Next Shipment Due When`

[Oleg]

update: ORDER OF 250EX AND 256 UNITS LEAVING FACTORY ON 26TH OF JUNE. CA OFFICE WILL HAVE IT IN 2 WEEKS

[bigjoeinkg]

Oleg,
Thanks, didn't want the UPS man to show up here while I am in San Diego or Mississippi on travel.

[worntorn]

Tracking for mine says the Departure Scan was done at 1am today. Does this mean that an Everlast worker dropped the thing off very late last night? If so we need to cut these people a little slack, they are obviously overloaded with orders.

It's tempting to do the bad kid at Christmas thing and scream "I Want, Iwant, I want!" . Although during the waiting period I did this privately, also kicked my heels on the floor until it hurt, plus I held my breath until my face turned red, but no one seemed to care.

Anyway, about one month from order to arrival, not bad at all considering the saving by preordering. Most of us have another welder or three lurking about for use while the dream machine is on it's way.

[bigjoeinkg]

Mine left yesterday. That is the 250EX left. No departure date on the cart or the cooler. Currently, the only thing I have is the little MIG and the old AC225. Waiting on the TIG!

[bigjoeinkg]

Received the 250EX today as scheduled by UPS. Didn't receive the cooler and cart that was orded at the same time. There was UPS shipping documents generated for these on the same date as the 250EX. So, called Everlast and was informed that the cooler and cart would not be received for another 1 1/2 weeks. Why keep a customer in the dark? Why can't they send an order status when they have already taken our money? If I had known that it would take over two months to get a full unit I would have went to Lincoln. It would have cost a little more but, I would have had it in three days from order to door!

[dgarnier]

as bad as it sounds it looks like they are getting better, I waited a lot longer. Plus from watching the site Mark and Oleg do post up some eta's

[bigjoeinkg]

If the units were not in stock and you generate a shipping document with UPS. It gives the customer the impression that the units are awaiting pickup by UPS. Wouldn't you agree. Only to find out that it will be another 1 1/2 weeks before the ships gets in, a few days to receive them and process. Then another week for shipment to Virginia. So, I am looking at three weeks before I get the cooler and cart. I could make it without the cart. However, the cooler is needed to run the torch over 80 or so amps. I know I could use a garden hose. But, I bought a cooler so I would have everything on a cart and be portable in the garage.

[dgarnier]

baby steps man baby steps

[worntorn]

that's what I was thinking too.

Joe mentioned that for a few bucks more he could have had a Lincoln and been welding in three days. I haven't looked up the retail on an Invertec that would have similar ratings to the EX 250, but my guess is it would be similar in cost to the Miller, what with them being close competitors.

For about 50% more than an EX 250 & cooler costs, my friend Murray brought home a new PT 185 Lincoln, but no cooler at that price.
The good news is it doesn't need one because it's a gutless wonder!
With a 15% duty cycle @ 185 amps it is only capable of welding 3/16" aluminum with lots of rest breaks at that. I use this machine all the time (the Lincoln PT 185) and it is fine on thin-wall material, but really just a toy compared to the EX 250 or my PP 256.

Actually, on DC the Lincoln is a toy even when compared to my little $800 PU 205 , (60% @200 on the 205) which really irritates Murray, especially when I point out that it also has a 50 amp plasma in there.



If you want serious power in a new North American machine you have to spend some serious money!

[morgaj1]

People in business still don't understand the value of simple communication. This is not a problem that only Everlast has. It is my impression that most businesses do this poorly. However, it would do a small company like Everlast a tremendous amount of good to do pay close attention to these small things. Until they can pinpoint an exact date that units will be in stock and communicate effectively with their customers, they will continue to put people off.

[performance]

Morgaj,
I understand your sentiment, but sales increasing as they are, its hard to argue with the figures. We may put a few off, but most would seem not to be.
But ANYONE in shipping internationally, will tell you, as has been affirmed here before by others that have, it is impossible to give exact dates. We have established the forum as a form of communication with the customer and we keep things updated here. We sponsor a forum on WW for further access to communication and we have email, as well as a multi man, tech support department.

More service cost more. We will be glad to sell our product at a higher price to support more support, but it seems that customers are fairly satisfied with what they get now at the price they get.

[bigjoeinkg]

Mark,
I contacted sales several days ago via e-mail concerning the shipment. Oleg responded and said he would look into it. After a couple of days I sent an e-mail to Oleg with the tracking numbers provided by UPS. No response. So, I called on Monday and spoke to someone in sales. They took my personal cell number since I am currently on travel. They indicated that a supervisior would contact me. No calls to date. I PM'ed my contact information to Oleg with my work e-mail since I have 24/7 connectivity with the Blackberry. Still no response from Sales. The only response to this is from Service! The best service department can't keep a company afloat if the front end sales department can't keep the customer informed. I know that Everlast is a growing company. Just seems that the ordering process needs to be looked at and with more information forwarded to customers. Especially the one's who have prepaid for their orders $2,000 for an order that has been billed to a credit card a month before the machine gets on shore. I also know that global supply and just in time delivery is modus operandi these days.

1. Amateur's study tactics, professionals study logistics.
2. A battle is decided before the first shot by the logistics.

[worntorn]

Why not get one of these instead, on single phase it is just about as good as your EX 250

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/tig/dynasty_350/

[geezer]

Why not get one of these instead, on single phase it is just about as good as your EX 250

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/tig/dynasty_350/

Not a good idea, I went with the EX 250 and have the extra $8,000 in my pocket, much better feeling when you have saved money in your pocket.

[bigjoeinkg]

Why not get one of these instead, on single phase it is just about as good as your EX 250

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/tig/dynasty_350/

worntorn,
After placing my order I did find a Miller 350DX on craigslist and another poster had the coolmate V3 w/WP18. The total package would have been $2.8K. I know there is difference between the two welders.

Now, it time for me to eat a little CROW. I did receive an e-mail to my home account from Katya at 8:00PM EST that the cooler and cart would ship at a later time. Didn't do much good since I was on the road. However, didn't say that they were still enroute to the U.S. Didn't get this information when I called on Tuesday either. So, seems the basic problem is lack of clear communications between all parties.

And the rest of the story. Unpacked the 250EX, not a scratch on the carton even. Was a little shift in the regulator and it had punctured the box it was in. Wired it up and energized. All functions worked. Set it up for SMAW and worked fine up to 200A. Set it up for TIG and works great up to the 100A max that I was confortable using without the cooler. Welded some steel and Al. Really out of practice after 21 years not holding a TIG torch. The Euro torch just doesn't feel right. May have to get used to it or switch to a plain WP18. The only problem is the fool pedal. There is a screw that didn't seat all the way and the pedal doesn't sit level and rocks. The screw is stripped but it will be not problem to correct.

[jakeru]

Bigjoe - If you want to do a quick and dirty test of TIG in watercooled mode, you could adapt a garden hose, or threaded laundry tub faucet to supply the necessary water pressure for the watercooled torch. Set the coolant return line so it drains into the laundry tub, or out onto your lawn or garden, etc.