Message From Shopsmith

[Ed in Tampa]

Yes thank you Mr Folkerth for the information. I think I speak for everyone here on the forum when I say we want Shopsmith to survive. Hopefully better economic times are coming and will come even quicker to Shopsmith.

Please let us know if there is anything we your Shopsmith customers can do to help Shopsmith through this trying time. I mean besides buying more gear we already got that message
Ed

[beeg]

Please let us know if there is anything we your Shopsmith customers can do to help Shopsmith through this trying time. I mean besides buying more gear we already got that message
Ed

Ed, have 50 people in Tampa and another 50 in Clearwater buy a 520. That should be a start.

[charlese]

Thank you Mr Folkerth for your well stated message. Your effort and leadership in this situation, has helped tremendously in belaying many fears of a quick demise of Shopsmith. We on the Forum are obviously happy to read that your company fully intends on fighting the good fight in these trying times.

We all appreciate your company's superior customer service that obviously extends from your leadership. The Sawdust Sessions were also a great service. Hopefully you will be able to keep the existing 24 sessions up on your company's site.

Keep up the fight, and best wishes to you and yours.

[scooters]

Thank you very, very much for the update.

We understand that times are tough. Hopefully, you or others from Shopsmith will drop-in occasionally to provide some brief updates.

We understand that you "need to do what you need to do" in the current economy.

Without information like your message above, we are all tempted to fear the worst... for Shopsmith, for our long-distance friends who work there, and for our own investments in the product.

Unmoderated, those fears can scare-off potential customers and become a self-fulfilled prophecy.

We hope that things have hit bottom and that your future will be bright.

Please keep us updated!!!

[a1gutterman]

Shopsmith has not typically commented on threads generated through the forum because we wanted to treat it as a member owned environment and wanted woodworking thoughts to flow freely. However, since the Sawdust Session had become such an integral part of the forum, and as a result of our decision to discontinue current development of Sawdust Sessions, I thought this may be an appropriate exception. Current economic conditions have significantly impacted the woodworking industry. Shopsmith is no exception. Coupled with limited availability of credit, Shopsmith was forced to look to all areas not providing a positive cash flow to reduce costs. However, in riding the storm, and without going into the specific details, we see a strong future for the Shopsmith product line. So in conclusion, I would like to say, that Sawdust Sessions are an investment in our owner base and play an important role in achieving our mission statement "Enriching Lives Through Woodworking". They will likely be back. Unfortunately, by discontinuing them in the interim, we will likely lose the availability of Nick and Drew. I know of no other team that has the same level of creativity, woodworking skills, and Shopsmith knowledge. They have contributed immensely and will be missed. Bob Folkerth, CEO, Shopsmith, Inc.

Dear Mr. Bob Folkerth,

Thank you for your message. It is a message of hope. I, for one, do knot have everything that I need for my Mark V, and am glad to know that I will still have the opportunity to acquire what I do need. It is a slow process, as, like ShopSmith, my finances do knot allow me to buy everything at once. I have always supported SS and will continue to do so. I am hoping that the few nay-sayers that have appeared on these forums will respond more positively now that you have explained the company position. I am very glad that you decided to explain that position to us. IMHO, it is important for you to do so, now and on a regular basis. Good luck, and may God Bless you and your company.

[rkh2]

I want to add my thank you Mr. Folkerth as well. I have read the history of Shopsmith and you have been in trying times before and came through and I have no doubts that you will weather this storm as well. I have enjoyed many years of use with my Shopsmith and plan on many more years ahead and will be continuing to add to my collection as funds become available. I have made many purchases probably more than what I paid for my original machine in 1993 mostly due to attending several traveling Academies and since the onset of the sawdust sessions. Will be looking forward to their return when times get better. Until then, my prayers are with you and your company for a return to better times.

[grayhane]

Quote : Current economic conditions have significantly impacted the woodworking industry. Shopsmith is no exception. Coupled with limited availability of credit, Shopsmith was forced to look to all areas not providing a positive cash flow to reduce costs.


