Bandsaw Table email special

[billmayo]

Since Shopsmith went bankrupt and formed a new company last July, l would believe they have to pay cash for any parts they order. They do not stock any inventory as it is money setting on the shelf. They are using a process called "Just In Time" (JIT) assembly for their assembly of any parts, attachment or SPT.

Yes, I would believe they must have a few orders in hand before placing an external order. Again, excess inventory is money spent that is just setting on the shelf. Many US companies have went out of business these last few years. I know most of Shopsmith suppliers have gone out of business during this time so now, they have to find new suppliers that will work with them.

I would hope everyone understands just how tight money is for Shopsmith these days and realize most orders will take some time to fill. I am happy that they can still exist and be able to supply parts and equipment even with a long wait time.

[joedw00]

Speaking of E Mail specials, I always get two at the same time. They are for the same thing. If I add them together will I get 40% off? I just got two for Shopsmith MARK V Owners
SAVE 20% off Drilling & Boring Accessories

[wannabewoodworker]

Since Shopsmith went bankrupt and formed a new company last July, l would believe they have to pay cash for any parts they order. They do not stock any inventory as it is money setting on the shelf. They are using a process called "Just In Time" (JIT) assembly for their assembly of any parts, attachment or SPT.

Yes, I would believe they must have a few orders in hand before placing an external order. Again, excess inventory is money spent that is just setting on the shelf. Many US companies have went out of business these last few years. I know most of Shopsmith suppliers have gone out of business during this time so now, they have to find new suppliers that will work with them.

I would hope everyone understands just how tight money is for Shopsmith these days and realize most orders will take some time to fill. I am happy that they can still exist and be able to supply parts and equipment even with a long wait time.

Bill,
As stated previously I completely understand their predicament but they should not be hammering out these email specials every single day to us if they do not have the items available for immediate shipping it is deceiving at the very least and highly disappointing to someone like myself who had never ordered anything direct from Shopsmith in the past. The email special should contain some type of disclaimer alerting the customer to the fact that these specials are basically "wait and see how many people order and then we will place an order with our supplier" kind of deal. The woman told me on the phone that there were 20 KITS on back order that tells me that I will probably not see the table retrofit kit for months if I am lucky. She could not even give me a firm back order date as their system would not let her in when I called. She said call back later in the week to see if they had a better date on the back order fulfillment. I understand times are tough but if you cannot fulfill orders on a high penetration special immediately then you better think again about the idea of email specials.

[swampgator]

I don't know if I can make this any clearer, but will share my experience as a Production Controller for the Pensacola Naval Aviation Rework Facility (NARF) some years ago. We had many old test boxes built by Singer, HP, Bendix and many others. The company made X number of these units and a few support pieces for the out years. After these units were 10 or more years old, you had to have components manufactured. When you contact the mfg, you were told they would not do just a few, and a minimum was often 50. While we may not have needed that many, we had to purchase them to keep the fleet going. So, we obligated the money, told the mfg that we would buy 50, waited for them to tool up, produce and ship them and then we paid. By the time we closed in 1993, most of those items had been used up. But, we held the inventory instead of the company. Same as when the igniter went out on my GE central heat/air. Had a baby in the house and had to wait 3 days for a replacement came from a factory. That was in the 1970's.

My only commentary, God help us if we have another World war where we'll need supplies quickly and some unique items. The factories will have to tool up, man up to produce and then try to get them shipped to the point where the military takes over the inventory. The supply line is much too thin now that the military no longer has warehouses, but depends mostly, if not totally on private enterprise to supply JIT (just in time.).

[Ed in Tampa]

My only commentary, God help us if we have another World war where we'll need supplies quickly and some unique items. The factories will have to tool up, man up to produce and then try to get them shipped to the point where the military takes over the inventory. The supply line is much too thin now that the military no longer has warehouses, but depends mostly, if not totally on private enterprise to supply JIT (just in time.).

What factories?? Most have been torn down and sold as scrap.
I come from a town that had 10 miles of steel mills today there isn't a full mile left and it is being torn down and scrapped. In Cleveland Ohio there was a whole industrial district with 3 steel mills, fabrication plants, machines shops and various other industries. Today it is a Shopping center, park and recreational area.

My question is what factories are we going to tool up? They don't exist anymore.

