Is the Powerpro coming?

moose · Post by **moose** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 11:08 am

Ed......I really agree 100%. I also fondly remember the Atlanta store so well. There was a craft store across the parking lot that my wife loved to shop in which gave me every excuese to take her there. It still saddens me when I pull into that shopping center. Somehow within the next few years, I really feel someting good is going to happen with Shopsmith.

Ashbury

backhertz · Post by **backhertz** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 5:42 pm

I think retail stores are something of the past. I was tickled pink when I saw that Lowes would have one of the traveling demo shows near me. I went there are 1 PM. The guy had just sold a customer one of just about everything- the order was over well over $5K. I was there to see him show me a couple things. He asked me if I minded if he took a lunch break. I didn't mind & I stayed looking at the tools and one of the catalogs. During the 45 minutes I was there, not one person came over to the display which was set up by the front door. I could see the writing on the wall. I think you either have an interest in woodworking or not. I see so many younger people who are clueless in even changing the oil on their car let alone use a hand tool. Perhaps it is just the times. I would think with the economy as weak as it is, people would be doing more for themselves. But fortunately, there will always be those people who want to do things themselves and it's incumbant on us to pass it on to them. They may not have time or the space to do it if they are in their 20's, but once they are settled down, have a place to work, I think they will be looking for a something like a used Shopsmith to use. I got my frst one from my father who used his maybe twice and then it sat until my parents sold their house & moved to Florida. Used Shopsmiths are plentiful and like one of the threads stated, we can still get parts for them. I truly believe the PowerPro will help bring Shopsmith back on its feet. I'm just hoping the cost is reasonable. I've made a couple of DC motor conversions with old treadmill motors I got off of Ebay. They fit my 10ER perfectly. It's my Model Vs that I would like to upgrade. If this Power Pro comes as a kit upgrade, I might just buy 3 of them, but I would settle for just one. One would think Shopsmith might take some preorders to help them raise some money. But I am sure it will be worth the wait as most good things are worth waiting for.

iclark · Post by **iclark** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 6:26 pm

when the local Lowes was going to do a SS demo, they set up a machine (probably a 520) at the entrance a week or so before the demo. I took one look at the price tag and went away shaking my head. I didn't bother to show up for the demo because it was so far out of my price range. it wasn't until I had a need that I could not meet well with my existing tools (drilling the bottom of a 15' stair rail) that I wound up buying a used 500 from a co-worker who had gotten old enough to start reducing his tools. if one of my co-workers or friends had had a radial drill press, I probably never would have gotten the SS bug.

there are a lot of advantages in a SS, but when you are just setting up a shop, it is hard to spring for over $3K for a single tool when I can get a really good contractor saw for $400 or a 12" sliding mitre saw for $400 from Costco.

I definitely agree with the other comments here that people going to Lowes or Home Depot are generally not the right target audience at the SS price. Getting the unit into Woodcraft and/or Rockler with the new powerpro head would be trying to sell it to people who are already looking at spending Festool-level prices for woodworking tools.

of course, that's just my opinion: I could be wrong.
Ivan

rkh2 · Post by **rkh2** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 8:31 pm

Seems like this thread has drifted a little but I will go ahead and add my few cents worth. I think that trying to sell the SS at the big box stores (Lowes, Home Depot) is not very productive. Working at a Home Depot, I observe that most folks shopping for woodworking tools whether it be a table saw or power tools or other hand tools are looking for what they can get at the lowest price possible. Many of them are new to woodworking and do not really have a clue to what they need for what they are trying to do. Every opportunity I get to tell them about my SS and what I can do with it and try to explain that yes it is more costly but all the capabilities it has plus the quality of its manufacturing and the quality of the end result from what it will produce compared to an inexpensive tool. Selling the SS in a woodcraft, rockler or other wood working store would definitely be a better avenue as they have folks more knowledgeable about what one needs to be successful in their projects. Even then, in my opinion what really sells the SS is a longer demonstration such as what the TA's were. I'll admit I bought mine before ever going to a TA, but had seen several demos in many different places and thus got much exposure to the SS. I think that once a person sees all that a SS can do and especially one that doesn't have room for a shop full of stationary tools then by seeing its capabilities and advantages can definitely help the potential buyer into becoming a customer. Having taking many classes at my local Woodcraft Store, I can pretty much do anything on my SS that the instructors at the store demonstrated using the tools they are trying to sell. We on this forum can be a great sales tool for SS, as when we share our projects with friends & relatives and invite them to see how we create the projects they compliment us on then we could be very influential in possibly providing a new customer to SS. Well, that's about over my few cents worth so will leave it at that.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 8:46 pm

I agree that Shopsmith marketing in a big box is not likely to be successful. Furthermore, I suspect that Shopsmith marketing folks have also come to that conclusion. Yah, I know, just speculation.

However, Shopsmith used to sell out of Woodcraft too. That is where I bought mine when I was in Dallas after watching the demos about six times at the Texas State Fair.

ryanbp01 · Post by **ryanbp01** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 9:35 am

Does anyone out there know what the typical retail markup is when a tool is sold through a store rather than buying from the manufacturer?

BPR

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 10:53 am

ryanbp01 wrote:Does anyone out there know what the typical retail markup is when a tool is sold through a store rather than buying from the manufacturer?

BPR

I would say it depends upon what retail store AND what manufacturer. i.e. It varies!

SS selling direct would be an ISSUE for some retailers.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 12:13 pm

ryanbp01 wrote:Does anyone out there know what the typical retail markup is when a tool is sold through a store rather than buying from the manufacturer?

BPR

NO, I do not know but if you are really interested you could do a price comparison study of those items that are sold by aWoodcraft retail outlet versus what is available through a catalog like Rockler.

But think about it - both would purchase goods at a price at or less than wholesale and would markup to make a profit. The two could be very similar.

cincinnati · Post by **cincinnati** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 4:22 pm

ryanbp01 wrote:Does anyone out there know what the typical retail markup is when a tool is sold through a store rather than buying from the manufacturer?

BPR

On name brand equipment it's about 7%. Harbor Freight stuff is about 50%.
Retailers make way more money on no-name or store brand stuff.
Ever notice how retailers are always saying "Buy our brand and save money"
It's not because they want to save "you" money.
To compare. a discount retail store has about a 18 to 20% mark overall. If a retailer can make 30% overall they are doing very well.

Exception is Festool. I don't know their mark up but know it is high. The stuff is expensive and most woodworking dealers now stock the line. That screams of higher profit.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 9:06 pm

cincinnati wrote:On name brand equipment it's about 7%. Harbor Freight stuff is about 50%.
Retailers make way more money on no-name or store brand stuff.
Ever notice how retailers are always saying "Buy our brand and save money"
It's not because they want to save "you" money.
To compare. a discount retail store has about a 18 to 20% mark overall. If a retailer can make 30% overall they are doing very well.

Exception is Festool. I don't know their mark up but know it is high. The stuff is expensive and most woodworking dealers now stock the line. That screams of higher profit.

10% of $300 = 30% of $100 Which one would YOU stock(assuming they BOTH sell equally well)?