So at what point is the discount applied?
Edit: I just called HF, they knew nothing of the sale like you said, but quoted me $549, which is $50 less than the price advertised on the website.
Well, they quoted me $649 initially so things are improving!!
I phoned the head office in California and confirmed the $449 price (last week). Then I called the nearest store to me and gave them the item number 44859-9VGA and told them it was on sale and would they look it up please. They did so but insisted that I drive to the store-100 miles-pay for the machine ($449) which they would then order, and then return in 10 days to pick up my machine-400 miles of driving! I asked to speak to the manager and explained the situation to him. he said "No problem" and ordered the machine without my having to pay in advance. So now i have to drive to the store to pick it up and pay $449 but I will use the opportunity to buy some more tools :twothumbs
Perhaps this is the occasion to describe what I have been able to find out about the Lathemaster/Harbor Frite 8x14:
(I am presently unemployed so have lots of time to spend on the computer!)
Most Chinese lathes are made by the Siege factory in Shangzou (Sp?)
Siege distribute this particular lathe but they do not manufacture it. It seems the original people to contract for the manufacture of the 8x14 lathe were Lathemaster-round about the year 2000. The factory that makes them is something of a mystery but of the possible sources that I have seen they are ISO9001 certified-which is good!
So we have a lathe being manufactured and only one distributer in N.America-There must have been considerable excess capacity so, and
this is conjecture on my part Harbor Freight contracted to take on the excess but signed a "No Compete" clause that protected Lathemaster. Hence the ridiculously inaccurate description in the HF catalog, Then the change a year ago that made the description even more inaccurate (The lathe still has "Dual prismatic beds" according to people who have taken delivery of the lathe in the last couple of weeks-Feb 2009). The serial numbers of the Lathemaster and the Harbor Frieght versions are intermixed!
Neither HF nor Lathemaster will respond to enquires about the above I have been assured.
If you perform the modification to variable speed DC power as described by Will Quiles, and if you are as patient as he was and get the parts for about $120 you will have a machine that is comparible to the Siege C4 which sells for $1600 but you will have paid $449+$120 which is a chunk of saving:thumbsup:
