Thread: TIG welding helmets

Well John, make the most of it!

I'm almost certainly the last person to win a popularity contest, but I'll say one thing, you're a braver man than I to come on a BB and boast to a bunch of people clearly about the amount they're paying, that you can get away with a 100+% mark-up simply because your customers are too stupid/lazy to know better

Hi Pete,

I tend to look at the sale as if I was a problem solver. Customers come, they have an issue, I propose solutions, customers go away without the issue. The fundemental rule of serving the customer is to serve. If they acknowledge that they are being served then the cost is not an issue. Of course I am excluding percieved social status obtained via purchase of symbols (brands).

People that tend to shop for the best price are not in need of service, they have already decided what they want.

Regards
John

Yes, that's 100% correct John. This is why I mentioned "... I'm sure you appreciate John, and there are plenty of ways for retailers to add value to the product that we won't go in to here ..."

Sadly all too many retailers don't want to provide that service, yet still expect to charge a premium price. One member here seemingly has to beg the retailer to even demo the equipment to him, one would think they'd be tripping over themselves to sell a 10 grand welder!!!

It comes down to either price or service, and lame excuses just don't cut it any more.

Pete

Agreed Pete,

Thanks for the intelectual to and fro, I have enjoyed it. I think I must leave it here on this thread or else we may get far too distracted.

Regards
John

Indeed John. I'd just say don't rest on your laurels too much as times are changing VERY quickly. If your market is other businesses maybe not as much, but individuals very much so. Even my 70 year old mother now buys things through the internet, and she literally doesn't even know how to turn a computer on!!

Pete

Your Mother sounds to be a gem.

You may laugh but I too buy OS. I purchased a pack of staples from Hong Kong for $6 delivered. Office works wanted $29. They were a special type but searching the net can yield savings

John

Originally Posted by johncar

OK thanks Rappy, Sounds like I should have asked you first.
So many confusing statements from suppliers and others. Just about done the deal on the KM400 as the guy at LWS up here told me it would be good. Didn't mention the 3000 compact. And when I asked about Pulse the common comment seems "you don't need Pulse" Maybe they just assume that a home user wont spend the extra cash or they just want to sell what they have in stock. Anyway that is what I wanted to talk to the Rep about. I am sure I will be able to work it out with them to change units.

Pete F
Yeah thanks, it seems strange that it's so hard to get something happening.
The TPS 2700 is about $11,000 incl GST in its basic form Power Supply, Basic Gun and cables. It just goes up from there

Hey John

How'd ya go with this?? Any progress?? When people say "you dont need pulse" they mean the average home hobby bloke welding bits of 3mm ally wont spend money on it...... Every boat builder I know uses pulse....simple... Why ? Because its a thousand times easier and get far better results with any wire (4043, 5356, 5183 it doesn't matter). Also just to clarify the 3000 kemppi is a compact unit (no traveller/seperate wirefeeder) but you can get it with the weldsnake 6m torch (about $9600 list, should pay less than this ex GST) and it only weighs about 25 odd kgs so its heavy but fairly portable. Honestly... I have love this machine, it is simply awesome, set the programme (details on the inside of the door) to whatever wire your using (DONT use 0.9mm wire, unless you want to manually program the settings as european dont know what it is or why you would use it.... neither do I...stupid imperial wire ) say 5356 1.2mm for example then set hotstart, thickness of material, point and shoot! Perfect everytime!

If your having trouble getting a demo go to an authorised kemppi dealer (Aitkens eagle farm maybe?) and tell them you want a demo... Thats what dealer networks are for...Then they will chase the kemppi rep and his boss till you get your demo!!

Interested to know how you go...

Cheers Rappy.

Originally Posted by welding

Your Mother sounds to be a gem.

Yeah she's a legend John, but don't all sons say that She started her business 50 years ago in a sector where these days the average life expectancy of a business in that field is 18 months to 2 years! Last year she discovered she could have her ballroom dancing gowns made in Hong Kong for about 1/3 to 1/4 the price they cost here. So no prizes for guessing where they come from now. THAT'S the future I'm afraid.

