Grizzly's weak inventory

[Mike S.]

Last year about this time I called Grizzly to order a table saw to replace a Delta benchtop. I had it narrowed down to two models. One was discontinued and the other was on a 4-6 week back order, so I ordered the Jet contractor with cast iron wings. Well today I call them again to order either the 1182Z or the 1182HW jointer. Well both are back ordered 3-6 weeks. A compatable Delta or Jet would be a few hundred more but not sure if I want to wait that long. I don't get it, this is two sales they lost due to inventory.

[Bob]

They are trying to do what every retailer in the world wants to do - reduce safety stocks to minimize capital sitting on the shelf. Unfortunately, they don't have a speedy, tight supply chain and will lose sales as a result. Its how the keep their prices down. Its surprising they are running this far behind just as Christmas season approaches. Jet may not seem like the best value in the world but when you consider the whole package including buying experience, customer service and long term availability of parts, they have their act together.

Bob

[ted harris]

Why would you wait until the busiest time of the year to order, especially with your experience last year? Doesn't make much sense to me.

[Norman D. Crow]

It's about 300mi to Springfield. I'll bet if you called there, they would have one in stock. Make a Fri./Sat. jaunt with your P/U or rent a trailer. I've ordered little stuff from catalog, but went to Muncy, PA(about 250Mi. one way) to pick up my G0555. Called ahead to verify, as there had been some talk about it being on B/O at the time.

[mnterpfan]

Grizzly also has been forewarning for at least six months that prices will go up sharply on Jan 1. Maybe they are getting a greater than normal number of orders now from buyers who would have waited in addition to holiday shoppers. They will probably have correspondingly fewer sales in the early months of next year.

Eric

[Lewis]

Hi, A little more than a year ago, I drove down to Grizzly in Springfiled, Missouri, to pick up a table saw (their cheapest contractor saw). They didn't have any stock on the model I wanted or even the next model up. They told me they were back-ordered for at least 6 weeks. I practically begged to buy the display unit -- even offered full price

-- but they wouldn't even consider it. They said, "Oh, we have to keep that one to show people who want to buy that model." And I replied, "But you can't sell that model; you don't have any stock." This simply got me blank looks, and got them a disappointed would-be customer. And as it turns out, they discontinued this model, and never did get any more stock. I wonder what they did with that display unit? Lewis

[Daniel Martin]

I have a simple solution that works for me. I walk in to a store where they sell what I'm looking for. If they have stock and the price is right then I take it the cash and drive home with it. I will not beleive anyone that will tell me its on order and should be in soon, yeah right...

I purchased every tool I have this way and never had a moment of disapointment.

Daniel

[Gary]

That reminds me of years ago when I was stationed in Guam in the Navy. There was a common saying back then that the merchants would often tell customers "that model sold so well we cannot keep it in stock, so we quit carrying it".

Gary

[TWS]

I guess it's when and what you buy. I purchased a G0500 Jointer and G1023SL TS and they were delivered three days later. I purchased a discontinued BS, G1012, and it was delivered 4 days later but two of those were the weekend (it actually came in on Friday evening but the shipping company didn't call me until Monday).

TWS

[Ace]

I suggest if it is possible that you go to one of the Grizzly stores and pick your item/s up. I live in Springfield, IL and drove down to Springfield, MO and picked up a G0444Z table saw, G5979 lathe, and a G1029Z dust collector and saved $185 in shipping costs. I was able to haul everything in my minivan. I combined my trip there with a trip to Branson and saw a couple of shows and had a good time. Next Spring I am going to a relatives home in PA and will stop at the Muncy, PA warehouse and pick me up a G0555 bandsaw. That will save me $55 in shipping costs. The only thing though that you can't get away from is paying the sales tax which is about 6

1/2% at both places. What I did at the MO store was call ahead and tell them what day I would like to pick up and ask them to hold what I want. Call their 800 number and get the direct (which are not toll free) numbers for each warehouse. I am well pleased with every thing I got from them. Going to one of their stores is just like being a kid in a candy store. They have every thing on display and are extremely helpful to you. My 2 cents worth.

discontinued

[Rumpty]

I was at the Muncy Pa store several weeks ago. Lot's and lot's of tools had Out of Stock Back Order signs on them. I asked the sales person why, he just smiled and shrugged his shoulder.

[TWS]

Well, I would go to Grizzly for the adventure of it and to visit the sources of Cherry wood in PA (I'd probably spend more on the wood than any equipment). I wouldn't go there to save money however. It's a 22 hour round trip drive for me and I'd have to trailer.

TWS

[Seeker]

The ports where the Asian goods are flooding in are overwhelmed with container ships and are not able to unload a great deal of them. Many ships are returning to asia fully loaded. Not only are the harbors cramed but the outdated (pre asian flood of goods), under maintained and underfunded railroad systems are at maximum capacity, not to mention the outdated and limited city interstate systems for the trucks carrying those containers. Actually I hope they choke on their cheap crap.

[tony1158]

Hi, I ordered a 1023s cabinet saw from them, had it in 3 days, no problems at all. Would buy from them again in a heart beat, even if I had to wait.

[Larry Jaques]

On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 06:42:26 GMT, "Bob" calmly ranted:

Mike, I ordered my G1012 bandsaw from them on a Friday and they told me it was backordered, giving me a (worst-case) 4-6 week delay. The shipping company called me the following Monday and delivered it on Wednesday. They free up previously ordered inventory when someone cancels and ship as soon as shipments come in, so your order may be delayed only a short while as mine was.

Griz does a BRISK business, guys. They have more of everything coming on just about every boat and keep 3 large warehouses turning over much of their inventory on a weekly basis.

I'm glad you guys cancel orders. That means the items I want will be in stock the next time I buy from Griz.

-- Friends Don't Let Friends Eat Turkey and Drive --

[Tim Taylor]

I've placed a couple of orders that they said would be 4-6 weeks. Got them in about 5-8 days. Lots of companies say 4-6 weeks to cover themselves.