King Scrollsaw

[Mark SW]

They are on sale (kind of) at Woodcraft but once again who in the United States covers the warranty and beside Seyco where can toy get parts if needed?

 

[orangeman]

My local Woodcraft does not have the King saw; they only stock DeWalt and Jet saws.

I asked the same question and the guy at Woodcraft had no answer but to say: "Good question".

King needs to get a handle on this if they want to sell saws in the USA.

bb

[Scrappile]

I had chuckle  this AM.  Steve Good's morning email announced a video done by Scott Phillips of American Woodworker on the King Scroll Saw.  I was excited and rushed to watch it.  It shows him using it.  He says he likes it probably the best saw he has scroll on, that was about it,  the rest of the video was on using shelf liner and how to scroll copper sheet, he even got in a plug for P S Wood blades.  It was more of a commercial than anything else.  Didn't really tell anything important about the saw and what would he say, Woodcraft sells it, Woodcraft is his or one of  his sponsors.

Edited October 28, 2017 by Scrappile

[tonylumps]

There are a lot of members here that bought there Excalibur saws brand new . I have 2 that I bought one used and one still in original box I bought off of ebay. When your new saws needed repair .Did you ship it back to where you bought it.Was there a repair center close by you,Or did you just recieve the parts you needed under warranty.I know if you buy a Dewalt you take it to a repair center.Where would you take a Jet saw for repair.Do you send that back also.If you buy a Seyco what would you have to do.Send it back or call Ray and ask if he would send the parts out after you explain what the saw was doing.I know on most of my other big shop tools if it is under warranty they would send out the parts free. Out of warranty that would be a crap shoot.I have never sent a shop tool back for repair. So I really do not know what the procedure is.

[Scrappile]

I have had an Ex and now a Seyco.  When I had a question I called them and they answered and talked me through repair, mine was a simple adjustment.  They actually listened to the saw, over the phone and told me how to fix the problem.   If it needed a part, they would probably send the part and talk you through replacing it.  Worst case you would have to send the saw back to them.  I am no mechanic, don't even have much aptitude toward it, but I would have no fear of tearing a scroll apart and replacing  a part.  They are just not that complicated.  I couldn't replace a resister or other component on a control board,, but I could replace a control board.

I will also pretty much guarantee most scrollers know as much about their saw as a repair center guy.  I just don't picture a DeWalt repair center seeing, let alone repairing many scroll saws.

[Rockytime]

I went to the Denver Woodcraft store last week. They had a King scroll saw on display. Only a couple of people in the store. I tried to ask the guy at the cash register, who was just standing there doing nothing, about the saw. He didn't seem to want to talk to me. I just left. Must not have been too interested in selling one. Just as well as I have a couple of old Hawks which work flawlessly.

[Scrappile]

45 minutes ago, Rockytime said:

I went to the Denver Woodcraft store last week. They had a King scroll saw on display. Only a couple of people in the store. I tried to ask the guy at the cash register, who was just standing there doing nothing, about the saw. He didn't seem to want to talk to me. I just left. Must not have been too interested in selling one. Just as well as I have a couple of old Hawks which work flawlessly.

That have been my experience in most Woodcraft stores I have been in.  Lot of worker standing around the cash register area yaking, not helping anyone.  I have walked out of most not spending a dime, so I guess it is good for me, bad for them.

[Lucky2]

3 hours ago, Scrappile said:

I have had an Ex and now a Seyco.  When I had a question I called them and they answered and talked me through repair, mine was a simple adjustment.  They actually listened to the saw, over the phone and told me how to fix the problem.   If it needed a part, they would probably send the part and talk you through replacing it.  Worst case you would have to send the saw back to them.  I am no mechanic, don't even have much aptitude toward it, but I would have no fear of tearing a scroll apart and replacing  a part.  They are just not that complicated.  I couldn't replace a resister or other component on a control board,, but I could replace a control board.

