My Thoughts on Everlast

There is a heated debate on another forum that I go to about purchasing Everlast and Longevity machines. I wanted to share my opinion and get your opinion. This is what I wrote:

I have kept quiet on this debate, watching to see where it goes. I have always tried to buy American. I own a couple of Hobart Welders and lots of Dewalt, Milwaukee and Porter Cable tools. However, I have noticed that the vast majority of the power tools from these big American manufacturers have either been made in China or Mexico. I was very surprised to see that my expensive Dewalt angle grinders are all made in China.

I have decided to buy a plasma cutter. For quite some time, I have been scouring Craigslist and the local classifieds for a used Hypertherm, Thermal dynamics, Miller, Lincoln or Hobart unit to no avail. As much as I would like to buy one of these plasma cutters new, I simply cannot afford it. I am a hobby welder with 2 small children and do not have $1,500+ for a tool. Since I cannot find a used "American Made" plasma cutter, I decided on an Everlast. I researched quite a bit. I read the old drama from WW and agree that both companies did not represent themselves well. However, I read many more posts where Oleg or Simon have gone the extra mile to help a customer with a problem. In fact, I saw several examples where they repaired units from a competitor.

I guess what I am saying is, you guys throwing rocks at those of that have purchased an Everlast or Longevity product should check your own garage or shop. I think you will be surprised at the number of Chinese or Mexican-made power tools you own and purchased from a well-known American company.

Well..
Personally speaking, if you haven't 'been there, done that' (ie-in this case own/use either's products), then you really can't speak with any validity.
I would say that you really shouldn't listen to the naysayers with no 'product experience' that lurk/advise on any forum.
As far as the 'rah-rah' 'American Made only' rhetoric goes, I would pay to see the DD214's on these whining 'don't buy imports' patriots of the USA. I can almost guarantee that not a single one has ever 'served' their beloved country.
That said, my road with both Everlast & Longevity has been a little bumpy, but so far neither one has disappointed me...

(Everlast 'Tech support' is top shelf tho)

The brand war saga over there is why my time there consisted of about 3 posts.

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Originally Posted by morgaj1

...you guys throwing rocks at those of that have purchased an Everlast or Longevity product should check your own garage or shop...

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I'm cringing at the response you must have drawn from WW. Have the flames died down any?!

There are articles http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25375103...-buy-american/ that suggest you can buy more American parts in a Japanese car made in the US than you can in an "American" car. The world economy is changing, and we need to change with it.

Inverter welders have made the playing field a little easier for new manufacturers to get in the game. Northern Tool, Eastwood, and Grizzly Industrial all have machines manufactured over seas, and I'm sure there are several other tool companies doing the same. I am amazed at how loyal people are to big corporations. My Dad sold welding supplies at a locally owned welding supply company, and there are not many of these left. Miller and Lincoln have given companies like Airgas better prices hurting the Mom and Pop companies. There was a time when you could go into one of these local companies and walk out with a full rig because they would set you up on a payment plan. That is why so many welders were able to buy expensive machines when they fist started. You always here buy a used lincoln or miller on craigslist, but what if it breaks. I spent as much as if I would have bought an Everlast with a warranty. For me I chose a new machine with a warranty, and the price of the new machine was worth any possible consequences (if I have to send it back). The Mom and Pop LWS built lincoln and miller's loyalty and in my opinion Mom and Pop were dumped on by Lincoln and Miller. The company my dad worked for until the day he died can barely compete. They once employed 20-25 people, and now they are down to 5-6 people. I should be loyal to Lincoln and Miller because along with the local AWS they sent me to Lincoln's welding school on a full scholarship. When I go back home for the holidays I always go to my dad's old company and buy some welding rods whether I need it or not; it's a sad sight from what it once was. I realize the blame is not all Lincoln and Miller a lot goes along with business slowly dying.

i have used the high end linc miller hobart thermal (of course these are owned by the college) i couldn't afford one well maybe up to a hobart 187 or so. but i ran across everlast while searching e-bay and the green color caught my eye site. they were fast to respond to my endless questions and i ordered a power arc 200. make it short wasn't in stock and i'd be waiting so they fixed me up, i'd honestly choose everlast over anything welder

While getting some fittings to adapt a WP9 torch to my Everlast, I had a young salesperson at Linde berate me for purchasing a non US welder. He informed me that the welds it made would not be safe!

