The latest word on the street is that Powermatic will be available in Canada via the internet. According to CW, there will be “authorized services centers in every major Canadian market” in addition to their main service center in Tennassee. Another choice… they don’t make it easy for us. Seeing as Jet is part of the WMH tool group as is Powermatic, is there any chance of Jet woodworking tools being re-introduced in Canada?
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
– Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. – Albert Schweitzer
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The more choice the better, for me -- there ain't enough of it. I've just ordered English chisels from an American supplier sight unseen. I haven't set eyes on Lie Nielsen for over a year -- they skipped Woodstock this year, so I went home with unspent tool cash in my pocket. Know how that feels? I'd have cried in my beer if I could remember how.
When I ordered a TS earlier this year the local dealer offered Powermatic as an option, even though PM doesn't advertise here. I passed because I wanted to be sure of good service -- the dealer offers that, but without parts backup from the manufacturer, who knows how long you'll be down in an emergency? Guess I needn't have worried. Bring 'em all on.
Cheers, Jim
That's really good news, Chris. I've always thought it strange that Canadians had such limited choices, considering what's available just south of the border.
I've always thought it strange that Canadians had such limited choices, considering what's available just south of the border.
Don't feel too bad about it... We have Lee Valley Stores! :)
Seriously, when you've got General Canada what else do you need?
"Seriously, when you've got General Canada what else do you need?" Granted, General Canada puts out a good product, but if there's one thing Americans insist on, it's choices, choices, choices. The country would probably fall apart if we didn't have 42 different cereals to choose from at the grocery store! The woodworking magazines would be in dire straits if we had only one company to choose from -- all those tool reviews would be out the window!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Gosh, what would happen if the U.S. moved toward Socialized healthcare AND Socialized woodworking? Perish the thought!
The Canadian Woodworking magazine has really odd tool reviews. They so desperate to cover something that they'll cover pretty much any brand, including the real junk.It really is odd, for such a small population Canada has a bunch of really good tool manufacturers. General Canada, Veritas, Oneway, Leigh Jigs, Akeda, and Adria Saws. As far as I know, General is the only manufacturer that produces a full line of equipment in North America.
Makes ya wonder why the border has more or less been closed to the mainstream equipment all this time. I suspect that it is very greedy Canadians wanting exclusive distribution rights. I am fortunate enough to live near the border so when I want to buy what everyone else in North America has access to, I just go across the 49th with cash and do it. The corporate lawyers cannot forbid merchants from selling for cash, even though they may try to restrict those border merchants from selling to Canadians (via credit card audit data). Festool comes to mind :-)BTW, that trip south usually results in a 10-23% saving (exchange, duty included).Cheers,Peter
Better life through Zoodles and poutine...
It shouldn't be too difficult for Powermatic to move into Canada -- they're here already, kinda. Powermatic - Jet - Wilton are owned by a Swiss holding company called WMH, which tends to maximize profits by outsourcing to Asia. They have another line called Performax, and if some of their products look familiar, they should. You've seen them as Mastercraft in Canadian Tire. WMH provides house brands to a number of big box outfits, and in fact their service centre for these is in Canada.
It's a very similar scenario to TTI, which owns Ryobi and Milwaukee, and was responsible for securing the exclusive tie with Ridgid for Home Depot. (They also own Hoover, Dirt Devil, etc.) Their latest financial statement boasts of the economies and profits made by closing 2 US Milwaukee plants and moving them to China. At the Woodstock Wood Show recently the HD booth was awash in Milwaukee red.
Triton now makes its stuff in China, and has recently appeared on Rona shelves at half the price it used to be, next to Rona house tools that look like GMC. Hard to keep up with this stuff. We're finally getting a choice when it may not be much of one after all.
