Problems with pp256

[single t gt]

My regulator also leaked. I had to swap to different pipe thread and use a liquid thread sealer to remedy that.
I used the plasma a ton, and it worked great.
I used the tig 2x, then had the HF problems. I thought it was my settings. Turned it off. Went inside to write down settings for the machine from welding tips and tricks. Came outside to use them but couldn't. The machine had froze up. It had no amp control and the guage was locked at a number higher the machine is rated at.
Mike called me after I called the tech line, diagnosed it, and said it would have to be swapped out. Come to find out now its being fixed and way behind schedule.
You guys need a location on the East Coast! This shipping the machine for warranty work is for the birds, especially after only using the machine a couple of times.

Lets see what customer service does to make it right.

[performance]

single t,
We will get it fixed. I will find out what the repair schedule is looking like as soon as I can. Although I don't know exactly when you bought it, but as a general aside here....The incidence you describe is why we give a 30 day period covering shipping so the units can be used, and thoroughly given a good workout of ALL processes. We encourage our customers, and it is included in the warranty statement that the units should be thoroughly checked out and used during this time....This is a guideline given to the customer and we give it a for a good reason. Most failures will happen withing the first 30. If you did not take advantage of this time, then it is beyond our control. I don't have any idea why customers buy a unit and delay for some time before using it. Not trying to defend a failure here, but just trying to get it across that we do give plenty of "encouragement" to fully "test" the machines during that 30 day period.

We have shifted our warranty (it has always been included as an option on our part) to a repair primary, replacement secondary warranty. It is working overall much better than before for most customers. During the transition, we have hit a slight backlog due to several machines waiting on service being shipped to the center in MN. We've had a few issues with a chip in the unit, limited to a batch of boards from your production date it appears by your registration date. Not all are giving trouble, but enough to be able to reliably diagnose the problem 99% of the time. It'll usually happen soon after it is used if it is going to. But we have made some modifications...It appears the chips could have been overheated during assembly. Its a simple fix, but it can be annoying. Shipping is to MN, more centrally located in the US from W to E than CA. Not the East coast, but better than it was.

[single t gt]

wow, I just wrote a lengthy reply and was loged out before I could post it.. boy oh boy!! LOL Dont read this as pissed off, im just not writing it all again

That manual was horribly printed in ocr and the english was chopped up. I dont recall reading to "test" the machine, isnt that your job anyway? When did the warranty switch?
I did use all the features, well my grandfather in law did. A 40+yr welding vet and die hard miller fan.. He loved it, hated the analog dials, gave teh unit a 9.5/10 score and said he'd buy one over a miller or lincoln any day.

The money I paid for shipping to CA woud have covered to and from MN. That sucks. I was told I would pay 1/2 the cost from MN. I have mixed feelings on that.

again, dont take that as pissed.. i am pissed my fingers hurt LOL Just shot out the points of the long reply that got wiped, where you could read my demeanor so to say

[performance]

Single T,
The manuals intended for English speaking customers are online. We have had them online for several years now and we have stickies about it. Its posted in several threads. Go to the home page and click the RED button at top of the page...any page.

The option to repair has always been in the warranty, since I have been here. As for the testing. The welders are tested in the factory. We want the customers to use the units thoroughly when they get them because shipping can do a lot of things to them that may not be apparent, but will within a brief period of time after use. Its also likely that any electronic part will fail on ANY company's welders within a brief period of time after use if it is going to fail. Again, its been in the statement since I began. Just recently I had a customer that had an issue. He had bought the unit two years ago and it sat in a box, or so he said... and just started using it. He wanted to send it back for a refund (nothing wrong with the unit btw). We have to draw the line, and we give a generous 30 day policy, among the best in the industry.

[single t gt]

Still no welder!! Its been there since 2/21.

[performance]

If you'll pm me your information, I'll check on it.

[haveissues]

Mark,
Actually haveissues is not a dig at your company. My neighbors son saw me outside early on a rather cold day flying a RC helicopter and told me I have issues. I use it on other forums too.

[performance]

I didn't know. We do get guys who register from "another" company that do have a few of their own and like to stir the pot. lol.

