ShopSmith Order filling Shortcoming.. Again!

[dickg1]

I was told by ShopSmith that their source of some parts is to wait till a shopsmith Mark V is returned by a customer and then they strip it /canabolize it for the parts to send to customers for back order items.

Rob Peter to Pay Paul so to speak.


Dave C.

Dave,
If what you say is true (and I have no reason to doubt you) the components cannibalized and sent to another customer must be labeled "refurbished' or something similar so as to distinguish them from new parts. I often purchase refurbished parts because they have been through inspection twice and usually sell at a reduced cost although with a shorter warranty.
Dick

[moose]

I have been a member of this forum almost from its conception stepping out briefly for a few weeks.

It is rare for me to contribute to the forum unless I have something to say. I choose to remain silent and use the forum to research my answers from the wealth of material presented here.

A prime example of not contributing is the increase of sharp criticisms from one member to another and I use for example the recent exchange between Ed in Tampa and Woodburner. Sadly, sometimes no matter what one says, there is someone to snap back and criticise. Members are all to quick sometimes to criticise others for their style of woodworking methods or way of doing things. As Nick says, there is no right or wrong way in woodworking. I do what is best for me and not what is best for you. I certainly respect your methods as they are a part of who you are.

Nick has blessed the internet with what I think has the potential of being or becoming a "woodworking site" of professional standars. I believe this site has the potential to set standards for others to follow. Already, I see members from this site opening accounts on Nick's site and using it as a social venue much as what is happening here. This is a Shopsmith site and Nick has a Woodworking site. There is nothing wrong in being members of his site and I would certainly encourage all of us to help build it but to do so in a professional manner and consistent with woodworking principals. Too many use this site as a method of daily correspondence with one another. Why not use email?

There are over 4500 members belonging to this site now but have you ever noticed that there are only approximately 50 that are consitently on line. Of thoes, only around 25 of thoes seem to pratice woodworking techniques. Of that number, there appears to be a percentage who are obsessed with their Shopsmith and have little to do except sit on this site day and night trying to comment on any and everything anyone has to say. It's fine to be obsessed with your Shopsmith however their obsession is obvious that they are truly addicted to this forum becasue they never leave it for fear they will miss something to comment on. Usually these are people who also flop from one forum to another in fear of missing something. I also suspect that they do very little actual woodworking becasue how can they being glued here all day and night. There are thoes who reply to topics and say nothing or reply to comments becasue they think they are they latest and greatest and should have the last and final word on any topic. These are the people who seem to have ego problems and seem to have a need for recognition. These are the people who seemed to show up at every TA class and interrupt the instructor so much with their vast knowledge that the teacher cannot get a word in.

I would hope that thoes visiting Nick's new site do so with all intentions of contributing to woodworking and leave the social and know it all aspects of Shopsmith here on this forum.

I fully expect to receive a huge amount of flack concerning this outburst of mine from you well educated people crafty with words but it only takes one 5 minutes of reading this forum to realise something is wrong here. What you say to me will not affect me at all and thoes responding should remember that the guilty dog barks the loudest. And so Ed, this is my opinion. I would just like to see the energies from so many people directed at this and Nick's forum in a positive way instead of the negative. No doubt, there is a huge amount of talent here but sometimes it becomes misdirrected and removed from the purpose of this forum.

I suspect sometimes that the vast majority of more than 4000 silent majority members are the real woodworkers here who use Shopsmith either as their primary tool in woodworking or as support to other tools in their inventory. I really don't blame them for not talking.

Ashbury

[tom_k/mo]

Got an e-mail offer the other day from ShopSmith with a sale price on the Adjustable Collar for the main table. I decided to order it today, and wouldn't you know it... it's on B/O. I ordered it anyway and will wait, but why do they send out new sales flyers when they KNOW they're out of the part.

[beeg]

but why do they send out new sales flyers when they KNOW they're out of the part.

To get enough orders so they can fill ALL of the B/O's

[woodburner]

Hi Ed,

I have gotten the information from a reliable source (he is a well known and trusted forum member and I'd rather not bring his name into it) about the switches. The company that supplies, oops supplied, Shopsmith with the safety switches no longer makes them. They have yet to give a solution to the problem if you are faced with needing a replacement.

