how they last

[bobwills]

So ive been wondering how everlast welders hold up. I know they function great and exceed my expectations by a ton. I made this just for people to say how long they had there unit. If they had any problems starting out or after a while and if it was an easy fix after a while or the old unit totally wore out. Ever since ive been on here I havnt really heard of hardly any problems. Also whats the expected amount of years a inverter will last because I know after a while they will go out as a miler will and just any electronic. I think this would help a lot of people who are trying to decide weather to go with everlast or not.

[geezer]

Gabe...I don't see any real issue with them lasting or not lasting, they won't last as long as the old transformer welders because the transformer welder had very little that could go wrong with them, however, regardless of who makes them the components will last as long as the competitors because essentially they are the same with slight modifacations to them....An Everlast capacitator or resistor has the same life expectancy as a lincoln or millers....from what I have seen and heard from others, Everlast products should last a long time, cause they have large heat sinks and large fans which keep things cool,,,in fact some people with electronic experience have discribed them as overbuilt because of the fans and large heatsnks...that give a higher duty cycle....that's okay with me....I think if you use reasonable care,,,keep it out of the rain, don't drop or kick it around,,,should last you a long time..

[everlastsupport]

Working in tech support, I can tell you it's rare to get a call on an older unit or even a unit over a year old. Electronics normally break right away, especially with the power a welder pumps through. If you store the unit properly, clean when needed, allow plenty of air flow, it should last a long time.

I know of a 5 year old MIG205 in a damp pole barn with no doors that I am shocked (no pun) still runs and it's used all week no less. Not a forum member, but a very good friend.

Electronics are electronics. A Miller can have a weak transistor and died, just like an Everlast.

Our main thing is getting you up and running if there is a problem and we always try to get everyone running in the field without a unit coming in for repair. Sometimes an IGBT module or MOSFET issue can prevent that.

I sold my almost 3+ year old at the time, 250LX (yes 250LX), well over a year and a half ago. I know Jake had an issue his Super200P or 250P (older model, was probably 4-5 years old). It was a while back and a more than the average repair, but he is up and running and being handy (soldering skills and all), he did the repair himself. And Jake uses his welder a lot as well. Search for Jakeru on the forum.

My MIG machines are on about everyday, TIG weekly, when I need a small repair. They are probably 3 or 4 years old. And the small units I run on a generator as well when needed (IMIG 160 and IMIG 200).

So an MTBF might will be hard to get. Mark, Duncan or Oleg might have that info and it would differ on the type machines as well. Our high end TIGs have a lot of extra circuits in them for the AC, Pulse, etc that a PowerArc 200 does not have. Heck, the old Lincoln AC 225 is almost nothing but a big transformer, it's hard to break a transformer (for most people). Today the units are a lot more advanced.

[everlastsupport]

That's funny, I was posting in parallel to Geezer, but pretty much the same points. Even down to the old transformer machines.

[GWD]

Mike,

Given the information in your post, then what is the logic for reducing the 5-year warranty to 3-years? The 5-year warranty is a great selling point and certainly motivated me to go with Everlast. It indicated the seller's confidence in the product that transfers to a buyer's confidence.

I know the 5-year can be had for 10% but it is either a profit margin increase or a hedge against future costs given the number of units out there now that sales apparently have taken off. Maybe Everlast thinks it has "arrived" and can go back to the industry standard of 3-years.

Don't get me wrong - I like the Everlast products very much and would like Everlast to stay in business and show a reasonable profit. It just seems the shortened warranty may interfere with the business plan.

It is also not a good sign that Oleg stifled the warranty discussion over on Welding Web. Maybe this post will get the same treatment.

[zoama]

Mike,

Given the information in your post, then what is the logic for reducing the 5-year warranty to 3-years? The 5-year warranty is a great selling point and certainly motivated me to go with Everlast. It indicated the seller's confidence in the product that transfers to a buyer's confidence.

I know the 5-year can be had for 10% but it is either a profit margin increase or a hedge against future costs given the number of units out there now that sales apparently have taken off. Maybe Everlast thinks it has "arrived" and can go back to the industry standard of 3-years.

Don't get me wrong - I like the Everlast products very much and would like Everlast to stay in business and show a reasonable profit. It just seems the shortened warranty may interfere with the business plan.

It is also not a good sign that Oleg stifled the warranty discussion over on Welding Web. Maybe this post will get the same treatment.

If I were to hazard a guess it would be that electrolytic capacitors have a normal life of 5 to 7 years before they swell and leak or dry out.
I'm not worried about it though because boards can be replaced or recapped and I may even want the newest model by then.

[bobwills]

Its good hearing that the old units hardly ever have problems and when they do its an easy fix. And yeah all electronics go out after a while and its always good to keep an old transformer welder in the corner just for that reason.

[DaveO]

This links to Jakeru's description of his DIY fix that Mike R mentioned. Speaks not only to the fixability of the machine but Jakeru's abilities too.

http://www.everlastgenerators.com/fo...elding-again!?

[everlastsupport]

GWD,

Not sure what my comment/post has to do with a 3 or 5 year warranty? Nor does tech support decide on how long our warranty is. You might want to talk to Oleg if you have an issue with that. Can not help there. Just trying to answer Bobs question with some inside information.

