As others have said I think Shopsmith is missing a huge opportunity by not having a storefront on EBay. With the crazy prices people are getting for used parts, the small premium for new parts would be worth it. I would get that it might even shut down some of the resellers on EBay by not making it as profitable and therefore, maybe give them more business in the parts market.
What Farmer says makes sense - especially with all the new products and upgrades being offered. Give them a way to reach out to existing customers.
Earlier there was the link in the Bt3000 thread that lead to another forum with a Shopsmith discussion. The poster seemed to be in the know, but lost me when he got to the cost to build a unit. Even if he was taking parts only, without labor, I would have to believe production cost would be higher with third-party sourcing of parts such as the motor.
He also didn't seem to have any discretion if he truly was in the know as those who know him would have no problem figuring out who he was based on the details he shared. The only Jim I know of at Shopsmith should have no problem identifying the individual he loaned a prototype to if there was any truth to the posters story.
Any new reports on Shopsmith
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An E-bay Store Front might be a good idea. I just watched a Speed Reducer go for close to or more than what a new one cost from SS, same thing with a Dado Insert.
I have had some other ideas cross my mind as well. I am no marketing major, but I have bought a lot of stuff I've seen advertised over the years. I've wondered why not do an infomercial.
I don't know what it cost or how many machines they would have to move to pay for something like that, but I can only imagine that people would buy.
If I saw this product advertised right after some DIY show I would be at least interested in what it would do. If the infomercial encouraged me to act now and get a free whatever (speed reducer haha) it would really get my attention.
Now if SS handled their own financing and offered some 18 month interest free deal couldn't they make their money back on the "free whatever" off those that failed to pay it off in the 18 months.
Americans love to make stuff (I was going to say crap because I see a lot of rock or beads on a string home businesses out there) and they love to make money off the stuff they make. So if you hit them with the price then break it down by month (I think maybe $55-$75 a month for 72 months), but followed that segment up with 10 home based, family run business testimonials such as "I always wanted to... I sold it for this much... It more than makes up for my monthly SS payment... I only wish I had know about it sooner..." People would go for it I think. I may only think this because I have boxes full of sticky paper with all kinds of prints on them, stamps and special zigzag scissors that my wife bought and candles/candle holders in every room, that my wife bought, I finally got rid of that vile tasting crap that was supposed to cure every ill (the dog may of drank that and he doesn't look any better off for it). Those testimonials could also describe "How I build something or another that would usually require a full size shop in my garage!"
I also think there are a large number of Americans that would buy something American if they had any idea there was anything out there American to buy. "Yes it costs more, but it is because you get more." This might be a good time to show calls coming into customer service and having someone in America take the call. It may not be very PC to then show the owner of the China made Delta (or whatever once American company they used) making a service call to India. Not PC, but I'd laugh my butt off and say something like "Right On!" loud enough to concern the kids about me yelling at the TV again.
If you guys think to yourselves, after reading this, "hey that Shortslvs guy is a genius" please send me a Speed Reducer. If you think that Shortslvs guy is an idiot and has no idea what he is talking about please just say nothing. That kind of stuff hurts my feelings
I have had some other ideas cross my mind as well. I am no marketing major, but I have bought a lot of stuff I've seen advertised over the years. I've wondered why not do an infomercial.
I don't know what it cost or how many machines they would have to move to pay for something like that, but I can only imagine that people would buy.
If I saw this product advertised right after some DIY show I would be at least interested in what it would do. If the infomercial encouraged me to act now and get a free whatever (speed reducer haha) it would really get my attention.
Now if SS handled their own financing and offered some 18 month interest free deal couldn't they make their money back on the "free whatever" off those that failed to pay it off in the 18 months.
Americans love to make stuff (I was going to say crap because I see a lot of rock or beads on a string home businesses out there) and they love to make money off the stuff they make. So if you hit them with the price then break it down by month (I think maybe $55-$75 a month for 72 months), but followed that segment up with 10 home based, family run business testimonials such as "I always wanted to... I sold it for this much... It more than makes up for my monthly SS payment... I only wish I had know about it sooner..." People would go for it I think. I may only think this because I have boxes full of sticky paper with all kinds of prints on them, stamps and special zigzag scissors that my wife bought and candles/candle holders in every room, that my wife bought, I finally got rid of that vile tasting crap that was supposed to cure every ill (the dog may of drank that and he doesn't look any better off for it). Those testimonials could also describe "How I build something or another that would usually require a full size shop in my garage!"
