What a jury-rig! We're going to see how good the customer service is...

[Odie]

I understand that Woodturners Wonders has new ownership.

When I received this Quasar lamp from WW, the threaded hole in the magnetic base was stripped and barely hanging on. When I tried to tighten it, the whole flexible arm with the mount just popped off. Those internal threads are completely gone.

I called WW yesterday, and went to voice mail. Awhile later, a pleasant sounding lady called me back and after I explained the problem, she said another person would call me back. He never did. I'm not sure I'll call back today.....just to see if they will call me.

You can see here that I did some jury-rigging just to get this Quasar light working and usable. It works, but it's wobbly....good as a temporary fix only.

BTW......I now have four new lights on the lathe......two Super Novas, one Quasar, and one machine lamp from Amazon......I like the light I'm getting here. Also have one incandescent and one hanging 4' LED light above the lathe.

=o=

 

[Michael Nathal]

How do you like the machine lamp compared to the others?

 

[Odie]

How do you like the machine lamp compared to the others?

The one from Amazon?

It's OK, but the Super Nova and Quasar lamps are better for the purpose.

The two Super Nova lamps seem to have a narrower beam of light than the Quasar. This is not an issue, as both lamps can be positioned to where they work best.

=o=

 

[Dennis J Gooding]

Hey Odie despite my quite a few years in woodturning I never heard of a Quasar Lamp before. What is it for?

 

[Odie]

Hey Odie despite my quite a few years in woodturning I never heard of a Quasar Lamp before. What is it for?

Here ya go Dennis:

Quasar LED Machine Lamp + 120 Kg Pull Magnetic Base

According to our internet research "Quasars are among the brightest, oldest, and most powerful objects in the universe. Powered by massive black holes at the center of most known galaxies, quasars can emit enormous amounts of energy, up to a thousand times the total output of the hundreds of...

woodturnerswonders.com

Now you know all that I know!

=o=

 

[Dennis J Gooding]

Thanks Odie. Just a utility light--not something for special purpose like curing oil or such. I have one that looks like your picture mounted on the headstock of my Oneway.

 

[Odie]

Good news......

A representative from WW called and said a new lamp is on the way.

He explained that this has been an ongoing issue. His suggestion is for anyone who has one of these lamps, to apply Loctite to the threads in the magnet. This is better than I expected.....a new magnet probably would have solved the problem I have. I'll find a use for this lamp somewhere else.

I'll keep everyone informed as to how this pans out...

=o=

 

[Odie]

this has been an ongoing issue.

Off hand, my guess is someone in the manufacturing of this lamp used a power drill to install the little mount into the lamp base magnet.....and striped the soft threads.

=o=

 

[Odie]

Good news......

A representative from WW called and said a new lamp is on the way.

He explained that this has been an ongoing issue. His suggestion is for anyone who has one of these lamps, to apply Loctite to the threads in the magnet. This is better than I expected.....a new magnet probably would have solved the problem I have. I'll find a use for this lamp somewhere else.

I'll keep everyone informed as to how this pans out...

=o=

As of today, I haven't received a new replacement lamp.

I called WW on Thursday, no answer.

Called again on Friday, no answer, left a message to please call back.

Nobody called back.

I'll try again on Monday. They sure sounded great over the phone.....but, I'm seeing no effort to deal with this problem yet.

I'll report back next week.

=o=

 

[Greg Carles]

His suggestion is for anyone who has one of these lamps, to apply Loctite to the threads in the magnet

I have a similar lamp from WW from years ago when Ken still owned it. The threads in the magnet are not stripped but the threaded post always is loose and rotating about. I think I will use some thread lock and see how that does- thanks..

 

[Odie]

As of today, I haven't received a new replacement lamp.

I called WW on Thursday, no answer.

Called again on Friday, no answer, left a message to please call back.

Nobody called back.

I'll try again on Monday. They sure sounded great over the phone.....but, I'm seeing no effort to deal with this problem yet.

I'll report back next week.

=o=

I called again today.....no answer but left another message.

I also mentioned that this order is being discussed on the AAW forum......hoping that might trigger some action on this purchase.

=o=

 

[Dwayne Watt]

Hi- this is Ken- my cell number is 770-856-6057 if you can't reach anyone.

This was in a similar discussion a month or so ago. Call Ken. He is still involved to some degree in WW.

