Thread: SawStop Comes To Australia!

It was relatively balmy today at +2 when I walked the dog.
Tonight though -30 windchills.

The dog doesn't look too impressed even with a fur coat on.

Mick

below is a quote from finewoodworking journal received yesterday, with our dollar nearing parity it seems a lot of freight has been addded ???, and the contractors version looks to be well priced.
The question is why are we being charged so much ?????


After much anticipation and several missed release dates, SawStop is finally ready to introduce its version of a 10-in. contractor's saw. It has the same blade safety-brake and riving knife found on its big-brother cabinet saw, but at a base price of $1,499 versus around $2,800 for its 10-in. cabinet saw. The saw is scheduled to be available in June 2008.

Former Fine Woodworking shop manager John White points out the features of this new model plus tests the blade brake by running hotdogs into standard and dado blades.

Ruddigar
Could you please explain why the stop saw is available in USA for $2800, and the contractors saw for $1500, the price is nearly double ???????????????

Originally Posted by brisand

with our dollar nearing parity it seems a lot of freight has been addded ???, and the contractors version looks to be well priced.
The question is why are we being charged so much ?????

The fact that the AUD is on par with the USD is almost irrelevant. What matters is relative purchasing power in each country. It isn't just the SawStop, nearly everything over here is cheaper than in OZ (except, perhaps, leg of lamb ).

Like many people, you seem to have the notion that the cost to manufacture something is somehow connected to the price at which it should be offered. It ain't. In a free market, the seller decides the offer price and the buyer accepts or declines. Simple really. If SawStop want to ask $10K for the saw, that is their business. If no one buys it, it will be a short business.

You have the right to complain about the price, but not the right to demand explanations of why a product is priced thus and so. It just is. Buy it or leave it.

Originally Posted by Honorary Bloke

The fact that the AUD is on par with the USD is almost irrelevant. What matters is relative purchasing power in each country. It isn't just the SawStop, nearly everything over here is cheaper than in OZ (except, perhaps, leg of lamb ).

Like many people, you seem to have the notion that the cost to manufacture something is somehow connected to the price at which it should be offered. It ain't. In a free market, the seller decides the offer price and the buyer accepts or declines. Simple really. If SawStop want to ask $10K for the saw, that is their business. If no one buys it, it will be a short business.

You have the right to complain about the price, but not the right to demand explanations of why a product is priced thus and so. It just is. Buy it or leave it.

That's not entirely true. The powermatic saw and the sawstop are close to the same price in seppo land where as here the ss is significantly more (can't remember but it's in one of these ss threads). When you think that the logistics to get them here are similar to getting them to the states the difference in price 'should' be similar.

Not sure how you came to the conclusion he was demanding an explanation... And that's total hog wash on not having the 'right' to demand an explanation if he wants to. Just as the seller has the right not to answer. I do it all the time - helps to keeps sellers honest when they have to account for fees they charge me. I don't mind paying a lot for something but I really hate being deliberately over charged - something that's fairly common in aus.

Originally Posted by Toolin Around

That's not entirely true. The powermatic saw and the sawstop are close to the same price in seppo land where as here the ss is significantly more (can't remember but it's in one of these ss threads). When you think that the logistics to get them here are similar to getting them to the states the difference in price 'should' be similar.

Again, why? You seem to believe the price in any market should parallel that of other markets. You can only be "deliberately overcharged" if the seller has a monopoly and you have no choices. Just choose not to buy it.

Not sure how you came to the conclusion he was demanding an explanation... And that's total hog wash on not having the 'right' to demand an explanation if he wants to. Just as the seller has the right not to answer.

I'll pay that one.

I don't mind paying a lot for something but I really hate being deliberately over charged - something that's fairly common in aus.

That may be true for food, energy, and communications--all necessities. But you have many saw choices. Choose another one. If enough people don't buy the SS at the asking price, they will either lower the price or withdraw from the market.

Again, why? You seem to believe the price in any market should parallel that of other markets. You can only be "deliberately overcharged" if the seller has a monopoly and you have no choices. Just choose not to buy it.


