Can this be serious!

[JPG]

[quote="horologist"]Bashing becomes a problem when directed specifically at a forum member. There is nothing wrong with a heated discussion and if we start resorting to PC in the off chance that we might offend some a member of a generic group then the list will be diminished.

I have heard no shortage of engineer jokes, just listen to Car Talk on NPR yet as an engineer I can laugh along. I have no problem with Nick&#8217]

Seems we engineers think alike!!! Must be a LOGIC thing!:D

P.S. I am more concerned by the passing of Bob Folkerth than Nick/Drew! At least Nick/Drew can possibly come back, Bob cannot!

[a1gutterman]

I am glad to see that others are expressing their opinions on this subject. I agree with those opinions of jpg and horologist. My post was me playing a little devil's advocate. I hope that most of us can see the logic of this thinking. I know that some have expressed a view that some things should be left unsaid. But, unless there is direct attack on an individual, just about any opinion can be expressed on this, the community forum. Even Nick does it. All opinions should be viewed on this forum (Community) with tolerance. No member should threaten another member in a PM (such as reported by curiousgeorge) over voicing the opinions that he has.

[JPG]

Beware consorting with the devil! You had me worried there for a while. Glad you got out of the red suit and resumed a more reasonable position.

What did you do with the pitchfork????? maybe you could loan it to C George so he could use it to reply to his censoring PM!:D

[charlese]

Wasn't going to poke my nose into this thread, thinking it wasn't worth the typing - - BUT - - Just like we talked about earlier (much earlier) "We resemble a large family gathering around the Thanksgiving table".

(the reference to Thanksgiving was purposeful)

[doug45601]

Really, I'm onboard with everyone else in our hopes that Shopsmith can stay afloat but also can't help but wonder how much more the company can take? Although the information I heard and provided on this forum, actually may not be from the horses mouth but it does reflect "actual happenings"!

Nick said there is no truth to the statement, perhaps not as I didn't make the author sign any sworn statement but the the closing of the retail stores, no paper catalogs, no salesman on the streets..... reduction in work force etc... I'm sure the author didn't just pull it out of his butt!

As mentioned: Shopsmith leased a building for 5 years. Does that mean we will have at least 5 more years of Shopsmith? Isn't that a building they sold and now leasing it back?

No matter how we all feel about the future of Shopsmith, be it Bye Bye or Hibernation for awhile. Without getting the product into active advertisement and bringing on new customers, Shopsmiths survival is only going to be on "our" backs, (decicated customers who buy accessories)

I won't jump ship till the water is up to my chin. I'll buy what I need as long as Shopsmith is able to meet damands. I will have to confess that I have recntly moved my interenst into the the ebay Shopsmith buying as someone was once selling tons of Shopsmith parts.. and it appeared to be "out the back door" of Shopsmith as not too many individuals own that much in duplications as being sold!

[headstock]

doug, you are right. Don't know or want to know your source but whoever it is, he/she is dead on.
Most of the inventory problems i.e. mkv production, major accessories, service parts etc. for going on two years now, is directly related to the fact that SS has fallen from the graces of all their vendors. Vendors needed to supply pieces and parts required to assemble the product line. If you don't pay your light bill you know what happens.

As far as their building situation, I know that foreclosure was under way, don't know how far along that had progressed till the new buyer came along.

[JPG]

IF SS goes bye bye, watch Ebay bidding war begin!

A few folks have scads of used SS picked up by various means(they won't say but 'estate sales' are my favorite guess).

A couple of months ago SS had a warehouse inventory/archive/misc. reduction sale---many of these 'weird' items have shown up on Ebay recently.

Bob Folkerth's brother Dave(?) appeared to be selling production 'rejects' "out the back door" on Ebay.

Not ALL you see on Ebay is worth the prices being paid. Some items are going for (Bid + Shipping > SS + Shipping) ridiculously high prices considering much of it is used/old....NOB/NIB does NOT = NEW. I see humidity damage in many pix.

