Shopsmith Forums

http://www.asksmittynow.com/SmittyClub.html

http://www.asksmittynow.com/personalizedhelp.html

you can go from there....

Ed
Did you join?
What do you think?
Ed in Tampa

Ed in Tampa wrote:Ed
Did you join?
What do you think?
Ed in Tampa

When it comes to tools or clubs, the tools always win.

Ed

reible wrote:When it comes to tools or clubs, the tools always win.

Ed

I take that to mean you didn't join.
I'm kinda like you but I would like to hear feedback from someone that did join.

Ed in Tampa

The phrase "one-time annual fee" is either redundant or a contradiction. I looked at the site and I need some questions answered such as who receives the money, are discounts already on top of e-mail specials, is this a way of gradually having owners pay for support, etc. Like Rieible, tools will trump clubs unless there is a distinct benefit offered.

BPR

For $9.99 this sounds like a real deal.

I'm waiting to hear whether this is an "annual" fee or a "one time" fee before I decide.

On Demand Consultation - is this included in the membership or is there an additional charge when used? Reference "Personal Phone Consulation" for the "best $20.00 you spend" http://www.asksmittynow.com/personalizedhelp.html

One of the questions I have is, why does this guy have such a hard time telling us his name? He's eager to tell us about his Shopsmith experience so his identity is reasonably transparent to folks who have been around Shopsmith for a time -- either Mike Young or Bill Childress -- yet he won't divulge a name to the people he is asking to join his "club" other than "Smitty." Furthermore, there is no mailing address; no indication that there is any physical place of business. This makes it smell like a scam. And I certainly was surprised that Mike/Bill fired a broadside at "...archaic user's forums..." -- plainly a reference to us. Not exactly the most intelligent way to court Shopsmith's most vocal supporters.

I'll ask around Shopsmith tomorrow and see if anyone knows what is going on and how Shopsmith is involved. Given the prominent display of our logo and the use of the trademarked moniker, "Ask Smitty," I presume that we must have licensed this. But this is the first I have heard of it.

As for the $20 to get your woodworking questions answered, Drew and I do that for free, folks. But Drew tells me that if you want to make a donation to the Buy-Drew-A-Lap-Steel-Guitar Foundation, your generosity would be most appreciated. As for me, I'm good. Archaic, perhaps, but good nonetheless.

With all good wishes,

Look at ebay item number 290204552968

Item location:BOISE, ID, United States
sellers name:

youngstr208is
For what its worth.

Yep, it's Mike Young. Same photography in his Ebay advertisement as is on the Ask Smitty web site. And $300 is quite a deal, especially since his shipping and handling are free. And he's pretty much promising that he himself will show up, since the service offered is for instruction "by 25 year Veteran Shopsmith employee." Not too many people fit that bill -- you have to be pretty archaic. I'm not sure I could ship myself across Ohio and back for $300, let alone crossing several states as big as Idaho. I suggest we all chip in a few bucks and have Ed in Tampa bid on this and see if Mike leaves Idaho and comes to Florida as promised.

With all good wishes,

There are a lot of ebay sellers that violate Shopsmith's copywrites, but this is about as blatent as it gets.

He reminds me of the guys in Eastern Europe and Nigeria who cook up all those schemes in an effort to get into our bank accounts.