Chris Friesen wrote:

Imagine applying those same standards to cars...

Your new car comes with the doors and wheels in separate packages.
You're expected to align your front end, adjust toe-in and camber,
adjust the brake calipers, balance your tires, and install the wheels
and doors.

Oh, and you have to undercoat it yourself, and a few of the lug nuts
were missing.

Chris

Some comments:

Once upon a time, there were tool dealers who actually delivered and set
up the stationary tools they sold. This is still done on some
production equipment and is still available for commercial customers.
The bigger and more expensive it is, the more likely this can happen.
Mail order and intense price competition killed on-site service for
typical home and small shop woodworking machines.

Dealers still prep cars for the retail purchaser. My employer buys
unprepped vehicles from GM and Ford. Te company gets to keep the
dealer's profit in exchange for the fleet mechanics prepping the
vehicles for service. Tool Crib and Grizzly are not coming to your
house to assemble a tool. G

An assembled stationary woodworking tool would never survive the trip
via typical common carrier. Would you be willing to pay $500-600, or
possibly more, in shipping to have the assembled and adjusted tool
carefully delivered by a moving company?

Barry