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Grizzly Tools,Interesting Article

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Jack Olsen

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"They pretty well told our buyer that they were not interested in new accounts. This is the kind of attitude and "old thinking" that forces companies to look elsewhere."

That's not a very credible-sounding pair of sentences at all.

Since it's a piece of online marketing, I think it's much more likely that Grisly's marketing department took a look at the most-common complaint from their customers (something along the lines of: 'Why don't you make better-quality tools, and make then in the United States?") and then got together in a conference room and came up with that copy. It's probably based on them asking a manufacturer to match the manufacturing cost of an overseas company and being told that the American company would (or could) not do that.

It's less expensive to manufacture overseas because of lower wages and reduced safety standards and other employee protections. Grisly can dress that up with vague claims if they want, but it doesn't sound very convincing to my ear.
 

Leaflessshadetree

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So they contacted one manufacturer who said no new accounts and went overseas ?

One manufacturer that didn't want to support competition, didn't want to meet their price point, didn't want possible negative impact on their name......?
There are many reasons for companies to turn away business.
 

Zebu Fellenz

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Well seeing how Baldor (the first US grinder I think of) makes a comparable grinder with a MSRP of ~$1500 I bet the issue was more a matter of price point than the US manufacturer saying absolutely not.
 

justanengineer

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One manufacturer that didn't want to support competition, didn't want to meet their price point, didn't want possible negative impact on their name......?
There are many reasons for companies to turn away business.

+1 agreed. JMO but I'd suspect the last point is the most meaningful. If youre trying to sell to anyone in industry who is interested in quality (who isnt?), the last thing you want is your brand being associated with a low end importer that sells to hobbyists.
 

1950mercury

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"They pretty well told our buyer that they were not interested in new accounts. This is the kind of attitude and "old thinking" that forces companies to look elsewhere."

That's not a very credible-sounding pair of sentences at all.

Since it's a piece of online marketing, I think it's much more likely that Grisly's marketing department took a look at the most-common complaint from their customers (something along the lines of: 'Why don't you make better-quality tools, and make then in the United States?") and then got together in a conference room and came up with that copy. It's probably based on them asking a manufacturer to match the manufacturing cost of an overseas company and being told that the American company would (or could) not do that.

It's less expensive to manufacture overseas because of lower wages and reduced safety standards and other employee protections. Grisly can dress that up with vague claims if they want, but it doesn't sound very convincing to my ear.


^^^^Agreed
 

yaidunno

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I wouldn't want to do business with them either if I were in Baldor's shoes. I'm guessing that Baldor makes their 1 hp grinder (1022W) for around $500, their cost. Vendor price of say $800, and retails for $1050-1400. How in the world would they be able to make the same product for half ($250) the cost?

Grizzly also has the advantage of selling direct, so no middle man to get his fingers in the pie.

Lets not forget that the Baldor is likely made in an ISO certified facility (not cheap), assembled by someone in the states (higher labor), and has the casting tooling and casting done by outside vendors.
 

woodstockva

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"They pretty well told our buyer that they were not interested in new accounts. This is the kind of attitude and "old thinking" that forces companies to look elsewhere."

That's not a very credible-sounding pair of sentences at all.

Since it's a piece of online marketing, I think it's much more likely that Grisly's marketing department took a look at the most-common complaint from their customers (something along the lines of: 'Why don't you make better-quality tools, and make then in the United States?") and then got together in a conference room and came up with that copy. It's probably based on them asking a manufacturer to match the manufacturing cost of an overseas company and being told that the American company would (or could) not do that.

It's less expensive to manufacture overseas because of lower wages and reduced safety standards and other employee protections. Grisly can dress that up with vague claims if they want, but it doesn't sound very convincing to my ear.

:+1:
 
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PugetDude

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I think a lot of people seriously underestimated Grizzly when they started out- and still do to this day. They've thrived in a highly competitive shop machinery market when others died on the vine. Went from a little storefront in Bellingham, WA with a two-page flyer to three huge regional warehouse/showrooms a great e-commerce website, and a print catalog that rivals Sears in the good old days... Look at the array of products they offer in their catalog and online- professional and hobby woodworking, metalforming, machining, luthiery, etc. Quality is miles ahead of HF, and they actually service what they sell. Can anyone name another full-line US tool retailer that has done as well building and maintaining a quality brand over the past 30 years?

Yeah, I'm a Grizzly fan... I'm really satisfied with the stuff I've purchased from them (quality, value, and service) and they've never stabbed me in the back. I suspect that a lot of the bashing is from folks who've never stepped foot in one of their stores or done business with them.
 

Adam.C

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Grizzly's marketing department meeting:

Marketing manager:
"Let's see...how do we get suckers, er, ...I mean our "customers", to pay Baldor prices for the **** grinders we are importing from Lord knows where Chiwan for $13?"

