I recently wanted to upgrade my 1/2 wave vertical to a 5/8. Have had the Imax in the past and wanted to go that way again. I like the simple easy-assemble and easy-up stick with the nearly negligible wind resistance.
Part 1
So it arrives quickly. Is the new MAX2000 with the extra "Optimizer" section which I did use. Works better than expected on 11M with a 1:1 SWR whereas we usually see a 1:3 match on most of these sticks. So happy with that. But the quality control on this one didn't get 100% done. On 2 of the joining end pieces there was an odd brass braze lump left attached that would not have allowed them to join neatly. So I had to grind those off with a file. - And on one of those they even managed to get some braze splatter into the inside and onto the first couple of female threads which did not allow joining at all and I had to carefully dig that out with the tip of a scratch awl which was successful. Just sloppy machining with no quality control inspection and fix. Idiots.
Part II - Money Saving Tip
So before this purchase I happened to notice a couple of weeks ago while grocery shopping in Walmart - a big sign advertising that they've Upped their game on the Walmart + Membership with now offering a 5% Cash Back Card available thru their Membership. I use cash back cards exclusively so this deal seemed like a no-brainer and I took it. We do 95% of our grocery and household goods shopping there and that 5% is going to quickly pay for the $98 yearly membership - and will will make free money back after that. I always am able to pay at least the Statement Balance if not Total Balance every month on my cards so I never pay any interest and have been having the credit card companies pay me for using their cards and take in hundreds of dollars every year doing so. The WM Membership also gets you Free Shipping on most items from walmart .com purchases and also an included Streaming Service and I chose Paramount + for mine so we're getting that now also.
So when I went to buy the Imax I started looking around. Jesus they're high and considering their extra-cost shipping for coming in a 6' foot box. I think the cheapest one I noticed on eBay was like $319 - yikes !! So I looked on walmart .com and sure enough there is a seller there at $209.45 I think it was - with tax it was like $224 but with the member ship I got Free Shipping on it and with the 5% cash back on their credit card which I already had in place ..... it brought it down to like $200. Not bad.
So ....if you use credit cards and shop at walmart .... join their club and take their card. You get 5% back in-store and wm .com and 1.5% everywhere else. Also the 5% on gas for those who have a walmart with gas station in your area.
Also be advised that the WM One Pay 5% Card is NOT a stand-alone credit card. You link it to an existing Visa or Mastercard that you will register to your WM .com account. All charges and cash back will go to THAT card.
Part 1
So it arrives quickly. Is the new MAX2000 with the extra "Optimizer" section which I did use. Works better than expected on 11M with a 1:1 SWR whereas we usually see a 1:3 match on most of these sticks. So happy with that. But the quality control on this one didn't get 100% done. On 2 of the joining end pieces there was an odd brass braze lump left attached that would not have allowed them to join neatly. So I had to grind those off with a file. - And on one of those they even managed to get some braze splatter into the inside and onto the first couple of female threads which did not allow joining at all and I had to carefully dig that out with the tip of a scratch awl which was successful. Just sloppy machining with no quality control inspection and fix. Idiots.
Part II - Money Saving Tip
So before this purchase I happened to notice a couple of weeks ago while grocery shopping in Walmart - a big sign advertising that they've Upped their game on the Walmart + Membership with now offering a 5% Cash Back Card available thru their Membership. I use cash back cards exclusively so this deal seemed like a no-brainer and I took it. We do 95% of our grocery and household goods shopping there and that 5% is going to quickly pay for the $98 yearly membership - and will will make free money back after that. I always am able to pay at least the Statement Balance if not Total Balance every month on my cards so I never pay any interest and have been having the credit card companies pay me for using their cards and take in hundreds of dollars every year doing so. The WM Membership also gets you Free Shipping on most items from walmart .com purchases and also an included Streaming Service and I chose Paramount + for mine so we're getting that now also.
So when I went to buy the Imax I started looking around. Jesus they're high and considering their extra-cost shipping for coming in a 6' foot box. I think the cheapest one I noticed on eBay was like $319 - yikes !! So I looked on walmart .com and sure enough there is a seller there at $209.45 I think it was - with tax it was like $224 but with the member ship I got Free Shipping on it and with the 5% cash back on their credit card which I already had in place ..... it brought it down to like $200. Not bad.
So ....if you use credit cards and shop at walmart .... join their club and take their card. You get 5% back in-store and wm .com and 1.5% everywhere else. Also the 5% on gas for those who have a walmart with gas station in your area.
Also be advised that the WM One Pay 5% Card is NOT a stand-alone credit card. You link it to an existing Visa or Mastercard that you will register to your WM .com account. All charges and cash back will go to THAT card.
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