I will also pretty much guarantee most scrollers know as much about their saw as a repair center guy.  I just don't picture a DeWalt repair center seeing, let alone repairing many scroll saws.

Paul, what happened to your EX, did you sell it or wear it out? Or, were you not quite satisfied with the saw, and you decide to buy a Seyco? Of course there's one other option, did you buy the new Seyco saw out of loyalty to Seyco? There has to be some reason for switching from an EX to a Seyco saw, maybe you just wanted a spare saw?

Len

[Dave Monk]

Before I bought my Hegner I went to Woodcraft to see a King. They would not let me try it out or take it back if I was not happy with it. I called King to ask them about the warranty. The customer service guy that answered the phone wasn't even aware that it was sold in the US. He told me that any questions I had I would have to send an email. The whole thing turned me off.

[Scrappile]

2 hours ago, Lucky2 said:

Paul, what happened to your EX, did you sell it or wear it out? Or, were you not quite satisfied with the saw, and you decide to buy a Seyco? Of course there's one other option, did you buy the new Seyco saw out of loyalty to Seyco? There has to be some reason for switching from an EX to a Seyco saw, maybe you just wanted a spare saw?

Len

Ha, You must like mysteries... I'm tempted not to tell just let you wonder... I have a Hegner also.  I was looking at another used Hegner in my area.  I could not buy  it without selling my Excalibur.  So I sold the Ex to a friend, but I did not end up buying the Hegner.  The more I looked at the pictures of the Hegner I noticed things were missing and it was not quite as the seller was saying.  So,,, I passed on it.  I missed my Ex.  It was/is a great saw.. Seyco came out with their new saw at about that time, so after my experience with the Ex and Seyco, I ordered it.  The Seyco and the Ex are about as close to equal as you can get.  I liked the way Ex did the tilting table better, I like the Seyco larger table better.  There are a few trade offs but both good, no, great saws, for sure.

Edited October 29, 2017 by Scrappile

[hawkeye10]

14 hours ago, Rockytime said:

I went to the Denver Woodcraft store last week. They had a King scroll saw on display. Only a couple of people in the store. I tried to ask the guy at the cash register, who was just standing there doing nothing, about the saw. He didn't seem to want to talk to me. I just left. Must not have been too interested in selling one. Just as well as I have a couple of old Hawks which work flawlessly.

Rocky I would fire that guy if I was running that store. It sure leaves a bad taste in your mouth doesn't it?

[kmmcrafts]

It's sad but finding people to work in a store that knows the equipment inside and out and willing to answer any questions one might have is really about impossible to find.... not to mention finding one that is passionate about their job and what they do.. so yeah, I suspect this happens to many tool selling outlets.. which is what makes places like Hawk, Hegner, PSwood and Seyco stand out.. because they do know the machines.. I don't know if I've ever met the perfect salesman.. either they are greeting you almost before you walk in the door and follow you around.. or.. you can't find one to save your life.. then when you do find one.. they really don't want to be bothered.. LOL  

[orangeman]

13 hours ago, Dave Monk said:

Before I bought my Hegner I went to Woodcraft to see a King. They would not let me try it out or take it back if I was not happy with it. I called King to ask them about the warranty. The customer service guy that answered the phone wasn't even aware that it was sold in the US. He told me that any questions I had I would have to send an email. The whole thing turned me off.

Very interesting. Appears there is a different culture in various Woodcraft stores. Some are company owned and some are franchises. Culture depends on the manager as well.

I have nothing but praise for the Roswell, GA Woodcraft store managed by Robert. Several years ago I was in desperate need of a scroll saw with a show just weeks away. The store was sold out of DeWalt saws so they loaned me a saw from their classroom until inventory was replenished.

And a few months ago I wanted to check out the new jet saw. I took some blades and wood to the store and they willingly let me try out the saw for perhaps 30 minutes.

