Penn state industries

[Gretch Flo]

Does anyone know if these people are in business?? I have had alot of probelms with them last fall and early winter. (quality of cheese planes, faulty hem rippers (called them 5-6 times over 3 different orders) , late shipments-"holiday rush" they said , not getting anyone on the phone at all, etc.
I put in an order for $600, May 5. Tried to do over the phone, and on their 800 number got a strange recording about indulging in an exciting talk, and referring me to 800 talk line. I called the telephone operator saying a business 800 number was obviously in error-she said call my phone service-called them, they said not their problem. Thought it was porn, so I ordered on line. Needed to have a replacement part for a flash drive kit and there is an area for messages. Got an automated response saying my order was received. It's been 3 weeks. Tried calling yesterday and got the same automated exciting talk message. Tried emailing them-no response as yet. Anyone have the same issues??? Gretch

 

[Charlie Knighton]

i received a catalogue recently, but have not placed an order lately

 

[Tim L]

I have only phone ordered once but have called customer service a couple of times with no problems. I would suggest you use the contact numbers on their website. If you didn't get a confirmation email of your order, it may not have been placed.

I believe this is the number I used: From the U.S and Canada: 1-800-377-7297 Monday through Saturday 8:30 a.m through 8:30 p.m EST

Good luck to you.
Tim.

 

[Martin Spence]

I have had very good luck with Pen State - they did my ductwork design and sold me everything I needed for my DC.

I have called them a few times in customer service and had no issues. Keep us posted.

 

[Matt Lewis]

I purchased from them a couple of times without issue, but haven't placed an order lately. The products I ordered have been great for the price. I also just received my routine catalogue.

Regards,

 

[Frank F]

I ordered CDs from them two weeks ago and received them last week with no issues.

 

[Gretch Flo]

Psi # 1-800-377-7297

I have only phone ordered once but have called customer service a couple of times with no problems. I would suggest you use the contact numbers on their website. If you didn't get a confirmation email of your order, it may not have been placed.

I believe this is the number I used: From the U.S and Canada: 1-800-377-7297 Monday through Saturday 8:30 a.m through 8:30 p.m EST

Good luck to you.
Tim.

Tim-that is the number I have been calling and getting a screwy automated voice message. Could one of you just call that number and see if this is true with your phone.?????? I did not try calling tonight, Gretch

 

[odie]

Tim-that is the number I have been calling and getting a screwy automated voice message. Could one of you just call that number and see if this is true with your phone.?????? I did not try calling tonight, Gretch

Hi Gretch.......

Just called that number and got a recording about office hours, and instructions for leaving a message. Everything sounded ok to me.

I have ordered sometime in the last six months, or so......also, no issues for me either.

ooc

 

[Gretch Flo]

Psi

Thanks Odie-I just called and got that message you did-they won't open for a couple more minutes and will re dial. Wonder why for 3 weeks I kept getting this odd recording. I'll ask them . Thanks again, Gretch

 

[Betty Scarpino]

Gretch, Penn State Industries has a full-page ad in the June issue and have been advertising for years. They are very much in business. Phone number in the ad is the same as you posted.

BTW, the new ad features "The World's First Bolt Action Pen Kit." The design is a combination of a bullet and rifle. I don't (or should I say "can't"?) make pens, but if I did (or could), I'd make one for my youngest son. He'd love it!

Betty Scarpino, editor, AW

 

[Bill Boehme]

... got a strange recording about indulging in an exciting talk, and referring me to 800 talk line...Anyone have the same issues??? Gretch

I didn't get that recorded message :mad:

Could you post the 800 number of the exciting talk line?

 

[Clifton C]

Betty, I too saw that bolt action pen, then noticed it was left handed...
I thought no one would notice... I was wrong...
cc

 

[Betty Scarpino]

Betty, I too saw that bolt action pen, then noticed it was left handed...
I thought no one would notice... I was wrong...
cc

Clifton, why not make one for me and I'll test it to see if a right-handed editor could get it to work?


Betty Scarpino, editor, AW

 

[Gretch Flo]

Psi

Gretch, Penn State Industries has a full-page ad in the June issue and have been advertising for years. They are very much in business. Phone number in the ad is the same as you posted.

BTW, the new ad features "The World's First Bolt Action Pen Kit." The design is a combination of a bullet and rifle. I don't (or should I say "can't"?) make pens, but if I did (or could), I'd make one for my youngest son. He'd love it!

