I will be heading to Ann Arbor tomorrow for a close look at the Smithy 622.
The pick-up bed is all ready.:)

Well, I had an interseting day at the Smithy factory.
The staff was very informitive with answering any questions I had.
I spent around 6 hours there with Dave going over a 622 he was putting together for another customer.
After going through a few items I came to the conclution that this machine
was exactly what I was looking for.
Meet one new proud owner of a 622. :)
I should be taking delivery of this bad boy near the end of the week this week.

How did it all work out for you?

Probably way too late now, but if you live close to the factory, you should ask the Tech if you can assist him on that day when he puts together your machine. Would be a great learning experience and then maybe you could give it a quick test to see if everything is working before it ships.
Might not be able to due to insurance but it would be worth a try.

Good Luck
Flathead

Well that is exactly what I did guys.
The Smithy team was very helpful explaining as they were tweaking things in front of me.
It was a good learning experience and always nice to see everything working in front of your eyes before they load it up for you to take home.

How do you like your 622 after a couple of months? Any juicy pics of the machine & your projects? :)

I guess I am wondering the same thing...how did it turn out. I was looking that the tormach but this is built about 40 miles from me...

Well that is exactly what I did guys.
The Smithy team was very helpful explaining as they were tweaking things in front of me.
It was a good learning experience and always nice to see everything working in front of your eyes before they load it up for you to take home.

Did you see any evidence of those used machines Smithy was importing and selling?

Did you see any evidence of those used machines Smithy was importing and selling?


If you are interested in buying a used machine from Smithy, give them a call, they might have a trade in to sell. 1-800-476-4849


I think the bit about Smithy importing used machines to sell is a rumor started by the competition. A search brings up the usual suspect.

Flathead

If you are interested in buying a used machine from Smithy, give them a call, they might have a trade in to sell. 1-800-476-4849


I think the bit about Smithy importing used machines to sell is a rumor started by the competition. A search brings up the usual suspect.

Flathead

SHIPPER CONSIGNEE
Shandong Linyi Jinxing Machine Tool Overland Inc.d.b.a.smithy Company
Northern Section Of Hu Xi Road, 170 Aprill Drive Ann Arbor,
Linyi,shandong,china Mi 48103 Usa
Linyi Cn Ann Arbor Mi 48103 Us


NOTIFY PARTIES
Expeditors International,11101metro
Airport Center Drivebuildingm2suite
110,romulus Mi 48174,usa
Romulus Mi 48174 Us


PACKAGING INFORMATION
Weight : 11,744 KG Measurement : 26 CM
Quantity : 39 PKG
SHIPMENT DETAIL
Carrier Code : FTPA Origin :
Vessel Name : Columbine Maersk U.S. Port : 2704 - Los Angeles, California
Voyage : 0906 Foreign Port : 57047 - Qingdao, China
B/L : FTPAFQ01963A U.S. Dest :
Pre Carrier : Qingdao Foreign Dest :
Vessel Code : 9245768 Mode of Transport : 10
Inbond Code : 00 Arrival Date : 2009-04-11
COMMODITIES
Container Qty Commodity Description
CRXU2338401 39 Lath Other, Vert Turret, Used Multi-purpose Machines G1324 And G1340mx MARKS & NUMBERS
Container Marks & Numbers
CRXU2338401 Smithy P.o.6810 Detroit No.1-24/1-5 Made In China

Were you or any of your cohorts there when the container and crates were opened to verify that these were used machines. Until you have some evidence to show otherwise this is just a rumor started by competitors of Smithy.

SHIPPER CONSIGNEE
Shandong Linyi Jinxing Machine Tool Overland Inc.d.b.a.smithy Company
Northern Section Of Hu Xi Road, 170 Aprill Drive Ann Arbor,
Linyi,shandong,china Mi 48103 Usa
Linyi Cn Ann Arbor Mi 48103 Us


NOTIFY PARTIES
Expeditors International,11101metro
Airport Center Drivebuildingm2suite
110,romulus Mi 48174,usa
Romulus Mi 48174 Us


PACKAGING INFORMATION
Weight : 11,744 KG Measurement : 26 CM
Quantity : 39 PKG
SHIPMENT DETAIL
Carrier Code : FTPA Origin :
Vessel Name : Columbine Maersk U.S. Port : 2704 - Los Angeles, California
Voyage : 0906 Foreign Port : 57047 - Qingdao, China
B/L : FTPAFQ01963A U.S. Dest :
Pre Carrier : Qingdao Foreign Dest :
Vessel Code : 9245768 Mode of Transport : 10
Inbond Code : 00 Arrival Date : 2009-04-11
COMMODITIES
Container Qty Commodity Description
CRXU2338401 39 Lath Other, Vert Turret, Used Multi-purpose Machines G1324 And G1340mx MARKS & NUMBERS
Container Marks & Numbers
CRXU2338401 Smithy P.o.6810 Detroit No.1-24/1-5 Made In China

If you go to www.importgenius.com and do some research, you will find this is not the only shipment of goods marked as " used". US Customs has thousands of classifications on all commodities being imported into the US and each one has a different rate. Even lathes and mills are classified differently and combo machines have their own rate. I am skeptical that anyone would buy used machines from China, as there really is no supply, and then you would have to market them as used as well at a deep discount. My guess would be that during these tough economic times- especially in the devastated area around the auto industry- classifying machines as "used" may have reduced or eliminated the import duties.

My inlaws live in Ann Arbor so I have spent significant time during the last 3 Christmas and Easter seasons on Aprill Drive pestering the patient folks at Smithy. They have been in this business longer than many and are adapting to our troubled times. When an accusation like this appears consider the credibility of the source. Are there any specific instances? If there were, how long would it take a victim to publish?

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Smithy but expect to be a customer in the future.

Eric Taada
ETaada@gmail.com
727 865 7600

My inlaws live in Ann Arbor so I have spent significant time during the last 3 Christmas and Easter seasons on Aprill Drive pestering the patient folks at Smithy. They have been in this business longer than many and are adapting to our troubled times. When an accusation like this appears consider the credibility of the source. Are there any specific instances? If there were, how long would it take a victim to publish?

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Smithy but expect to be a customer in the future.

Eric Taada
ETaada@gmail.com
727 865 7600
In your 6 visits did you see or were offerred any used machines?
Customs documents are public record, so posting them is no accusation of anything. A one time typo could be possible, but multiple orders with the same one- unlikely. However, this thread has drifted off topic. The original poster joined the group, made a few rosy posts and then disappeared. Private messages get no response. He is beginning to look like a plant.

No Smithy catalog products were offered. However a pair of 1 ton incomplete CNC mills were available. They were from a planned product that didn't pan out as they needed industrial grade 5 phase stepper contollers.

No Smithy catalog products were offered. However a pair of 1 ton incomplete CNC mills were available. They were from a planned product that didn't pan out as they needed industrial grade 5 phase stepper contollers.

I agree- I don't think there were ever any used machines imported. The question is about the US Customs declaration. When I was shopping for a machine I spoke at length with all the of the 3 in 1 companies. I recall the fellow at Smithy stressing that they were a HUGE company with sales topping 1000 units per year. General Motors was also a HUGE company, so that pitch didn't impress me. At that time the Granite machine was selling for about 3500.00- giving them a reasonable margin of profit, maybe they pay 2500.00 for the machine from China. That would add up to about 2.5 million dollars per year in imports. According to US Customs, small bench lathes and mills are taxed at a rate of 4.4%- On 2.5 million per year that would be about 110,000.00 in taxes. Used machines, on the other hand, are duty free.