A man named Len Andersen makes aluminum coated Low Hydrogen electrodes that do not need heating or hermetically sealed container protection. He can take any brand electrode you desire and coat them. (I used to buy my favorite brand and ship them to him. He would apply his patented process, and send them back to me in 10 pound plastic containers that were not hermetically sealed.) He actually performed the testing required by the AWS, but there is no A-5 specification for his patented process. So, there was no "classification" he could apply to them. The low level of hydrogen output from the electrodes he coated was amazing. His patent is expired now, and they wouldn't have to pay him any royalties, so I expect the big electrode manufacturers may go through the process of getting the process recognized by AWS.
I don't know what brand name or type of electrode your salesman is selling. I used Len Andersen's electrodes when I ran a mobile welding service. Many repair jobs were not done to any code or contract specifications. I kept the rods in ten poound plastic containers, in my truck box. Even year old electrodes are better than saled or newly baked "H-4" E-7018. I used to do a lot of repairs with E11018M electrodes because it could handle T-1 or any other "Unknown" base metal. (Especially on heavy equipment repairs.) This electrode can also be ised to weld mild steel. No Matter what the experts say, it is just like E7018, and the strength difference does not hurt for non-code work. I have even performed tests for a manufcaturer of ship fittings, for his repairs to his casting/forgings.
So, even though those "no bake electrodes" may not fit the code, do not dismiss then out of hand.
Speaking of Len, has anyone heard from him? 
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