Jenkins the Young marketing rep:
"Give away a free bandsaw with every grinder?"

Manager:
"I know. Let's claim we designed these tools, and that they are of equal quality to US made goods. Some of our suckers, er, I mean customers will believe it. Just like they believed our South Bend tools have anything whatsoever to do with South Bend tools that were US made. If anyone complains, we'll just send that person 2 new grinders and throw in a free bandsaw. This whole customer service thing sure is easy with a 3000% mark up."
 

honcho

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Sure, the Grizzly text is marketing but, as others have written, there are lots of reasons a company doesn't take on business, especially if it's a a potentially competitor. As many businesses know, in a field where there is a limited number of potential customers, you can make more money by selling fewer units for a lot more money for each unit.

Also, if Grizzly had put enough money on the table in terms of number of units to be sold or a long duration contract that brings in a steady stream of income to their manufacturing partner, they probably could have had a USA manufacturing partner. Not every customer worth having.
 

Stooge

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i have nothing else to add that hasnt been said, but as someone who has spent time purchasing industrial equipment for various manufacturing/ industrial departments i've worked in, just from reading the item description, it would be ignored. it comes across as written by someone fresh out of college, at their first, lowest rung marketing job trying to be either edgy or just not very good at their job. sounds silly, but this would be enough to put me off looking into purchasing, for either industrial uses, (i cant picture any major industrial company buying these) or personal use.

i work for a fairly large manufacturing company under the ITW umbrella, and we still have buyers who continually try and push, sometimes longtime, vendors for lower prices and as a result, get told to get lost when it becomes not worth it to the vendor. i would have to imagine this is similar to when a company like grizzly tries to say, we'll pay x amount for said number of units, it becomes not worth it to the vendor and they get a 'No thanks'.
 
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ClineWrench

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I happen to be a marketing executive at a global company and I also happen to completely agree with what Honcho said.

There have been plenty of customers I have turned down. I've even fired Fortune 500 companies as clients before - one of them being one of the largest financial institutions in the USA.

Sometimes it pays to say no.
 

scw1991

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All I can say is that a company like Baldor better not be slipping in quality and is still willing and/or capable of manufacturing a product that will last 50 years. Because there will come a point in time when the consumer simply cannot justify the exorbitant cost based strictly off of name recognition.
 

Todd.Brock

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Are Baldor grinders still made in the U.S.? I know that some of their motors are "global" so maybe it's more than just that. I think the argument that Grizzly is trying to down play US manufacturing is a bit shafty. Like we tried, Back to Taiwan.....

But who knows who they actually approached and with what requirements.

I have on loan To me thanks bro) a cabinet table saw from Grizzly and that thing is , as they say, *******...
 

neophyte

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Years ago Garrett Wade offered some low-speed imported asian bench grinders that they claimed were made to a better quality standard than the typical asian bench grinders that were available. The prices for the 6" grinder they offered was $166, which made it about half the cost of a similar Baldor grinder and about twice the cost of a cheap Craftsman and Delta 6".

Garrett Wade, especially back then, tried to source high quality items. A number of people who purchased the grinders also seem to have considered them high quality.

The Grizzly grinders look like they may be sourced from the same manufacturer. The motor housing on the Grizzly grinder looks the same as on the Garrett Wade grinders, as does the base. The Grizzly has some differences such as a water tray were the switch was on the GW grinder, better cast wheel guards, and lighted eye shields.

While the Grizzly tools I've used haven't had the same fit and finish as some older US made tools that were probably made around the same time period, all of it was functional and the cost was reasonable. The grinder linked to is grizzly's higher end line. The only way to truly tell would be to purchase one and do a breakdown and test along with a baldor.
 

PugetDude

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From the Baldor website:

From our home office
in Fort Smith, Arkansas,
we support the sales
offices/warehouses that
stock Baldor products
worldwide, selling to
distributors and original
equipment manufacturers
in more than 70 countries.
Baldor products are
available from 50 sales
offices/warehouses in
North America and 26
offices serving
international markets.
These products are
produced at 26 plants
in the US, Canada, England,
Mexico and China.
 
OP
O

OldmanB

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Sure, the Grizzly text is marketing but, as others have written, there are lots of reasons a company doesn't take on business, especially if it's a a potentially competitor. As many businesses know, in a field where there is a limited number of potential customers, you can make more money by selling fewer units for a lot more money for each unit.

Also, if Grizzly had put enough money on the table in terms of number of units to be sold or a long duration contract that brings in a steady stream of income to their manufacturing partner, they probably could have had a USA manufacturing partner. Not every customer worth having.

That's the best statement on this post I have seen! That being said , I do have two older Grizzly products, one is about 15 years old and never had a problem with the quality or performance of it, and it's used daily (and yes, it's made in Taiwan). Good for the bucks paid.,resale value though is ?? The Baldor name is tossed around on here, but it's only speculation if they are the company in the ad.
 
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