On Tue, 22 Jun 2004 22:50:11 GMT, wmbjk
wrote:

On Tue, 22 Jun 2004 17:35:25 -0400, Jeff Wisnia
wrote:


I certainly wouldn't blame you for deciding never to buy from them
again, but denigrating the company on this newsgroup isn't really going
to accomplish much other that letting you blow off some steam.

Disagree. Assuming the details are correct, his post offers a heads-up
to others. We now know that the company sells models they don't check
out very well, and makes satisfaction promises they won't honor.
Half-off a new machine after three years might have been a bit much to
hope for, but the company's opinion that free shipping on a new
machine represented meaningful compensation is... at the very least
worth knowing about.

I got a laugh out of the quoted ad - "Smithy's are the highest-quality
multi-use benchtop machine tools in the world." "Smithy
Lathe-Mill-Drill machines offer the professional-quality precision and
performance of three machines in one." "When we say theses machines
are versatile, we mean it!" "You get the best machine: finest quality
and high accuracy." "These machines are what we do and we will take
care of you. You have our promise."

Contrast that with one of HF's silver-tongued claims about a similar
(but much cheaper) machine - "Every plumber needs one of these". :-)

Wayne
It seems to me, that if the ad really did say what the OP said it did,
the OP may have a case in small claims court. Especially because
Smithy said that they used descriptions that were false. I know 3
years seems like a long time to find out that the machine is the
problem and not the operator. But since the OP was just beginning and
his only experience for the 3 years is on the crappy machine he may
have a case in small claims court. I'd take it to court and see what
the judge says. As far as posting about the quality of the machine and
how it was represented it makes perfect sense to post here. Lots of
new metalworkers read this group and they can see that a company that
is selling an item they might be interested in doesn't always tell the
truth. That they misrepresent the products they sell. And if they were
doing it three years ago and made money why would they change?
Eric R Snow,
Who doesn't always make good parts, but only lets good ones out the
door.