Shipping Lead Time

[gac5ss]

I placed an order on 2/23/2025 for some of the items on sale. Saw arbors, splitter, etc. Total of order around $99. The order has not shipped.

There are other items I would consider ordering but Shopsmith has them on backorder. I called them to ask about availability on several items, and the order taker said many items are waiting delivery from suppliers. In view of the bankruptcy of the DC motor manufacturer, Shopsmith is not getting any breaks in perceived troubles.

For Shopsmith to survive, I believe a new generation of customers has to be reached. I am in my 60's, so my introduction to Shopsmith happened at my local shopping mall 35 years ago. The desire to buy was great every time I saw a demo, but my budget wouldn't allow it. They even had a financing option back then, but I was leery of the high interest rate charged, so no purchase. I did get a project book for showing up. I still have those.

If I had it to do over, I would skip the many refurbish units I have bought and sold over the years, and buy the Mark 7 new as it is today. This machine is far superior than the first Mark 5 I bought used. I currently have a Mark 5 500 and an upgraded Mark 5 510, which has been upgraded to a 520 fence. I have most of the SPTs I want, except for the strip sander. I will probably never buy one as I don't see much reason to have one for the woodworking I want to do.

So my point of this ramble is that Shopsmith must become a company that responds quickly to a new generation of users. We are in a "I wanted it yesterday" world. Two week ship times is unacceptable in todays business environment. There is a book titled "it's not the BIG that eat the SMALL...it's the FAST that eat the SLOW" published in 2002. I think this still applies today.

[GetterDone]

I made an order today using the discount code.
I am in no hurry for the parts as they are for restoration and spare parts.
I hope they ship them to me in the next few months.

[chapmanruss]

Delays in shipping an order is nothing new for Shopsmith. Out of stock items have delayed my orders in the past including one for months.

[edma194]

I haven't experienced delays for parts recently. When the part is in stock they respond rapidly and get the part out.

If parts are backordered they really should notify the customer immediately and let them know what kind of delay is expected, even if it's unknown.

[gac5ss]

The items I ordered were on the weekly special. I guess they sold out before I ordered. I will wait because they are parts I want. My opinion is that if Shopsmith intends to reach a new generation of users, they will slow down that expansion if they take months to produce and ship the products. If I decided to order a new Mark 7 with 3 SPT's, I don't want to wait months to get them, and I don't believe the younger generations will either.

[Matanuska]

Yesterday I placed an on-line order for the 6" belt sander drive hub and the 520 lower saw guard. They shipped today. No complaints.