professor95 wrote:
Have you ever been fired up, angry and incised by the comments someone made in regard to an object, facility, or program you have worked hard to achieve? Like maybe some makes a disparaging comment about your truck or camper that you are extremely proud of?
I know I have.
I'll take that one step further. I was ridiculed (and still am in a few threads) by the "red" and "blue" guys for recommending the Champion as an affordable generator alternative to the "red" and "blue" inverter generators. (By the way, if you check my signature below, you will see I am a "red" guy.)
I have always tried to be fair about the pros and cons of the inverter generator verses the inexpensive Chinese generators. At first I went mostly on what I read on here, but I now have a few friends that are using Champions. My "twins" have a few advantages, but I'm not sure those advantages are worth $1400 - $1500.
professor95 wrote:
Price? Who knows. Digitalis are not like synchronous as far as the cost to manufacturer and provide a warranty for. If you have a failure in the inverter circuity you do not "fix it" - you throw it away. There is little to nothing a small engine service center can do to repair an electronic circuit board in their shop. Same is true for Honda, Yamaha and others. No doubt about it.
.... unless the new CPE inverter genny has features, price and durability competitive with the Honda, Yamaha and Kipor it will not be a hot sales item. I sure as heck would not buy one over a Honda just to save $100. There would have to be more - like good service and support, reasonably priced parts readily available and durability. Again - we will have to wait and see.
As I have said before, IMHO, price is the biggest advantage of the Champion and other inverter generators. If there is not a significant price advantage, I, personally, will go with a proven "red" or "blue" generator with nationwide parts and service.
Champion can claim nationwide service centers all they want, but the truth is most of their "service centers" are independently owned repair shops that neither sell nor have parts or training on Champion generators. IMHO, it would be kind of like an automaker saying they have nationwide service centers and depending on local mechanics and parts stores for repairs.
A friend bought a rototiller from a local Tractor Supply store and had problems. I could tell you his opinion of their local repair shop that does their service work, but the mods would remove all the colorful adjectives he uses to get his point across.
professor95 wrote:
... In any event, I really have no interest in yet another 2,000 watt genny that will not power my RV air conditioner. I would need two to accomplish that and fail to see the point in buying twins.
OK, We disagree on this point.
Sure there are some disdvantages to "twins", but there are many advantages, too. Lightweight, easy to move and store, versatility and size are all advantages of the smaller twins
professor95 wrote:
As for the new CPE electric start/remote controlled open frame synchronous model from Costco and the buyer comments at that site? I will put absolutely NO faith in those comments unless there are at least 200 or more or all negative. Even that is not a high enough number to be a valid sample.
One point to keep in mind about reviews (of anything). Satisfied customers are usually quiet, since they have no reason to say much, but unhappy customers are usually frustrated and one way they deal with their frustration is to scream to anyone that will listen.
professor95 wrote:
What the heck does CPE's attitude toward their local BBB have to do with anything anyway? As far as the term "UnAmerican", well I guess it would have been better accepted if he had said UnChinese :) It was just a response indicating he did not like the way they operate. Big deal. I don't like PETA, NRA, NEA, GOP, AARP, AAA and a slew of others because of the way they operate - thus I don't support them
Just my views, nothing else. But, I still don't understand what the big deal or attacks on CPE are all about.
Boy, do we ever have a lot of the same views!!! I could add a few to your list of organizations.
My personal opinion of the BBB is they started out as a well intentioned organization, but they, like all others, are subject to the liability of the big organizations and have lost most of their strength to speak the truth, because of the fear of lawsuits.
As far as Champion, I am veryy happy that they have created some competition in the RV generator market. It gives us all an option. All we can do is benefit from added competition.