If they can't get them, where else can you turn. The last time Shopsmith redesigned the headstock (known as headstock C) the electrical parts were designed around this switch. Even the outer shell of the headtock was designed for this particular safety switch to fit.

I remember not to long ago Shopsmith changed suppliers for the drive belts because the original supplier stopped making them, and the new ones started shredding apart in the machine. Shopsmith offered advice on how to fix the problem, tensioning, etc., until the manufacturing problem was fixed. Unforuntately, they haven't done this with the switch, a very key part in my opinion.

If they told me where I can at least get a temporary replacement, I would even be more grateful to them and know that they are really thinking about their customers needs, and I will remain a loyal customer for years to come. Honesty in business goes a long way.

If I'm forced to look elsewhere for the part without any guidance from Shopsmith whatsoever, how do I know the part I find will work and not damage something else? Or will it void any warranties I might have? I would rather have some guidance from Shopsmith and know I'm getting a part from someone they recommend, instead of being left in the cold crossing my fingers.

The economy subject is a whole other ball of wax and I really don't want to bring it up again. Everyone has an opinion as to why things are happening the way they are right now. So much so that it just causes more friction on a forum like this than what is intended. No offense taken as this is a touchy subject for everyone.

I'll take your advice in your sign-off and try my best to stay out of trouble.

[JPG]

Hi Ed,

I have gotten the information from a reliable source (he is a well known and trusted forum member and I'd rather not bring his name into it) about the switches. The company that supplies, oops supplied, Shopsmith with the safety switches no longer makes them. They have yet to give a solution to the problem if you are faced with needing a replacement.

If they can't get them, where else can you turn. The last time Shopsmith redesigned the headstock (known as headstock C) the electrical parts were designed around this switch. Even the outer shell of the headtock was designed for this particular safety switch to fit.

I remember not to long ago Shopsmith changed suppliers for the drive belts because the original supplier stopped making them, and the new ones started shredding apart in the machine. Shopsmith offered advice on how to fix the problem, tensioning, etc., until the manufacturing problem was fixed. Unforuntately, they haven't done this with the switch, a very key part in my opinion.

If they told me where I can at least get a temporary replacement, I would even be more grateful to them and know that they are really thinking about their customers needs, and I will remain a loyal customer for years to come. Honesty in business goes a long way.

If I'm forced to look elsewhere for the part without any guidance from Shopsmith whatsoever, how do I know the part I find will work and not damage something else? Or will it void any warranties I might have? I would rather have some guidance from Shopsmith and know I'm getting a part from someone they recommend, instead of being left in the cold crossing my fingers.

The economy subject is a whole other ball of wax and I really don't want to bring it up again. Everyone has an opinion as to why things are happening the way they are right now. So much so that it just causes more friction on a forum like this than what is intended. No offense taken as this is a touchy subject for everyone.

I'll take your advice in your sign-off and try my best to stay out of trouble.

Yours truely expressed (as fact) the information I had at the time. It was relative to the no longer available Eaton switch 8166K23/21 which if NOT SS's supplier, were producing one that appears identical.

I have since 'discovered' similar switches from a different vendor/manufacurer(?).

I have not yet gotten one IN MY HAND to determine its 'identicalness' but will speak again when I do!

[woodburner]

JPG,

Thanks for the update. Please let me know if you find one that works. If you do, buy an extra one and I'll buy it from you plus some.

[Ed in Tampa]

I have been a member of this forum almost from its conception stepping out briefly for a few weeks.

It is rare for me to contribute to the forum unless I have something to say. I choose to remain silent and use the forum to research my answers from the wealth of material presented here.

A prime example of not contributing is the increase of sharp criticisms from one member to another and I use for example the recent exchange between Ed in Tampa and Woodburner. Sadly, sometimes no matter what one says, there is someone to snap back and criticise. Members are all to quick sometimes to criticise others for their style of woodworking methods or way of doing things. As Nick says, there is no right or wrong way in woodworking. I do what is best for me and not what is best for you. I certainly respect your methods as they are a part of who you are.

Nick has blessed the internet with what I think has the potential of being or becoming a "woodworking site" of professional standars. I believe this site has the potential to set standards for others to follow. Already, I see members from this site opening accounts on Nick's site and using it as a social venue much as what is happening here. This is a Shopsmith site and Nick has a Woodworking site. There is nothing wrong in being members of his site and I would certainly encourage all of us to help build it but to do so in a professional manner and consistent with woodworking principals. Too many use this site as a method of daily correspondence with one another. Why not use email?

