Customer Reviews

ETQ IN3500I 3,500 Watt 149.5cc 4-Stroke Gas Powered Portable Inverter Generator

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I purchased this generator in February 2010. I tried to use it six times during the summer for a small air conditioner. It lost it's ignition spark and will not start. I took it to a factory authorized repair shop and they found the manufacturer does not have replacement parts for it. I am out $849.99, with a generator that cannot be repaired and would not recomend anyone purchase this generator. I am very disappointed Amazon has it for sale under these circumstances.

The ETQ invertor/generator that we purchased works very well. It took a few pulls of the starter for the initial startup, but subsequent startups are quick and easy. It has good reserve wattage for most applications that we use it for. It will run a 10,000btu combination portable A/C-Heater and start a 2hp small air compressor and run it. It is slightly more noisy than the 2KW Honda, but it is 1KW more output and one third the price. It is a good product for now, we just have to wait and see how long it lasts.

Can't beat the price but you can definitely hear the difference btwn this product and high dollar - high quality products. The Amazon ad says 60db noise level but when it arrived, the product specs say 60-65db. Remember each 3db DOUBLES the noise level! Heavy but the smooth handle and case make it not to difficult to lug around a short distance. Took many pulls to get it started the first time and it died the first time I started the camper 13500BTU A/C unit but the gen was in ECO mode (auto throttle mode). After that I run it in normal mode when I want to run the A/C. The RPMs oscillate in ECO mode under minimal load which does not inspire confidence in quality. Wondering how many seasons I'll get out of it.

I bought this unit to run my 15000 BTU AC in my travel trailer. Got the unit in and was very excited to give it a try. I was soon disapointed to find out that it would not start the AC. I had been told that a 3000 watt gen would do this but this unit would not no matter what I tried. I then got a friend to bring his 2800 watt unit of a different brand. It would start the AC just fine. I ended up buying a Yamaha 3000 watt which does the job great. I wish this little unit would have worked because it is half the weight of the yamaha. It is still a good little gen but just doesnt have the umph to start bigger items. It is also not load but it is a little noisy compared to the Yamaha.

EASTERN TOOL GENERATOR MODEL IN-3500I
I WAS IMMEDIATELY ATTRACTED TO THIS GENERATOR FOR ITS COMPACT SIZE, LOW NOISE ATTRIBUTES AND PRICE TAG. IT MIMICKS THE YAMAHA GENERATORS IN COLOR AND I'M CERTAIN, BY NO COINCIDENCE. I RECEIVED THIS ITEM QUITE QUICKLY FROM AMAZON AS IT IS A RATHER LARGE AND HEAVY PACKAGE. I READ THE ENTIRE MANUAL BEFORE ADDING GAS OR OIL AND BECAME VERY FAMILIAR WITH ITS RUNNING PROCESS.
AFTER ADDING GAS AND OIL I SPENT OVER 1 HOUR TRYING TO GET THIS GENERATOR RUNNING. IT WOULD START FOR ABOUT 20 SECONDS AND THEN JUST QUIT. IT WAS AS THOUGH THE UNIT WAS GETTING TOO MUCH GAS OR NOT ENOUGH. I TRIED EVERY COMBINATION WITH THE CHOKE LEVER, FUEL COCK POSITIONS AND SO ON, WITH NO LUCK. IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO START THIS GENERATOR I ALSO NOTICED IN ITS POOR DESIGN THAT THE PULL STARTER RUBBED A 1" BURN INTO THE PLASTIC. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE DESIGN IS SUCH THAT YOU PULL THE STARTER CORD UPWARDS FROM A LATERAL POSITION ON THE UNIT AND THE STRING ALWAYS RUBS THE PLASTIC. AFTER ENOUGH FRICTION IT BURNS A RATHER LARGE LINE INTO THE PLASTIC. THE REMEDY FOR THIS WOULD BE TO START THIS DEVICE ON A TABLE OR DEVICE THAT PUTS THE GENERATOR AT LEVEL WITH YOUR ARM WHICH IS JUST PLAIN RIDICULOUS UNLESS YOUR RUNNING IT IN THE BED OF A TRUCK. THE STARTER CORD SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLACED SO THAT YOU PULL UPWARDS.
BY BIGGEST COMPLAINT HOWEVER HAS BEEN THE LACK OF ANY KIND OF RESPONSE FROM EASTERN TOOL COMPANY WHO BUILDS THIS "ALL SIZZLE BUT NO STEAK" GENERATOR AFTER SENDING 2 EMAILS CONCERNING THE STARTING PROBLEM. I DONT CARE SO MUCH THAT THIS UNIT HAS A RUNNING PROBLEM AS MUCH AS I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY RESPONSE FROM THE COMPANY WHO BUILT IT. I WILL TRY AGAIN ONE MORE TIME TO CONTACT THEM AND THEN I'LL JUST TAKE IT TO A SMALL ENGINE REPAIR SHOP. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT TO ANYONE AND I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS COMPANY AND ITS OTHER PRODUCTS EITHER. MY ADVICE: SPEND THE EXTRA MONEY AND GET A TIME TESTED AND PROVEN PRODUCT FROM YAMAHA, HONDA OR OTHER...