[ASE_MasterTech]

single t,
We will get it fixed. I will find out what the repair schedule is looking like as soon as I can. Although I don't know exactly when you bought it, but as a general aside here....The incidence you describe is why we give a 30 day period covering shipping so the units can be used, and thoroughly given a good workout of ALL processes. We encourage our customers, and it is included in the warranty statement that the units should be thoroughly checked out and used during this time....This is a guideline given to the customer and we give it a for a good reason. Most failures will happen withing the first 30. If you did not take advantage of this time, then it is beyond our control. I don't have any idea why customers buy a unit and delay for some time before using it. Not trying to defend a failure here, but just trying to get it across that we do give plenty of "encouragement" to fully "test" the machines during that 30 day period.

We have shifted our warranty (it has always been included as an option on our part) to a repair primary, replacement secondary warranty. It is working overall much better than before for most customers. During the transition, we have hit a slight backlog due to several machines waiting on service being shipped to the center in MN. We've had a few issues with a chip in the unit, limited to a batch of boards from your production date it appears by your registration date. Not all are giving trouble, but enough to be able to reliably diagnose the problem 99% of the time. It'll usually happen soon after it is used if it is going to. But we have made some modifications...It appears the chips could have been overheated during assembly. Its a simple fix, but it can be annoying. Shipping is to MN, more centrally located in the US from W to E than CA. Not the East coast, but better than it was.

A 30 day defect/return warranty policy is a joke considering Everlast ships the product 'whenever', with little if any notice.
Are folks supposed to be expected to be set-up ready to rock & roll, to completely test your product? Shouldn't YOU be testing the product BEFORE you send it to us???
& enough with the "blame everything on UPS" nonsense, I get things from UPS at least once a week (at the job they deliver twice a day) & in 15yrs you can count 'UPS damaged' items on one hand.

[performance]

Master Tech,
I am not sure what's up with your comment. If a customer doesn't like or agree with a warranty policy, they should not buy the product. I believe ours is fair and I know its better than many of the major guys out there. Our's is there and in plain print for all to read. If we have a delay in shipment then we take that into consideration for the return policy. WE do give shipping and tracking numbers for all to follow once they land. Also, there IS the option of ordering when they come in...which I typically suggest. No one forces anyone to buy ahead, unless they want to take advantage of a little better price. But then there are less discounts when the units come in because the demand is high. I will remind you that we do offer an exceptional price for a well performing unit. Unless people want a huge increase in price, that is what we offer. We can do more, add more, and hand deliver them in person on a gold plated welding cart...but the cost goes up.

Yes, folks are supposed to be ready to rock and roll when they get their welder...If they aren't then they should wait to buy until they are. WHO buys a car and puts it in a shed? Or who special orders one waits for it to be built and then lets it sit in a warehouse for 6 or 8 months before they even crank it up for a test drive. Who comes back to the company after the warranty is expired, and says I never used it and I want my money back? Or who goes out to buy a car if they don't have a license or insurance or for that matter, sufficient money to put gas in the tank? Or what person starts buying clothes and supplies for a baby the day it is born even though the baby may come late? That may seem extreme, but the analogy is accurate. Quite simply, a person buying a welder, should be prepared to use it when they get it, or they should wait until they are. We are up front about it and we don't apologize. Most problems IF they occur do occur within 30 days of operation. We cover the shipping for that, covering the greatest majority of issues. A person can delay in using the unit. Its their choice, but they must be aware that they must pay the shipping...

The products are tested before they are sent from the Factory. In fact Duncan just returned from testing them.


I get UPS frequently as well. I can count on one hand when something wasn't damaged in someway. My wife was teaching a summer course for kids for a learning company up North. They sent her the teaching materials, which included legos. Not only was the box ripped open, there were legos that had fallen out of a taped up, and sealed plastic tupper type containers that were crushed to the point they broke open. I have had hand tools come to me with damage. There's plenty of people here in daily business that can vouch for the football practice that happens with UPS on their own products that they ship. I even had a man whose wife WORKS for UPS tell me he'd rather have it shipped fedex because he has seen how the packages got handled. I have watched as units I have dropped off were instantly dropped 6 feet straight down, never touching a chute. I have seen them come in upside down after falling off the top shelf in the truck.

