Grizzly's history    Another interesting video.  Danl

 

 

 

At nearly 1/2 hour, I will watch it later.  Thanks for posting it up!

3 hours ago, Cal said:

At nearly 1/2 hour, I will watch it later.  Thanks for posting it up!

Empty sack.  Ego production.  CEO thinks people want to see his face and hear him talk, because his ego is bigger than us all.  Tomorrow he'll sell the whole thing, fire all the workers, if it makes him an extra buck.

 

Me?  Suspicious?  Jaded?  Pessimistic?   I been through the barrel, have no regrets, have no expectations.  Griz isn't unique, you can buy the same stuff pretty much anywhere.  Good as any, better than some.

Thanks Danl for posting that. I and my wife took a large trailer behind my pickup in 1999 or 2000 and spent a day going through Grizzly's humongous display there in Springfield. Mo and tried out everything that was on our list to buy that day. I was certainly impressed with everyone in that warehouse for knowing what they had to sell and all the info each machine possessed differently from the other models... but mostly what happened after we got home and had set up all the new machines out of the boxes....

  In the weeks that followed I realized I made a slight mistake for the bandsaw I brought home was not quite large enough for what I had in mind before I brought it home..I called Grizzly and told them and I ask if I could trade it for a larger model and they said no problem just bring it back and pick out the one I wanted....I took it back myself and chose a few steps up in size and they said no restocking fee just the difference in price is all we want!!! Yes it had been used almost every day for three or four weeks but no restocking fees.  ....Also while I was there I bought a remote control starter for the dust collector that was sitting outside a couple of walls in another room... Well it worked almost a year before it quit working so I called Grizzly and they said send it back... I did and they sent a new one and the invoice said balance zero....

  Then reading PeteM's  post I just had to tell how I was treated... Pete what did they do to you to turn you into a monster in that you sound like the whole world has it out for you. I'm sorry you feel that way. If I may say and don't get up set but I bet your loved ones are not real happy being around you with your attitude...

    I asked grizzly if I should pay for the used blade I returned that day and they said the machine would go on to the floor and be another demonstrator.

  And by the way, that remote starter for the dust extractor is still running now for almost 20 years, not all day long every day but has never refused to start when I press the button... I have a complete shop with all the machines in the green colors and not any problem with any of them since I brought the larger bandsaw home...

  In 1960 and few days after I was out of the army I was buying a car from the chevy house and this salesman said you are in luck today for you just said you want to get back into wood working and am needing a whole shop full of equipment....It just so happens wife and I have just bought a new house and there is no shop for my wood working equipment and I will make you a bargain for I don't think putting them in a storage unit is the thing to do...I ask what he had and he said every thing Sears has to offer I own it.... so guys I went from Dec. 1960 to 1999 using Sears tools. These Sears tools were used when I bought them. And after reading some guys not happy with Sears tools...and I decided some folks might not be happy with any thing when having to work with their hands. Kinda like I would not be happy having to work in an office all day long every day, terrible..

  There was one thing I didn't like about Sears table saws was their fence systems back then....

I have a friend down in Yuma who can easily afford any tool he wants. He's a woodworking machine rehab addict. But, all of his new tools are Grizzlys. I too, have had the pleasure of touring the Grizzly show room in Springfield. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that my Yuma buddie's Grizzly tool collection rivals that showroom. Needless to say, he's a big fan. I think they like him, as well.

Gene when we were there they had a very big assortment of someones wood turnings on display in the middle of the Springfield store... The largest wood turned vases I  have ever seen and containers which probably have a special name.....but not being a turner I don't know but there must have been a couple hundred items in that group... They said they have somebodies stuff on display all the time. Its great that a company will use that much floor space to let people see what their products could do.

Have own several Grizzly tools, never had an issue with them, and have had for quite some time.  Cannot speak to my own experience with Customer Service as I have never called or had need to call about anything.  

I have a bandsaw, Tablesaw and compressor. Did have some problems with compressor and they sent me three switches at no cost. Still did not fix it but I found a work around as the compressor was discontinued at the time. Every time I have called tech support they quickly handle whatever the problem might be.

I’m not a fan, at all.  A couple of years ago, they posted an incredible sale on a “15 inch planer.  The pricing was clearly a mistake on their site and rather than honoring the ad, they blew me off.  No alternate offer, no apology, no explanation, nothing.  I’d buy Craftsman before I’d buy anything from Grizzly.  

I don't know the man or his tools, but after watching that only ONE thing stuck with me:   he said:

 

TAIWAN - CHINA

 

Now, to me, it's either one or the other, but not both.   I'm sorry the gutless rabbits in Washington refuse to fully recognize Taiwan, but....   Hey, that's just me.   I haven't considered it part of China in my lifetime. 

Amen to that.  And, to promise to cut out the drills between our military and those of South Korea that has been working so well since the truce was put into place.  Yes, it makes my blood boil.  I know from first hand experience how important the drills are so that we can know how to interface with the friendly military.  We learned how important it was between ships company and the air wing before we sailed into Vietnam.  We had to get our lingo and procedures fine tuned.  You drill until it becomes an automatic response.  Even after 50 years, I remember so much of it.  And, it was great training.  Like you, I wish for Japan, the 2 Koreas, Taiwan and Philippines to remain as they are without the monster over taking them to make one China.  Just my 2 cents.  

Only in America------great story--- really admire such talent.

My shops is full of Grizzly tools. I worked for the Pa store until they closed down

and moved out.  I sure miss them. Like all like there Taiwan machines. China not

so much. I have one of the first large metal lathes that they sold. Love it. With out

getting up and looking i have at least 9 of there bigger metal/woodworking machines.

Like I said I sure miss them...

1 hour ago, Kevin Beitz said:

Like I said I sure miss them...

Well they still have two locations, but might be along drive.  For me, too long.  

I prefer reasonably priced American made machines. If that means used, so be it.

All my tools are so old that they were all made in the USA. Well, I do have a set of chisels made in Europe and rasps from Japan, as are my hand saws. But the machines that spin blades or bits are American made. 

54 minutes ago, CharlieL said:

If that means used, so be it.

Used is good.  I am not really into this payment thingy.  I have a mortgage but that about wraps it up.  Cash, or Free!!  

If I were younger, I would love to work for a company like this.  Either the IT department or assembly would be right up my alley.  Not going to move to tornado alley.  

56 minutes ago, FlGatorwood said:

Not going to move to tornado alley.  

Well there is that downside.

 

They have job openings here.  Deluxe accommodations.

 

 

 

If it's east of the continental divide and north of the Mason Dixon line, I'll pass.