Sticker Shock

[Smoken D]

Down in my shop I have a drawing of the shop from the Workshop Planner at Grizzly.com, anyway I did this in 2004 and I obtained my machines in 2002. I don't know if the prices are from 2004, or the price I paid back in 2002. I knew the prices had gone up, but sure not by almost 74%. I could not afford to buy my shop at today's prices. I was involved in competition shooting and had a valuable gun which I sold and was then able to afford the cost of the tools back in 2002. Also before I paid all that for my tools I spent a year with my neighbor who is also a woodworker to decide if woodworking was really for me before I spent all that money. Anyone else have their prices they paid and what they cost today? These are all Grizzly tools;

Tablesaw 2002 price $435 2012 price $795
D.C. 2002 price $130 2012 price $190
Bandsaw 2002 price $320 2012 price $495
Planer 2002 price $185 2012 price $315
Jointer 2002 price $325 2012 price $425
Lathe 2002 price $265 2012 price $595
Drill Press 2002 price $200 2012 price $385
Sander 2002 price $210 2012 price $395

Total $2027 VS $3595


WOW!

[Ton80]

Not sure about my power tools but I can tell you that my work van in late 1999 cost me 19,500 and today that same model starts @ 28,500! Utterly outrageous if you ask me that a stripped down cargo van costs so much money. That's not quite the markup of the power tools but at nearly 47% cost increase it's still pretty crazy... I haven't been able to come close to gaining 47% on what I can charge to trim a house... in fact in some areas, the price has gone down. I'll be driving my van until the frame rusts through or the engine seizes up ;)

[lynnfrwd]

CarveWright when I started in Jan. 2008 was $1899.99.

Now, with 1/8" cutting bit & standard one year warranty added (apples to apples) = $1439.98.


Hmmmmmm.

[fwharris]

Now the real question is what would be the value of the gun today vs back then?

[Smoken D]

Now the real question is what would be the value of the gun today vs back then?

When I think about it and see the price of today's 38 Super race gun, yep, would probably pay for today's workshop. How sad. Wish my pension had gone up even half of what everything else has.

[cestout]

Connie,
I was thinking the same thing. I was lucky; Sears replace my first machine then gave me a full refund on the next, then I got my B with rubber belts and CT for less than I paid for the first.
Clint

[badbert]

I would not consider buying new tools. I bought all of mine from Craigslist.

Delta Contractor TS cast iron 2 wings 52" Unifence= $350
Craftsman Radial Arm saw= $40
Rigid Spindle sander=$50
Grizzly 6" jointer= $200
Grizzly 15" planer=$350
Craftsman 1950's cast iron drill press=$50
Compucarve=$900
Craftsman 3hp Industrial router, with handmade table and lift with incremental fence=$100

$2040 including compucarve!!

I did buy a new HF 14 bandsaw with riser and a 2hp dust collector, for another $350

So $2390

[b.sumner47]

Most of my tools are of the older style, Well built and last longer, LIKE ME, ha ha . If I need a replacement, check the misc.in the newspaper or Harbor Frieght.


Capt Barry

[ladjr]

I would say the average age of my tools is at least 15 years. My Carvewright was purchased in 2007. I just had to buy a motor to repair my large table sander. Almost $400.00 I'm not sure I paid that much for it to start. I looked up current price almost $1500.00 so I ordered the motor.

[lawrence]

yup, prices have been going up over the last couple of years-- some due to inflation and some due to the weakening of the dollar in comparison to the currencies of the countries in which these tools are manufactured. (this is not my way of starting a political debate!) Craigslist prices seem to have been going up accordingly- at least in these parts. It does amaze me that the Carvewright has gone down in price-- the recent $999 sale really knocked my socks off...

it is worth noting that the median US wage in 2002 was 41,620 and in 2011 it was $49,103 - this alone accounts for a good bit of these increases.

Lawrence