Subject: Axiom on lathe buying

From: [email-masked] (Bob Neidorff)
Date: Sun, 22 Sep 1996 14:39:23 GMT

I have a theory on lathe buying.  Comments welcome.

My theory is that any used lathe that is sold stripped or with
very little tooling is likely to be worn and/or damaged.  Any
lathe that is sold fully tooled is likely to be quite servicable,
well cared for, and a better value.

This is based on seeing many tools for sale and seeing many shops.
The trashed lathes seem to be pushed to the side, stripped, and
used for mundane tasks like polishing.  The great tools are fully
equipped, well maintained, and kept as a servicable package.

Finally, at the price of tool posts, lathe chucks, drill chucks,
live centers, collet adapters, collets, etc., you will surely get
a great deal on accessories by buying a fully outfitted lathe
compared to buying those parts aftermarket.  You will probably also
get better fitting accessories, too, if they are original brand and
in good shape.

Do you think I'm out to lunch on this one?  :-)
--
Bob Neidorff <[email-masked]>

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From: Mike Patrick <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 22 Sep 1996 20:58:16 +0000

> Do you think I'm out to lunch on this one?  :-)

I couldn't agree more.  In addition, the tooling and/or missing part 
you don't get will ALWAYS cost as much or more as the machine you buy 
without it, if you are lucky enough to find it at all...

Mike Patrick

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From: [email-masked](Dave Ficken)
Date: 23 Sep 1996 11:47:06 GMT

> well cared for, and a better value.

 As a Machinery Dealer, my strategy is to offer machines for sale in
two very different ways:
 A.) Basic machine,fair to poor condition, not much tooling, CHEAP
price.
 B.) Loaded with everything I can find, good to excellent condition,
higher sounding price (which is in fact cheaper than A) if you count
the value of all the goodies.)
 The reason: To satisfy the two basic types of customers I see in the
store.                                                                 
 Type A.) really believes that the 5th. window is free when you buy
four. He/she gets excited about a 40% off sale even though the store
probably doubles their prices before the sale.
 Type B.) knows there is no such thing as a free lunch. He/she knows
how expensive the accessories are if you need to buy them seperately.
Type B.) is my favorite kind of customer. I don't need to argue until
I'm blue in the face about why a machine is worth the asking price.
 Type A.) usually spends more time and money in the long run.
Ironically, he generally has less to show for it in the end.
 Type B.) pluncks down his money up front and is making chips while
type A is still driving to garage sales in search of that 4 jaw chuck
he still needs.
 A machine in good to excellent condition is not worth selling  without
a lot of tooling. The tooling helps you get a respectable price for the
machine. That is the reason many (though not all) stripped machines are
in poorer condition.                                                   
 I can think of 6 pristine- almost new machines I have aquired over the
years that had not one tool or accessory with them. The reason was that
over the years many of the goodies "walked" or got seperated and later
discarded. But, this is an exception, not the rule.
Regards,
Dave Ficken
Meridian Machinery " A different kind of Machinery Dealer"
http://hre.com/meridian