We received this product almost two weeks ago. We took it out of the box and inspected it. The only difference in ours and the layout diagram provided by the manufacturer was that ours didn't have a choke lever. We thought perhaps this was due to a difference in models and perhaps ours was a slightly different model from the one depicted in the photo and perhaps had an automatic choke. We proceeded to fill the unit with oil then gasoline, per instructions. After pouring in almost half of the fuel we noticed that gasoline was leaking out of the bottom of the unit. Well, we bought it to take on a camping trip and planned to leave the next morning. No time to find another generator. So we took it apart. The fuel line had a one inch slit in it just below the clamp where it attached to the fuel tank. We went to Advance Auto and bought a new hose and replaced the faulty one. In the process of putting the unit back together we discovered that our unit had a choke lever after all, ours just happened to be broken off and wedged in the interior of the unit. The lever was shorn off and could not be repaired. We contacted amazon regarding return and they said they DO NOT ACCEPT RETURNS OF PRODUCTS THAT HOLD OR HAVE HELD GASOLINE OR OIL. They told us to contact the company directly. We did that 7 days ago and were told to forward our amazon receipt to "Amy" and she would send us a return label. Today we still have not received an email response or the shipping label. So we called the company about a dozen times and were consistently transferred to voice mail for "Parts". Our request to speak to a manager was met with the same response. We have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and in doing so discovered that Eastern Tools is not BBB accredited and that they have had 3 complaints in the last 36 months. Of those three complaints two have been resolved. Take this review for what it's worth and make your own decision.

ETQ 3500I, I open the box and added oil and gas. It started and what was supposed to be very quiet was incredibly loud. Then after about 3 minutes it just quit and won't start again. This is ridiculous. Do not buy this item. Also remember Amazon will not take it back due to the gas and oil. So I wish I had read buyer beware prior to my purchse. I am sorry I ever purchased this item./

I was looking around for a portable generator for home and business use. I came across this item but it did not have many reviews at the time. I kept coming back to the website to see if anyone else had reviewed it so I could get a better idea if I wanted this one. Well after 3 months or so I dove in and bought it. After I got it home I went through the manual and set it up. Everything was there as described. I put fuel in it and turned it over 10 or 12 times to get the fuel through and it started right up. The machine has worked fine for me. It starts on the second pull every time and runs the equipment that I need. No problems so far. The machine is heavy so be forewarned but it does put out quite a bit of electricity.

Had two generator sent to us first one defective, second one ,not much better. Does not run the equipment that was stated. Not worth purchasing.

1st item was damaged by UPS, seller was quick to ship second generator, which has no damage. Awesome little generator! Quick ship time. Generator is quiet, and doe not take much more space than the Honda eu2000...just a little taller which generates MORE POWER!

Would recommend this item, and this seller to others. Great customer service.

Thanks,

Joe in CT