Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

For years when I had occasional need to use a generator, I would go to my local rental store and rent their Honda 2000 watt generator. It always started on the first pull and ran with complete reliability. It was also very quiet. I knew that when I eventually purchased a generator that I wanted to get a Honda. The time finally came and I ordered through Amazon. The purchase actually came from Hardware Sales (which I give 5 stars!). It arrived in two days. I put fresh 91 octane gas in it with no ethanol. Honda says the minimum is 86 octane and you can use 10% ethanol. I put in brand new 5W-30 oil. Honda recommends 10W-30, but also says that in colder weather 5W-30 is best. I live in Iowa and this is December. Our best days are in the 40's and that is unseasonably warm, so 5W-30 seemed best. I checked to make sure all the controls were in the correct positions and pulled the cord. Nothing happened. Seemed unusual based on other user's experiences (as well as my own); but, this was a brand new generator, so maybe the first start would take a little extra. It took about 6 pulls to get it started. Okay, it's finally running. It ran for 30-45 seconds and shut off. I started it again. It ran about 5 seconds and shut off. I did this 3 or 4 times with the same result every time. The instructions tell you that if the generator is overloaded it will run 4 seconds and then shut down. This is how it was behaving, but there was NOTHING plugged into the generator. So, I decided to wait a day and try again. I tried the next day and got exactly the same results. Obviously a defective generator. Now I need to ship it back. I contacted the seller (Hardware Sales) and they were excellent. They gave me the choice of taking it somewhere to repair under warranty or return. I originally was going to take it for repairs, but the nearest dealer that does repairs is an hour away from me. I also didn't like the idea of "repairing" a brand new item. So I chose to ship it back. Fortunately, I kept all of the packaging. I had to drain the gas out of the generator. I had to drain the oil out of the generator. Pack it back up and take it to be shipped. All told, a couple hours of work. I also had to pay for return shipping ($93!). I'll be speaking with Amazon-Hardware Sales-Honda about that. Shouldn't have to pay to return a defective product. I realize that even the best of companies can have a defective product slip out the door from time to time. I could probably go out and buy 9 more Honda generators and they would do just fine. However, based on the 1 star reviews, Honda seems to be having more and more defective generators go out the door. I am wondering if Honda is resting on their past accomplishments and no longer putting the effort into quality control that they should be. I am still in the market for a generator. I still think that overall Honda makes the best. But, call me "once bitten, twice shy." I am certainly looking at alternatives, and will also buy local as I don't want to hassle with return shipping in the event I get another lemon.