Betty Scarpino, editor, AW

Betty-pens bore me. (saw the bolt action pen) As a user I wouldn't spend that much money on a pen I would lose within a day. BTW, I must be dyslexic. I reversed the last 2 digits as I wrote down PSI's number and kept calling that wrong number-woman at PSI said they frequently get the same complaints about a "talk line". My 3 week order apparently got put in Limbo land and she apologized profusely and took away the shipping charge which was nice of her,. I never did get a response to a separate email thru their web site. Gretch

 

[odie]

Betty-pens bore me. (saw the bolt action pen) As a user I wouldn't spend that much money on a pen I would lose within a day. BTW, I must be dyslexic. I reversed the last 2 digits as I wrote down PSI's number and kept calling that wrong number-woman at PSI said they frequently get the same complaints about a "talk line". My 3 week order apparently got put in Limbo land and she apologized profusely and took away the shipping charge which was nice of her,. I never did get a response to a separate email thru their web site. Gretch

Gretch......there is an official name for that, but I forget what it is off hand. I do exactly the same thing quite a bit. Reverse numbers as I write them down......kind of irritating at times to call wrong numbers! '

Quite a few turners doing pens, and not enough challenge to do them.......that's an opinion, of course, because I've never made a pen! You and I have two things in common.........reversing numbers, and losing pens!



ooc

 

[Barry Elder]

Dealing with Penn State Industries runs the gamut from pretty good to as bad as it gets. Usually the customer service ladies are very good and email is usually ignored. Knowing how bad their service can be, I always try to find another supplier even if it costs more money. I guess the owner makes up for the bad press on IAP with the high dollar advertising on other forums.

 

[egsiegel]

Betty-pens bore me.

I feel the same way...but friends and family keep asking me for them.

 

[hockenbery]

Pens like most everything in woodturning can be done at so many levels.

A person who has never turned can be walked through turning a pen and leave with a treasure in 10 minutes.

The high end turners are getting $1000 to $2000 for a pen.
There is a challenge to creating anything you sell for $2000.

Al

 

[odie]

I feel the same way...but friends and family keep asking me for them.

If you ask for $2000......It'll stop that nonsense overnight! Heh,heh,heh!

Kidding aside.....You don't fool us, egsiegel.........we know why you make those boring pens for your friends and family, Mr Niceguy! :cool2:

ooc

 

[Bill Boehme]

Pens like most everything in woodturning can be done at so many levels.

A person who has never turned can be walked through turning a pen and leave with a treasure in 10 minutes.

The high end turners are getting $1000 to $2000 for a pen.
There is a challenge to creating anything you sell for $2000.

Al

One of our former club members sells his high dollar pens in Vegas in the $1K to $2K price range and has no trouble at all selling them. He also has many repeat customers. His pens are not ordinary by any means -- they are ornate and exceptionally well made. Many of them are somewhat too large for practical day-to-day use. I think that they are primarily intended as presentation or display pens. He says that the high rollers have no problem coming out with big rolls of $100 bills and shucking out the money for the pens.

 

[Jim Keenan]

Gretch......there is an official name for that, but I forget what it is off hand. I do exactly the same thing quite a bit. Reverse numbers as I write them down......kind of irritating at times to call wrong numbers! '





ooc

The official name for that is ageing.

 

[john lucas]

I obviously live in a depressed market. I have trouble selling my used cars for $2000. Even selling pens for more than $20 in this area is a gamble. Could be why I don't make them. Although I did decide that is the perfect gift for my boss. I'm retiring and want to give something to by closest friends before I leave.

 

[MichaelMouse]

I obviously live in a depressed market. I have trouble selling my used cars for $2000. Even selling pens for more than $20 in this area is a gamble. Could be why I don't make them.

My brother sent a real Mont Blanc set to my eldest on his graduation. My son asked me what anyone would want with a standard ink pen, much less a pencil which made the same line for a hundred bucks that a five dollar one could make. I explained to him that in his uncle's world of international business, pens can be trophies and status symbols, not just writing implements. He filed them with the half-dozen Cross sets I gave him. I think I've lost as many pencils in the air as I have in the shop, so I never used my groomsman gifts.

 

[Jerry Hall]

If Craft Supply customer service is a ten

then Penn State is a 7. I have dealt with Penn State customer service several times. Returns and trouble shooting. Always got a good resolution, but had to push thru the bureaucracy a bit, and it took a while. Somewhat frustrating. But once I got to the right person and established some sort of friendly relationship I got a good result. Craft Supply is always on top of it by comparison. Just my experience. But I find Penn State to have good values and interesting products, and will continue to do business with them.