UPDATE! Harbor Freight X3 - 2/6/09

[caleb105]

Well gentlemen....after lurking on here for quite some time, I have taken the big leap by purchasing a Sieg X3 from my local Harbor Freight. I had been considering it for a while, but when I received the latest e-mail with a 20% off coupon, I could no longer resist. Here is the link to the coupon, which is only valid until 2/9/09:

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/...7&keycode=0000

Anyway, I know there have been some concerns over the fact that the Harbor Freight website lists the table travel of the X3 as being smaller than it actually is....and that this has caused some people to be concerned that if they order, they might get stuck with one of the older/smaller models that has been sitting in the warehouse. Well....fear no more. When I went to my local store (MI) to have them order the X3, they looked into it and found out that they have NO MORE in-stock at the warehouse (that all the stores receive from). They dug a little deeper and were able to tell me that they were showing as "In-Transit" from china, but that I would have to wait until the warehouse received these.

So....unless Sieg is still shipping out an X3 model with a slightly smaller table than the one that Lathemaster and Grizzly are selling (which I doubt), then you no longer need to worry about receiving some old model that has been hiding in the warehouse.

Well....there you have it....my first post.

Hope some of you find this information helpful!

[Crevice Reamer]

Hi caleb105. Nice first post! Thanks for the info.

So were you able to use that coupon? What was final price?

CR.

[caleb105]

The coupon is for "Retail Store" items only. However, retail stores can "Special Order" items that they don't usually stock (such as milling machines). This allows you to use the 20% off coupon. Another benefit to doing a "Special Order" through a store is that you DON'T HAVE TO PAY FREIGHT!!!! You just pick it up from the store when it comes in. Here's what I ended up paying:

X3 Mill = $1000
20% off = - $200
Shipping= $0
Sales Tax = $47
-------
$847

That's a whole lot better than spending $1075 - $1090 by ordering it online through HF or Grizzly! I figure I saved about $240 total.

[Crevice Reamer]

Thanks! Nice savings!

Of course, you only get the HF 90 day return warranty. Even if you buy the extended warranty, I think, it's still a bring the heavy sucker back in original crate and trade for a new one.

Still, you may have saved enough to be worth it. Please keep us posted when your mill arrives.

CR.

[caleb105]

Yes, they did offer me an extended warranty:

1 Year Extended warranty = $129

2 Year Extended Warranty = $169

I would have to bring it back to them (or a certified repair shop?). You also have the option of adding a clause to the extended warranty where they come to your house. That was an additional $99

I figured if anything major is wrong, that will be evident within the first few months.

[SSfab]

I had a similar coupon and i tried to use it for my X2. They said they could not do it because it was special order and their warehouse would see that it was discounted down, and not ship it to the store.

It was some BS

[Crevice Reamer]

Keep the crate. Anyway, Congratulations on buying a fine mill!

Here are some manuals to keep you busy until your mill arives:

HF:

http://www.harborfreight.com/manuals...3999/93885.pdf

Grizzly:

http://grizzly.com/images/manuals/g0463_m.pdf

Setup/Preparation guide:

http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/projec...on%20Guide.pdf

CR.

[mbergmueller]

not to hijack but is there a x2 setup/prep guide like the one for the x3. I looked on their site but didn't find any, but then I couldn't find the x3 one listed either.

[eScott]

Originally Posted by caleb105 Yes, they did offer me an extended warranty: 1 Year Extended warranty = $129 2 Year Extended Warranty = $169 I would have to bring it back to them (or a certified repair shop?). You also have the option of adding a clause to the extended warranty where they come to your house. That was an additional $99 I figured if anything major is wrong, that will be evident within the first few months.

Originally Posted by SSfab I had a similar coupon and i tried to use it for my X2. They said they could not do it because it was special order and their warehouse would see that it was discounted down, and not ship it to the store. It was some BS

It must depend on the store (people working there). I had a problem with the motor on my RF-40 about 6 months after I bought it.(I didn't buy the warranty) When I asked guy at the store if they sold them, he just told me to bring the mill back and they'll exchange it. That's been about 6 years ago with no problems on the new one.

Nice buy caleb105! I wish they had them in stock so I could go look at them.

[apriorius]

I returned an X2 some years ago on their extended warranty. Brought it in without the crate and left with a new one in crate. No hassles. YMMV of course.

[Crevice Reamer]

Originally Posted by apriorius I returned an X2 some years ago on their extended warranty. Brought it in without the crate and left with a new one in crate. No hassles. YMMV of course.

Glad to hear it worked out for you.

An X2 is a workable return. This policy WORKS for small stuff. I shudder at the thought of loading up and returning a 400 pound X3 though--Especially if I have modified it for CNC.

Grizzly will happily and immediately send me parts for one year of warranty--no return necessary. Of course, Grizzly machines seem not to NEED much warranty parts. Some say they have better QC and stricter acceptance from factory than HF. Maybe it's true.

CR.

[dyne]

Originally Posted by SSfab I had a similar coupon and i tried to use it for my X2. They said they could not do it because it was special order and their warehouse would see that it was discounted down, and not ship it to the store. It was some BS

I bought my harbor freight X2 a week before christmas using one of their 20% off coupons that stated it was for in store items only. The manager had no problems letting me special order the mill with the coupon. It was also on sale for something like $40 off, so I ended up getting the mill for $400 with tax.