There are over 4500 members belonging to this site now but have you ever noticed that there are only approximately 50 that are consitently on line. Of thoes, only around 25 of thoes seem to pratice woodworking techniques. Of that number, there appears to be a percentage who are obsessed with their Shopsmith and have little to do except sit on this site day and night trying to comment on any and everything anyone has to say. It's fine to be obsessed with your Shopsmith however their obsession is obvious that they are truly addicted to this forum becasue they never leave it for fear they will miss something to comment on. Usually these are people who also flop from one forum to another in fear of missing something. I also suspect that they do very little actual woodworking becasue how can they being glued here all day and night. There are thoes who reply to topics and say nothing or reply to comments becasue they think they are they latest and greatest and should have the last and final word on any topic. These are the people who seem to have ego problems and seem to have a need for recognition. These are the people who seemed to show up at every TA class and interrupt the instructor so much with their vast knowledge that the teacher cannot get a word in.

I would hope that thoes visiting Nick's new site do so with all intentions of contributing to woodworking and leave the social and know it all aspects of Shopsmith here on this forum.

I fully expect to receive a huge amount of flack concerning this outburst of mine from you well educated people crafty with words but it only takes one 5 minutes of reading this forum to realise something is wrong here. What you say to me will not affect me at all and thoes responding should remember that the guilty dog barks the loudest. And so Ed, this is my opinion. I would just like to see the energies from so many people directed at this and Nick's forum in a positive way instead of the negative. No doubt, there is a huge amount of talent here but sometimes it becomes misdirrected and removed from the purpose of this forum.

I suspect sometimes that the vast majority of more than 4000 silent majority members are the real woodworkers here who use Shopsmith either as their primary tool in woodworking or as support to other tools in their inventory. I really don't blame them for not talking.

Ashbury

Ashbury
I apparently offended you, and I apologize to you and anyone else that might have been offended. I don't think I'm an expert nor do I seek recognition from your or anyone else, but I do think in all fairness to Shopsmith and for them to maintain their hope of recovery there isn't much they can say in situations like Woodburner presented.

If the manufacture they were buying from did in fact stop manufacturing switches I imagine Shopsmith is trying to find a new supplier. Have they found one? Well if the story is correct apparently not since they don't have any switches to sell. If the situation is as Woodburner suggests I certainly don't believe Shopsmith, to be mean, is just not making the switches available or keeping their knowledge of the possible replacement secret.

Apparently the time a few of us spend on this forum is more than you deem appropriate. Not that it is any of your business, but I'm older and for the most part retired, I work in spurts. Usually about 2 hours then I sit down and rest for an hour or so then go back to the my task. When I rest I usually come in the house (air conditioning) sit down in my den sip an ice tea and check the forum to see what is going on. Now if I might ask why does the time me or anyone else spends on this fourm offend you? It is not like we are taking your time or preventing you from posting also.

[Ed in Tampa]

Hi Ed,

I have gotten the information from a reliable source (he is a well known and trusted forum member and I'd rather not bring his name into it) about the switches. The company that supplies, oops supplied, Shopsmith with the safety switches no longer makes them.
If they can't get them, where else can you turn...

Woodburner
You said a mouthful when you said "They have yet to give a solution to the problem if you are faced with needing a replacement.
If they can't get them where else can you turn."

The implication your making here is that Shopsmith knows where to get a replacement but they simply aren't or are refusing to telling you. Have you considered Shopsmith might be same situation as you that they don't know where to get a replacement? Or that they are expending all kinds of time, money and energy seeking out a new manufacture? Or that they have found a manufacture and are in the process of testing the new switches to see if they in fact perform satisfactory?

Apparently there is a switch available from ACE hardware according to another thread and I believe JPG40504 has said he has found a possible source but is waiting until he tried one before telling everyone about them.

I really don't know Shopsmith's position on this situation but I think your implication that Shopsmith is withholding information is very presumptous and kind of hints of some type of wrong doing on Shopsmith's part.
That was my one and only objection to your post.

[dusty]

Does anyone know who the manufacturer is for the switch in 522384.

Anyone who might have one of these switches, I would appreciate a PM telling me what markings exist on that switch.