Buying Grizzly Tools Through Sears

[wnstwolf]

Yeah I know the Grizzly lineup is about as close to HF as you can get but for some items it just seems like it comes from a better part of China? Maybe it’s just me and the green paint over the HF orange just fools me. Anyhoot their used to be an outlet store in Muncy PA and that has now closed. No local stores but Sears keeps sending me holiday ads with 25% CUPONS AND IT LISTS Grizzly tools.

Checking to see if anyone has ordered any through Sears. These two companies combining skill sets scares the heck out of me but one never knows..

 

[Angelfire]

Can't speak to the Sears/Grizzly marriage but I have a few grizzly woodworking tools that have been great. Granted, they were the versions manufactured in Taiwan and I haven't a clue if they still are, but based on what I've seen, I'd purchase again. I have a 10" cabinet saw, a bandsaw, and 8" jointer from them and they have worked well for me. Definitely more than a step or two up from HF, at least they were when I purchased 7-8 years ago.
Cheers.

 

[Stuart in MN]

They aren't top of the line but Grizzly actually has a pretty decent reputation.

 

[retfr8flyr]

Grizzly makes decent tools but I would be surprised if the coupons are good on Grizzly products. Usually Sears coupons are only god on their products, not all the other stuff they sell online.

 

[gungatim]

You know who started Grizzly tools right?

anyway, didn't know sears carried them but I do like their stuff. it is sometimes higher than comparable Asian machines but their fit/finish/quality standards are generally higher and they have great support here in the states. shipping can get you though sometimes.

I have Grizzly's Delta clone 8" parallel jointer and love it. I compared it side by side (literally) with a buddy that just bought the Delta and we couldn't find any comparable differences...

if those coupons are good, I might make a good deal on a new milling machine!

 

[justanengineer]

Grizzly isnt sold through Sears, its sold on their website, both billed and shipped direct the same as they are through Amazon and other outlets. I wouldnt expect others' coupons to work bc they dont elsewhere. Grizzly is also widely known for screwing customers through similarly shady tactics, many times their website or flyers will have pricing mistakes in which case you're sent the tool/machine, charged the higher price, and get the choice of keeping it or eating the postage both ways to send it back. Another common one is denying warranty, often stock sits in their warehouses a few years before being shipped but their warranty is based off the date on the product from when they bought it, so its long out of warranty before you buy it. If youre expecting better quality control for the same HF items youre a fool, the items are identical other than paint and decals (and Griz isnt taking anything apart) so theyre just as much of a tossup, some work well and some dont. If you want a real qa/qc giggle go look closely at a few machines in Grizzly's showroom in Bellingham, I'm not a HF fan but IMHO Griz is worse.

 

[Stuart in MN]

You know who started Grizzly tools right?

Who started them?

 

[PugetDude]

Grizzly is also widely known for screwing customers through similarly shady tactics, many times their website or flyers will have pricing mistakes in which case you're sent the tool/machine, charged the higher price, and get the choice of keeping it or eating the postage both ways to send it back. Another common one is denying warranty, often stock sits in their warehouses a few years before being shipped but their warranty is based off the date on the product from when they bought it, so its long out of warranty before you buy it. If youre expecting better quality control for the same HF items youre a fool, the items are identical other than paint and decals (and Griz isnt taking anything apart) so theyre just as much of a tossup, some work well and some dont. If you want a real qa/qc giggle go look closely at a few machines in Grizzly's showroom in Bellingham, I'm not a HF fan but IMHO Griz is worse.

^^^********^^^

I've been buying from them for over 30 years, never an issue with quality, customer service, or shipping. Warranty starts when the order is received, not when they manufacture it. That statement alone shows the depth of your ignorance. Quality is much better than HF. I admire their business model; they've gone from a few woodworking tools in a three-page flyer to a 400 page full-line catalog; built a great company from the ground up; service what they sell; and employ a lot of people in the US tool business. If you took the time to educate yourself, you'd see that they have hundreds of testimonials from satisfied, repeat customers- many of whom make a good living with Grizzly Tools. Grizzly has grown to become one of the best companies in the US to shop for woodworking and machine tools- and they didn't do it through shady business practices. They did it the old-fashioned way-they listened and responded to customer needs, sold a good product at a great value. Today, no one else offers the wide selection, value, or service they do.

If you have specific first-hand issues with Grizzly, post them instead of false rhetoric.

 

[PugetDude]

Who started them?

https://www.google.com/search?sourc...-8&rlz=1T4ADSA_enUS412US414&q=Shiraz+Balolia,

 

[gungatim]

https://www.google.com/search?sourc...-8&rlz=1T4ADSA_enUS412US414&q=Shiraz+Balolia,

my mistake, I thought it was Dan Haggerty/Grizzly Adams...guess he's just a spokesperson? I know he does a lot of woodworking and makes guitars I recall...

 

[koondog]

I can't add anything to the Sears question, but I bought a few pieces at the Muncy location and I have no complaints at all. I have had better service from those tools than anything from HF. IMHO

 

[TerryH]

I have a shop full of Grizzly green. Never had an issue with any of it. Absolutely no comparison with Harbor Freight in my book.

