Thread: Want a new $250 12" Triton Bandsaw?

Originally Posted by djfoggin

should a gone to my local hardware and price matched it lol.

Wot??!!! Not asked for a 10% cheaper price?



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That's how I noticed it in the first place - I was getting a couple of visitors from their site, and I was curious what was generating the (small amount of) traffic and why they were linking across, seeing as they had never discussed it with me.

Not that we don't link to all sorts of sites all the time, but the difference is I don't get any commercial benefit from it.

For example, GMC and Triton link through to my reviews as well, but they have asked permission every time even though they provided the tools in the first place. I see that as a mutually beneficial arrangement, and yet there is still the understanding that I will review the tool independently - in other words I only review the tools if I have the freedom to call it as I see it - if a product is good, I'll say so, but I'll also point out negative aspects where they exist as well.

There has only ever been one product (from a different company altogether) that the review was so awful that I bought it to the company's attention that they may not want the product reviewed at that time. They were so off with me (for not loving their product I guess), that they took back the sample they had given me, and have not answered any of my contacts (phone or email) ever since.

Originally Posted by Stuart

That's how I noticed it in the first place - I was getting a couple of visitors from their site, and I was curious what was generating the (small amount of) traffic and why they were linking across, seeing as they had never discussed it with me.

Well, it is a damn fine review that you did on the product, Stuart. It sure sold me.

Originally Posted by Stuart

Seems a shame that VEK didn't pay attention then to what they were doing then - didn't anyone think while they were transferring the info that it seems strange that the 12" was cheaper than the 8"? Let alone that a 12" was so cheap?

I went on the net to order this morning and had problems, when I rang at about 10am I was advised that the price was wrong, VEK had received a price file that they uploaded, apparently they had 17 units ordered over the internet at the incorrect price.

I couldn't get my order added unfortunately

Guess I am back to checking the classifieds.

Regards

Brendan

Originally Posted by scorpio_oz

When I called about it and asked about the freight costs, they said the flat rate shipping on the website wouldn't apply, as $15 to ship to QLD for something of this weight/size wasn't correct. They do state on their checkout that if the shipping costs exceeds the flat rate they will contact you.

I'd gone all the way through to checkout to put the credit card in and then decided to call about the freight because it looked too cheap, to be freighted to Brisbane.

When I asked then they said they would have to get back to me with an accurate shipping cost.

Two things could happen, they'll honour the orders, though their terms and conditions of sale I just read may give them a chance to step out of the sale.
If they do honour the sales, I'l be kicking myself I didn't complete the checkout first then check on the freight later.

or shipping may get a lot more expensive, they do state in the checkout that if shipping costs exceed the flat rate quoted they will contact the purchaser.
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They just called me to advise that the freight to Brisbane will be $60 and wanted to confirm that cost with me. To which, I said. "Bargain!" and I confirmed that I wanted it sent up at that freight cost. For a 77 kg tool, that seems a fair freight cost to me.

So to their credit and Triton's, they are fulfilling the contract without question.


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uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbeleivable.........couldn't beleive my luck.....finally something positive after just copping a tax bill of $19k,spoke to Kiro the owner of VEK & was very very thankful that triton honoured there side of the stuff up....

One learning out of this is just how much we pay for the Triton name on something like this.

As illustrated on Stuart's blog, this Triton machine is a rebadged, Triton-gold painted Scheppach machine which retails elsewhere on the internet for $689 incl GST versus $789 incl GST for the Triton. http://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Pro...stockCode=W854

Rebadging is a common occurrence elsewhere of course with the Ford Fiesta being a rebadged Kia, the GMC welder being a rebadged little Italian job, and some might say some Labor guys being rebadged Liberals . It does illustrate a cockiness by a manufacturer when they can command a 15% price premium for so doing, however.


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Bargain pricing aside...just how good is this particular Bandsaw? I'd be interested in more reviews from those who got one!

I must admit after watching Stew's video and seeing it early enough at the $250 price I wasn't convinced that it was anything special so didn't buy it.

To me it looks like it has more features than most bandsaws (certainly at a $700 price point) which always rings the alarm bells. There must be some corners cut to provide those features...

I'm hoping to get a bandsaw within the next 12 months which I would use mostly for sawing woodturning blanks so I'll think I'll holdoff for a 17-19" saw.

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I think at $250 its a no brainer, that is the cost of a half decent jigsaw. I already have a decent bandsaw so I didn't buy one, but well done to those that got in early.

$250 does not buy you much in terms of a bandsaw.

I agree that $250 is a great price. Albeit an incorrect one. I'm wondering though if there will be a few 2nd hand or "new" ones being sold off for $500-$600 shortly.

Probably a great bandsaw at $250 but is it still a reasonable bandsaw at around $700? I'm still to see a in depth review of the build quality and accuracy of this or the Bassato 3 which looks to be from the same factory. Is the Triton a better spec'd or higher quality make of this model?

Originally Posted by Charleville

One learning out of this is just how much we pay for the Triton name on something like this.

As illustrated on Stuart's blog, this Triton machine is a rebadged, Triton-gold painted Scheppach machine which retails elsewhere on the internet for $689 incl GST versus $789 incl GST for the Triton. http://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Pro...stockCode=W854

Rebadging is a common occurrence elsewhere of course with the Ford Fiesta being a rebadged Kia, the GMC welder being a rebadged little Italian job, and some might say some Labor guys being rebadged Liberals . It does illustrate a cockiness by a manufacturer when they can command a 15% price premium for so doing, however.


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Actually, wrt Triton's bandsaw and wet stone sharpener, both are manufactured by Scheppach. I have absolutely no doubt that if Scheppach provided a sufficiently competitive price to GMC that their unit would be sold cheaper - there is no markup there just because of the Triton branding.

Case-in-point is the wetstone sharpener. Scheppach were selling these for something like $450. The Triton price was $199. Scheppach sellers then dropped their price to around $250 (and lower at the Wood Show) For example, the price today at Hare & Forbes for the Scheppach is $295.

GMC did get a competitive price for the sharpeners, and passed that on. I have no doubt whatsoever that they would do the same with the bandsaw if they could. They know without a doubt that the woodworking community know they are the same machine, so it then is a choice - do they choose to at least have a 12" in their range (having chosen the Scheppach factory to produce a number of their products), do they choose to go with a different manufacturer, or do they accept that sales will be significantly lower on this item because of the same saw being offered in a different colour.

They chose the last option (and obviously all this is just my opinion here).

Thanks Stuart. Your insights are very valuable.

I just heard that one of the lucky few received an 8" bandsaw instead of a 12" saw (dispatched directly from GMC's warehouse). Apparently there was an error and any incorrect deliveries will be replaced straight away. Has anyone here received the wrong machine?

Yup - I have just received the wrong machine but was pre-warned of such by VEK tools in an email and have telephoned them as advised in their email.


'Tis a bit of a nuisance but VEK are meeting with the GMC rep on Tuesday to sort it out. Not sure why it cannot be fixed with a phone call from VEK to GMC but who am I to ponder these things? I am only a customer.