FYI, I have never been told not to help a customer if a unit was over 5 years old. Worse case someone might need to buy a part. But I know Oleg as sent out boards for customers when needed as well, as I had to tell him what board to send. I mean electronics are eventually going to break. Power surges, lightening hits, caps going bad (as mentioned).

DaveO,

I brought up Jake has his unit was older and it was not too long ago. Many of our customers can change a part. We determine that first, and mail a board or part if the person can make the repair. Jakes was also a little more than most would do. Not sure if Jake mentioned it, but Everlast was on and off the phone with him as well and we sent him a backup board too I believe. But Jake can be your ideal customer, that is true.

[zoama]

FYI, I have never been told not to help a customer if a unit was over 5 years old. Worse case someone might need to buy a part. But I know Oleg as sent out boards for customers when needed as well, as I had to tell him what board to send. I mean electronics are eventually going to break. Power surges, lightening hits, caps going bad (as mentioned).

DaveO,

I brought up Jake has his unit was older and it was not too long ago. Many of our customers can change a part. We determine that first, and mail a board or part if the person can make the repair. Jakes was also a little more than most would do. Not sure if Jake mentioned it, but Everlast was on and off the phone with him as well and we sent him a backup board too I believe. But Jake can be your ideal customer, that is true.

I love that... I doubt another company would give that service.

[everlastsupport]

And on Christmas day sometimes.

[performance]

Mike,

Given the information in your post, then what is the logic for reducing the 5-year warranty to 3-years? The 5-year warranty is a great selling point and certainly motivated me to go with Everlast. It indicated the seller's confidence in the product that transfers to a buyer's confidence.

I know the 5-year can be had for 10% but it is either a profit margin increase or a hedge against future costs given the number of units out there now that sales apparently have taken off. Maybe Everlast thinks it has "arrived" and can go back to the industry standard of 3-years.

Don't get me wrong - I like the Everlast products very much and would like Everlast to stay in business and show a reasonable profit. It just seems the shortened warranty may interfere with the business plan.

It is also not a good sign that Oleg stifled the warranty discussion over on Welding Web. Maybe this post will get the same treatment.

GWD,

I think the reason was pretty clear. We have eaten one cost increase after the other. We stated that. And we are putting more effort than ever, making significant expenditures toward more staff, visits to the factory, and tighter QC control...All have increased our costs. Our profit margin has diminished over the last year or so. The cost of production in China is rising. We have offered this warranty break down to keep things in check as much as we can...and let the customer choose what is right for him. It seems like a lot of misunderstanding that the cost of the warranty is built into the price. It's basic economics. These days it seems that people think a cost increase is "automatically" making the company more money. It is not. We have just had actual unit costs over the past two years rise about 20 percent on some machines. The fact that we have kept the price increases fairly stable has bitten off a major chunk of what we need to "grow". People want manuals in boxes, plugs on welders, longer and heavier cables, 24 hour tech support (it seems), heavier boxes and improved packaging, better accessories, more show appearances and improved quality. Does this not cost us more? The 10% additional for 2 years, represents the additional cost of carrying the warranty for an extra two years, including staff, support etc that must be maintained, plus some additional cost increase (and not all of it I assure you). Have we arrived? No, but we are not where we were in 2009 either. One thing we frequently heard, more often that "I am buying this because of the warranty", was that our warranty was not credible because it surpassed guys whose quality is unquestionable...We lost just as many sales because of that as we will probably if we offer a tiered warranty. We are still offering the 5 year plan, but all we are doing is showing the added cost of the warranty vs. our cost increases...sort of like showing the "tax" or giving a sales price and figuring in tax on the front end. It may not make some people happy...and we realize that, but its necessary and a pragmatic thing for us to do. The reason the thread was trimmed, was because it got off the focus of our announcement, and as much discussion as we have gotten, none of it dealt with the issues concerning the reasons for having to do this. It was all complaints, and threats. Its not germane to the discussion, and it does nothing to improve the company if we continue to succeed. Sales have been rising on nearly every unit. Some may choose to go to our "competitors" in the import world. We understand that too. But we also understand that the same forces that are applying to us are applying to them as well. So, buying from them, and their refusal to deal with reality will ensure their demise...because the math won't continue to add up for them. Look for some serious problems in 6 months or so from our competition...Don't forget we keep pretty good tabs on our competition, and we many times we know things about them before they know them.

We have been leading this import "revolution" in welders since 2004, as long as anybody out there. And, we will continue to...This may seem like a regressive policy for some, but I can assure you, we are making changes to the warranty that will "IMPROVE" customer buying confidence long term by "sweetening" the basic terms.

[everlastsupport]

This thread just took a turn from what I think Bob was asking.

I must agree with Mark and glad he shared that. People should understand Mark, Ray, Duncan, Oleg, myself and many others in the company, whos names are not here on the forum, have put in a lot of time without return (but with personal reward) to make it known that Everlast is the best in this area of imported welding equipment and it takes a lot of hard work (and it is not like red and blue really have their machines made 100% in the US, common people, it is stamped on the box).

Anyway, sometimes we as a company must make some changes. If dropping the warranty to the same as Lincoln and Miller is one of them, sounds fair to me. Why should they have a lesser warranty and even charge more; and they do? I would think we have proven our product welds well by now, see the videos online that are not even ours and at 1/3 of the price of the other guys.

I feel better now. whew!