I also think there are a large number of Americans that would buy something American if they had any idea there was anything out there American to buy. "Yes it costs more, but it is because you get more." This might be a good time to show calls coming into customer service and having someone in America take the call. It may not be very PC to then show the owner of the China made Delta (or whatever once American company they used) making a service call to India. Not PC, but I'd laugh my butt off and say something like "Right On!" loud enough to concern the kids about me yelling at the TV again.
If you guys think to yourselves, after reading this, "hey that Shortslvs guy is a genius" please send me a Speed Reducer. If you think that Shortslvs guy is an idiot and has no idea what he is talking about please just say nothing. That kind of stuff hurts my feelings
[quote="shortslvs"]
If you guys think to yourselves, after reading this, "hey that Shortslvs guy is a genius" please send me a Speed Reducer. If you think that Shortslvs guy is an idiot and has no idea what he is talking about please just say nothing. That kind of stuff hurts my feelings ]
He forgot to say. "please send me a Speed Reducer."
If you guys think to yourselves, after reading this, "hey that Shortslvs guy is a genius" please send me a Speed Reducer. If you think that Shortslvs guy is an idiot and has no idea what he is talking about please just say nothing. That kind of stuff hurts my feelings ]
He forgot to say. "please send me a Speed Reducer."
SS 500(09/1980), DC3300, jointer, bandsaw, belt sander, Strip Sander, drum sanders,molder, dado, biscuit joiner, universal lathe tool rest, Oneway talon chuck, router bits & chucks and a De Walt 735 planer,a #5,#6, block planes. ALL in a 100 square foot shop.
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Bob
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Bob
Shortslvs,
Shopsmith used to have their own financing back in the 80's as I recall. You Ebay idea was one mentioned before. There is another thread relating to what Shopsmith's strategy is as they are only targeting owners on the upgrades and they are limited to 2-3 demo guys who travel and one guy who does Webinars.
I honestly don't understand what all they are doing. But I've made sure I'll have any spare part I might need. Once my health improves, I can sort out my stuff. i have 11-12 Shopsmiths between Mark Vs and 10E/ERs and every SPT ever made= most likely 2 of most and 3 of others. Just couldn't help it.
Some really great deals can be had if you are in the right place at the right time or if for some reason people allow an almost new 520 & bandsaw go for a few bucks over the cost of a new bandsaw alone. Stuff happens. Many users are up in years and they might order a system and take ill before they even get it out of the shipping containers.
I think you're idea are good, but you'll probably see them mentioned many times since 2007/2008 that I'm aware of. Ebay is good for bidding wars on certain items. <smile>
Shopsmith used to have their own financing back in the 80's as I recall. You Ebay idea was one mentioned before. There is another thread relating to what Shopsmith's strategy is as they are only targeting owners on the upgrades and they are limited to 2-3 demo guys who travel and one guy who does Webinars.
I honestly don't understand what all they are doing. But I've made sure I'll have any spare part I might need. Once my health improves, I can sort out my stuff. i have 11-12 Shopsmiths between Mark Vs and 10E/ERs and every SPT ever made= most likely 2 of most and 3 of others. Just couldn't help it.
Some really great deals can be had if you are in the right place at the right time or if for some reason people allow an almost new 520 & bandsaw go for a few bucks over the cost of a new bandsaw alone. Stuff happens. Many users are up in years and they might order a system and take ill before they even get it out of the shipping containers.
I think you're idea are good, but you'll probably see them mentioned many times since 2007/2008 that I'm aware of. Ebay is good for bidding wars on certain items. <smile>
One Greenie, Two Mark 7s,Three 510s and much more…
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dusty
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 21530
- Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2006 6:52 am
- Location: Tucson (Wildcat Country), Arizona
letterk wrote:As others have said I think Shopsmith is missing a huge opportunity by not having a storefront on EBay. With the crazy prices people are getting for used parts, the small premium for new parts would be worth it. I would get that it might even shut down some of the resellers on EBay by not making it as profitable and therefore, maybe give them more business in the parts market.
What Farmer says makes sense - especially with all the new products and upgrades being offered. Give them a way to reach out to existing customers.
Earlier there was the link in the Bt3000 thread that lead to another forum with a Shopsmith discussion. The poster seemed to be in the know, but lost me when he got to the cost to build a unit. Even if he was taking parts only, without labor, I would have to believe production cost would be higher with third-party sourcing of parts such as the motor.
He also didn't seem to have any discretion if he truly was in the know as those who know him would have no problem figuring out who he was based on the details he shared. The only Jim I know of at Shopsmith should have no problem identifying the individual he loaned a prototype to if there was any truth to the posters story.