[JPG]

I don't know if I can make this any clearer, but will share my experience as a Production Controller for the Pensacola Naval Aviation Rework Facility (NARF) some years ago. We had many old test boxes built by Singer, HP, Bendix and many others. The company made X number of these units and a few support pieces for the out years. After these units were 10 or more years old, you had to have components manufactured. When you contact the mfg, you were told they would not do just a few, and a minimum was often 50. While we may not have needed that many, we had to purchase them to keep the fleet going. So, we obligated the money, told the mfg that we would buy 50, waited for them to tool up, produce and ship them and then we paid. By the time we closed in 1993, most of those items had been used up. But, we held the inventory instead of the company. Same as when the igniter went out on my GE central heat/air. Had a baby in the house and had to wait 3 days for a replacement came from a factory. That was in the 1970's.

My only commentary, God help us if we have another World war where we'll need supplies quickly and some unique items. The factories will have to tool up, man up to produce and then try to get them shipped to the point where the military takes over the inventory. The supply line is much too thin now that the military no longer has warehouses, but depends mostly, if not totally on private enterprise to supply JIT (just in time.).

Not to worry! We will just get that stuff cheaper 'over seas'.:rolleyes::eek:

[swampgator]

Ed, you are right in that our factories are gone. I remember many of those factories in Cleveland, Toledo, Akron, Dayton and surrounding areas from the 1960's. It is sad to see all that gone. Same is true in Birmingham, AL and some other large cities. Our society has gone totally beserk on entertainment with cell phones, ipad, home theaters and such. All that is imported. What I can't understand how they afford such stuff working at flipping burgers and delivering pizzas. And, for one person makes as much as my buying local and American made as is possible for my wallet. That's why I am so happy to support old fashioned American companies like Shopsmith. Also, I know that not all Shopsmith items are made in America, but it is good quality and I'm sure that they will contract with any quality American company to build their parts. So, the ripple effect supports my countrymen and their families.

----Sorry about my rant. -------------------------------

Now, back to the military warehouses, the U. S. Navy had 9 major warehouses strategically around the country, plus one in Phillipines, Guam, Japan, Rota, Spain and a few others along the Atlantic coast. With the BRAC's of the 1980's and 1990's, we were cut down to 2 warehouses in CONUS, P. I. and Guam are gone and I'm not sure if we have any left in Europe. Army and Air Force cut down their warehouses, too, but I'm not sure of the numbers. Pensacola was a small warehouse supporting the Gulf Coast and Atlantic fleet when it was cut by the 1986 BRAC. The Pensacola warehouse was only 22 acres under roof and another 10 or so acres in lots. So, if we get into a war, we are not ready to defend ourselves. Our military training is downsized, our equipment is downsized, and our backup and support systems are now totally dependent on internet usage which can be taken in a blink. I spent 35 years supporting our military and watched over the years as it was built and then drawn down. The Homeporting spent billions of dollars only by 1986, it was withdrawn after the money was spent and we did not use any of the facilities that were built. This could go on, but this thread was about factories not having supplies on hand when they advertised. It costs many dollars to warehouse items that are not moving quickly, it costs to tool up and develop the manpower and expertise to manufacture items, and then there is shipping expenses. So, if I can guarantee you that I can sell 50 in 30 days, then we don't have to have warehouses, don't have to have anything after the 50 are built, can probably pull the molds out of the piles in the corner and the manpower can shift from one production to another temporarily and then onto something else. So with the current situations, we can all save money and pass some of that savings onto the consumer.

[swampgator]

Since I've already pretty much hijacked the thread, had a question. My old SS Bandsaw table has mitre slots for two directions. From what I see in the pix of the new bandsaw tables, there is only one mitre slot for going in the same direction of cutting. Is there a fence to go with the new table? The reason for this question is that I do use the old oak fence for guidance.

[jcraigie]

You want to see torn down factory areas? Come to Michigan. Lansing has an area downtown that is used to be a GM plant, the area is so large you can't see all the way across it, it is now just empty concrete lot. Detroit well I'm sure you've all heard about what it looks like.

[holsgo]

All that and California still bought a bridge made in China.
A whole bridge.
Shipped over.
Amazes me. I'll wait for, and hunt down US companies for everything I can. But, now that the Mexicans will be doing "in state" trucking, it will no doubt be delivered by outsourced labor.
Our kids and grandkids will have nothing left but service jobs.