Replies

1. 
   stantheman | Apr 12, 2008 10:00pm | #1

   chalky  I've been to the one in Springfield Mo once.  I came away empty handed.  THe guys in the know grabbed up all the bargains on the big tools right away, and only junk was left.  So don't hesitate if you know what you want or someone will pull the tag and you'll be standing there holding air.   

2. 
   Rich14 | Apr 12, 2008 10:01pm | #2

   Chalky,

   Grizzly's scratch and dent sales are usually great events. Although, there's no predicting what you might find at any particular event. They usually completely empty the parking lot of equipment which goes away on hundreds of satisfied customers' pickup trucks and trailers.

   I have no connection to Grizzly, and have never lived near enough to one of the events to take advantage, but I personally know others who have,

   Rich

3. 
   Dave45 | Apr 12, 2008 10:05pm | #3

   I don't know how Grizzly does it, but those sales are usually limited to whatever stock that store may have that is scratched or dented - or they just want to unload for some reason.

   Since you're so far away, it may be worth a phone call to see if what you want is going to be in the sale.  If it will be, I suspect that you'll want to be there when it starts 'cause it's probably first come, first served.

4. 
   Pondfish | Apr 13, 2008 12:43am | #4

   One of the guys in my woodworking club went to the one in PA a few years ago.  Took a panel truck and arrived several hours before the sale started, and there was already a big line.  They still got several pieces of equipment they felt were huge bargains (and were glad they had the panel truck).  Some of the pieces were 12" jointers where the "scratch" or "dent" was such a minor imperfection they had to have it pointed out.

   Recommending the use of "Hide Signatures" option under "My Preferences" since 2005
5. 
   Knotscott | Apr 13, 2008 01:01am | #5

   I've been the Muncy event twice....our drive is similar to yours.  It's a good trip if you go with a buddy and just make a road trip of it.....if you snag a deal, better yet, but there are no guarantees you'll walk away with a bargain as they go quickly.  Go really early if a purchase is your main objective....like 4 am.   If you just plan to enjoy the outing, you certainly will if you've never been the Griz showroom.  It's Mecca for tool lovers! There's even a snackbar and a lounge at the Muncy store.  The crowds are heavy early on, but by mid to late morning the crowd clears alot....that's a good time to hit the showroom.  Good luck!

6. 
   BruceS | Apr 13, 2008 01:53am | #6

   A trip through the Griz store, at the Lycoming Mall, for a WW'r is like a trip through Cabellas or the Fred Bear Museum to a sportsman.

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

7. 
   JsHerbel | Apr 15, 2008 11:45pm | #7

   Well hopefully yo won't get my "scratched and dented" tablesaw. My tablesaw arrived with the box torn off and was already scractched up. I then watched the inept truck driver push the saw over the edge of the lift while it was in the truck. It fell about five feet to the ground. I called grizzly before he left to say I wouldn't accept it. They tried to talk me in to accepting $100 off and a can of Grizzly green paint to cover scratches that were incurred. No thought given about the stress on the internal/external cast iron.

    

   http://www.ithacawoodworker.com/

1. 
   Rich14 | Apr 16, 2008 01:52am | #8

   jsHerbel,That throws an entirely new light on this issue. If a company tried to sell a piece of equipment that had been abused like that, it would be fraud. Grizzly represents the equipment they sell at scratch and dent as cosmetically impaired but sound equipment.It's one thing for the cabinet of a cabinet saw to be dented because the tang of a forklift truck accidentally poked into it at slow speed. It's entirely different if the damage occurred because the thing dropped 5 feet to the ground from a raised tail lift.I have always thought of Grizzly as reputable. They have nothing to gain by selling any kind of damaged equipment. Should it be the customer's job to determine if the external dent means internal damage?I hope people will post in forums like this if vendors pass off machines with internal damage in "scratch and dent" sales.Rich

1. 
   JsHerbel | Apr 16, 2008 04:49pm | #9

   In Grizzly's defense, they did not argue when I said that I would not accept their offer and they promptly sent a new one. Offering a small discount and a can of paint is probably their initial canned answer for every problem. Can't blame them. The woman on the phone probably doesn't know how delicate cast iron can be. Maybe she should know. Fact is, there may have not been internal damage. I wasn't willing to take the risk though.

   I would just be leary of buying dented equipment for that reason. Inspect it well. Hairline cracks are hard to see. I've learned that some deals turn out to be nightmares.

   BTW, Grizzly is the only company that I know of that has these scratch and dent sales. I wonder what the other companies do with their damaged equipment? Patch them and sell them as new? You know they're not throwing them in the trash. At least with the scratch and dent sale you know the machine has had damage.

    

   http://www.ithacawoodworker.com/

   <!----><!----> <!---->

    

8. 
   forestgirl | Apr 17, 2008 04:41am | #10

   Chalky, it's about that same travelling time for me to get up to Bellingham.  I just don't have what it takes to get up and be there at 6am or whatever time people start lining up for the big bargains.  IMHO, you've gotta like that kind of frenetic "me first" challenge.  With gas as expensive as it is now, seems like you've gotta have a good chance to find what you need at a big savings to make it worth taking the chance.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)