I believe I just finished reading this thread and I agree that some of those who posted there seemed to have a lot of "inside information". Exposing that information as they did leads me to believe that this might be the last "inside information" that they ever get. Discretion is certainly not a long suit for these gentlemen.
What bothers me about postings like this one is that many of the opinions are based on facts only related to the early model Mark 5s. Now facts are facts but to ignore, for example, that the Mark 5s small table was enlarged and the motor changed with the introduction of later models is a disservice to the design. To not mention that in a review is, in my opinion, dishonest.
These guys completely forget to mention that their machines are twenty, twenty five, thirty years old AND that they are still operating as designed AND that they can still buy repair parts. Now those facts speak loudly to me. There are not many (if any) non-industrial wood working machines out there than can boast those facts.
Please don't bring machines like the Delta Unisaw into this discussion. The Unisaw is not to be compared to the Mark 5/V. It belongs in a completely different class of machines.
"Making Sawdust Safely"
Dusty
Sent from my Dell XPS using Firefox.
Dusty
Sent from my Dell XPS using Firefox.
Your right Dusty. I think most of us here have drank the Kool-Aid. 
The Mark V in the last 20 years has taken quite the turn. It is a testament and probably a necessity for Shopsmith to keep innovating. With there exclusivity of the design having expired long ago, they need to keep one step ahead of their competitors.
My comment about Ebay is regarding the storefront. It allows them to sell new parts and the same prices as they do on there website. Unfortunately, with fees and paypal they would bring home probably 10% less. I know someone mentioned the informercial. Problem is production = money and usually the station is paid a portion of the sales for providing a less than stellar time slot. Better production = spending more money.
I did find it interesting that when I checked ToolMonger last night I came across a post on the main page about Shopsmith Abrasives. The funny thing was they mention something else that was abrasive too, but I'll let others figure that out on their own.
The Mark V in the last 20 years has taken quite the turn. It is a testament and probably a necessity for Shopsmith to keep innovating. With there exclusivity of the design having expired long ago, they need to keep one step ahead of their competitors. My comment about Ebay is regarding the storefront. It allows them to sell new parts and the same prices as they do on there website. Unfortunately, with fees and paypal they would bring home probably 10% less. I know someone mentioned the informercial. Problem is production = money and usually the station is paid a portion of the sales for providing a less than stellar time slot. Better production = spending more money.
I did find it interesting that when I checked ToolMonger last night I came across a post on the main page about Shopsmith Abrasives. The funny thing was they mention something else that was abrasive too, but I'll let others figure that out on their own.
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Ed in Tampa
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 5834
- Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2006 12:45 am
- Location: North Tampa Bay area Florida
I personally think Nick was the best advertizement Shopsmith had. Had they perfected that technology and allowed the world to view and ask questions I think they would do a terrific business.
The problem was live streaming TV was new and had more than few bugs in it.
The second problem was a new and interesting demo had to be dreamed up and rehearsed during the week so each show was flawlessly executed.
Third it would be a real chore to come up with ideas that were small enough to be completed in one or at the max two shows and still be interesting and draw an audience.
I really believe Nick realized this and realized how much potential was there, however I think state of finances of SS at the time prevented Nick from accomplishing what really needed to be done.
I know I purchased things that I saw on Nick's productions not because I had them on my wish list but because Nick showed an interesting way to use them or a use for them that I hadn't thought of.
Nick's show has put a lust in me for an overhead pin router but frankly the SS price is too high. If I stumble upon someone selling theirs cheap I will snatch it up like there is no tomorrow.
The problem was live streaming TV was new and had more than few bugs in it.
The second problem was a new and interesting demo had to be dreamed up and rehearsed during the week so each show was flawlessly executed.
Third it would be a real chore to come up with ideas that were small enough to be completed in one or at the max two shows and still be interesting and draw an audience.
I really believe Nick realized this and realized how much potential was there, however I think state of finances of SS at the time prevented Nick from accomplishing what really needed to be done.
I know I purchased things that I saw on Nick's productions not because I had them on my wish list but because Nick showed an interesting way to use them or a use for them that I hadn't thought of.
Nick's show has put a lust in me for an overhead pin router but frankly the SS price is too high. If I stumble upon someone selling theirs cheap I will snatch it up like there is no tomorrow.
Ed in Tampa
Stay out of trouble!
Stay out of trouble!
Gee, Ed. Wish we lived closer together. You could have mine on a semi permanent loan basis.
Ed in Tampa wrote:SNIPPED
Nick's show has put a lust in me for an overhead pin router but frankly the SS price is too high. If I stumble upon someone selling theirs cheap I will snatch it up like there is no tomorrow.
Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton