[NCC] Generator deal

[Tom Lee]

For those of you interested in purchasing a generator, the following e-mail
from John, K6MM, President of NCCC, may be of interest:



In the spirit of "Sharing The Wealth", I wanted to let you know about a
large group purchase of Honda generators that our Club has just completed.


In early June, many NCCC members discussed the need for a reliable  inverter
generator for Field Day, Emergency Preparedness, and general home  use.
After
some research, we decided upon a 2KW generator -- the Honda  EU2000i.
http://tinyurl.com/4ohn57<https://webmail.taftlaw.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=de28c35aaba54e3ea6e770f22a5ed822&URL=http%3a%2f%2ftinyurl.com%2f4ohn57>


Perhaps you are familiar  with this generator, which has received excellent
reviews from contesters,  DXpeditioners, and on eHam.net.  Because of
Honda's
inverter technology,  the EU2000i provides clean "sine wave" power, making
it
safe for use with  computers and our sometimes-sensitive radio gear.  I used
this generator at  two different Field Day sites this past June with
excellent
results.


The EU2000i lists for $1080.  After some research  online, and many phone
calls, I found a supplier in Grand Rapids, MI who was  willing to work with
us on
a lower price if we could get at least 10 units  ordered.  Their name:
Coffman Electric Equipment Company -- and their  online store is
Steadypower.com:
http://www.steadypower.com/catalog/honda_eu2000.php<https://webmail.taftlaw.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=de28c35aaba54e3ea6e770f22a5ed822&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.steadypower.com%2fcatalog%2fhonda_eu2000.php>


I did an  extensive interview with Coffman Electric, which has been in
business for over  50 years, and was founded in the early 1950s by Perry
Coffman, an
electrical  engineer and ham radio operator (I'm trying to track down is
callsign).   CE's main business today is fabricating backup industrial
generators
for  hospitals throughout the State of Michigan.  They expanded their online
business with Steadypower.com, and became an authorized American Honda Power
Equipment dealer 6 years ago.  According to AH, they are one of AH's best
dealers in the US with virtually no customer complaints.  After a 13-month
application period, CE also became a GSA approved government  contractor.


Coffman Electric was the only supplier I contacted who  was willing to ship
individually via Fedex Ground to each buyer's shipping  address (with a
tracking number).  The other suppliers (including Mayberrys  who advertise
in QST)
all wanted to ship a large palette to one location and  have them
distributed
from there.   Even more important, CE had both  the California model
(meeting CA
emission requirements) and the 49-state Non-CA  model in stock for us.  We
needed to have access to both  models.


The price we settled on for a minimum purchase of 10  generators:  $880 per
generator (includes Fedex Ground shipping).  I  sent out the request for 10
units.  What came back was an amazing 56  orders.  Yes, 56.  We
re-negotiated to
a price of $860 -- which, after  a little coaxing from me included a free
high-quality $20 Honda storage  cover.  We then collected $860 from each
member
(personal checks) - a total  of $48,160.  I wired the money from our Wells
Fargo
account to Cofflman  Electric on Thursday, July 10, 2008 (praying that I
wouldn't have to buy a  one-way ticket to Bora Bora).  True to their word,
CE
starting shipping the  next day, and over a two week period, all units were
shipped.  As of  Thursday, July 31 (exactly 3 weeks from when we wired the
$$), all
57 units were  safely in the hands of our Club members.  54 units were
shipped
to  California and 3 were shipped to WA, NV, and AZ.  Average delivery time
from MI to CA:  4 business days.  My online tracking chart is here -  you'll
recognize many of the callsigns.  See the Comments column:
http://tinyurl.com/4ydd2r<https://webmail.taftlaw.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=de28c35aaba54e3ea6e770f22a5ed822&URL=http%3a%2f%2ftinyurl.com%2f4ydd2r>


So, why am I passing this information on to  you?  Well, why not share the
information with you guys?  We're all in  this great hobby together, and if
your
Club members have a need for a reliable  2KW generator, the Honda EU2000i
may
be a good solution.  If so, feel free  to follow up with Coffman Electric.
My contact, Steve Coffman, has said he  is willing to honor the same deal
for
you -- even if you just order ten (10)  generators:  that is, $860 per unit
with free cover and Fedex  Shipping.  A nice gesture on his part.  If you
need a
different model  generator, talk with Steve, and you may be able to working
out another  solution.  I'm copying him on this email.


Disclaimer:  I  have no personal interest in Coffman Electric whatsoever.
No
relatives  there and no hidden agenda.  The Club is not benefiting in any
way
from  this recommendation and neither am I.  I'm just sharing our successful
experience with you.


If you have any questions, I'm happy to  help.  Best of luck, and CU in the
next contest!


73,
John  Miller, K6MM
President, Northern California Contest  Club
www.nccc.cc<https://webmail.taftlaw.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=de28c35aaba54e3ea6e770f22a5ed822&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.nccc.cc>
email:  k6mm at arrl.net


Coffman Electric  Contact Information:


Steven Coffman
Coffman Electrical Equipment  Co.
3300 Jefferson Ave.
Grand Rapids, MI  49548
Phone:  (616)  452-8708
Fax:  (616) 452-1337
Toll Free:  (800)  852-7699
E-mail:  steve at steadypower.com