Nothing but praise for our local Woodcraft store.

bb

[dgman]

1 hour ago, orangeman said:

Very interesting. Appears there is a different culture in various Woodcraft stores. Some are company owned and some are franchises. Culture depends on the manager as well.

I have nothing but praise for the Roswell, GA Woodcraft store managed by Robert. Several years ago I was in desperate need of a scroll saw with a show just weeks away. The store was sold out of DeWalt saws so they loaned me a saw from their classroom until inventory was replenished.

And a few months ago I wanted to check out the new jet saw. I took some blades and wood to the store and they willingly let me try out the saw for perhaps 30 minutes.

Nothing but praise for our local Woodcraft store.

bb

You are right Brian. I teach at the Woodcraft store in Ventura, California. They will go out of their way to help customers. It's true that not all employees know about scrollsaws, but some do. The store has paid to have some employees take my class so the can better understand scrollsaws. I even occasionally get a call from the store on questions from customers. Unfortunately, there are always employees that don't care because they don't make commission. But at the Ventura store, most do care!

i do not work at the store, I just occasionally teach there.

[kmmcrafts]

3 hours ago, orangeman said:

Very interesting. Appears there is a different culture in various Woodcraft stores. Some are company owned and some are franchises. Culture depends on the manager as well.

I have nothing but praise for the Roswell, GA Woodcraft store managed by Robert. Several years ago I was in desperate need of a scroll saw with a show just weeks away. The store was sold out of DeWalt saws so they loaned me a saw from their classroom until inventory was replenished.

And a few months ago I wanted to check out the new jet saw. I took some blades and wood to the store and they willingly let me try out the saw for perhaps 30 minutes.

Nothing but praise for our local Woodcraft store.

bb

 

1 hour ago, dgman said:

You are right Brian. I teach at the Woodcraft store in Ventura, California. They will go out of their way to help customers. It's true that not all employees know about scrollsaws, but some do. The store has paid to have some employees take my class so the can better understand scrollsaws. I even occasionally get a call from the store on questions from customers. Unfortunately, there are always employees that don't care because they don't make commission. But at the Ventura store, most do care!

i do not work at the store, I just occasionally teach there.

Maybe you two should talk with the stores about the concerns of the service and parts for the King scroll saws.. from reading these forums.. I gather that there would be quite an interest for the King scroll saw but many have concerns about service / parts.. I'd like to see these saws be a good hit for both our scrolling community and for the sales of the saws.. Hate to see a good saw die out just because of worries of parts and service..  i think woodcraft could sell a fair amount of these saws.. if they offered some security in service and or at least parts.. Just My Two Cents Worth..  

[hotshot]

When I bought my Rikon Bandsaw at Woodcraft, there was the usual group of guys shooting the bull at the counter, but one guy went out of his way to help me out and get the saw loaded.

I think people are people no-matter where they work, so some will be better than others.  That not to say that they will be competent, that is an entirely different issue.  I don't expect the people that work there to have anything but basic "feature" knowledge.  The scroll saw "enthusiast" will always have much more knowledge than an salesman (even if they have a scroll saw and use it occasionally).  

I don't trust anyone for scroll saw insight/advise that hasn't drank the "Kool Aid".  That is where Seyco shines, they became part of the cult years ago.

Edited October 30, 2017 by hotshot

[rjweb]

It’s not just woodcraft stores but any time in any store if you ask do you have a particular item, their answer is what ever we have is out there and point in that direction, RJ

[tonylumps]

i know I started shopping online for almost everything when I walked into sears and asked an employee for a certain size pants and she stared at me and said, If you don't see it we aint got it .I wander how many sears workers are now working at the Amazon loading belt.I am lucky .The 2 woodcraft stores are both about 40 Min. from me.One in Delaware.That is where I buy big ticket tools to save on tax.I think they are owned buy the same person .And both are great stores.

Edited October 30, 2017 by tonylumps