Edward Garrett
02-17-2009, 1:43 PM
Forgive the upcoming long e-mail...I just need to vent some of my heart-brake today....I think only fellow woodworkers can identify.
Several weeks ago I got the "blessing" from the LOML to begin the budgeting process for a lathe and all the fixins (in exchange for a vanity with turned legs, of course). I have been slowly doing my research here on SMC, I have read three books, researched lathes and got final approval on the budget request from the boss (LOML). ;) After a "neck and neck" race between the Jet 1642 EVS and the Grizzly G0632, I finally settled on the Grizzly. I became increasingly excited about my new tool and my new journey into turning....
So, after a long weekend with the in-laws, taking the kids skiing and re-flipping through the pages of my turning books, I was VERY EXCITED to head out on the 2-hour drive to Grizzly, PA this morning to get MY new lathe (this last day of vacation was "all mine" to get all set-up in my new endeavor). I built my order sheet on-line late last night (lathe, tools, sharpening system, etc.)....just one quick call to Grizzly at 8am to confirm what I needed was in-stock in Muncy, PA....and.... HORROR OF ALL HORRORS!!! Not only were there no G0632 in Muncy, PA, but there were NONE TO BE FOUND IN ALL OF THE US!! These lathes were on back-order until March 31st! I felt like an 8-year old who had found only a dirty sock and coal under the tree!!! In fact, had my wife and kids not been in the kitchen at the time, I might have actually started to cry....instead I just took a "moment alone" to gather my composure.
Just to be absolutely certain that I did not catch someone at Grizzly on an off-moment (I have lots of Grizzly stuff and love there tools, their customer service and their people), I called again to check the status, only to further learn that the actual back-orders would be filled first starting on 3/31 - and there were "lots" of backorders, making the wait for MY new lathe more like 8+ weeks!
**One note about me: now that I am committed to learning how to turn, I actually will lose sleep until that new lathe is in my shop. Waiting 8 weeks is NOT an option. Period.**
Sooo, in between looking for grief counseling today I have re-engaged my lathe search and am quickly justifying (after "deleting" some of my other turning accessories) the additional $425 for the Jet 1642 - which I actually have down to ~$270 after the +/- for taxes, cost of gas vs. free shipping, re-selling the "free" stuff from Jet, etc.
I am trying to "turn my frown upside down" as I often tell my 3-year old...NOW, I am just biting my nails over whether or not to jump up to the 2HP Jet - I have that down to a~$620 difference (maybe no golf weekend this year)....
Looks like all of my pain & suffering over the loss of my G0632 might just land me a new Jet 1642 2hp in the shop after all.....:D
Thanks for listening....
Several weeks ago I got the "blessing" from the LOML to begin the budgeting process for a lathe and all the fixins (in exchange for a vanity with turned legs, of course). I have been slowly doing my research here on SMC, I have read three books, researched lathes and got final approval on the budget request from the boss (LOML). ;) After a "neck and neck" race between the Jet 1642 EVS and the Grizzly G0632, I finally settled on the Grizzly. I became increasingly excited about my new tool and my new journey into turning....
So, after a long weekend with the in-laws, taking the kids skiing and re-flipping through the pages of my turning books, I was VERY EXCITED to head out on the 2-hour drive to Grizzly, PA this morning to get MY new lathe (this last day of vacation was "all mine" to get all set-up in my new endeavor). I built my order sheet on-line late last night (lathe, tools, sharpening system, etc.)....just one quick call to Grizzly at 8am to confirm what I needed was in-stock in Muncy, PA....and.... HORROR OF ALL HORRORS!!! Not only were there no G0632 in Muncy, PA, but there were NONE TO BE FOUND IN ALL OF THE US!! These lathes were on back-order until March 31st! I felt like an 8-year old who had found only a dirty sock and coal under the tree!!! In fact, had my wife and kids not been in the kitchen at the time, I might have actually started to cry....instead I just took a "moment alone" to gather my composure.
Just to be absolutely certain that I did not catch someone at Grizzly on an off-moment (I have lots of Grizzly stuff and love there tools, their customer service and their people), I called again to check the status, only to further learn that the actual back-orders would be filled first starting on 3/31 - and there were "lots" of backorders, making the wait for MY new lathe more like 8+ weeks!
**One note about me: now that I am committed to learning how to turn, I actually will lose sleep until that new lathe is in my shop. Waiting 8 weeks is NOT an option. Period.**
Sooo, in between looking for grief counseling today I have re-engaged my lathe search and am quickly justifying (after "deleting" some of my other turning accessories) the additional $425 for the Jet 1642 - which I actually have down to ~$270 after the +/- for taxes, cost of gas vs. free shipping, re-selling the "free" stuff from Jet, etc.
I am trying to "turn my frown upside down" as I often tell my 3-year old...NOW, I am just biting my nails over whether or not to jump up to the 2HP Jet - I have that down to a~$620 difference (maybe no golf weekend this year)....
Looks like all of my pain & suffering over the loss of my G0632 might just land me a new Jet 1642 2hp in the shop after all.....:D
Thanks for listening....