It seems to me that regardless of the economic situation in the country, one of the biggest problems with SS is that more owners have used machines than new ones. With the cost of a new unit being as high as it is, most of us are running used units. Another problem that should be obvious is that any accessory units such as the planer, band saw or jointer, cost more than the stand-alone counterparts sold by other reliable companies.

For example, I can get a jointer or planer from several other companies with better specs and a lower price. There is no incentive to purchase the add on units which would still require space to store just as stand alone would.

Another item is the fantastic sale prices. Why not just sell things at a lower price and save the overhead associated with the sales ?

The fact that I have never seen a SS on a TV commercial is another mystery. “Chef Tony” who by the way ain't even a chef, has an income in excess of 5 million selling cheap knives for a living. The power if advertising is a direct cause of his success.

With the cost of parts being so high, rather than upgrade my 510 to a 520, I will just wait for the next widow selling a 520 and sell off the 510. Again , SS looses any income they might have had and one more unit is recycled into use.

My best wishes to the success of the company, but it seems that after outfitting a shop with non SS Jointer, Plainer and such, should the 510 ever give out it would be replaced with a stand alone table saw.

[dusty]

Quote :

It seems to me that regardless of the economic situation in the country, one of the biggest problems with SS is that more owners have used machines than new ones. With the cost of a new unit being as high as it is, most of us are running used units. Another problem that should be obvious is that any accessory units such as the planer, band saw or jointer, cost more than the stand-alone counterparts sold by other reliable companies.

With the cost of parts being so high, rather than upgrade my 510 to a 520, I will just wait for the next widow selling a 520 and sell off the 510. Again , SS looses any income they might have had and one more unit is recycled into use.

My best wishes to the success of the company, but it seems that after outfitting a shop with non SS Jointer, Plainer and such, should the 510 ever give out it would be replaced with a stand alone table saw.

I will stick with Shopsmith because I don't believe I can get the same life expectancy from any of the less expensive stand alones to which you refer. By all means, if you believe you can get twenty-thirty years from a standalone add on joiner, planer, sander, etc by all means go for it.

I can't afford and don't have room for the commercial ones that might last that long.

[cincinnati]

[quote="grayhane"]Quote : Current economic conditions have significantly impacted the woodworking industry. Shopsmith is no exception. Coupled with limited availability of credit, Shopsmith was forced to look to all areas not providing a positive cash flow to reduce costs.


It seems to me that regardless of the economic situation in the country, one of the biggest problems with SS is that more owners have used machines than new ones. With the cost of a new unit being as high as it is, most of us are running used units. Another problem that should be obvious is that any accessory units such as the planer, band saw or jointer, cost more than the stand-alone counterparts sold by other reliable companies.

For example, I can get a jointer or planer from several other companies with better specs and a lower price. There is no incentive to purchase the add on units which would still require space to store just as stand alone would.

Another item is the fantastic sale prices. Why not just sell things at a lower price and save the overhead associated with the sales ?

The fact that I have never seen a SS on a TV commercial is another mystery. &#8220]

You are comparing apples to oranges. All the tools you speak of is made over seas. Shopsmith is made in the USA. If you are going to make a price compairison you need to compair Shopsmith to the USA made powermatic. The overseas made Powermatic Drill press that has a true verable speed like the Shopsmith is priced at $900 alone. How is the verable speed on your free standing tools working for you? Oh! they don't have it.
Bigger is not always better. I understand what you are saying about free standing tools but they all will not fit in a space of a Shopsmith. I own a JET cabinet saw and it takes up as much room as all my shopsmith stuff.
You see lots of used shopsmith equipment because they are made so well. How many used woodworking tools you see for sale from the 50's-70's. How many tools from then are still available today for sale new? I guess SS could make things to break so we all would have to buy a new Mark V every 20 years or so:(

[wa2crk]

To all on the forum and Bob Folkerth;
Maybe if we all got together and turned some wooden arrows for kids toys Shopsmith may be able to get some money from the taxpayers bail out plan.
Just a thought.
Bill Van
WA2CRK