[Jason]

I would say that anyone serious about getting something would test it right away. When I get a package I open it right then and there to inspect for damages and test everything as soon as possible. I will admit I am not totally ready for my welder but I have everything except argon which is easy to get. I purchased filler rods and everything within a week after ordering the welder knowing it would be at least 1 month for it to arrive. All I would expect if even this is for everlast to test the welder once before shipping it but like I said I may not even expect that much. There are a lot of places that only offer a 30 day return and I think that is perfectly fine.

UPS is a joke and if I can help it I will never ship through them again. I have had packages I sent come up missing more than once. I have received more packages damaged than good. I have had UPS not replace items damaged in shipping and have had to fight them to get lost items covered which so far my success rate with them is 1. I sent a high flow catalytic converter to canada and UPS said it came up missing. Then they denied the claim.. First off I don't see how something that size just becomes missing and then how can they say its not their fault.. I fought that claim until they covered it and told them I would not give up on it. Just about every box I get from UPS is smashed.. I have never had a problem with fedex or USPS. I guess its nice to see that someone has good luck with UPS and that maybe they are not just out to screw people to make money. A few years back a roommate of mine loaded and unloaded trucks for UPS. He told me that they would just throw boxes around and often times they hit the ground..

[everlastsupport]

I recall one shipping guy hitting a box that was on a welder coming to me. It tumbled across the bottom of the truck. Did it right in front of me, then he turned to me and said sign here.. No joke.

I currently use an 225LX that came in with the end of the box and the foam missing, it was in an oversized box (way bigger than our box) with UPS on it. Most of the TIG consumables were missing. I work for Everlast and receive stuff damaged sometimes. I do not like it, but nothing I can do about it other than wait on a part if needed.

The good news, the LX that was missing 10% of the box and the foam is about a year old now and still ticking, other than scratches on the front bezel which I have not replaced, as the welder welds fine, scratches I can live with.

[Rivets]

UPS is a joke and if I can help it I will never ship through them again. I have had packages I sent come up missing more than once. I have received more packages damaged than good. I have had UPS not replace items damaged in shipping and have had to fight them to get lost items covered which so far my success rate with them is 1. I sent a high flow catalytic converter to canada and UPS said it came up missing. Then they denied the claim.. First off I don't see how something that size just becomes missing and then how can they say its not their fault.. I fought that claim until they covered it and told them I would not give up on it. Just about every box I get from UPS is smashed.. I have never had a problem with fedex or USPS. I guess its nice to see that someone has good luck with UPS and that maybe they are not just out to screw people to make money. A few years back a roommate of mine loaded and unloaded trucks for UPS. He told me that they would just throw boxes around and often times they hit the ground..

Well Mark, your and Mike's own posts are the best argument for going with someone other than UPS. I know that you have said before that it was out of your hands, but WTF is up with management ???

It was mentioned months ago that alternatives were being looked into. Where is that at now ?

So, another shipper would charge more. How much would it add to the customer's cost ?

My unit was damaged. Fortunately, it appears to have been only cosmetics (front bezel).

This ongoing shipping damage issue is NOT conducive to customer "feel good".

Just saying. Rant over.

rivets

[Krookz]

My regulator also leaked. I had to swap to different pipe thread and use a liquid thread sealer to remedy that.
I used the plasma a ton, and it worked great.
I used the tig 2x, then had the HF problems. I thought it was my settings. Turned it off. Went inside to write down settings for the machine from welding tips and tricks. Came outside to use them but couldn't. The machine had froze up. It had no amp control and the guage was locked at a number higher the machine is rated at.
Mike called me after I called the tech line, diagnosed it, and said it would have to be swapped out. Come to find out now its being fixed and way behind schedule.
You guys need a location on the East Coast! This shipping the machine for warranty work is for the birds, especially after only using the machine a couple of times.

Lets see what customer service does to make it right.

x2 on that. Only used mine a handful of times and had to sent it back on my dime. Stupid thing caught on fire. Last I heard 6 days after someone there signed for it... they cant even find it.

[performance]

krookz,
pm your information, and I will check. I believe I said this before. Where did you send it to? Did you get an rma?