You MAY get lucky and get something you need/want if no one else is bidding!:)

Sure hope it never comes to this!!!!!!!!!:D

[dusty]

Bob Folkerth's brother Dave(?) appeared to be selling production 'rejects' "out the back door" on Ebay.

Not ALL you see on Ebay is worth the prices being paid. Some items are going for (Bid + Shipping > SS + Shipping) ridiculously high prices considering much of it is used/old....NOB/NIB does NOT = NEW. I see humidity damage in many pix.

You MAY get lucky and get something you need/want if no one else is bidding!:)

Bob Folkerth's brother Dave (Who I am inclined to think of as the other of John Folkerth's sons) has been selling on ebay]It certainly wasn't all production rejects[/B]". If it was, the quality standards that cause rejection are very high. Let me at another lot of those rejects, please.

How do you keep from getting burned when buying on ebay? Communicate with the buyer; ask appropriate questions and if you don't like the answers don't buy. It is really pretty simple. Due diligence. If you don't know what that means - learn before you make another ebay bid. If you don't - then "Buyer Beware". If you get screwed, it is your own fault.

[pinkiewerewolf]

Bob Folkerth's brother Dave (Who I am inclined to think of as the other of John Folkerth's sons) has been selling on ebay]It certainly wasn't all production rejects[/B]". If it was, the quality standards that cause rejection are very high. Let me at another lot of those rejects, please.

How do you keep from getting burned when buying on ebay? Communicate with the buyer; ask appropriate questions and if you don't like the answers don't buy. It is really pretty simple. Due diligence. If you don't know what that means - learn before you make another ebay bid. If you don't - then "Buyer Beware". If you get screwed, it is your own fault.

Lack of communication isn't always the culprit in Ebay problems.
I bought a "Brand New, in the box" cell phone and when it arrived it wasn't the original box and the phone was reconditioned. (some of the panels didn't match) The phone wasn't satisfactory by any stretch of the imagination. Luckily the seller did alot of business on EBay and took the phone back with a full refund. ( I was out of the time spent fiddle farting around with shipping back & forth although they did refund my money before I shipped it back)
Still, communication on the buyer's part in this scenario wasn't the problem, an inaccurate description of the product was the culprit.
I think we need to be careful making broad statements such as "if you get screwed it is your own fault". Checking the approval ratings and volume that the seller moves will tell you a lot about their business ethics. Sometimes the seller doesn't even know what a Shopsmith product will do but if they have a reputation of standing behind the sale (and you know what the tool does) then there are some good deals on EBay.
All that being said, many manufacturers and resellers have stepped up to the plate to compete with Ebay so that my dealings there have been reduced to buying out of production products.
I think I've bought 19 items since 2002 on EBay ( I know, really setting the place on fire but I just don't trust many sellers on the site and because of what I posted in the last paragraph.) and I agree with what someone mentioned about the S&H charges, some of these sellers make their money off the S&H so watch those cost as you might just be able to buy a new product on an internet special for around the same price.

[dusty]

No matter how we all feel about the future of Shopsmith, be it Bye Bye or Hibernation for awhile. Without getting the product into active advertisement and bringing on new customers, Shopsmiths survival is only going to be on "our" backs, (decicated customers who buy accessories)

I don't know what you mean when you say survival is going to be on "our" backs, (dedicated customers who buy accessories).

I don't see it as being on my back until I put down money and don't get something in exchange. So far, I have received value in kind for every nickel I have invested in Shopsmith (Shopsmith equipment that is).

The real burden is on those folks who keep delivering to us (dedicated customers who buy accessories). To those folks in production, quality control, marketing and customer service we all owe a debt of gratitude. These are tough times for you. I know that because I have been there. It is hard to come into work where there used to be many people that are no more. Where work areas used to be alive with activity but have now turned quiet. I thank you, all of you.