Very Disappointed in Miller

[MrFusion]

Back in June I posted a question about upcoming Miller products.
I was interested in purchasing a new Trailblazer 301G.
I wanted to know if Miller had any plans on updating the Trailblazer line with an adjustable dig control, and possibly adding digital meters. Because if they did , I would wait. I have always been a Miller fan, and always will be.

I got a nice reply from Andy stating to contact Miller and ask.
Well I did, and they told me there were no plans in the near future.
So I finnally had enough cash to invest in a new TB301G. I bought my new welder, and am very happy with it.

I just was checking out welding supplies on Cyberweld, and noticed THIS THIS

I,m very disappointed in Miller for not telling me the TRUTH about this new line of Trailblazers. I find it very hard to believe nobody at Miller new about this only 3 months ago. It must have been in the works. Miller should have let me know they were working on this. Even if there was a possibility that the design would fail.
Those are the exact same features I was looking for.
That pisses me off!

I feel as though Miller was not honest in thier response to me.
I'm sorry to say Andy, but Miller has dropped a few notches in my book.
Shame on them.

Can someone explain to me please how this could happen.

[2002vlx]

You can't expect Andy to know everything about what's going on with the company right now. I'm sure that maybe somebody forgot to relay the message about the new features to him, or Heaven forbid he forgot. I'm sure there's so many things going on with Miller at the same time that it would be very tough to keep track of everything and get every spec of every machine straight.

[Teeps]

Well, that sux, having said that, you might be able to sell your 3 month old machine for not much of a loss, and explain to your local supplier what happened, heck he might drop the price on the new model to help you out.

Having said that, just throwing things to circumstance, and "hindsight", sometimes you just talk to the wrong person when your making a phone call.

Several times I've called companies, I set a plan to call once a week for three weeks, one company, actually quite a few companies, every time I called I got a different person, and a different answer.

You have to take it all as a grain of salt, pick the bits and pieces to investigate further and go from there.

Also, maybe they didn't want to speak of a model, if they didn't know when it was going to be released. I myself have worked at companies, where it was initially stated the product was going to be released in 3 months, and even advertised!!!! 1 year later it was finally released. As a consumer, that REALLY P's off people. You see an add for something you really want, and you can't buy it anywhere. So maybe they were trying to avoid this circumstance.

Just my .02 sorry to hear of your bad experience.

[tackit]

Same kind of thing happened to me when I bought my 180 SD, I feel i paid full price for outdated technology.


I just wish as soon as they know a replacement is to come out they reduced the price of the older technology machine, or offered a coupon good for next purchase for those who get caught within a six month window of the change over. It would show they acknowledge the problem.

As always for those that get stung it's important, for those not involved it's not.

[ASKANDY]

Sorry to hear of your anger with MILLER. I didn't stay up on prototypes of enginedrives 'cause it doesn't usually pertain to my motorsports customers. This is why I would have told you to contact someone else. In defence of the person you may have talked to, they most likely didn't know. Miller keeps their prototypes and new products real quiet to keep competitors from jumping on our new redesigns. Most of the employees and even sales don't know until it's about to happen. This said, I will try to stay more involved with new products but am still limited by MILLER policy on sharing that information to the general public. We have competitors call us on a regular basis wondering what's new... One of our employees was let go a couple years ago for giving too much info to the field. Have to be careful on this one.

Sorry this has caused you such problems.
I might be able to help you. Email me at [email protected] and I'll discuss it with you.

A-

[MrFusion]

Hey, I do not blame Andy for this. He advised me to contact Miller. Andy is clean on this one.
When Miller responded to my email request, if the person did not know the answer, they should of asked someone who did. If it is Millers company policy not to release upcoming product upgrades and changes, then I should of been told that. I was getting ready to spend some serious cash on this machine, that I would own for a long time. I am a man of modest means. It took me over a year to save up enough money to finally be able to afford this. Miller dropped the ball. Don't get me wrong, I love the machine, and it works flawlessly, but I would of waited for the added control features for sure. ****, the Red competition has had these features on thier 300 amp machine for 2 years, I knew it would only be a matter of time before Miller added them to the TB line. I did not want to buy Red. I wanted to buy Blue. I should of waited. Now every time I fire up this machine(which is every friggin day) I'm remined of this incident. In this day and age of technology constantly changing, be very careful on your decisions.

[dumbass]

Fusion, maybe you should email ANDY privately and see what he can do.

"if it is Millers company policy not to release upcoming product upgrades and changes, then I should of been told that."

I dont really agree with that, it is assumed that inside information stays inside. For instance, if you were on the design team for chevy pickups and you knew the knew the 2006 is going to have 400hp, would you just let the info out? Why, so Ford can put 410hp in their 2006? I think you might want to step back and look at the situation from another view and think if you were really wronged in this situation. And then, email andy and see if he can help you out, he seems to be willing to try.

[MrFusion]

Hey Dum,

I did contact Andy, and I'm waiting for a reply.

And what I meant by my comments on Millers policy. Is that if Miller has this policy, they should of told me they don't give out info on upcoming upgrades. I was not implying that miller should of told me about the changes anyway.
Just tell me "I'm sorry sir but we at Miller are not able to release information on upcoming products"
That's all, and I would of said Thank you very much. Then I would of made a decision on weather to buy now or later on that.

I was led to believe there was no plans or going to be plans now or in the near future. I can see if a year or a year and a half passes and this happens. Then no big deal, nobody would be hearing about it. But less than 3 months.
Cmon.

I don't assume anything, and If there is such a policy at Miller I agree with it 110%%%
Companies need to protect themselves.