Pete

Originally Posted by Rappy77

Hey John

How'd ya go with this?? Any progress?? When people say "you dont need pulse" they mean the average home hobby bloke welding bits of 3mm ally wont spend money on it...... Every boat builder I know uses pulse....simple... Why ? Because its a thousand times easier and get far better results with any wire (4043, 5356, 5183 it doesn't matter). Also just to clarify the 3000 kemppi is a compact unit (no traveller/seperate wirefeeder) but you can get it with the weldsnake 6m torch (about $9600 list, should pay less than this ex GST) and it only weighs about 25 odd kgs so its heavy but fairly portable. Honestly... I have love this machine, it is simply awesome, set the programme (details on the inside of the door) to whatever wire your using (DONT use 0.9mm wire, unless you want to manually program the settings as european dont know what it is or why you would use it.... neither do I...stupid imperial wire ) say 5356 1.2mm for example then set hotstart, thickness of material, point and shoot! Perfect everytime!

If your having trouble getting a demo go to an authorised kemppi dealer (Aitkens eagle farm maybe?) and tell them you want a demo... Thats what dealer networks are for...Then they will chase the kemppi rep and his boss till you get your demo!!

Interested to know how you go...

Cheers Rappy.

Thanks for your interest Rappy77, it's been a bit of a saga. I sent you a PM explaining how I got on.
But it is looking up a bit now things are happening a bit better I hope.

Originally Posted by johncar

Thanks for your interest Rappy77, it's been a bit of a saga. I sent you a PM explaining how I got on.
But it is looking up a bit now things are happening a bit better I hope.

Speaking as a very satisfied Kemppi Mastertig owner then yes, give Kemppi a look. Also, a friend of mine here in Sydney recently bought a Lincoln MIG, don't know the model but was around $7000 and he had very good opportunity to demo/try it first.

Originally Posted by DoctorWu

Speaking as a very satisfied Kemppi Mastertig owner then yes, give Kemppi a look. Also, a friend of mine here in Sydney recently bought a Lincoln MIG, don't know the model but was around $7000 and he had very good opportunity to demo/try it first.

Yes thanks DoctorWu,
I''ll be definitely giving the Kemppi units a good look.

Originally Posted by welding

Thanks Pete,

The answer is because we can sell them for $775. Yes, many can land them for less but even more do not know how to use the internet to search or else the $7 bottle of wine they get from us as their Xmas present means they are less than concerned when it comes to spending someone elses money .

Cheers
John

Saying that because you CAN sell it for what ever price, knowing it's way over inflated, in my opinion is rude and arrogant, no offence to anyone here at all, most retailers are the same these days.
I buy a lot of archery gear from the USA, people say why not buy local and support the local guys, my response is, it's a 2 way street, give us fair and reasonable prices, we'll help keep you in business.
For instance, a bow i looked at here, the cheapest was $850AU, i got one landed er from the USA with sight, quiver and stabiliser for $490AU.
Now the USA dealer buys it for let's say $250 (just an example), ad sells it for a 100% mark up, good deal for him.
The Aussie dealer SHOULD be buying it for the same $250, or he's doing something wrong. Why can he make SO much more and sell it for $850.
the standard reply is, we have overheads, wages, etc, guess what, so do the O/S stores, it's not free over there either.
This is only my second or so post here but the way Aussie retailers are ripping us off really annoys me. If you go through a distributor and the price form them is inflated, ask why, and then go to the manufacturer and state your claim for being a distributor yourself, give better prices and get more business, which equals more money for you and a better deal for the consumer.

Cheers

hey pete,don't muck around,get yourself a speedshade helmet and you will never look back. Ive been using one for about 12 years now and have no complaints,been welding for 25 years and havnt used a better helmet.

i totally agree with you ,i also weld for a living and weld in some pretty hard to get areas with objects in my way of vision admittedly it goes bright occasionally but once you get a feel for where the sensors are you naturally avoid even getting your head in those places. I use my speedglas for light guage tig to alum mig 250 amps plus no prob anwhere.