I told him that he needed to try one to see what nice machines they really are. It was a waste of time arguing with him. his mind was set and , of course, he had never welded with an offshore machine of any description, just knew that all offshore welders make poor quality welds!

He kept right at it until I was ready to leave the bits on the counter and walk out without them. Only trouble was, they were all the right bits to do the adaptation and I didn't feel like driving around hunting the parts up again.

I have never gone back to Linde though. There are plenty of other sources for consumables.

Glen

Gee, I wonder if this pillar of knowledge realizes where the origins of the Linde company and the BOC equipment they sell come from!

Just an other classic example of ignorance breeding more ignorance here in America.

That's another glowing example customer service at it's best!

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Originally Posted by Grizzly1944

Gee, I wonder if this pillar of knowledge realizes where the origins of the Linde company and the BOC equipment they sell come from!

Just an other classic example of ignorance breeding more ignorance here in America.

That's another glowing example customer service at it's best!

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In all fairness to the young Linde person, Glen forgot to mention that foreign machines really preform better on American electricity. That would have explained all to the young salesman.

Outside of demonstrating a machine most welding reps / salesman can barely weld. I do personally know two that could weld extremely well and taught welding night classes at the local community college. They both were above the age of 60 and new everything from welding to repairing machines, they were sharp and have since retired.

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Originally Posted by worntorn

... young salesperson at Linde berate me for purchasing a non US welder... He kept right at it until I was ready to leave the bits on the counter and walk out without them...

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Did anyone witness that conversation? I would have been tempted to tell him to bring his boss out, and have him explain with his boss listening how "wrong" you were. I suspect you would have received better treatment, at least.

Unfortunately the other reps were all busy with other customers.

Glen

Even tough they might not be worth the trouble. It might do the management a huge favor to explain why you won't be going back there any time soon.

If they respond in a positive fashion, and correct their problem, (which should include an apology from the represenative in question) you might consider coming back. If management doesn't care to do so, the problem starts from the top down. Then they made the decision for you!

Don

Seems if you own an Everlast welder or plasma cutter you are persona non gratta on some of the other welding discussion groups.

Mention Everlast and you will get attacked. It's always the same people doing the attacks.

Some of these old guys are like a bunch of old ladies that have nothing better to do than stalk and attack you if you have bought an Everlast, are happy with it and say so.

Funny part about it is that these guys have thousands of posts each and if you look, they have almost nothing good to say to anyone.

I've come to the conclusion that it is best to ignore these people and just enjoy the fact that I have some awesome capabilities for a lot less than others are paying. I have decided that instead of posting on those sites, I will just weld!

Thanks Everlast!

I have Everlast in my sig line on WeldingWeb and have had no issues there but I haven't beat my chest about my Everlast machine there either knowing how many of them feel. You don't walk into a Homosexual bar and start bashing Homosexuals without expecting problems so why walk into a Blue / Red site and start taunting them with Green. This is inviting an attack IMHO. :)

Thurmond

I am always surprised by how loyal people are to a brand that has no interest or loyalty to them. Cars, motorcycles, welders, etc. I agree that most companies have shipped the manufacturing overseas to save on wages and move those savings to personal bonuses. Remove excessive executive greed and a lot of your missing jobs could easily be back. But I digress, sell me on your features, value and service, not on a name and BS.

I didn't go in my local Praxair for about 5 years over a bad order. So when they ticked me off (stuck me with the wrong parts and would not a credit me on an un-opened item), it cost them (or made Welder Services and Lake Welding) all my money for the years.

Now I said I would never go back, but I needed something and they were close, I popped in. Good ole Steve (over 55 I am sure) was still behind the counter and I can not tell you how well he took care of me. So sometimes you have to do that, stay away for a bit. They will remember and get better.

Although I am not sure about the kid that could tell you how bad something was that he'd never tried. No hope for him.

I was out gathering some supplies with my Hotrod builder friend Murray yesterday and he stopped into the same Linde store for some 309 SS filler rod. The idiot kid that served me was not there, maybe he got canned?

The other Sales reps were very pleasant, but then Murray bought a Hypertherm cutter and Lincoln welder from them at retail plus prices not long ago, so that does help!

Not sure how they would have acted if I had asked them to look thru their stuff for $15 worth of fittings for my Everlast welder.:D


Glen