| | |
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?Originally Posted by Rollleft
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.
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.
Time for an update here.
I see a lot of talk about these CNC's being used.
Well, when I personally saw my machine come out of the crate for prepping
before it went into my pick-up bed, it was flawless in its appearance and showed absolutely no signs of being used that is for sure. That thought never entered my mind at all.
I have been cutting many parts and molds with the 626 for a good while now with no issues and only one broken 3/32 end mill (because of my cutter path error).
I am very happy with this machine so far and it has and is doing everything I am asking of it.
Going from a twinkle in my mind, then into my 3D Studio Max program and then to 3DCut and finally to the 626 to reality is really a very exciting thing.
Here is some of the parts I have done so far for my small business.
Http://www.hydroresins.com
Posting Permissions
| | |
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