 

[Falcon67]

I've had good support from Grizzly and Enco both, especially on big ticket items. Agree - not HF by any means. My square column mill/drill isn't a Bridgeport but I didn't buy it thinking it was or would be. It gives good service for what it cost.

 

[Thumper68]

Grizzly isnt sold through Sears, its sold on their website, both billed and shipped direct the same as they are through Amazon and other outlets. I wouldnt expect others' coupons to work bc they dont elsewhere. Grizzly is also widely known for screwing customers through similarly shady tactics, many times their website or flyers will have pricing mistakes in which case you're sent the tool/machine, charged the higher price, and get the choice of keeping it or eating the postage both ways to send it back. Another common one is denying warranty, often stock sits in their warehouses a few years before being shipped but their warranty is based off the date on the product from when they bought it, so its long out of warranty before you buy it. If youre expecting better quality control for the same HF items youre a fool, the items are identical other than paint and decals (and Griz isnt taking anything apart) so theyre just as much of a tossup, some work well and some dont. If you want a real qa/qc giggle go look closely at a few machines in Grizzly's showroom in Bellingham, I'm not a HF fan but IMHO Griz is worse.

Have to call BS on that as well, I have 5 grizzly machines in the shop right now, 5hp cabinet saw, 8in jointer, wood lathe, 2hp dust collector and a spindle sander.

All but the jointer and dust collector have needed parts and they have gotten them out to me in a matter of days.

The original purchases went great and they set up with the shipping company for me to pick up at the dock so I didn't need a liftgate truck.

The packaging was good as well and everything arrived in perfect shape.

I have been looking at their metal lathes and mills since I have not been able to find any in good shape locally and will most likely order from them again.

 

[rust buster]

Have to call BS on that as well, I have 5 grizzly machines in the shop right now, 5hp cabinet saw, 8in jointer, wood lathe, 2hp dust collector and a spindle sander.

All but the jointer and dust collector have needed parts and they have gotten them out to me in a matter of days.

The original purchases went great and they set up with the shipping company for me to pick up at the dock so I didn't need a liftgate truck.

The packaging was good as well and everything arrived in perfect shape.

I have been looking at their metal lathes and mills since I have not been able to find any in good shape locally and will most likely order from them again.

Yeah, I totally agree. I have bought all my woodworking equipment there as well (5HP table saw, 8" jointer, metal/wood bandsaw, dust collector, and 20" helical planer) and haven't had a single problem other than blowing a capacitor on the planer after two years, which they replaced extremely fast with no hassle at all. My experience with their customer service for repairs or just asking questions has always been top notch in my book. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them again.

 

[justanengineer]

^^^********^^^

I've been buying from them for over 30 years, never an issue with quality, customer service, or shipping. Warranty starts when the order is received, not when they manufacture it. That statement alone shows the depth of your ignorance. Quality is much better than HF. I admire their business model; they've gone from a few woodworking tools in a three-page flyer to a 400 page full-line catalog; built a great company from the ground up; service what they sell; and employ a lot of people in the US tool business. If you took the time to educate yourself, you'd see that they have hundreds of testimonials from satisfied, repeat customers- many of whom make a good living with Grizzly Tools. Grizzly has grown to become one of the best companies in the US to shop for woodworking and machine tools- and they didn't do it through shady business practices. They did it the old-fashioned way-they listened and responded to customer needs, sold a good product at a great value. Today, no one else offers the wide selection, value, or service they do.

If you have specific first-hand issues with Grizzly, post them instead of false rhetoric.

Oh go ******** yourself. Youre welcome to your own experience and opinion, but given that I was VERY specific about two particular tactics they commonly use I'd say my post was anything but rhetoric, yours OTOH sounds like one of Shiraz's paid employees advertising.

As for my personal experiences, some have been good and some bad as my first post mentioned. I too have been a long time, albeit occasional customer for 20 years tho I'd never spend any amount I wasnt willing to lose. Ive got a boring head that I bought a LONG time ago and its been great since I remachined the dovetail, same thing with my sine table and a few others, just like HF. A former employer of mine has a ~40" roller cab of theirs and its a decent box but we dug through several at the warehouse to get a good one. My most recent personal green acquisition was $400 worth of carbide grinder that vibrated like crazy due to excessive wheel runout, called to ask about an exchange and nope, not without restocking and shipping fees and no, cant exchange free in Muncy anymore. Luckily I expected as much and after tossing the wheels and spacers it balanced fairly smooth, not nearly as smooth as my old Delta but its usable.

 

[ZRX61]

The only parts I ever needed form them were for a '53 SouthBend Heavy 10. They arrived within a few days & were NOS original parts.
Haven't needed anything for any Grizzly machines that I've own for 15 years.

 

[PugetDude]

...yours OTOH sounds like one of Shiraz's paid employees advertising.

Nope. No affiliation with Grizzly, except for being a satisfied customer .....like everyone else on this thread... except you.

... their warranty is based off the date on the product from when they bought it, so its long out of warranty before you buy it.

Nope, (again...) Here's a helpful link:

http://grizzly.com/help/qa_questions#SERVICEANDWARRANTY