Shopsmith Forums

If SS were to drop the power pro DIY to around $1,200, I think they would see a significant increase in business. This might be below their profit point, but I have a feeling cost to them is around $900.

Another option is to offer a Groupon. It's a group coupon that the seller can specify any terms they want. Example: Powerpro DIY kit for $1,199 plus shipping : requires 20 buyers. This would allow shopsmith to only honor that price if 20 people bought it within the allotted time. This would also let them keep their regular price on normal purchases.

Another option would be to offer something else of actual value and I'm not talking about a single way tube cut in half The gift card promotion was a good idea, but not enough value. You could also offer a free double-tilt kit. Or half off any accessory.

This is all speculation as Shopsmith may be selling plenty of powerpros... maybe.

joshh wrote:If SS were to drop the power pro DIY to around $1,200, I think they would see a significant increase in business. This might be below their profit point, but I have a feeling cost to them is around $900.

Another option is to offer a Groupon. It's a group coupon that the seller can specify any terms they want. Example: Powerpro DIY kit for $1,199 plus shipping : requires 20 buyers. This would allow shopsmith to only honor that price if 20 people bought it within the allotted time. This would also let them keep their regular price on normal purchases.

Another option would be to offer something else of actual value and I'm not talking about a single way tube cut in half The gift card promotion was a good idea, but not enough value. You could also offer a free double-tilt kit. Or half off any accessory.

This is all speculation as Shopsmith may be selling plenty of powerpros... maybe.

First if the cost of PP DIY was $900 SS would not be selling PP diy for $1509. Traditionally merchants and especially manufactures set their retail prices at least double the cost to cover overhead and everything else required to do business and include a profit.

Then in the last 20 or 30 years this has, slowly or quickly depending on your perspective, changed to three times cost for the exact same reasons and a little greed thrown in. Some products you are actually paying 5 times the initial cost of the product.

You do the math.

I like the groupon method but the problem here is time. How long would it take to get 20 committed buyers? And what happens if during the time a serious negative change of ecomonic status occurred for one of the buyers, do you leave them off the hook or charge a penalty or force them to follow through their commitment? Of course the last two options can turn into a public relations nightmare.

i like the idea of the PP upgrade but the cost difference between the DIY and complete units would have to be more for me to bite the bullet on one any time soon.

I am all about groupons though, time limits can be whatever the vendor wants them to be. I dont know their cost models but word of mouth seems to be a big deal in the SS world. Getting 20 of them out there might make sense, especially if you somehow tie the discount to the forums so that forum members would be sure to be online bragging about their new toy!

Shop Deputy is an interesting idea. At the risk of asking a dumb question, would the drill press work with a SD style base? Would it make sense? I like the look of the SS steel cabinets with a SD on top that could tilt up into drill press mode too.

tomsalwasser wrote:Shop Deputy is an interesting idea. At the risk of asking a dumb question, would the drill press work with a SD style base? Would it make sense? I like the look of the SS steel cabinets with a SD on top that could tilt up into drill press mode too.

What would you use to set the workpiece on?

Where ya gonna get very short bits?





It Ain't long enough unless you use an external work table. Then get some knee pads.

Sounds like you had altogether too much fun with your reply...but thank you!

tomsalwasser wrote:Sounds like you had altogether too much fun with your reply...but thank you!

I am laughing WITH you as you laugh at yourself!;)




I have self addressed DUH! moments often.



Tis impossible to have too much fun. Just do not consider anything I post as ridicule. We are all too 'human'.