Can you believe product technical specifications?

[Haliotis]

My old Black & Decker workmate gave up the ghost after many years of faithful service, so I searched on line for a good portable work bench to replace it.  I found a Bosch model on line, and have recently bought it.  A great buy, but I nearly did not buy it.  When I looked at the technical spec on their website, it gave the weight as 11,600 kg., and I just don’t have the lifting gear to shift 11.6 metric tonnes! 😃

[Rhymes with Paris]

They wouldn't be able to deliver that in an Amazon van.

[Haliotis]

22 minutes ago, Rhymes with Paris said:

They wouldn't be able to deliver that in an Amazon van.

Not even in a 7-tonne wagon!  But seriously, though, you would expect, from manufacturers to suppliers to retailers, all of them to ensure that written specifications are correct. Glaring mistakes like my example are easy to dismiss, but once laxity exists in this field it can progress to critical information that just might involve physical risk to the end user.

With thousands of suppliers distance selling to the general public, it is essential that they get product descriptions and specifications accurate.   Many buyers use distance selling due to difficulty in visiting storers - physical disabilities, living in isolated areas, etc. - so even free returns can be a considerable burden.

The companies want us to use distance selling - it relieves them of the costs of operating a store, and they don’t even need to carry stock as they can have goods sent direct from the manufacturers/importers/main warehouses.

So, for mutual fairness to exist, the customer must be sure that a product really represents what they are buying, by being provided with a completely accurate description of the product.

[Rhymes with Paris]

Aye, not quite a specification, but I bought a new hyosung scooter many years ago,to nip around town on for shopping and such.

It said in part of the translated handbook "to be certain of motion be adding of the gasoline and little hyosung fly like wind!"

[flash22]

if it's a vintage workmate people pay good money for them, and plenty of spare too, the ones made in the last 15+ years are junk and are throwaway

[Paul john]

2 hours ago, Haliotis said:

My old Black & Decker workmate gave up the ghost after many years of faithful service, so I searched on line for a good portable work bench to replace it.  I found a Bosch model on line, and have recently bought it.  A great buy, but I nearly did not buy it.  When I looked at the technical spec on their website, it gave the weight as 11,600 kg., and I just don’t have the lifting gear to shift 11.6 metric tonnes! 😃

Some EU countries use a comma(,) instead of a full stop(.) as the decimal separator.

the likely weight is 11.6 kg 

[Roy124]

13 minutes ago, flash22 said:

if it's a vintage workmate people pay good money for them, and plenty of spare too, the ones made in the last 15+ years are junk and are throwaway

Good to know.  Mine is coming on for 50.  Might need some oil,  precusion adjustment and new feet.  Other than that nothing a spray can can't fix.

I also have a Wallmate, it gives a larger work area and together the two can give me a long bench.

I also have a small Jobber.  I use this more than the Workmate as a vice as will.

In addition I acquired a pair of B&D Holdfasts that can be used on any of these; quicker than using clams.

 

[Rhymes with Paris]

2 hours ago, flash22 said:

if it's a vintage workmate people pay good money for them, and plenty of spare too, the ones made in the last 15+ years are junk and are throwaway

😭 Gave mine away some years ago.

Sadly to my pal Denzel who probably sold it, and used the proceeds to buy magic beans.

[Haliotis]

Paul, 11.6 kg does sound a reasonable weight, but would they go to 3 places after the decimal point?

Concerning the Workmate, the threads on the Aluminium under frame had gradually stripped - probably due to the bench being twisted under hard use, and it was worked hard.

[Roy124]

Mine are solid steel,  hence the need for an 'ammer.

[Haliotis]

There are a number of portable benches on the market, and choosing the right one can be difficult.  I did consider two models which offered adjustable height, but both had just two pillars that could be adjusted.  I felt that these could be damaged, particularly if significant weight was placed on the table top unevenly, so I went for a stable, fixed height one.

[dannyboy413]

On 6/6/2024 at 9:33 AM, Haliotis said:

so I went for a stable, fixed height one.

I had a mate who had one of those - two planks of wood on four breeze blocks. 😉