Jim
Peter,I suspect that the reason is much less sinister that you believe. Canada is such a small market compared to the US, I doubt they've had much interest in it. Given a strong hold by General Canada, and a weaker Canadian Dollar it may not have been worth their time.Now that most tools are being manufactured overseas, a strong Canadian dollar, and an increase on tool purchases from DIYers and hobbyests... Competition is never a bad thing.Buster
The employees at one Festool dealer just south of the border here told me that they had their dealership withdrawn by the USA office after the ONLY Canadian distributor complained that we were buying there. Apparently they can do a credit card audit of the sales of their product. Part of the dealership agreement. The trouble was that this Canadian entity simply did not stock all the items available in the USA, what they did stock ended up costing about 15% (if memory serves me correct) more (all duties and exchange accounted for), had no one knowledgeable about the tools and you had to wait up to 3-4 weeks before they shipped it to you.I am not implying that General is keeping the competition out, just that the moment you have a Canadian distributor, they want absolute exclusive rights. Then they figure we have no choice but to only buy what they want to list and pay a big premium to boot. I have seen this time and again in electronics and household appliances. I refuse to put up with crap like that. I will take my hard earned money and spend where the service, price and product availability are competitive. If that happens to be local in Canada, so be it. I did buy a SawStop locally because the dealer here met all these requirements. Price was 2.9% higher than the US but that included liftgate delivery to the door. More often than not however I find I am buying in America for those reasons.Cheers,
Better life through Zoodles and poutine...
Yah, but when you go back to Canada, do you use the back roads? Is it strictly legal to buy in the US and carry it back to Canada?
Nothing illegal about it. I declare all. Pay the appropriate duty and sales taxes. There is no Canadian law that forbids us from buying woodworking machinery in the US. I suppose much to the chagrin of some greedy distributors.Cheers,Peter
Better life through Zoodles and poutine...
We can import most things. All woodworking 'things', as far as I know...
There is one caveat I can think of. If the machinery (electrical) does not have CSA or similar Canadian approval then you might be at risk insurance wise (and WCB wise)if the item is used in a commercial setting and an accident happens involving an employee. Even if it has nothing to do with the design or workings of the item, these folks will seek any excuse to keep from paying.edit: here is my view on CSA. see post 40018.34 Cheers,Peter
Better life through Zoodles and poutine...
Edited 10/13/2008 12:47 pm by PeterDurand
Good point. I believe the US practice of removing the serial # and selling a new machine as "scratch and dent" isn't followed in Canada because the serial plate also holds the CSA certification -- can't sell without it.
Jim
Why would you remove the serial# in order to sell it as scratch and dent if it is scratched and dented? No serial# = no warranty regardless of the status of the UL/CSA stickers. The only reason I can think of is if the item is hot goods. Am I missing something? Just curious.Cheers,Peter
Better life through Zoodles and poutine...
Edited 10/13/2008 2:08 pm by PeterDurand
Apparently it's the custom in the US for manufacturers to sell new machines with faults "as is," i.e. without warranty at a reduced price. I suppose it's cheaper than shipping them back to China, or paying for repairs. The serial # is removed to prevent warranty claims being made at a later date.
I recently bought a TS with some defects which in fact had no serial # -- presumably it had somehow slipped through the QC system. The manufacturer replaced the machine with a new one. When I asked the dealer if the original would be sold as s. & d. I was told that in Canada a machine can't be sold without a serial sticker because it can't be sold without the CSA symbol. The machine was the manufacturer's problem. How they solved it I have no idea. Personally I wouldn't want a machine with no warranty.
Jim
You only have 42 different cereals? How sad.Or, is that 42 that are worth eating?
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
"Or, is that 42 that are worth eating?" Hah! Given the junk they make for kids, the bulk of the market, I doubt there's more than a handful worth eating!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
"I doubt there's more than a handful worth eating!"Is that in the whole aisle?
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
Highfigh, where have you been for a long time? Was just about to organize a search crew. Maybe I have just been on different roads.
Whatr happeded to General tool!! I thought a good product?
As far as I know, they are still on the market -- good as ever.
Probably the best brand readily available in Canada. It's even available at one of our big bix stores now. Though they have different levels General Canada which is the high end stuff, and General International which is their import stuff. The quality of their import stuff is pretty good. To note they also own Excalibur tools.
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