I said similar which gives room for movement... but with this situation there is a significant difference so one is entitled to question the discrepancy. Whether or not the price difference is justified or not isn't the point - the consumer should always question.

Originally Posted by brisand

Ruddigar
Could you please explain why the stop saw is available in USA for $2800, and the contractors saw for $1500, the price is nearly double ???????????????

OK everybody. Gather around for Maths 101.

The following prices are in USD
SawStop 10" Cabinet Saw - $2,799
36" rails and T-Glide Fence - $329
Extension table for 36" rip - $79

Total - $3,207 +tax

Shipping from the US for one machine $1,000 (as quoted to me by SawStop)
= US$4,207 +tax

Aussie dollar is 0.94 US Dollars, so US$4,207 = AU$4459.25. Let's call it $4460 + GST to round it off.

We sell the SawStop in that configuration for $4,500 +GST.

You are most welcome to save yourself $40 by ordering the machine from the States. Don't forget that you will also need a transformer to run your 110V, 60hz machine on our 240V, 50hz power supply. That will set you back a few hundred dollars.

The machines that we bring in have a 240V, 50hz motor that needed to be sourced for the Aussie/Kiwi market, and it attracts an extra cost to us.

Keep in mind that Gabbett have also committed to having a large quantity of spare parts in stock so as to cover any unforseen event in the shortest time possible. Also, Gabbett needs to make a profit to cover my wages, the wages of the guys handling the machines in our showrooms and to stay in business so that SawStop can continue to have a local agent. I'm not going to apologise for making a profit.

Obviously it is a bit cheaper for us to get the machines over here as we order 20 at a time. Obviously we don't pay full price for the machines either, but the discount we get is not as high as you probably think it is.

The SawStop is an expensive 10" cabinet saw, as I have stated elsewhere. If it is too expensive for you, then don't buy it.

Ruddigar
Shipping from the US for one machine $1,000 (as quoted to me by SawStop)
,
You should go into the shipping business as you can get a 20 ft container from USA to AUS for less than $1,100, perhaps you should ask for them to supply the contractors version that is demonstrated on the video $1,499, then you would sell them by the container load

HONORARY BLOKE
The fact that the AUD is on par with the USD is almost irrelevant. What matters is relative purchasing power in each country. It isn't just the SawStop, nearly everything over here is cheaper than in OZ (except, perhaps, leg of lamb ).

I have been to your country four times and I have always been of the opinion that our dollars buy similar items of value, including wages, a clerk would earn the same $ in both countries, a caddy would cost the same as a similar equiped car here, the one exception is fuel where yours is subsidised heavily,

Originally Posted by brisand

Ruddigar
Shipping from the US for one machine $1,000 (as quoted to me by SawStop)
,
You should go into the shipping business as you can get a 20 ft container from USA to AUS for less than $1,100, perhaps you should ask for them to supply the contractors version that is demonstrated on the video $1,499, then you would sell them by the container load

Hello Brisand.

You should read everything before you respond.

Originally Posted by Ruddigar

Obviously it is a bit cheaper for us to get the machines over here as we order 20 at a time.

We don't pay US$1000 per machine to get them to Australia. The difference between shipping them individually and shipping them in bulk is what we like to call 'profit'.
I supplied this information as a cost comparison as to how much it would cost you to source a machine out of the USA. I think you should compare it against the benefits of having a local supplier/agent/technical department/spare parts provider VS having a company in the USA who sell the machine.

The contractors saw will be here soon. We thought we would have it by mid-June, but there has been a slight problem with sourcing the motors for the machine. We could have had 60hz motors here in a jiffy....but no-one would have been able to use them..
I am trying to firm up a price with SawStop, but I don't have a final figure yet.

Excuse me resurrecting this thread
Apart from use in schools I can't see the point in this thing.
Surely the use of pushsticks takes care of any possibility of finger contact ?
Is it just a bandaid for bad practice ?
cheers
Pete

This has been heavily discussed in this thread and a few others, how much have you read? Most people seem to form an opinion one way or the other and don't change their original stance much.