Shopsmith Forums

Posted: **Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:29 am**

This turned out to be a software problem on my computer. It was preventing parts of the site from being displayed including the add to cart button. I had ordered from Shopsmith before using the web site and it had always been this way. When I sent them an email about it I got no response and I assumed that was the way they wanted it. After several members pointed out that they did not have a problem and there was indeed an add to cart button I did some deep trouble shooting and discovered that the software was preventing the add to cart button from being displayed. This has been fixed and last nigh I was able to place an order with no issues minus the strip sander I had wanted to purchase while it was on sale.

None of this explains why I could not get through the checkout process without my shopping cart getting emptied. Shopsmith offered to honor the sale price if I would call them by 4:00. I have a day job and didn't see the email until it was way to late to call.

So part of the problem was actually on my side. Why the shopping cart got emptied is still a mystery. It worked fine last night. I was aggravated when I gave up and went to bed because my shopping cart contents got dumped and was still aggravated about it when I got up the next morning when I posted this.

My apologies to Shopsmith for blaming them for something that wasn't their fault.

I edited this here because as seems to be the norm here the thread has wandered off topic.

My original post.
================================

I don't know who designed Shopsmith's web site but its a mess. Their ordering system is terrible. Every time I try to use it I have trouble.

I have placed orders before and was trying to place an order and could not remember how I did it. I had to search with Google to find out. This is crazy. I should be able to find what I want and click on an add to cart button. As far as I can tell there isn't anywhere on shopsmith.com where I can do this. I have to go to a quick order page that is hid so well I must use Google to find it. Then I have to type in the part numbers and amounts. Quick order? I think not. Who dreamed this up.

With lots of copy and paste I finally get everything ($445.00 approximately) I want to order in the shopping cart and I can't get past the stage where you enter you information. When I put in my user id and phone it tells me one of them is invalid and the content that was already put in the form by firefox was deleted. While trying to figure this out I saw something that made me think I needed to login with my account. Even with Google's help I can't find anywhere to login. Then I discover that my cart is empty. This must have worked before because I have ordered off the site before.

I'm not a techtard. I was on the internet before there was a web and there was no public access. I have built web servers and web farms from scratch for a living. I place orders online several times a month every month. I know my userid and password they are stored in an encrypted password safe in multiple locations. The chances of getting my id wrong are slim to none and I certainly know my phone number. If I am having problems ordering from the Shopsmith site, I can't imagine what it would be like if I were a grandparent who was given their computer so I could see pictures of my grandchildren.

It's not the 1950s. I don't want to take time off at work and call Shopsmith and try to place an order from a scrap of paper with some numbers scribble on it. I want to place orders from any device I can connect to the internet with be it a desktop computer or any mobile internet connected device. I want it easy and convenient. Most of all I want it to work.

I don't see any reason why I should not be able to click a link in my email that puts the sale item in my shopping cart. Instead, clicking "Click Here To Order" takes me to a page that I can't place an order from.

So my $445.00 (approximately) order didn't get placed. I missed the special pricing on the strip sander and wasted a lot of time and effort.

Shopsmith are you listening? Please fix you web site!

Posted: **Wed Apr 11, 2012 8:37 am**

rlkeeney wrote:I don't know who designed Shopsmith's web site but its a mess. Their ordering system is terrible. Every time I try to use it I have trouble.

I have placed orders before and was trying to place an order and could not remember how I did it. I had to search with Google to find out. This is crazy. I should be able to find what I want and click on an add to cart button. As far as I can tell there isn't anywhere on shopsmith.com where I can do this. I have to go to a quick order page that is hid so well I must use Google to find it. Then I have to type in the part numbers and amounts. Quick order? I think not. Who dreamed this up.

With lots of copy and paste I finally get everything ($445.00 approximately) I want to order in the shopping cart and I can't get past the stage where you enter you information. When I put in my user id and phone it tells me one of them is invalid and the content that was already put in the form by firefox was deleted. While trying to figure this out I saw something that made me think I needed to login with my account. Even with Google's help I can't find anywhere to login. Then I discover that my cart is empty. This must have worked before because I have ordered off the site before.

I'm not a techtard. I was on the internet before there was a web and there was no public access. I have built web servers and web farms from scratch for a living. I place orders online several times a month every month. I know my userid and password they are stored in an encrypted password safe in multiple locations. The chances of getting my id wrong are slim to none and I certainly know my phone number. If I am having problems ordering from the Shopsmith site, I can't imagine what it would be like if I were a grandparent who was given their computer so I could see pictures of my grandchildren.

It's not the 1950s. I don't want to take time off at work and call Shopsmith and try to place an order from a scrap of paper with some numbers scribble on it. I want to place orders from any device I can connect to the internet with be it a desktop computer or any mobile internet connected device. I want it easy and convenient. Most of all I want it to work.

I don't see any reason why I should not be able to click a link in my email that puts the sale item in my shopping cart. Instead, clicking "Click Here To Order" takes me to a page that I can't place an order from.

So my $445.00 (approximately) order didn't get placed. I missed the special pricing on the strip sander and wasted a lot of time and effort.

Shopsmith are you listening? Please fix you web site!

What? I do not understand how you could have a problem.

There are multiple ways to place an order.

Here is one.

Log on to shopsmith.com. Click on Products up pops a drop down menu. Click on Product Index. Behold, you have a generic index. Click on anything you want and up comes an item description. Go to bottom of that page and click on Add to Cart. Up pops another page. Click on Check Out and there is a detail of what you have just ordered. Continue to shop or check out. What could be easier.

