Replies

1. 
   Cheatah | Mar 09, 2005 09:30pm | #1

   If Wilke is holding a sale....it is not annual. I used to live 5 miles from their showroom. I will be kind and say Wilke is not very customer focused. I have never had a favorable experience when buying from them. Their attitude was very arrogant.

    

   My two cents..........stay away from Wilke and stay happy.

   Good luck

   Mark

    

   "But was she a pro?'

   Thank you,

   The Great Marko

1. 
   philip | Mar 10, 2005 12:34am | #2

   Thanks for your two cents.

2. 
   JMartinsky | Mar 10, 2005 05:01am | #3

   Wow! That's the first negative that I've ever heard out regarding Wilke. What happened?John

1. 
   mvac | Mar 10, 2005 07:07am | #4

   That's also the first negative I've heard about Wilke. I bought the Yc-6J jointer a few months ago, and am very happy with it. When I had a slight problem with the shavings blowing back, they walked me through what to do to avoid it.

   I've spoken with Curt Wilke myself, mostly about shipping costs, and he was very mindful of the trade-offs, and very willing to discuss the issue in detail. These folks don't turn tail once the sale is made.

   So while one of our own has clearly had a bad experience, I'd encourage him and the rest of us not to write Wilke off. They offer excellent value for money in my experience.

   Regards,Mitch

   "I'm always humbled by how much I DON'T know..."

1. 
   Cheatah | Mar 10, 2005 04:15pm | #5

   As i said before, their attitude was always very arrogant. I have never purshased anything from them because I never received good info on products. Everytime I went into the showroom, I was never greeted by any staff member. When I would approach a sales member, the response was never helpful. I was so turned off that after three negative experiences I quit going in. And like said before I lived about 5 miles from their showroom. Their products (as I hear) are fine quality machines. But the tool/machinery business is way too competitive for me to fart around with sales people who do not want to make a sale and be helpful. My attitude is screw them...they do not want my business...fine...I will go somewhere else. And I did. I find the service, and attitude at Grizzly to be 50X better than Wilke.

   Maybe me experience is isolated. But I will never go back to them.

    

    

   "Ah-- America...I love this place...and I am staying"Thank you,

   The Great Marko

1. 
   triplenet | Mar 10, 2005 05:03pm | #6

   I had the exact same experience. I was in the showroom about 1/2 hour looking at larger band saws and the only person I saw was another customer. I found a catalog on the counter, made my notes and left.I don't hold it against them as I think their focus is on web & phone sales. It was nice to see the eq. in real life. However, Grizzly staff seems very knowledgeable and helpful. If I was in charge of Wilke's showroom, I'd make sure that at minimum, someone would be there to acknowledge the customer. I haven't yet bought a band saw, but Wilke is still in the running.Bob

2. 
   Cheatah | Mar 10, 2005 05:10pm | #7

   Bob:

   I am with you. I am sure that their products are quality machines. And yes...they focus on internet and phone orders. But for those that come into the showroom, you have tobe customer focused. In my case, they lost my business forever.

   BTW-- do you live close to the showroom? I used to live in Etters, before I moved to Indianapolis.

   "I like to chew gum...it filters out the florocarbons"Thank you,

   The Great Marko

3. 
   triplenet | Mar 10, 2005 07:02pm | #8

   I don't live close, I'm in Arkansas. Son lives in Ottawa so I made the side trip via Wilke and Vermont. I have no problem with visiting Lee Valley a few times when I'm in Ottawa!Bob

4. 
   try5077 | Mar 10, 2005 10:34pm | #9

   I can also understand the arrogance, I visited in Feb. looking at the yorkcraft jointers. Nice showroom, but nothing like Grizzly. No one wanted to help or even inquired if I needed any. The tools are nice but the shipping is a deal breaker. I did sell a nice guy a yorkcraft jointer while I was there. I showed hime how every thing worked, tried all the levers and knobs, he works. Hope he liked it becase last month I picked up a Powermatic  model 50 6"  from 1969. ;> I'm glad I didn't buy the Yorkcraft.

5. 
   mvac | Mar 10, 2005 11:20pm | #10

   Marko,

   It really stinks that you had such a bad experience, and if I'd gone through what you went through, I wouldn't ever go back either. Maybe I've just been lucky. But as I mentioned in my earlier post, there's no question you had a bad experience with Wilke, and if I gave the impression that I doubted that, please forgive me.

   Regards,Mitch

   "I'm always humbled by how much I DON'T know..."

2. 
   PhilS | Mar 11, 2005 09:03am | #12

   What was their recommended solution for the blowback? I called them with the same problem with my 8" Yorkcraft and they had no suggestions for me.That aside, I really like my Yorkcraft Jointer.Thanks.

1. 
   mvac | Mar 11, 2005 04:15pm | #13

   Phil,

   They had a few suggestions, actually, all of which were good.

   Simplest solution - blow out the stuck chips around the cutterhead with a compressor hose (I tried this with canned air since I don't have a compressor and it didn't work that well);

   Lower the infeed table to its max, then use a stick to push/clear the compressed chips down - that worked well for me;

   Ensure nothing is blocking the chip ejection chute. I've actually found, since I don't have a DC system, that I get better ejection and less buildup near the cutterhead when I don't attach the included chute cover and connect it to my shop vac. Instead, I duct taped an empty 25lb. cat litter plastic box to the jointer just beneath the chute, then taped a contractor's trash bag around the three sides of the jointer to cover the box. Works like a charm, although I do have to keep an eye on the chip level in the box - if it gets to high, I'll get the blowback again.

   Hope that helps,Mitch

   "I'm always humbled by how much I DON'T know..."

2. 
   Mike126 | Mar 11, 2005 09:47pm | #14

   I'm also surprised to here that you had issues with Wilke.  I've bought a few tools from them and each time they were very helpful.  I drive up to York and pick up the tools and yes the showroom is not well attended to by salespeople but all I had to do was go to the counter and ask and they were more than happy to help.

   On my last trip for a bandsaw they had it ready to load in 5 minutes.  I spent at least 30 minutes with the salesman reviewing things about set up and such.  They volunteered the information I did not have to ask.

   I would rather browse without feeling watched by a salesperson so maybe that influenced my feelings of the shop.

   Mike

3. 
   try5077 | Mar 11, 2005 11:17pm | #15

   Mike,
   I also like to browse without a sales person bothering me, but a simple hello, or I'll be at the counter if you need anything would be nice. I was there over an hour and no one except other customers spoke to me...
   A hi, my name is _______ and I'll be able to help you goes a long way in my book.

4. 
   Mike126 | Mar 13, 2005 05:46am | #17

   Try -

   I guess when I go there I have a specific purchase to make so I usually know who I need to talk to in advance.  Also, I'm the type that would rather browse without a salesperson and then if I need one I go ask for one.

   I'm sorry you've had a bad experience there.

   I do like their tools especially the fact that they will setup and test the bigger ticket items.  I've never been disappointed with a purchase.

   Mike

3. 
   philip | Mar 12, 2005 09:00pm | #16

   I can relate to your experience as well.  I called twice and got some kid who knew nothing about woodworking and told me he had bettter things to do, like playing baseball.  I gave up on him and spoke to Curt who was far more helpful.  This is American, and knowledgeable employees are hard to find.  Maybe that is why we are all looking at Taiwanese machinery.

2. 
   mcafee7 | Mar 11, 2005 03:36am | #11

   I have to agree with marko.  I also live close to Wilke (Harrisburg area) and I've talked to several woodworkers from this area who have the same negative feelings about them.  The machines are good, the customer relations suck!