[NCC] [MRRC] Honda Generator Group Buy

[k8gt at mi.rr.com]

At prices like that on a great generator, I'd be interested, but not necessarily as banker.  :-)   I wish I could have gotten in on the NCCC buy, since I'm going to Grand Rapids sometime this month, anyway.

73, Gerry  K8GT


---- Jimk8mr at aol.com wrote: 

=============
A note from NCCC President K6MM about an interesting group buy by that club  
and friends. Might there be any similar interest here (not that I'm about to  
play banker myself...) :
 
 
 
 
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


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


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


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
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
 



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