I noticed this post on the Tormach forum-
Browsing through Importgenius.com, you can see that even though their volume is only about 1/2 of what it was a few years back, they are doing 10X the business Smithy and Syil are doing in the CNC mills . Speaking of Smithy, I noticed an unusual note on their import bills of lading. Their 1324 and 1340 machines are classified as " Used".
Does Smithy offer used machines? Nothing on their website about it.
Maybe they do really really extensive testing at the factory.![]()
Lee
3 days left- no bids yet, so you might be able to make a deal-
Good Luck
http://cgi.ebay.com/Smithy-Granite-1...d=p3286.c0.m14
This is not a used machine.
If you read the description it would have been obvious that this is a scratch & dent sale, not a used machine, even though it is listed as such.
From the ad:
"It is warehouse cleaning time again! We gearing up and cleaning up for the upcoming holiday season. This machine was set aside this summer to repair some sheet metal damage. The pulley box housing was replaced along with the switch. The machine still does has some cosmetic scratches. (Please call us at 1-800-476-4849 if you would like more details.) This machine comes with our 30 Day in shop trial and our two year warranty, plus the Smithy Quick Start Tool Pack, valued at $541.76. See Listing Below).
It also includes a a stand valued at $299
Please note: Actual machine is not pictured. Picture shown is a representation of GN-1340R model."
I would think that a only a business would pay the high monthly importgenius fee to be able to check on the competition.
Since three out of four of you guys posting have admitted to owning a shoptask/shopmaster 3 in 1, and pretty much control the forum over there, what is the point of this thread.
More Smithy Bashing?
Flathead
I don't know about the Customs stuff, but I do know that Ebay doesn't offer a scratch and dent category for condition. I think it's only new or used and maybe for parts only.
Lee
Back in the 90's when I was shopping for my first machine, Smithy had a truck that would set up in motel parking lots and sell " scratch and dent" machines. From what I could gather from the salesman, he circulated around and picked up machines that customers wanted to return. Then they would schedule a motel scratch and dent sale to unload them rather than hauling all the way back to Smithy. There were others like that as well- Skip Homeir Tools, Carolina Tools as well as a bunch called Starving Artists that sold those velvet Elvis paintings. I think the internet, E-Bay, Craiglist etc. pretty much killed off the travelling circuses.
Hey, another shoptask/shopmaster rep joins the thread.
Sounds like a fairy tale to me.
They might have sold scratch and dents or returned machines or trade ins at a parking lot sale.
There is no way You or any other 3 in 1 marketeer is going to offer free return shipping or use a company truck and driver to criss cross the country picking up customer returns.
Reading Smithy's policy I get customer pays return shipping.
What is your policy.
Flathead