everyone to investigate. But a lot of generator companies with online presence offer the same type of warranty. Labor is almost always on you if you order a generator online.

Troubling? I guess, if you make an impulse purchase and don't read anything before you click "buy". But we really do go out of way to help customers with this in the past. But no, if you can't fix it, or can't afford to, you should figure that into your equation.

We cover all our welders with a 30 day satisfaction policy, where we cover shipping both ways if there is a trouble. We tell and encourage our customers to have things ready to test out and fully vet each unit during those thirty days. If you wait 2 or 3 months to even plug it in, that is up to you. I'm not saying it makes everyone happy, but customers that understand and have experience with electronics know that I am telling you the truth: Most of our warranty issues occur during the first 30 days because of "infant death" of electronics. That is why we put this additional rider in the warranty policy.

I'll be 80 next month, and have NEVER heard a president say: "C'mon man" !

 

[RickB]

Did Dude really put it all totally on the buyer?

I don’t understand your question.

I also fail to see where the manufacturer did anything other than what was stated would happen in the event of a failure.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I am sorry to hear the OP has issues with his Everlast welder. I own two Harbor freight welders and one Everlast. All I can say is that I love my Everlast welder, it runs circles around the harbor freight welders regarding smoothness of arc and easy starts (initiation of the arc). Even though you had to pay for shipping charges I still think your money ahead with the Everlast.

I have to ask which HF welders do you have? Black, green or orange? I dont know about the black ones, but the green and orange weld very smoothly. I have seen lots of complaints about the black ones having mostly to do with arc quality.

 

[Gary Fowler]

To the OP -
Gary - How long after purchase/delivery did it fail?
One hour of use could be after you've had it for a few months or more.
The EVERLAST PowerArc300 I bought in 2014 (for $270 ) is still working fine. We just used it this weekend for about 3 hours (maybe a total of 30 minutes welding arc time max). However over the last 6 years I doubt it's been on for more than 20 hours total.
I loaned it to my son in Virginia about 2017 and I think it just collected dust until I repossessed it last week.

I just basically tested the function of each part of the machine to see how it worked , if it worked. Then it sat for about a month until I needed it again for plasma work and it wouldnt work. I had a few things to fix that were only about 5 minutes work and just used the FCAW 125 unit. I basically bought the Everlast for the plasma cutter anyway and sometimes the best way to cut might be an oxy-acetylene torch due to space restrictions.

 

[Joe Millar]

Instead of a five year warranty A more flexible one year would be better.
Even just a 90 day no questions asked return would work well for Me.
from my experience If a new machine survives the first month. It will
continue to run for years

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

I just basically tested the function of each part of the machine to see how it worked , if it worked. Then it sat for about a month until I needed it again for plasma work and it wouldnt work. I had a few things to fix that were only about 5 minutes work and just used the FCAW 125 unit. I basically bought the Everlast for the plasma cutter anyway and sometimes the best way to cut might be an oxy-acetylene torch due to space restrictions.

Remember, I recommended just a plasma cutter the PowrerPlasma 52i. The duty cycle is better, it has blow back start (less issues) and it has better unit protection and overall design.
The unit you have only has 35% duty cycle on the plasma where as the PowerPlasma 52i has 60% at maximum output.

You ended up with the very cheapest product we sell with the capabilities. With a three year warranty instead of our five year warranty.

Another thing, those 3 year warranty extensions at harbor freight are quite expensive, and increase the cost way past what you spent too.

I'm not saying it should have failed, but when we put a lower warranty on something and recommend a better product that I have confidence, that should leave little room for complaint if and when it does.

We have held up our end of the warranty as promised.