Survey from Shopsmith

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 1:47 am

dusty wrote:No, it costs money to do a survey. And customer based surveys have been notoriously inaccurate.

Yep! WISH I had, and I WILL buy are NOT the same thing!:p

joedw00 · Post by **joedw00** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 6:03 am

Never have!!

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 5:13 pm

NO I never have, and I have owned a SS since 83-84.

Surveys are only as good as the person making the survey. If you ask a question that incites a person's reaction that is what you will get. You have to eliminate reaction answers and seek answers that actually reflect what the person is feeling/believes.

Example ask anybody if they are paid enough and most will say no.
Ask anybody if they know where they can get paid more for the same job and their answer will tell you if they really believe they aren't paid enough.
They may want more but unless they know of others in a like job that make more they really believe they are being paid for their job.

ryanbp01 · Post by **ryanbp01** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 9:20 pm

Does anyone out there know whether or not the Company owners monitor this site to gauge what Shopsmith owners would be interested in? From the various threads on this forum alone, it would make sense to me that this is, in a way, a "survey" if you see the similarities.

BPR

BigSky · Post by **BigSky** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 9:31 pm

dusty wrote:No, it costs money to do a survey. And customer based surveys have been notoriously inaccurate.

If no one asks what the buying public really wants/needs how do they know what to design/produce. I would say that this is the root of the Shopsmith problem. They have been surviving on slight improvements with no major change for too long. The well is about to go dry.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 3:26 am

markfive510 wrote:If no one asks what the buying public really wants/needs how do they know what to design/produce. I would say that this is the root of the Shopsmith problem. They have been surviving on slight improvements with no major change for too long. The well is about to go dry.

Quite frankly, This Guy doesn't want a change! With this "Erector Set" you can make almost anything!

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 3:57 am

charlese wrote:Quite frankly, This Guy doesn't want a change! With this "Erector Set" you can make almost anything!

Now be NICE Chuck!;)

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 1:25 pm

I have to agree with Chuck. Over the years the Mark V has been improved upon, and if more possible improvements become apparent, by all means they should be produced; however, I wood knot want to see a major change in design. I like the fact that, for the most part, everything is interchangeable (like Chuck's Erector set) and I see no reason to change that feature. We on this forum have discussed a new model 530 off and on, but really, IMHO, there are few things that need improved. If an owner of a Mark V really needs more machine then the Mark V provides, it is time that he adds to his arsenal. IMHO,the Mark V, in it's current design, can perform at least 90% of all woodworking that any home owner, hobbyist, or finish carpenter will need to do. Of course there are situations that will require "something more". There is no shame in buying additional~non-ShopSmith~equipment to get the task done.

BigSky · Post by **BigSky** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 1:47 pm

OK Guys, set me straight in my thinking. During the first two years of Mark V production (serial numbers 2291 - 15518), Shopsmith sold approximately 14000 machines. Is there a two period in the near past when you believe Shopsmith has sold 14000 units. If they have been selling, then maybe I am wrong. OK. I'm going back to lurk mode but I'll be watching for my lessons in Business Economics and Marketing.

I'm an old farm boy and I learned along time ago that if you never plow and seed you - never have to harvest.

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 2:31 pm

markfive510 wrote:OK Guys, set me straight in my thinking. During the first two years of Mark V production (serial numbers 2291 - 15518), Shopsmith sold approximately 14000 machines. Is there a two period in the near past when you believe Shopsmith has sold 14000 units. If they have been selling, then maybe I am wrong. OK. I'm going back to lurk mode but I'll be watching for my lessons in Business Economics and Marketing.

I'm an old farm boy and I learned along time ago that if you never plow and seed you - never have to harvest.

Hi markfive510,
I have no idea how many they have sold in any two year period. What wood you tell SS if they sent you a survey? What questions wood you have them ask? What advice wood you give them? I am absolutely sure that they wood entertain ANY reasonable solution to their pain. Please do knot just lurk; I look forward to your active participation.