Forum Discussion

Steakman's avatar
Steakman
Explorer
Aug 06, 2015

One tough Generator..!! Champion 3000i

Last year, we had bought a Champion 2000i, a good little unit we found at Costco up here in Calgary. It ran me about $550.00 but could not run the AC.

Unfortunately at the time it's all they had. A couple of months later I am walking through Costco and see their 3000i...ahh man.!! So after ten minutes of mental deliberation and convincing myself I really did need a 3000...I bought it.

Went home cleaned up the 2000i - swapped accessory packs and brought it back to Costco sans Fuel..and not a question was asked - Full refund.! The best returns policy on the planet.

Fast forward to this summer: I have a U shaped 5th wheel tailgate and typically set my genny in the back up against the tailgate..done so many times not thinking of it. Never was an issue.

We head out to the Shushwap in BC...and not 50k from Calgary I just happened to look in my rearview and ****ed if I don't see my Genny doing 74 mph down the freeway - landing in the grassy divider..!!!

I near had a cardiac...

Pulled over - put the 4 ways on.. and retrieved it. While walking the 200 meters, thankful & grateful that no one was directly behind me when it went for its trek.! I shudder to think of the damage/accident that might have caused.

Surprisingly there was no major damage. a few cracks in the plastic but other than that it seemed ok. I put it back in the truck box - strapped down (and from now on), and off we went. At the campsite, flipped the fuel switch - turned on the power and gave it a pull - started on the first try. (fist pump.!)

A Happy ending that could have ended very badly.. and a testimonial on a pretty tough generator.

cheers,

stk
  • jus2shy's avatar
    jus2shy
    Explorer
    Aug 08, 2015
    Lots of accusations and what not here. But seems like the OP returned the last generator after a "Couple" months. Don't most places have a 90 day return policy on stuff like this? OP tried to use it a few times and it didn't power the AC. Costco gets something better and he goes out to buy it, subsequently returning the weaker genny. I don't see any issue with this. The issue I have are people that intentionally game the system to always have something new, like returning a mattress after 5 years or so (heard of similar things from a relative that works for them). I don't see anything really wrong here, it's not like the item had the crud used out of it either in a couple months time either.
  • starcraft69's avatar
    starcraft69
    Explorer
    Aug 08, 2015
    I see a pattern of who is against this and who is all for this. It seems to be a culture thing or were you live, as to the morals of this?????
  • cummins2014's avatar
    cummins2014
    Explorer
    Aug 08, 2015
    shum02 wrote:
    filthy beast wrote:
    I think the problem was his with not knowing what he really needs, he should be unsatisfied with himself not the generator. I would have sold the generator myself and bought the new one. I am a Costco member too and love their return policy bit I would feel like an a$$ taking advantage of it, which this seems like to me.

    i am sure there are hundreds if not thousands of posts about generator sizing on this and other forums that he could have read before purchase.

    Of course this is just my opinion!


    You PAY for the membership/service, you're the one doing yourself a disfavor by not taking advantage of their satisfaction warranty.

    Seriously, they DON'T care. I've taken back all kinds of stuff I'm not satisfied with.



    Sure they don't care, who do you think its going to cost in the end run , its you .
  • cummins2014's avatar
    cummins2014
    Explorer
    Aug 08, 2015
    bpounds wrote:
    This is just like the folks who buy a battery at Costco, then return it every year for a new one. I guess they think they bought a lifetime of new batteries. I don't understand the lack of moral fiber, but that's just me. Others do whatever they can sleep with.


    I agree, return policy or not ,however you want to justify your actions. As far as I am concerned its just down right dishonest . They can fool themselves all they want ,at some point all this is coming back on us in pricing. Its just going to depend on what a costco vendor has to eat in profits from returned items before it happens. All this fantastic customer service costco is handing out comes at a price .
  • bpounds's avatar
    bpounds
    Nomad
    Aug 08, 2015
    This is just like the folks who buy a battery at Costco, then return it every year for a new one. I guess they think they bought a lifetime of new batteries. I don't understand the lack of moral fiber, but that's just me. Others do whatever they can sleep with.
  • shum02's avatar
    shum02
    Explorer
    Aug 08, 2015
    filthy beast wrote:
    I think the problem was his with not knowing what he really needs, he should be unsatisfied with himself not the generator. I would have sold the generator myself and bought the new one. I am a Costco member too and love their return policy bit I would feel like an a$$ taking advantage of it, which this seems like to me.

    i am sure there are hundreds if not thousands of posts about generator sizing on this and other forums that he could have read before purchase.

    Of course this is just my opinion!


    You PAY for the membership/service, you're the one doing yourself a disfavor by not taking advantage of their satisfaction warranty.

    Seriously, they DON'T care. I've taken back all kinds of stuff I'm not satisfied with.
  • filthy_beast's avatar
    filthy_beast
    Explorer
    Aug 08, 2015
    I think the problem was his with not knowing what he really needs, he should be unsatisfied with himself not the generator. I would have sold the generator myself and bought the new one. I am a Costco member too and love their return policy bit I would feel like an a$$ taking advantage of it, which this seems like to me.

    i am sure there are hundreds if not thousands of posts about generator sizing on this and other forums that he could have read before purchase.

    Of course this is just my opinion!
  • Paul_Clancy's avatar
    Paul_Clancy
    Explorer
    Aug 08, 2015
    Costco is one of the last businesses putting customer satisfaction above all else. They are a buyers club and if the buyer is not happy they make it right. They do have MASSIVE power over suppliers because of the huge bulk they purchase. If only the Rv business came close to the satisfaction levels of Costco. Remember they often don't compete on price or even the newest models. It's all about satisfaction.
  • shum02's avatar
    shum02
    Explorer
    Aug 07, 2015
    MFL wrote:
    shum02 wrote:
    Paul Clancy wrote:
    Till then it IS their policy and he does pay his membership. Nothing to see here.


    x2

    That's why you pay for the membership and those are their policy's.


    I agree with this, but the part left out, did he disguise the used genny, as being unused, due to switching out the new parts from the new genny?

    IMO, would have been best to just hear how rugged the Champion 3000 was, an leave out the part of returning the 2000.

    Jerry


    Costco will take it back used or unused, no questions. If you're not happy they take it back. THEIR supplier CPE is the one who really eats the cost as Costco sends it back to them for credit and believe me when you deal with a very BIG retailer like this you as a supplier take the merchandise back WITHOUT question. These gennies then end up on the secondary "refurbished" market.

    It makes NO difference what he swapped out or not, they would have taken it back.

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