 

[Aidan Lasky]

I’ve reached out several times to the new WW contact but haven’t received a response. It’s unfortunate — I rely exclusively on the oversized remover/smoother pads for sanding, and I’m not sure where else to source them.

 

[Kent Reisdorph]

I haven't dealt with WW, but I just don't understand why someone would buy a company and have no concept of basic customer service. It's mind boggling.

 

[Odie]

Good news! Received a call from John at WW who left a short voicemail message and instructions to call back on his personal number.

Called back 2hr later and no answer with no inbox set up, so couldn't leave a message.

Called the main WW number again.....no answer.....left a message again.

=o=

 

[John Redding]

Odie - I truly appreciate you keeping us informed. I realize Ken provided his phone number to help, but to me that’s worse because it makes clear the company doesn’t feel compelled to provide good service (or apparently, any service) and Ken is probably invested in them being successful. They will never get another dollar of my business, which is unfortunate because I did previously purchase from them.

 

[Mark Hepburn]

I haven't dealt with WW, but I just don't understand why someone would buy a company and have no concept of basic customer service. It's mind boggling.

It is mind boggling but it seems to be the trend these days; customer service like I'm accustomed to (providing as well as receiving) seems to be a thing of bygone days for the most part.

 

[William Rogers]

Odie, first I hope you get a replacement. Looking a your title I’m guessing you have formed an opinion on “how good the customer service” is. Unfortunately Ken is no longer an owner, if he was the problem would have already been addressed.

 

[Steve Nix]

A couple of months ago, a friend of mine ordered a gooseneck light from WW. It came in with the same problem , the neck came loose from the base ,he contacted WW and they immediately sent him a new light and told him to keep the old one. I had a similar issue last year when one of the clicker switches on the light that I purchased from WW went out. I called to see if they would possibly have replacement parts which they didn’t, but he said it would be covered under the warranty , that probably expired five or six years ago, but they sent me a new light. When you call WW asked to speak with John.

 

[Mark Jundanian]

instructions to call back on his personal number.

Called back 2hr later and no answer with no inbox set up,

Have you tried his personal number again? It's probably a cell. Maybe try a text?

 

[Doug Rasmussen]

The ultimate in poor customer was Grizzly back in the day. My situation was similar to another poster about a mag base light where the adjustable arm didn't have deep enough threads to hold it to the base. I bought it when Grizzly was only a store front in a small strip mall in Bellingham. Next time through Bellingham I tried to exchange or get a refund. A truly nasty employee told me their warrantee was something like twenty feet out the door or 15 minutes whichever occurred first (a slight bit of exaggeration there).

To their credit Grizzly came to realize how important customer service really is. A friend had one of their higher end wood lathes with an rpm readout issue. Even out of warrantee they sent a replacement VFD, sensor and related wiring for what turned out to be a dust problem. The friend installed the new VFD and gave me the old one.

To this day I haven't purchased anything from Grizzly. A bit out of spite, mostly because they haven't had anything I needed.

 

[Odie]

Have you tried his personal number again? It's probably a cell. Maybe try a text?

I haven't yet.

WW didn't call back today.

I have been busy with other things this week and didn't give them a call today.

I'm sure this is all just some confusion from ownership change.....so, I'll keep on this until I make connection again with WW.

=o=

 

[Odie]

OK.....listen up guys.

I had a nice discussion this morning with John of the new management of Woodturners Wonders.

Yes, there has been problems with the changeover of management but things are being worked out to bring back the operations to normal.

Ken Rizzo is still active in the changeover.

For awhile there was nobody taking calls on the main company phone line.....but, as of today, someone should be answering calls again during business hours.

There has been some problems with the tariffs causing delays in the ordering process for products overseas.

John has instructed me to give out his personal phone number here on this AAW forum so that anyone who has had recent unresolved issues with WW, to call him directly at 205-659-7986. (After speaking with him, I believe he is sincere in his effort to make things right, and to continue the great customer service we've had from WW in the past.)

WW is currently out of Quasar lamps to ship to me, but expecting a new shipment shortly. I should be getting a new lamp in the mail soon. John also mentioned that there are others waiting to get replacement lamps, and they should be going out shortly too.

=o=

 

[Mark Hepburn]

Well that's good news Odie. Perhaps my concerns were blown out of proportion regarding the quality of service these days. I hope you get your lamp soon.