I know this works because I just ordered a Mark 7 as I was writing this post. Unfortunately, I removed it from my shopping cart before logging off shopsmith.com.

Posted: **Wed Apr 11, 2012 8:56 am**

I am fairly new to the world of Shopsmith. I have to think the simple fact is that there are not big bucks available to upgrade the web site. I get frustrated moving around in the catalog area, but it keeps me smiling...much like the Nick videos that will not be up for an emmy, but are sure better than nothing.

Before I bought my SS I went on their site and nosed around...was not wowed, but was able to muck around on it. I've ordered on line and on the phone and both have worked without major problems. Would be nice to have a wish list, etc, but I sure do not want to see this LLC disappear ! Look for the positive and smile when you are able to order the mostly American made items from them...
Just my 2c...

Posted: **Wed Apr 11, 2012 9:39 am**

Seems to work for me.

Posted: **Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:43 am**

Unlike rlkeeney, I am a computer moron. I'm one of those people that dreads the day my computer acts up, for fear of not knowing what to do with it.
That being said, I just received an order the other day that I very easily and conveniently placed on line.
My only whine is that the shipping was way overpriced and that I could have driven to Ohio and back in the time it took to get the damned order. Yes, they had all the parts in stock.

Posted: **Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:48 am**

wiredone wrote:Unlike rlkeeney, I am a computer moron. I'm one of those people that dreads the day my computer acts up, for fear of not knowing what to do with it.
That being said, I just received an order the other day that I very easily and conveniently placed on line.
My only whine is that the shipping was way overpriced and that I could have driven to Ohio and back in the time it took to get the damned order. Yes, they had all the parts in stock.

Now tell me. How long did it really take (from the day you placed the order til the day you replaced the order) to get parts in hand?

Did you track it through the shipping channels?

Was it held at Shopsmith for days after you ordered?

I have never placed an order, that had no back orders, that took more than 6 days to receive.

Posted: **Wed Apr 11, 2012 11:14 am**

Seriously, it took 8 days to get here. That's ridiculous. The chagrining part is that The parts were small, waaay small, and the shipping was almost 13 bucks.
Yes I know that shipping rates have climbed, but that's just gouging.
I ship daily and use the US Postal service online with excellent results,( and a great savings to boot.) The fast service and value makes my customers very happy, and they let me know. I like that. It makes it easier to do business when you get good reviews like that.
The bottom line is that ShopSmith needs to step-up and do the smart thing.
They could have put my package in one of the Postal Services Small-Flat Rate boxes and shipped it for less than $6.00 and had it here in two days. (hell the post office even supplies the boxes free, and ships them to your door! )
I won't apologize for my gripes, they are well founded. So now, I hesitate to order from the mothership. My experience was negative. I run a mail-order type business and unhappy customers do not make well for my business. Simple business fact.

Posted: **Wed Apr 11, 2012 11:26 am**

wiredone wrote:Seriously, it took 8 days to get here. That's ridiculous. The chagrining part is that The parts were small, waaay small, and the shipping was almost 13 bucks.
Yes I know that shipping rates have climbed, but that's just gouging.
I ship daily and use the US Postal service online with excellent results,( and a great savings to boot.) The fast service and value makes my customers very happy, and they let me know. I like that. It makes it easier to do business when you get good reviews like that.
The bottom line is that ShopSmith needs to step-up and do the smart thing.
They could have put my package in one of the Postal Services Small-Flat Rate boxes and shipped it for less than $6.00 and had it here in two days. (hell the post office even supplies the boxes free, and ships them to your door! )
I won't apologize for my gripes, they are well founded. So now, I hesitate to order from the mothership. My experience was negative. I run a mail-order type business and unhappy customers do not make well for my business. Simple business fact.

I agree that shipping costs seem high and that eight days seems excessive for shipments within the CONUS but who consumed that time. I'd be willing to bet it was the carrier and not Shopsmith.

You say you ship as part of your own business and that you use USPS. Have you tried shipping a motor or a headstock or a pair of way tubes via USPS. Have you tried shipping 500 orders at a time.

Be fair. If you are going to compare - compare apples to apples.

At the same time I defend, I also wonder why Shopsmith does not offer us a choice of shipping methods that includes USPS. Actually, when an order fits the USPS Flat Rate Criteria, I wonder why they don't just ship that way.

Posted: **Wed Apr 11, 2012 11:29 am**

I just made a order from Rockler. From the time I ordered to the day it was delivered was 3 days, with free shipping for order over $25.00. They have always had fast shipping. We have a Rockler reseller here but with free shipping why use the gas to drive there.

Posted: **Wed Apr 11, 2012 11:36 am**

Yes, I have had occasion to ship big bulky stuff, BMW motorcycle engines, transmissions, frames, ShopSmith parts, AND I used to manage a motorcycle dealers parts department and mail order house that shipped small to big items daily and all over the world. We sometimes went over the 100 package a day goal we set for the sales team. We learned how to ship effectively.
ShopSmith could take a few lessons in the "customer first" principle of retailing.
From the rediculous shipping to the lousy attitude on the phone last month from Dave, I'm not impressed.
If Dave had worked for me, he would have spent some time in my office re-evaluating weather or not he was suited for his job, or just needed a vacation.
I am available for consulting work ShopSmith, if you're listening. Seriously.
Robert

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