[fun4now]

i understand

trust me i understand how you feel a few month back i almost got a T.A 185 but herd that miller was about to release a 180 inverter that would compare to the T.A. price i emaile miller got a form letter type responc thet nothing was comming out.
shortly after that the pasport came out a 180Amp inverter
yes it is a mig and not the same thing but that makes me think with a 180a inverter power scorce already in production how hard would it be to make it a dynasty version also ???

well i decided i will stick with miller even if i have to get the 200 insted of a 180 i'm still saving for the 200 so who knows it may be out when i have the $$ or maybe a week after i get the 200

all i can do is be happy with the 200 witch i will and i know that i wont be loosing anything by my choice like you did but i could have used the $$ saved by getting a dynasty180 insted of a dyn.200


i do agree that tey cant tell but yes they should say "WE CANT SAY" insted of

all corespodance is between miller and you and not to be shared on the botem of your e-mail

[fun4now]

Btw

it was the thermal arc distributer that the word about the 180 inverter came from.seems like some info did leak to the comp.

i dont understand why he would be passing the word other than the fact he was wining a bit about the enevitable loss of sails due to miller having a simmiler TIG in the 180A range and closer to there price?

even if miller put out a dyn.180 that was around $2000.. with kit then the choice between

a TA185 compleat for $1700

or dyn.180 compleat for $2000

i for 1 would not even have to think about it it would be the dyn.180 in a miniut. as it is it has been month's scence i decided i wanted a TIGand i am finaly decided that i will get the Dyn.200.
i will admit if the TA had a lower input power it could have gone the other way.

i dont see why miller hasent made the Dyn.180 as they have the inverter power scorce already out. i would think it is a good marketing tool but we will have to wait to see i guess



ummm

Andy if you were to say it was a good ideal to wait and see

uummm would that be a violation of miller policy?

[jcweld]

Sorry to hear about your mis-hap, unfortunatly most of the welding supply companies that you talk to are on the bottom of the food chain and have no idea what is coming out because of upper managment with in the company. This was from the horses mouth from the largest supplier of welding supplies and industrial gas out here on the west coast. I had no Idea that the 302 was coming out and niether did the sales person that I deal with all the time usally on daily bases. We were trying to find a 301G in a big rush and thier were none available except one about 400 miles away. So I called an old friend that is now upper managment with in the company and Asked for some help. Next thing I know Im at another store picking up a 302G that nobody in the store even new that they had. Let aloan even new what it was. I posted a message a week ago on the welder and I have to tell you after getting the chase to run it frist hand, I even had to trade lunch to one of my guys to use my own machine?? THis machine is frist class, it has turned my head from red to blue and it's something when your wife says why did you buy this blue machine it doesn't match all the rest, it stands out like a sore thumb. As for your 301G, I would talk to the company that sold it to you and let them have it. They are thier to have the lattest and greatest in welding technology and a few other items to aid in the pursuit of the happiness. If you don't get anywhere with them walk on over to thier competor and explain what has happened and see what they can do for you.

[klsm54]

Well, we distibutors seldom know early about new products, unless we get involved in a field trial. But........if I had sold you that machine Mr Fusion, I would make you a sweetheart deal on a new 302G, just to promote goodwill. I could always dump your 301 into my rental fleet.

I wouldn't be too hard on Miller. This is a real competitive business anymore. Blue always wants a couple machines that are newer generations than Red, and vice versa. So there needs to be some sort of secrecy. I agree that the answer could have been better, but like Andy said, the release of new model information could cost somebody their job.

If I were you, i would take jcweld's advice and try to make a deal with your distributor. Give him a chance to show you why you shouldn't buy on-line. And if they don't ante up, they always have competitors that may like to have your business.....

[cope]

Well, we distibutors seldom know early about new products, unless we get involved in a field trial. But........if I had sold you that machine Mr Fusion, I would make you a sweetheart deal on a new 302G, just to promote goodwill. I could always dump your 301 into my rental fleet.

I wouldn't be too hard on Miller. This is a real competitive business anymore. Blue always wants a couple machines that are newer generations than Red, and vice versa. So there needs to be some sort of secrecy. I agree that the answer could have been better, but like Andy said, the release of new model information could cost somebody their job.

If I were you, i would take jcweld's advice and try to make a deal with your distributor. Give him a chance to show you why you shouldn't buy on-line. And if they don't ante up, they always have competitors that may like to have your business.....

Scott, you make a good point here; a Lincoln employee could call Miller posing as just an average joe and get advance information to use against Miller. Tables could be turned just as easily.

I have field tested a couple of things for Hobart and had to sign a secrecy agreement before they would even tell me what I was going to test.

[tackit]

Well if secrecy is the reason it's happening than perhaps a coupon to clear the bad taste out of ones mouth for getting screwed just because of their standards of procedure and for being a loyal customer is not such a bad idea.


Does this mean it's possible for a loyal customer to get boinked everytime he buys a miller prouduct unless he buys it the day it comes out?

Looks like calling ahead won't get it done either!

[fun4now]

decide what you want, and be happy with it

i think you just have to decide what you want and be happy with your decition and dont look forward or back.

many years ago my father bought a cuple of yamaha big wheel and asked the dealer if they had a larger CC version of the bike (he wanted bigger) but alass the dealer told him sorry they only offer the 1 size , so he bought 2 . well as you can gess soon after yamaha put out a larger version .


i dont think we can blame anyone for this all companys keep upcomming products a secret from all

so wile we may feel we got the shaft it is just part of buisnes, not much ayone can do about how it works. your dealer may concider putting your 301 into his rental fleet and giving you a deal on a 302.
i know that when the syncro180 was updated my dealer droped $300 off the price of his older version as an incentive to move the older type he did not try to pawn it off by not telling of the new type. he was up front about it and offerd a discount