Shopsmith Forums

I see a large quantity of Shopsmith things on Ebay.

I understand all the used items but I am talking about all the newer and boxed things.
Some sellers seen to have a large supply of Shopsmith stuff new and used.
Are these sellers with the new stuff connected with the factory some how?

Also I suspect a large amount of ghost bidding is taking place as well.
I have bought many things from this site and have bought from some sellers many times. I have been generally happy with the items purchased.

I do think the shipping is way to much and high shipping seems to affect Shopsmith sellers more than other sellers of items I have used.

Also is this Shopsmith Corp. using this selling format through third party agents as a alternate marketing channel??

RICK

onevw wrote:I see a large quantity of Shopsmith things on Ebay.

I understand all the used items but I am talking about all the newer and boxed things.
Some sellers seen to have a large supply of Shopsmith stuff new and used.
Are these sellers with the new stuff connected with the factory some how?

Also I suspect a large amount of ghost bidding is taking place as well.
I have bought many things from this site and have bought from some sellers many times. I have been generally happy with the items purchased.

I do think the shipping is way to much and high shipping seems to affect Shopsmith sellers more than other sellers of items I have used.

Also is this Shopsmith Corp. using this selling format through third party agents as a alternate marketing channel??

RICK

I have no way of knowing the answers to your questions regarding Shopsmith's marketing approach BUT does it make a difference. If you need it and the price is right - bid on it.

As for ghost bidding; I am not sure I know what that is BUT I do a lot of bidding at the very last minute. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

Shipping costs are part of the purchase price. If you don't take that into consideration BEFORE you bid...well...you go figure.

Then there are the new in a box items. Some people have all the luck.

If you understand how Shopsmith used to sell it makes a little more sense. Many demonstrations were held at malls and state fairs. Many people bought on impulse and didn't use all or most of the equipment. I'm not sure if they do it anymore, but they used to sell accessory packages when you bought machine too. You'll find that there are several people here who buy and resell items as a side business.

Shopsmith used to have multiple retail stores. I've bought things locally where the person was a tool collector who made small projects and never used most of his equipment. Multiple items were new in the box with price stickers from the local Shopsmith store that closed many, many years ago. I even received a Forrest Woodworker I blade and a Forrest Dado King with a Shopsmith that were never used. Between the two of them it is about $350 in saw blades.

Just a good reminder to all of us, that tools are meant to be used. I know there are things that I own that I need to start using and not keep for that "special project."

I bought a 500 about a year ago to test the waters of selling parts on eBay and to raise a little shop building money. (My verdict: The eBay/PayPal/USPS monopolies and their fees just wasn't worth the time and effort. But I digress.) Included with it were several items that had never been unboxed or used. A biscuit joiner, a couple disc sanders, router/shaper guard, and the sharpening guide (which I kept) are the only ones I remember right now.

I have often wondered, and several times in writing here, why Shopsmith doesn't set up an official eBay store. The market for Shopsmith parts already exists there, there are obviously people willing to pay "new" prices for "used" goods. I think they are missing out on an opportunity there.

I recently put us a heavy item and included free shipping and got no bids. I lowered the starting price by the cost of the shipping and charged shipping separately and got more watched, more views and an immediate bit. From my small sample I don't think people consider the cost of shipping when they bid.

paulmcohen wrote:I recently put us a heavy item and included free shipping and got no bids. I lowered the starting price by the cost of the shipping and charged shipping separately and got more watched, more views and an immediate bit. From my small sample I don't think people consider the cost of shipping when they bid.

My experience with eBay suggests that on a different week, you might have had the opposite results as above!!

paulmcohen wrote:I recently put us a heavy item and included free shipping and got no bids. I lowered the starting price by the cost of the shipping and charged shipping separately and got more watched, more views and an immediate bit. From my small sample I don't think people consider the cost of shipping when they bid.

You are probably right and from the looks of shipping charges that are being stated by many ebay sellers - sellers take advantage. Many shipping charges are down right larceny.

paulmcohen wrote:I recently put us a heavy item and included free shipping and got no bids. I lowered the starting price by the cost of the shipping and charged shipping separately and got more watched, more views and an immediate bit. From my small sample I don't think people consider the cost of shipping when they bid.

A fool and his $$ are soon parted!:eek:

dusty wrote:You are probably right and from the looks of shipping charges that are being stated by many ebay sellers - sellers take advantage. Many shipping charges are down right larceny.

Between $4 a gallon for gas, having to drive to the post office, and the increase in shipping costs they are no so unreasonable especially for Shopsmith stuff which tends to be heavy. Shopsmith charges a minimum of $7 for shipping even on a single screw which may seem unreasonable but it covers the human cost of doing the shipping.

I've found that after I've added in the shipping charges, I will only pay a few dollars more to order directly from ShopSmth, which I will not hesitate to do, for numerous reasons. The "larceny" comment is spot on. Ive sold a few items on ebay and the first thing I would do is stop into the post office and find out what the cheapest shipping options were and would advertise shippng accordingly, at cost, alas not all feel that way, or are not motivated to do some leg work.