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Thursday, March 27th
Allpowers, based in Guangzhou, China, was founded in 2008, specializing in the design, development, and production of portable solar energy products. Since then, they have oriented themselves to various international markets, including North America. You can find Allpowers products in 30 countries as they continue to offer solutions to critical energy shortages around the world with clean and sustainable solar products.
Budget-friendly pricing
Allpowers solar generators are priced very competitively. The Allpowers Solar Generator Kit 600W solar generator also includes a 100W flexible solar panel as well and was bargain priced at $309 at the time of this review. You can get the R4000 for around $2,000, which also includes a solar panel. The expandability makes the generators great for any budget, since you can just add on to your power when your budget permits.
Frequent discount offers, sales
Rivals would find it challenging to match the competitive pricing of Allpowers solar generators. Allpowers almost always has a discount, coupon, or other promotion going on. At the time of this review, customers could receive up to 58% off in storewide sales and another additional 5% for signing up for the newsletter. Additionally, most customers could qualify for a power bank or a carry-on bag complimentary with purchase. Customers who value finding the lowest prices as a top priority will be happy with Allpowers.
Free shipping
Allpowers ships products from a local warehouse with free shipping and no tax, usually within 48 hours of the order. The website claims you will receive your solar generator within 3-5 working days, and as soon as it is shipped, you will receive a tracking email. Unfortunately, there are some customers who only received part of their orders, or their order was marked as delivered and it was not. However, these instances appear to be the exception rather than the norm.
Limited support
If you encounter an issue with shipping or defective products, the only way to contact Allpowers is through an email. While some customers have had success getting a replacement product within the first 30 days, those with warranty issues or continual problems with defective replacement generators have reported they cannot get anyone from Allpowers to respond to them in a timely manner. Most do get some kind of response; it just takes a while.
Top-notch at first, especially for the price
There are plenty of reviews describing how wonderful the Allpowers solar generators perform - and many people are truly impressed. Many customers say that the solar generators have great features and that the generators are easy to use and live up to what they say they will do.
Troubling reports
However, these generators seem to have a problem with longevity. It appears that some users experience major problems within two years of their purchase, sometimes much sooner. From a questionable crowdfunded project that never came to fruition to reports of subpar internal parts and more, there are some troubling reports regarding Allpowers solar generators; it's not all positive. Still, you would be hard-pressed to find a lower-priced brand that actually works at all as a solar generator.
Ends up being slightly above average
The innovations Allpowers applies to some of the solar panel options are impressive. Portable solar panels are especially an area in which Allpowers excels. Others who have purchased and reviewed the Allpowers solar generators are impressed by their exceptional performance, especially considering their low price points. If it is simply a backup power source that isn't a necessity and you like low price points, you will probably be happy with an Allpowers solar generator.
Solar generators are portable power stations that combine batteries with solar panels to provide electricity even in remote areas. Some also allow you to charge your battery via a power outlet or even a wind turbine. Solar generators are an emerging and ever-improving technology.
However, not all solar generators are meant for the same purposes. If you're looking for something to take on a camping trip, it's going to be different from a solar generator designed to power a whole house. You need to know how you're going to use your solar generator before you buy one.
The majority of solar generator companies are Chinese-based, most likely because China began research and development on solar generators in the late 1990s, a little ahead of the US market. Knowing where the company is truly headquartered does make a difference in the customer experience. When problems arise, customers can end up surprised by steep international shipping charges for repairs or experience a slow customer service response because of vast time differences. Don't assume that a solar generator company is close to you based on the fact that a shipping facility is near you. Often repairs need to be shipped back to the headquarters of the company.
New technology companies may only have an estimate of how the product will perform over time, so they use customers to test the technology in real life. Many DIY enthusiasts know this and don't mind the risks, as they use know-how and experience to repair or replace parts. If you don't want to spend a lot of money knowing you will be in for some repairs or faulty products, go with a company that has a product that's been tested through years of regular use.
It can be overwhelming trying to narrow down the solar generator that is the perfect fit. You can consider the following criteria to help you to find the best solar generator for your needs:
To help you find the best solar generator for you, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the most popular companies on the market. Use our research to choose the solar generator that will power the devices you need, at a price you can afford, and with the longevity you expect from your investment!
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