Still looking at the Rikon 10-325, but had a discussion today with someone who sells bandsaws, note they don't sell Rikon, but deal with the Sales Reps on other machines, he said I wouldn't be happy with it. I would be happier with a shopfox w/ riser block. Don't know. What does the group think?
I think this is clearly a case of "I don't sell it, therefore I don't have it to sell, therefore it sucks and you don't want it but rather you'll be really happy with what I do happen to sell" mentality.
I have the 18" Rikon (10-345) and there are countless users with the Deluxe 14" (10-325) model. I have seen countless rave reviews from owners of these saws and few, if any (I honestly can't recall any, but I'm sure there are a few) negative reviews from those who own either of these models -- nor in any of the professional reviews. As for their after-sales tech support, I have dealt with them on one minor issue and to order consumables (such as spare guide bearings) and have been nothing less than impressed. They will happily talk you through the breakdown of your entire saw, piece by piece, if you ask them and have the time. Their tech department is small, so sometimes they have to call you back while they finish assisting another customer, but never have they not returned my call within a very reasonable time frame (usually under 30min).
If you were to purchase either of these models (10-325 or 10-345) and walk away unsatisfied you would be the first person to my knowledge. This is not to say that you would not necessarily be equally, or possibly even more, satisfied with the Shop Fox or other manufacturer. I can't make that call since I am unfamiliar with the Shop Fox models, but I do have first hand knowledge of the Rikon models. When I was hunting for bandsaws my decision came down to either a 19" Grizzly or the 18" Rikon (which is just a 1/4" shy of 19") with the Rikon winning out partly because I could purchase it, as well as blades, locally from my nearby Woodcraft.
I really wish sales people would learn to sell their merchandise on its merits rather than engage in, quite often, unprofessional disparagement of their competitors. If they want to comment that you would be unhappy with another model, that is fine, but then they should be able to back that up with an honest apples-to-apples rundown of what aspects of the competing model are inferior -- as well as what aspects of THEIR model are inferior -- in addition to what aspects of each model are superior to one another, something that few such salesmen have the ability to do these days since it requires honest and intimate first-hand knowledge of each.
During the brief period, in my earlier years, where I did sales (the pay was lousy, but I considered it good experience) I rarely ever told a customer that they would be unhappy with another model, rather I would tell them that they'd be happier with the model I was recommending and then followed that up with the list of additional features/capabilities afforded by the model I was recommending and what it would end up costing them if they went with the lesser solution and had to upgrade six months later (I mostly sold computer and laptop equipment). I was never afraid to tell a customer that they should buy a competitor's merchandise if it was in fact a better solution for them and/or at a much better price, though I would remind them that I would not be there to provide support for the competitor's merchandise. FWIW, this predated the Internet by several years, so you were often on your own for support since there was no Google or online Knowledgebases back then.
Please know that I am not trying to sell you on the Rikons over any other manufacturer, though I am certainly a fan. As I have said before, what matters is that you buy the right bandsaw for YOUR needs and expectations and that is, frankly, ALL that matters!
