Shopsmith Forums

I hear your frustration. I recently ordered a riving knife. It was available. I paid the $13.50 to get it quicker. It took 13 days for me to get it. I continuously checked the status of the order and a week after I placed my order riving knives were on back order.
I talked with customer service to get the difference in shipping costs refunded to me and was told that I would be refunded. I haven't been yet.
I'm not too happy with SS right now.

It's good and fine to vent sometimes!

Friday I was cussing a blue streak in my shop. Just getting it all out.

Interesting story, my 2010-vintage PowerPro in recent weeks had the 900rpm button quit working. Basically the 900-button did exactly what the "off" button does. I was adding this worry to many others.

A 'small voice' seemed to come, and I put the rig up in drill-press position. Rather than take apart the whole thing, I just "laid hands" on the control panel protrusion, gently flexing it. The 900 rpm button has been working ever since. It felt like an episode from Forrest Gump!

nuhobby wrote:It's good and fine to vent sometimes!

Friday I was cussing a blue streak in my shop. Just getting it all out.

Interesting story, my 2010-vintage PowerPro in recent weeks had the 900rpm button quit working. Basically the 900-button did exactly what the "off" button does. I was adding this worry to many others.

A 'small voice' seemed to come, and I put the rig up in drill-press position. Rather than take apart the whole thing, I just "laid hands" on the control panel protrusion, gently flexing it. The 900 rpm button has been working ever since. It felt like an episode from Forrest Gump!

I am pleased that your machine seems to be working again and I hope that it continues to do so. However, this sort of intermittency just scares me to death. If I had access to the technical data and could work on it without concern for the warranty, I would feel better about buying a PowerPro. BUT, I don't have that freedom, therefore, I remain reluctant to take that plunge.

It is my opinion that Shopsmith is far enough into full scale production to have resolved these issues and yet they keep occurring.

Then you add to this the delays that others have had in their shipments. This all means something and I am skeptical.

I ordered the 3" wheel upgrade day before yesterday. Guess what! It is on back order. I really like what the one set I( have did for mobility and I regret that I did not buy four sets then. Now, here I am on a back order list.

There have been a lot of complaints from members of the shopsmith owners group on fb also. Being on back order is one thing but what seems to be a habit is customer service keeps telling people one day after another. IMO just be straight up with your customers and say you don’t know when an item will be back in stock. I know myself I placed an order back in November and was told one of the items were on backorder and would be in next week (at that time). A couple weeks ago I canceled my order as it still wasn’t available. If they told me that a particular item won’t be available until March then I’d be more ok with that, instead of telling me one thing and then it being different.

ME TOO. I'm so pissed! I ordered the control sheave assy for my Mark 5 on 12/24 and all I get from Shopsmith is a bunch of crappola!! Obviously I'm dead in the water without this part. How is a reputable company so 'out of stock, should ship in a few days'? BS

Hobbyman2 wrote:

masonsailor2 wrote:I will have to chime in here. I have had a new quill assembly on order since 11/19/2017 and still no word on a possible ship date. It’s getting a little frustrating.
Paul

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They told me my new quill should be here in the middle of next month cross your fingers, dad seems to think they wait until they get so many orders and the they order them made, if so thats a good way to lose customers or drive them to another company , in any case if they make it here by then I will be happy . very few business warehouse any thing now , its all just in time delivery .

then again we are talking about ,,,,my parts,,,,for a machine that was made years ago, try to buy a factory fresh water pump for a model A .

I sort of agree while at the same time do not.

What I really do not care for is being told one thing only to discover that to be way wrong. If they cannot deliver something that has been ordered, they should give a truthful expectation date. Do not try to mislead me. Very few things that I order from Shopsmith can be purchased elsewhere - so I have to wait.

However, advertising "overstock" or "specials" that they cannot deliver is inexcusable UNLESS the advertisement makes that clear.

+1 agree

Here is the response I received when I asked about my November order.

​“Hello,
​I have checked your order and I see that the crosscutter is on backorder and unfortunately I do not see an exact date for shipment but I have sent an email to production and shipping to see when it will be shipped and I will either call or email you once if find out any info. Sorry for the delays and frustration this wait has caused you but we are working towards finding the answer for your order concerns.”

I’ll give them credit for stating that they don’t know, but wonder how can they offer “another” special for the same item when they don’t know when they will be receiving them.

Maybe, just a SWAG, or a question, does accounting for a business look better if if they have “orders” on the books? I don’t know accounting but assume, an order, even if back ordered would be better than unsold inventory.

E-Mail?

Internal communication?

They do not use telephones any more?

They do not talk directly and timely?

Waiting for someone to respond to an e-mail is NOT IMHO seeking an answer, but is passing he buck.