Buy a welder online or locally?

[bmwpower]

A friend of mine suggested buying locally saying that I really wouldn't save much by buying online. He also said that shops that repair the units locally do not like to work on units bought online or elsewhere. I haven't started shopping around, but what has everyone else found? I'm specifically looking at Millermatic units, if it matters.

[PAToyota]

My suggestion has always been to go around locally and see how you are treated. When I first got into welding I went to the local shop and since I wasn't looking for an account and monthly purchases in four, five, or six digits they'd barely give me the time of day. So I ended up doing some buying online - mainly http://www.brwelder.com/ and http://cyberweld.com/ - both of which I highly recommend for online purchases. They've both gone above and beyond.

Then a friend turned me on to another local shop. They were just as helpful when I was in asking questions and buying a twenty or two worth of stuff. Then I picked up a used Hypertherm plasma and had some questions. They went as far as setting things up with their Hypertherm rep so the next time he was in the area I went in with my machine and he went over it, "tuned" a couple things, replaced a couple minor components (just had to pay the shop for the parts, no labor), and then spent twenty minutes working with me with my machine to show me how to get the best cuts and all.

They - Airgas East of Harrisburg, PA - have a customer for life. Anything I'd save by buying online would never be worth it compared to the customer service I get locally.

[toms73novass]

I just picked up a Thermal Arc Fabricator 210 Mig. I purchased it locally and he ended up being less than most places on line and with shipping the places on line would have been more.

I was looking at a miller 210 and then came across this unit. I don't know what size you are looking for, but it is one heck of a unit. Thermal arc also manufactures Victor and Tweco. The fabricator 210 will weld up to 1/2" where the miller will not. It also has stitch and spot weld functions. I have been using a old Hobart Beta Mig 200 previous to this and it is like driving a vette compared to a chevette!
Also it has a 5 year warrenty.

So in summary, I went locally and it ended up not being any more expensive.

http://www.thermadyne.com/evolution/tai/images/Fab210.jpg

[Fast Orange]

My vote is to try to go local-if the local shop seems willing to give you good service.I found a good welding supply about 20 miles from my house and have been using them wherever I've worked ever since.They've been willing to give me competitive pricing on machines,have all of the consumables in stock,along with most of the repair parts I've needed,and can get my machine repaired without shipping it somewhere else.For the few bucks you'll save(if any),the service is worth it.
On the other hand,there was a welding supply about 3 miles from me that didn't seem to want to be bothered the first time I walked in the door.I don't think they were open more than a year from when they first opened up until they went out of business.

George

[tweety652]

I just picked up a Thermal Arc Fabricator 210 Mig. I purchased it locally and he ended up being less than most places on line and with shipping the places on line would have been more.

I was looking at a miller 210 and then came across this unit. I don't know what size you are looking for, but it is one heck of a unit. Thermal arc also manufactures Victor and Tweco. The fabricator 210 will weld up to 1/2" where the miller will not. It also has stitch and spot weld functions. I have been using a old Hobart Beta Mig 200 previous to this and it is like driving a vette compared to a chevette!
Also it has a 5 year warrenty.

So in summary, I went locally and it ended up not being any more expensive.

http://www.thermadyne.com/evolution/tai/images/Fab210.jpg

how much this baby run you???

[toms73novass]

$1229 with a 10lb roll of .23 and tips. It comes with an assortment of tips and feed rolls/ regulator.

[kartracer55]

A friend of mine suggested buying locally saying that I really wouldn't save much by buying online. He also said that shops that repair the units locally do not like to work on units bought online or elsewhere. I haven't started shopping around, but what has everyone else found? I'm specifically looking at Millermatic units, if it matters.

Cyberweld.com is the website for J.W. Goodliffe in Linden NJ. Probably the cheapest prices around, and they have a walk in store. If you talk they usually give you the internet price. They also service them and sell gas. Its up towards my neck of the woods, but they have excellent prices and are great to deal with.

Jim

[Roospike]

I always give my LWS the first chance to sell me welding units and other items. The problem is they never come down cheap enough so i always end up buying online.

I asked about the Millermatic 210 local and the cheapest he said he could go was $350. more than the on line price ...........then you add TAX on top of that , same issue with the plasma cutter , about $325. difference.

I guess the LWS will just have to sell me tips and gas if he dont want to deal.

When i bought online the Miller items came stright from miller to my door with free shipping with in the week and save almost $700.00 on the welder and plasma ..........its hard to beat that. :beer:

[bmwpower]

I always give my LWS the first chance to sell me welding units and other items. The problem is they never come down cheap enough so i always end up buying online.

I asked about the Millermatic 210 local and the cheapest he said he could go was $350. more than the on line price ...........then you add TAX on top of that , same issue with the plasma cutter , about $325. difference.

I guess the LWS will just have to sell me tips and gas if he dont want to deal.

When i bought online the Miller items came stright from miller to my door with free shipping with in the week and save almost $700.00 on the welder and plasma ..........its hard to beat that. :beer:

Yea, see, that's what I was thinking was going to happen. I guess it also depends on how much you're buying, too.

[Charlie's68]

my air gas near me matched cyberwelds mm210 price within 20 bucks....the machine i baught had one demo on it, which i didnt care or mind....and so i bought locally.

i bought by plasma off the internet....but that is because i didnt want to spend a lot of a thermal dynamics, or miller.

Airgas treated me right.

[RPH]

Local, they are the neighbors in this small part of the world. They will be there to help when it's a holiday in India and the 1-800 is down.

[TNToy]

Bought mine from cyberweld.com. I bought a MM175 for $600ish [b]with[/]b a free cart.... But prices have increased a wee bit in the last 4 years. Good luck finding that deal now days.

A friend of mine bought a MM10 because he really liked mine, and I'd had a good experience with them. His showed up inoperative, and the shipping company appeared to have dropped it.

Cyberweld immediately sent him a call tag, and the UPS guy picked it up at his house. A replacement unit was at his doorstep a couple of days later.

They're good people. :)

[Coach James]

Bought locally sort of. Our closest welding supply is 40 minutes up the road, but they give A+ service regardless if you're spending $1 or $10,000.

Coach

[Sack]

BMW - I have bought all of mine online. Haven't found a place in NJ yet that will give a good deal. Even if you drive to Cyberweld you better take their online price with you. You'll have to pay taxes etc. Most of my stuff was purchased from BR Welder. Got it in 2 days for a great price. I'd prefer to buy my stuff even supplies locally but for anything other than gas it's not worth it. They treat you like crap because you're not an industrial account and don't care about the typical enthusiast. So I go online.

[mike944]

I bought online. Pretty much had to. Even with shipping, the welder i bought (Thermal arc 185TSW TIG) was almost $800 cheaper online (roughly 40% cheaper) If i ever need work on it (very doubtfull) i'll just have to deal with any issues that come up.

[steve392]

I bought my Millermatic 175 last December from a local guy instead of going the internet route. I got a good price from him that was comparable to Cyberweld. I've also been to Cybereweld's storefront and got my Elite helmet there for the Internet price.
My local Miller Dealer was very helpful, had a well-stocked storefront, and gave me a good price. No regrets going local.

Steve