I've been in the market for a new stick welder for a minute. I was originally gonna purchase the Hobart Stickmate AC/DC from Tractor Supply, which they retail for $479.99. I also had a 10% coupon that I would have used on the purchase.
After a thourough review of this forum's content regarding the Powerarc 200, and after a couple conversations with Mark on the telephone, I decided to purchase the Everlast machine instead. The tranasction was handled by telephone with Oleg last Friday. The sale price was $315 and $35 shipping to Oklahoma City.
I pulled the machine out of the box today, and attached the plug. I haven't used the machine yet. I have attached a pic (hope it loads). I want to point out that this PA 200 does not have the 'special 6010 port' as described on the website's product information, and as mentioned before in previous discussions. Additionally, I haven't measured it or weighed it, but it surely seems smaller than the dimensions that Mark gave me verbally, and certainly doesn't seem to weigh 38 pounds.
My criticism thus far regarding my interaction with Everlast would be the following: a) It seems Everlast has an inventory management problem. Everlast was out of stock, and subsequently verbally postponed their shipment dates more than once. b) I have always been skeptical of the 6010 port anyways, but as a matter of principle, goods should be sold as advertised. I consider that Everlast might not have even been aware of the change in the product, which makes me wonder how much oversight they have of the production line. It certainly seems that had they known of the product change, that Everlast would have made the change in it's product advertisement or communicated otherwise. And if they did know about it, and failed to make the change known, I would argue that's a questionable business practice.
Lastly, please know, that I'm just an average consumer. The fact remains, that if the machine WELDS as advertised and reviewed, then I frankly don't care. But, I am a little disappointed, and hope that my fellow hobby welders would empathize appropriately.
After a thourough review of this forum's content regarding the Powerarc 200, and after a couple conversations with Mark on the telephone, I decided to purchase the Everlast machine instead. The tranasction was handled by telephone with Oleg last Friday. The sale price was $315 and $35 shipping to Oklahoma City.
I pulled the machine out of the box today, and attached the plug. I haven't used the machine yet. I have attached a pic (hope it loads). I want to point out that this PA 200 does not have the 'special 6010 port' as described on the website's product information, and as mentioned before in previous discussions. Additionally, I haven't measured it or weighed it, but it surely seems smaller than the dimensions that Mark gave me verbally, and certainly doesn't seem to weigh 38 pounds.
My criticism thus far regarding my interaction with Everlast would be the following: a) It seems Everlast has an inventory management problem. Everlast was out of stock, and subsequently verbally postponed their shipment dates more than once. b) I have always been skeptical of the 6010 port anyways, but as a matter of principle, goods should be sold as advertised. I consider that Everlast might not have even been aware of the change in the product, which makes me wonder how much oversight they have of the production line. It certainly seems that had they known of the product change, that Everlast would have made the change in it's product advertisement or communicated otherwise. And if they did know about it, and failed to make the change known, I would argue that's a questionable business practice.
Lastly, please know, that I'm just an average consumer. The fact remains, that if the machine WELDS as advertised and reviewed, then I frankly don't care. But, I am a little disappointed, and hope that my fellow hobby welders would empathize appropriately.
They assure me that it is the same performance though on 6010, and that it will work well with both 7018 and 6010. Our guy in the factory from Canada overseeing production at the time it was made must have missed this feature change. 
