| It is common for US based organizations to have | | | | If you are concerned about this, and want to check it |
| product designed and built overseas to increase their | | | | out for yourself, then audit the Manufacturer before |
| domestic sales revenues. This is called 'Building for a | | | | you buy! |
| Cost'. For an Organization to go down this road, it | | | | Here's a simple pre-purchase procedure for an Inverter |
| shows a Management rational that is 180 degrees | | | | based Welder: |
| opposed to building a product with High Quality, and | | | | 1. Download a Service Manual from the Manufacturers |
| Reliability. Some Manufacturers even try to justify their | | | | Web Site. If they only have an Operators Manual, here |
| decisions by claiming that their low cost product has | | | | is clue one relating to future Support from their |
| the 'Best Quality, for the Price'. You have to wonder | | | | Technical Support Group! |
| whether they are listening to their own words! | | | | 2. From the Service Manuals Parts list, look up the part |
| Reflecting the lower product quality is a shorter | | | | numbers for the following Major components: Input |
| Warranty period (usually 1 year). If the product fails in | | | | Rectifier, IGBT's or MOSFET Switching components, |
| the first year, the Manufacturer simply replaces the unit | | | | Output Diodes, Main Board, and Case (Enclosure). |
| (so don't get too fond of your original machine, if a fault | | | | 3. Call the Manufacturers Sales or Customer Care line |
| occurs). | | | | (a 1-800 number). Ask them for price and availability of |
| Here's the deal - If the products Quality and Reliability is | | | | your five items. The only acceptable answers are: In |
| High, then the Warranty Period is lengthy, and vise | | | | stock (available now), and having a reasonable price |
| versa. You get what you pay for! | | | | associated with it. |
| OK - got it! Now, where do I stand into the second | | | | 4. For every item that meets this standard, multiply this |
| year of ownership for a Welder that has only a 1 year | | | | number by 20. The total will give you an idea as to the |
| Warranty period? You will probably be left out in the | | | | percentage of Parts that are available at the time that |
| cold, as the units have always been replaced when a | | | | you are looking to buy. For example, if they could only |
| fault occurred. Because of this, chances are that the | | | | immediately supply two parts out of five then this |
| Manufacturers don't stock all Spare parts for your | | | | represents a 40% parts availability for your Welder. |
| Welder! Yes- really! If they did, this would mean storing | | | | This would be a poor indicator of future Parts Supply |
| extra stock, and this inevitably costs Warehouse | | | | from this Manufacturer, so score one - the competition! |
| dollars. Ultimately, this will be avoided- 'like the plaque'. | | | | Now that you know where you stand with Parts |
| So now, you have a product with limited Spare parts. | | | | availability, also consider that in the second year of |
| Fortunately, the Manufacturers are normally obliged to | | | | ownership any repair activities on a low cost Welder |
| Support their products for 10 years. However, due to | | | | will likely be so expensive that the only economic |
| the Welder being made Overseas (this is how it is built | | | | choice is to scrap the unit. |
| so cheaply - for a cost), the Spare Parts not stocked | | | | You need to be honest with yourself, and consider |
| will have a long procurement time associated with | | | | whether you would be happy in the long term with a |
| them. This means an inconvenient downtime period for | | | | Welder with a 1 year Warranty, as opposed to the |
| your Welder, and any jobs that you were trying to | | | | standard 5-3-1 professional Warranty offered for other |
| complete! | | | | products. |