dav5, I truly feel your pain. I have been involved with GL on several transactions, and they are sometimes less than pleasurable to deal with. You handled the situation better than I would have. I am thankful that you got a good generator, and that it runs and functions. Could have ended much worse for you in many ways.
I applaud you for getting on here and informing everyone of the situation, this is the only way to counter what GL is doing to new/first time/only time buyers. It is a shame that they are allowed to do business this way.
Back in 2015, I purchased a M923 truck from GP. I actually purchased it thru another member on this site, and then we all went together to Ft. Riley to recover 3 M923. After the auction had ended, and we showed up to remove our paid for trucks, an alternate crew that usually isn't there due to a holiday weekend decided to "rough up" our trucks right in front of us. Mine caught ****. They smashed up the front bumper, hood support, and destroyed the tailgate, and dented the area below the tailgate. When we begged them to stop, and informed them that we had towbars, and all needed items to recover, they replied that we weren't allowed into the area where the trucks are, due to people stealing parts. My reply to them was I am not a ****ing thief. I was fuming mad, and still am to some degree. If I knew who they were, I would put my foot in their ass.
Since I removed the truck from the auction to drive it home, I had no recourse with their "ironclad guarantee". It did not help that I had not purchased the truck with my own account, and couldn't get the actual buyer to dispute the damage. So I repaired the truck at my own expense, replacing parts and doing the labor as I had time. The truck turned out to be an excellent ride, and is a keeper.
Moral of the story is be glad you went home with an actual item, weren't turned away, and that your genset isn't beat to **** and actually works. I just bought my first MEP-802a at Ft. Riley and I understand the thrill of getting an item, staring at the pictures after you win it, and overall the thrill of the hunt. My suggestion to you is to start bidding on GP rolling stock generators, and mail Samantha at GL a 50lb. bag of Canadian dogpoop.